Robert Eckman's Personal Blog

I did it finally... I got a job. Not some "side" job fixing computers for people I've met over the years, but a real job that makes me feel like a productive member of society (like when I worked at microsoft.) So far... I love my job!

I work at SMDC, via Manpower, as a Computer Operator in the Data Center where IT keeps all of their big computers and mission critical 24/7/356 systems like the IBM AS/400 and blade servers. My main function is support and maintence of the multiple networked systems that control much if not all of the hospital's core business data, including medical records, inventory, communications, billing, payroll, and accounting information. Basically, I perform a lot of performance and security monitoring, backup and report creation, and be on call.

What probably got me the job was my rich past experience working in a simular enviroment at microsoft. And although I'm still continuing my education, I'm at the point where I only need a couple classes and I'm done. They support my decision to finish school, and are actually thrilled with the prospect of perhaps snatching me up before my degrees. I still have future career plans, but stated a number of factors that would make me rather stay with them, including the fact that I've grown to really love the TwinPorts area. In addition, I felt truly relaxed during my interview, and imagined myself just applying for a microsoft job. I really wanted this job, and I let them know it by asking all the right questions. (In case you didn't know, interviews are more about asking questions than giving answers.) I was a little worried about the credit checks and stuff (my credit isn't that great anymore) but I was quickly tendered an offer after I learned that I had beaten out many other canadates... but mainly because I was one of the few willing to work the night shift (and supposibly the hardest shift).

My Shift is 11pm to 9:30am, and I have a log book over 20 pages long that I have to follow and fillout before I'm done. But it's really not that bad. Time flies so fast, you're done before you know it, and everything you had to do is finished too. In fact, there are some periods of low times where you get to sit back and relax for a bit while the computers do their thing. That's when I go and catch up on my studying of the system (there's much I'm still learning here... I've never done AS/400 before.) I feel smarter every day, and more confident about my situation and place in life. I also love how I'm paying all my bills on time again. And I'm not sweating about where I'm going to find money finally. Thus, I can finally worry about more trival things like will the Redwings win the Stanley Cup or whether or not if I should cook a frozen pizza, or order delivered pizza for dinner.

Well... I survived another close call Tuesday night in hockey. It's the second time in about six months that I've been struck by the puck next to or near the eye. (The same eye in fact!) The first time, It was above the eye on the ridge where my eyebrow grows. I had a big shiner for about weeks or so... But I didn't switch to a cage or shield, since it was such a fluky thing. I never wore a face shield when I first played hockey, and trying to wear one now is extremely inconvenience. After all, I've only been hit in the face by the puck relatively a few times in my whole life... and I've been playing for ten years. Yet, it happened again this week, and this time, it was a lot more serious.

I was playing defense, as a forward rushed with the puck advancing into the zone on my right. I leaned forward with my stick while skating backwards to cut off and block any shot or passing lane, and the forward attempted to deke a little, and then shot the puck, but the deke move he made put the puck on "edge", causing the puck to spring upwards on his shot (like a golf ball) rather than staying low and on target. It went straight to my face, and It was one of those split second things that you see happening, but because you're out of position, you can't do anything about it. I tried to duck/look away, but it was too late, it nailed me right in the eye. I dropped my gloves and went down immediately clutching my left eye/face and laid on the ice face down for a minute as I rode the "sting" of the shot. I had my eyes closed tightly because of the pain, and in the back of my head, I wondered if this was really it, because I was feeling really intense pain, and my hands felt wet and hot. Eventually, I opened my good eye to see if there was any blood. Boy... there was blood alright, and lots of it! I tried to open my left eye carefully, but I couldn't because of all the blood. Players huddled around me as they tried to assist me, and some were horrified by the sight of blood all over my face, hand, and ice. Quickly, we went off the ice to attend the wound and determine the extent of damage. With water, we cleaned my face and hands and eventually found the cause for the blood, a clean cut under my left eye. Once the bleeding was controlled, we bandaged it and put ice on it. I realized then that it although it was serious close call, I didn't need any EMT or ambulances. I then resumed to my normal end game routine of changing out of my equipment, putting on my street clothes, collecting money for the ice time, and paying the rink before driving myself to the ER to get stitches. Everyone wanted to help me, and I appreciated their concern, but I figured once we got the bleeding controlled, and since it was a clean cut, I could handle it from there.

Total damage... 7 stitches, and eventual scar under the eye. I also have some loose teeth on my top left side, and it still hurts. I have to thank my mouth guard for letting me keep my teeth, because I'm certain they would of been gone otherwise.

So.. now I'm in the market of a high quality face shield... something that doesn't distort vision or fog up. My mother and uncle insist on paying for it, so there is no excuse anymore I suppose. As much as I hate a cage/shield, I'd rather be able to see out of two eyes than just one.

My oh my has the weather been incredibly hot lately... I don't think I ever remember it being so uncomfortably hot for nearly a month ever in this wisconsin/minnesota town. Now I know why I prefer living up north. It's much more comfortable to be all bundled up nice and tight with 20 degree below weather than to be half naked sweating in 90 degree heat. I hope I don't regret that last comment, but I just don't know how anyone can manage when it gets that hot.

Not a whole other news to report. Been playing some poker online again... been a hit/miss pretty much. I'm re-learning my limits and trying to keep myself within my limits, but it's difficult. I guess I like gambling, and I don't have enough respect for the money I gamble with. Someday, it'll change.

Only other thing worth mentioning is that the summer class I enrolled for has started. One week down, two more to go. I have to work on my presentation for tomorrow and find a manager to interview before next week. The class is Principles of Management, and although I thought I knew a lot about management strategies, I am learning a whole lot more than I had anticipated. I really hope to finish with high marks, and pick up that degree in May. I don't know what I'll do after school, but just accomplishing that goal of obtaining a degree would lift the world off of my shoulders. And believe me, the world isn't very light!

Well, spring break is over... I didn't get nearly one quarter of the things I wanted to finish done, but I'll manage somehow. Unfortunately, caught some nasty cold or sinus and I've been sick since hump day (wednesday). It's awful! I can't breath, I can't concentrate, I can't sleep, and I can't stay awake either. How does one not sleep and not be awake at the same time? I've always wondered myself, but I've figured out the answer is a state of semi-sleepness... where you're half awake bothered by pain and the annoyances of your sickness, but too tired to actually acknowledge it into a wakeful state. I'm not sure if that makes sense but boy... that's how it's been. Sometimes it feels like it takes a lot of effort just to move my head up. Hot baths help a little (it warms my sinuses up and declogs me) but then I get reallllly tired and fall asleep and get all clogged up again. I've been taking all the over the counter stuff you need to fight it, but I'm thinking maybe I might have to see a doctor since every two years now, I seem to come down with something big during spring. If anyone wants to be my nurse, that'd be great! I won't be able to pay much, but I'll fix your computer if you need it.

That's right... I'm in OshKosh Wisconsin now... Came down here January 2nd and registered for classes at UW-OK (Oshkosh). Currently taking ENG 210 which is Mythology Lit.

On my way down to Oshkosh from Superior, I stopped at McDonalds in Stanley Wisconsin for a couple of burgers for the road. I accidentally left my cellphone there, and didn't realize it till about 100 miles later. When I finally reached Oshkosh, I called my phone and talked to one of the employees, and asked for them to mail it. They said they would mail it the next day. That was on a Monday. On Friday, it still hadn't arrived, so I called that McDonalds and asked if they sent it. Nope, they hadn't bothered to, and then they wanted money before they'd send it! WTF!!! It cost maybe three dollars to send it US Priority mail. I then promised to pay them, and then they said they wanted collateral! My god! Collateral for 3 dollars? They suggested I send money via western union. Cripes, it cost like ten dollars just to send money, no way I'm paying ten bucks to send three dollars! So... I thought about it for a while, and figured out how to do it. I went to the USPS website and purchased a label. It cost me all of $2.95. I saved the label picture on my computer and tried to email it to McDonalds. Now, all they had to do was print it out and put it on the envelope, and drop it in the mail slot. But noooooo..... they gave me the wrong email address, and my email got returned. So... I'm very frustrated, since I should have already gotten my phone, I decide to call McDonalds Corporate Headquarters. I explained the situation to them, and they appologized and said they'd resolve the situation right away. I then got a call from that McDonalds in Stanely and they gave me the correct email address, and still wanted that pre-paid postage label. I sent it, and they got it, and I guess my phone will be here by tomorrow or Tuesday. Still, I think the whole thing was ridiculus... I mean, don't you think McDonalds would be able to afford dollars to send something out the mail?? Don't they have a petty cash drawer? I was planning on writting a nice letter of thanks and including something like ten or fifteen dollars as a reward in return for the cell phone if they had sent it right away like they said they would... but now.... I'm not going to even bother. I tried my best to be very accomidating, since it was, after all, my mistake to leave my cellphone there. But you know, sometimes the customer is the most important thing, and sometimes, businesses or people should go above and beyond the call of duty to help others. Yet, unfortunately, this did not happen. Instead, I went above and beyond to accomidate them, by working with them as much as possible to make it easier for them to send me my phone, including but not limited to purchasing the stamp/postage online and sending it. I could understand why they'd want money before hand if it cost like 50 bucks, but not for something so inexpensive as this.

So... some of you might be wondering, "What the hell Rob? You're leaving UWS??" Actually, no, I'm just doing the J-Term/Interm, and having the class transfered over. ENG 210 will transfer into ENG 241, and covers two of my requirements. I figured I'd hit two birds with one stone.

Right now, I'm just staying with my sister and her roommates. Me and my sister have had our moments, (it's difficult for siblings to get along all the time), but we're doing well. However, I really enjoy it down here! I don't know what the heck the deal is, but the women to men ratio is like 3.5 to 1, but I'm not complaining! I don't think I'll meet anyone, since it's like six hours away from Superior.