Whats Next?

I turn 25 in less then a month.

Most people laugh when I tell them that I am afraid of turning 25...especially anyone who is older. I understand... it IS laughable. This isn't as big of a deal as turning 30, 40 or 50...to most people. Maybe afraid isn't the right word. I don't actually fear birthdays like they are a pathological killer, I think I fear what they represent to me. Age often dictates social norms. Based on how old you are, you should be doing certain things. This is a ridiculous concept, and I don't usually care about social norms to begin with. However, it made me think. I've never wanted a serious relationship until very recently. I never knew what it meant to hate your job, but be forced to go to it, because you NEED to. I didn't know how precarious any kind of relationship, whether it is friendship, romance, or family, could be until recently. DO you know what all this means?

I'm an adult.

As scary as the proposition is, I'm having a tough time with all that coming at once...basically around my 25th birthday. Is this some sort of weird trick? These issues have always been flirting with me, but they all seemed to do it at once this year, like a twisted Axe Body Spray commercial, only except women hounding me, it is adult issues. Not nearly as marketable, right?

Honestly, I'd like to do something different. I feel like I've been doing a lot of the same stuff lately in a lot of ways and I want to break free of that. After being spontaneous and EXPECTING change because of my diverse surroundings for a number of years, I finally have to figure out a change and plan it myself, with no real, compound reason for doing it...except that I want to. So, this will be different from changes that come from college and friends, or even interning in another state and living with people I don't know. Maybe not much different once I do them, but how I go about making that change.

So, I guess the question is...what is next? I've decided that I need to not be at current job by the end of the year. I'm pretty sure I don't just want to go to another job that is similar by any stretch of the imagination. Maybe my comic strip will work out, but I can't count on that happening on my first attempt, so I don't like to think that is a solution. Honestly, ideas are welcome. Teaching in another country could be an answer, but I'm not sure I want to be that far away, for THAT long of a time. Maybe 3 months, but I would miss my family and friends too much.

I know a lot of people are dealing with issues like this, especially at this age. The idea of a "Quarter Life Crisis" is a new one, and the most comforting thing about it is just knowing others are going through issues like this. Finding your place, if you will.

Suggestions on what to do would be appreciated.

Also, I plan on continuing the Twins Season Preview in sections throughout Spring Training. Part II should be here soon. I know at least one of you asked about it. That is probably the extent of people who care!

={+}=

Target is a Foul Temptress

I have a long, strange history with the behemoth known as the Target Corporation.

It seems like Target is going out of its way to single me out and make my life as annoying as possible...whenever it can.

It started when I had just turned 16 years old. My parents (bless them) were encouraging me to get a job. I didn't want one. I thought it would ruin my carefree adolescent days. In a way...I was right. I haven't spent one day out of employment since then. However, they were right. I needed to get a job.

I distinctly remember making a list of places I wouldn't mind working at during Mr. Shonka's dreadful history class. I knew the fast food industry was a definite no. I recall wanting to work at Blockbuster, Target or the YMCA in Burnsville. Mom was enthusiastic about working at Target...after all, she had worked there when she was in high school. I thought it was a good idea, so I applied. Got a call to interview. Interviewed. At the end of the interview they told me I was hired and was told to come in a few days for training.

The next day, Target called and told me they had decided not to hire me...something to do with hours or something else that could have been easily worked out. Essentially they hired me, then laid me off, without ever working. Awesome.

After that regrettable experience, I was slightly shaken. It was a weird way to start of the working life. I ended up at Cub Foods and had a pretty good experience with that. However, it took me sometime to not be upset with Target.

My struggle with Target subsided, almost completely during the start of college. My sister had started working at the Target in Eagan, and was at that point enjoying it. I enjoyed the good shopping at reasonable prices. All was right with the world.

That is until I decided to step into the HR boundaries of Target once again. During the middle of college I decided I wanted to work somewhere in Mankato to make some extra money, besides just the LEGO income. So, I found out that if I started at a Target close to my parent's home during the summer, I could transfer to the Mankato store. There was an opening in Security and that sounded interesting, and my sister's boyfriend (Matt) worked in security at the store already. Once again...got to the interview. At this point I was a pretty big deal at LEGO, being a trainer and all, and I thought I was kind of 'lowering' myself to also working security at Target as a second job. The lady I interviewed with was a crab. She didn't understand what I was trying to do by getting the second job and insisted I stay with LEGO. I tried explaining that I wasn't leaving LEGO, and for some reason that made her more mad. She apparently took her job really seriously and didn't want some kid thinking it could be a second job. So, she didn't let me do it, unless I quit LEGO, which she didn't want me to do. Whatever. Matt told me latter that the interviewer is weird like that. Strike 2 Target. Strike 2.

Between that time and now Kyle started working at Target in Eagan as well (for those keeping track at home, that leaves me and Dad as the only non-Target employees ever) and Danielle started becoming very disenfranchised with working for Target, to the point of loathing. After college I started applying to jobs at the Target headquarters in Minneapolis, mainly because they are so massive that you almost have to. It was my mistake in thinking that corporate was different then the retail operations, as they lead me on more then a few times.

I didn't let it faze me. I found a full-time job last year doing Marketing and gave up on caring about Target. I figured I could just shop there and be content, like everyone else. No way...apparently. Target keeps finding me.I started the new job, finding out, of course, that Target is a client. Quickly I learned that I would interact with some of our consultants placed at Target on a regular basis. That meant going to the Target headquarters on a monthly basis. Fine, sounds good, right? Except that I need to drive there and the dress code is very NOT business casual. Augh.

The last straw came when I was driving back last night and it took me almost an hour and a half to get back to home. I didn't even need to go. *sigh*

Oh, and I'm not done yet. Every time I go to Target (...I do love shopping at Target stores though...) I end up spending way too much money. This should be my own American-consumer fault, but this rarely happens anywhere else. My new idea: Target brainwashes you into thinking you need this DVD, those new razors,all the cheap but good looking clothing and a new art-decor lamp. I can never escape it! It's madness.

Now for Target's latest gasp at taking what it can from me. Last night my friend Alex called to tell me that he accepted a management internship with Target that will keep him in Iowa ALL summer. Bah. That sucks. He doesn't want to stay in Iowa, but this is a good opportunity. I understand, but Alex...watch out....Target will ruin your life. Just like it has mine!


*Footnote: This all taken with good jest. Target has in NO way 'ruined my life'. I don't really have any animosity towards Target in anyway, but I thought it was funny at how one corporation has affected my life. It is just strange the number of instances where Target has influenced my life.

={+}=

Why Working is Stealing My Soul (Part 1 of 2,348)

Just about everyday I leave the office to walk about an 1/8 mile to the Super America that is near work. Especially on days like today...a beautiful February day. I rarely actually buy anything at Super America...maybe a water a pop or something, but that isn't the point. I just need to get outside and move.

It is always a blissful ten minutes. As soon as I got back and sat at my desk I was immediately bombarded by a coworker. In the matter of seconds he used so much business jargon that my head was about to unhinge. As he was walking away, he said: "Just shoot me an e-mail about this."

He had just dumped work on me. It was something he didn't want to do, so he thought of a creative way to make it sound like a marketing job and dumped it. This guy isn't even a manager or anything...he is the sales coordinator, and usually a fairly cool guy.

I'm not going to do it. It is his responsibility and the fall would be on him.

This ruined my bliss.

After I sat there, in my now bliss-less state. Another dull coworker stopped by and in a Lumburgh-esque tone asked me how it was going. I glared. He then brought up Britney Spears and the fact that she shaved her head.

I was speechless. How do I accurately convey my level of malaise towards STUPID celeb-culture crap like this? I mumbled something about how dumb it was. He smiled at me and left.

Thankfully, writing this made me less numb. I'm excited for the rest of this week. It is my sister's and my friend Mike's birthdays this week. I get together with friends tonight. Left On Farwell plays on Friday (7:30 at Club 3 degrees!) and Gaustof's on Saturday.

It makes me forget how dumb my job is sometimes.

How can someone ever become a workaholic? I'm an anti-workaholic!

Happy Tuesday.

={+}=

Workin' Retail...

It was my favorite part of the workday: lunch. I always try to do something productive or fun over lunch. Either meet up with some friends, run errands, catch up on some reading, or go home and sometimes work out or during the summer, watch part of the Twins day game.

Regardless, I don't understnad people who want to stay in the office over lunch. Weirdos. That is for another blog on another day though.

Today I decided I needed to do some reading. I went to my local Quizno's to get a tasty sub. It was a little busy and I had to wait in line for a few minutes. No big deal. I ordered my Beef Brisket sub and started to watch the dude make my sandwich. All of the sudden there was YELLING from further down the line, near the cash register. There was a 40 something women, red in the cheeks and a bit on the heavy side, just lashing into the nice looking Aisan man operating the register. I had talked to this guy in past trips to Quizno's and he has been nothing short of a great, friendly guy. I learn throught the shouts that woman was upset because they would not take her EXPIRED coupon. There was nothing he could do and this women was determined to yell until something was done. It was just errible to watch. The employee then just told her the meal was free, I think just to get her out of there. At that point, that seemingly enraged this woman even more to the point she rattleted out an ehtnic slur put her tray down and just stormed out.

Talk about awkward. There was only one person inbetween me and the crazy-yeller-I'm better then you-lady and he said nothing to the guy as he paid and quickly left, obviously recognizing the awkward situation. I decided I was going to say something. I apologized on the behalf of customers and told him that was rediculious. He seemed to not be too fazed by what had just happened anymore and said thanks and smiled a little bit. Prety much what I expected, but I felt it needed to be said.

It brought me to thinking while I sat and ate. Just about everyone I know has worked in some sort of retail/service job in the past. Do people just forget what it was like? Do certain types of people just go around and hypocritical to that extreme? Most retail/service employees can't do much about your problem except try and help you. I just don't get what being an ass gains you.

I think it might stem from the general reputation of these types of being lazy, young, clueless and generally not caring. This has been spread by stereotypes and mass media. However, I usually feel that it isn't quite that way. While there is a good chunck of people working this industry who do fall into the stereotype, I don't feel there malaise dictates consumers yelling at the top of their lungs. Why can't things just be worked out. You can't always get your way. Whether you like it or not, the customer is NOT always right.

I say this as somone who has seen some UNREAL stuff as a retail employee. I worked at the Service Center at Cub Foods in high school and witnessed people trying to return eaten fruit, try to get items for free because they paid LESS then they were supposed to and lastly someone stealing other employees paychecks. I moved on to working at LEGO my senior year of high school and thought that my days of dealing with pepperoni ladies, angry moms, lying scumbag cheaters and thiefs was over. Boy was I wrong. I've been screamed at in different languages, almost kicked in the face by a crazed man who jumped up on a playarea table, cursed at in front of children, had various objects thrown at me from the upper floors of the mall and was the target of a drunken punch of a man who been saying innappropriate things to children drunkingly. After all that, one of the worst came just a month ago or so. I still work at LEGO every so often, mainly for special events and to helpout on Thursday nights. I was out on a Thursday night helping cleaning the albatross known as the playarea. This is where kids can build stuff out of provided LEGO bricks and run around and whatnot. Various unspeakable acts happen out there all the time. Anyways, cleaning the place usually sucks for the person who gets stuck doing it and I remember how that sucks, so I typically lend a hand. As I was picking up some bricks off the ground I noticed an odd stare from a very well-dressed, older woman sitting on one of the benchs. Her look turned to a little bit of disgust and she actually said this:

"Does it take a college degree to become a LEGO janitor?" She had the snidest look on her face. I didn't know what to say. I walked back in the store and told my co-worker (the manager) what she had said. He looked weird. "Thats one of the worst things I have ever heard". We both have degrees from universities. He does very well. I work at LEGO for the fun of it and have the other job (even though I generally hate it) that pays well. The other person working that night is a retired teacher, who also works at LEGO because she enjoys it. She has a masters degree.

Apparently it DOES take a college degree to be a "LEGO janitor".

Lets be nice to our employees who serve us kids. Step in there shoes for a minute before ripping them a new one.


={+}=

Minnesota Twins Season Preview...Part ONE

Ah, spring is in the air. It is a beautiful 12 degrees outside, so that is a little hard to believe, but the first sign of spring, spring training, starts this week. Sites all around Florida and Arizona will have the joyous rapture of American baseballers for the next month and a half.

Fort Myers, Florida is host to the Minnesota Twins. The Twins, of course, are the defending division champions of the Central Division. After a disappointing series against Oakland in the playoffs the Twins tumbled into the offseason.

It always seems that Terry Ryan's first move of the offseason is the best, and often the most intriguing. A couple years ago it was trading Eric Milton to the Phillies for Carlos Silva and Nick Punto, along with giving the Phillies ALL of Milton's salary. That ended up working out pretty slick. Not as slick as trading A.J. Pierzynski to the Giants for the famous trip of Nathan, Bonser and Liriano, but that deal is already in the history books as one of the most lopsided trades ever. Last year Ryan gave the Marlins Travis Bowyer and Scott Tyler (Bowyer was very promising at the time, then had a dreadful, injury plagued year for the Marlins) for Luis Castillo.

In this grand tradition, Ryan signed Jeff Cirillo, formerly of the Brewers. There is certainly nothing ground breaking about any of this, but these sort of moves always end up being my favorite. Cirillo batted .319/.369/.414 last year with the Brewers playing mainly at third base. Cirillo will be backing up Punto at third, Morneau at first and will undoubtedly have some DH duties throughout the year. However, his most value, in my opinion will be in backing up Punto. Punto has consistently been injured throughout his career, mainly due to his "Piranha" approach to the game. Also, last year could be a fluke, as it doesn't line up his career norms, but I am going to stick with the idea that Rod Carew really DID help Punto out at last years Spring training and assume that he will play at lasts years level. Besides Punto, the Twins are extremely limited in third base candidates. Even the ghost of Terry Tifee is gone. Luis Rodriguez should never play every day. There aren't any other 3rd basemen on the Twins 40 man roster. The minors? Nothing yet. Matt Moses had his butt kicked by AA New Britain last year. Not an option yet...or maybe ever at this point.

The Twins started off their offseason in the usual, positive way. The next entry in the Twins Season Preview might not be so positive as we get deeper into the winter.

The Catholic Church (As well as Christianity as a whole) and Youth...

Apparently, more then a few people were on edge after I had mentioned on Facebook a few months ago that I had some thoughts on the Catholic church and youth.

First, some background. I've been involved with the youth at a Catholic church in Eagan for the last 9 or 10 years. I was asked to attend a national youth minister conference in Las Vegas (That's right, Las Vegas...and the Catholic church...good combo!) While I was there, I encountered some issues that reminded me of the problems that I had been lingering on for sometime. Yesterday I had lunch with my friend Steve, who also happens to be a professional youth minister. He had also asked to hear my thoughts. So I shared...

The first problem is a matter of taking things too far, and trying to push things into being trendy. Look, young adults aren't dumb. Just because you call your youth group some trendy name like "Jesus kidz" or something doesn't mean you are going to be more successful. You can't cram it down the thoughts of the youth. THEY KNOW WHEN THEY ARE BEING PANDERED to. Just because you are ready to be excited about being a Christian, doesn't mean that they are. Just let them hang out, be themselves. If they become comfortable, talk about it naturally...don't force it. Right now I'm a big fan of using secular things that kids are into and using that to maybe influence them. Social networking sites (like Facebook), music that isn't overtly christian, but has a message that could be (think Switchfoot). Camps, outing, retreats that involve their friends and activities they enjoy along with a bit of people talking about faith and maybe a little reflection. It is a delicate situation. There will always be the ones who jump in the christian youth hoop with a full leap those kids aren't the concern, it is the ones who are reluctant, because of the stigma and the general lack of cool that Christianity is really spreading well right now. Why is it that Christianity has latched on to extreme sports and rock music, desperately trying to not look out of touch, while all in the while, looking just even more out of touch for being SO desperate about it. Every new band that looks secular, but isn't is treated like a golden calf.

I guess that can transition to my other Christianity thought that has been buzzing around for a while now. At what point did certain people in the religion start praising the church, its leaders and the congregation over Jesus and God? We are constantly selling products in services, retreats and gatherings. We pray for the church and tend to it, while occasionally ignoring God. We worship pastors, priests and church leaders, sometimes even choosing a place of worship on the pastor/priest and how good their public speaking skills are and how entertaining they are. If you drive down 35 into Lakeville there is a GIANT billboard with huge pictures of the Pastor of a church on it, obviously advertising for the church. What are we really worshipping here? We all fall into this trap, I know I have...with music. I often lose focus of the mass or service when I am also playing, so much so that I literally forget why I am where I am. It has happened in other scenarios too. I think it is something we need to look into as a faith community. The church is a place, way and avenue for worship...not a place to be worshipped.

={+}=

The Rivas, Ponson and Ortiz Update...

Luis Rivas was signed this winter to a minor league contract by the Clevland Indians and invited to Spring Training.

The fact that Rivas was signed by a division rival filled me with joy. Now I can truly hate him. However, it is unlikely he will be brought to Clevland, as they have a options in Barfield and Peralta and a bevy of other good middle infielders.

Sidney Ponson didn't attend TwinsFest, which dissapointed Terry Ryan and the Twins, apparently.

Ramon Ortiz signed a 1-year 3.1 million dollar contract with the Twins in January. I guess his ERA near 6 in the National League at spacious RFK really sealed the deal for adding him instantly to my hate list, even before throwing a pitch for the Twins.

International!

Before my first year of college, I hardly knew anyone who had left the North American continent. Sure, a few kids went to Europe for some school related activities, but never by themselves or for personal reasons.

Now, that has all changed. This week has my best friend Mike in Peru, visiting his (girl)friend Bridgette. At 3:45am on Saturday I drove my parents to the giant, industrial-looking complex known as the Minneapolis-St.Paul International Airport so they could fly to the Virgin Islands. My friend Serena is on a one month tour of Europe. Laura is in Taiwan teaching English. Brandis is in Japan, also teaching English. Japan is where my good friend Shaggs is from, and he goes back and forth between there and Mankato. Ryan was in Uruguay this winter. Sarah is going to go either the Congo or China at some point. Brent is going to Italy later this year.

As for me, I go to Europe in May...for only two weeks. I'm extremely excited. I get to use my German. I'm hoping to pay a visit to my LEGO homeland of Denmark. I really want to go Italy, if time permits.

For some reason, these thoughts on international travel lead me to an unorthodox thought chain. I have always prided myself on being open-minded. It is also a trait I admire in other people, and almost all of my friends are also open to new ideas, thoughts and opinions. Something I have come across lately that I like to do is admit I don't know enough about something, or haven't thought about something enough to form an opinion on something. This is something I would like to have others do more. I know that admitting to not being completely informed and not having an expertise in an area of thought could be hard to do for some, but I'm starting to catch on to the idea. For example...abortion. Before we get into some sort of heated, political, lefty-righty, religious evangelical vs the so-called "unholy army" argument, I'd just like to look at the idea with no bias.

I have no first-hand experience with abortion. I'm a male and have never caused a pregnancy. No one I know has admitted to having an abortion. I rarely read about abortion, except when I find a political agenda of a politician proposing new legislature. In other words, I almost never think about abortion. Feel free to criticize me for that, but since it has almost no impact on my life, it isn't something I have thought about much. Last week I was asked where I stand on abortion. My gut (The Colbert Report kind) tells me that I am pro-life, especially in the U.S. with good adoption options. My head tells me I shouldn't tell females what they should do, especially with rape and unwanted pregnancies. I need to think this one through. I need to think. Maybe I need to pray. Whatever I do, I know that I couldn't answer, so I said: "I don't know." Which usually is a quick answer for those who we deem unintelligent.

In this case, I thought it was the most intelligent answer I could give. Instead of deftly going with my gut or my first logic firing in my head, I'll come up with a plan of attack for this issue. Internal debate is always good.

People aren't often this open-minded with their own beliefs and ideas. They stick to them, often arguing them to no end. Never is there any sort of re-evaluation of the idea or thought. Once it is there...it never changes, falters or is under review. It is like hiring a new employee who looks great; polished resume, sharp shoes and then just cutting him loose and never, ever reviewing his work, evaluating progress or stopping at all and asking: "Was this a good idea to begin with?"

Some people think the smart ones who stick to their guns. I think the smart ones are the sharpshooters who change up their ammunition when they find a better round.