Monday, August 27, 2012

Level 7 - Level Boss

Last Week's Quests - Failed!

I had my first day of work at my new job. My friend, Stan, got me work at this hotel he works at. I had my interview and my first day the following afternoon. My new boss basically threatened me in the interview that if I do poorly, they will fire my friend for putting in a good word for me. Apparently weddings are big at this hotel and so there is a wedding every Saturday. From that point I have decided that I will make working with me extremely difficult for him. My boss, not my friend.



My first night working involved serving people food at a Lithuanian wedding. If you had to ask me what a Lithuanian wedding was I would have to say it is a lot like a drunken party in a 1980s food court. There was a ton of neon lighting in pink and blue along with people who were practically sweating alcohol. The most interesting part of the night wasn't the wedding, but the guy who was training me. I still am not full sure I understand him. He kept telling me to do specific things and then abruptly clarify that he wasn't my boss so I didn't necessarily have to do the very things he told me to do all while muttering it. Kid you not, he would say, "Ok, well, uh, you should serve them from the right and remove the plate from the left. That's just something I do, I mean, you don't have to do it. Also, lets try to serve the women first, but we don't have to, I mean, I'm not your boss or anything."

Status Effect - [Confused]

I can't tell if he was being extremely nice or extremely passive aggressive. I still haven't figured out how to cheer up Paul at all, but something should come up sooner or later.

This Week's Quests: 
  • Devise ways to cheer up Paul
  • Devise ways to infuriate new boss
  • Get used to the new job
  • Write for fun
To Be Continued...
Dave

Monday, August 20, 2012

Level 6 - Echo Screen Romance

Last Week's Quests - Completed!

It has been a few days and I still haven't heard anything from the Ad company, but who knows, things might go my way still. There hasn't been much to do besides keep myself occupied with looking for work, writing, reading. I finished Lamb by Christopher Moore and it is hysterical. It's about Jesus growing up with his goofball best friend. Returning it to the library was interesting because there is this girl that works there who I'm pretty sure I know from when I used to work on campus. Does anyone happen to know hot to hit on a librarian?

Used Item - Book Lamb

Status Effect - [Echo Screen]


Sure, a nurse is simple to hit on, you get sick and talk to her whenever she comes in. Does that work with librarians or do they shush you for talking in a library? Even still, what is there to talk about besides books and the Dewey decimal system? Do I ask her if you can make a late night deposit in her book slot? I don't know!

This week I decided to meet up with an old friend that I haven't seen in roughly a year.As it turns out my friend, Paul, had recently been left by his fiancee. I had never seen someone so down, I didn't know what to do. We ended up playing video games and watching TV.

Aside from that, my buddy Stan said he could help me get a job. We will see what happens with that. It appears I have my work cut out for me this week.

This Week's Quests: 
  • Devise ways to cheer up Paul
  • Visit Stan's work
  • Write for fun 
To Be Continued...
Dave

Monday, August 13, 2012

Level 5 - Super Dave Cart

Last Week's Quests - Completed!

I think I can finally understand why people say job interviews are stressful. The entire week was spent writing copy and attempting to perfect it. It got to the point that I was thinking up copy about the soap in the shower.

Status Effect - [Stressed]

Everything had been all set up for the day of the interview. I had my portfolio on the table, clothes set out, and I was somewhat well rested. The problem came when I got dressed only to find out that my either my suit had shrunk or I grew. This lead to frantic racing to the store to find a cheap suit followed by racing back home to retrieve the portfolio I left behind. Sometimes I wish had a turtle shell to throw at the stop lights that take too damn long.


 Item Acquired - New Suit 

New Suit - Equipped


Anyway, the interview went well. I gave it my all, but I was asked a series of stupid questions. Aren't interviewers supposed to ask stuff like what is your greatest strength/weakness? I got questions like, "Can you tell me a time where you didn't want to work and a team and how you dealt with it?" What the hell kind of question is that?! The rest of the questions were simple by comparison. Now I get to play the waiting game to see if they call.

In an effort to be a little more sociable I joined a friend for the Chicago Wizard-Con. It was amazing. I met Lou Ferrigno, Colin Ferguson, Dean Stockwell (personal hero), James Hong, and two Suicide Girls (whatever those are). I talked to Dean about how my dad and I used to watch Quantum Leap together and how much his work influenced me as a kid, he is just as cool as he was on that show. Lou was actually a very positive figure as well telling me to Keep it up. Colin is just as positive as he is on Eureka and I talked to him about his role in The Stupidest Angel, which he told me a secret about that I'm not supposed to share. James, by far, was the most hilarious. We talked about his movies, his fans, and Brett Favre. He is probably the coolest 80-year-old I've ever met.

Status Effect - [Glowing Awesomeness]



This Week's Quests: 
  • Wait for phone call from potential employer
  •  Write for fun
  • Finish & Return Lamb

To Be Continued...
Dave

Monday, August 6, 2012

Level 4 - Luck Plus

Last Week's Quests - Completed!

I received a phone call from one of the ad agencies I applied to. They asked me about my portfolio and I told them about a few of my creative & persuasive pieces. It's funny how many people piss and moan about getting job interviews. It can't be that hard if I got a call on one of my first tries.
 
Status Effect - [Lucky +]

All I know is that I have to beef up my portfolio a bit for this interview. I have a few pieces written in the format they would like, but it wouldn't hurt to have a few more. With any luck my portfolio should look fantastic. Wish me luck!



This Week's Quests: 
  • Level Up my Portfolio
  • Ace the Interview
  • Read Lamb

To Be Continued...
Dave