Well, the mercury isn't too high, but I got my first sunburn of the year yesterday. My parents are having a sale at the Stagecoach Stop once a month and this weekend the sale is going pretty well. One customer said she wanted to pass some infomation on to her editor of a newspaper that might be interested in doing a story on the building. I've been there helping out with the sale and pulling nails out of things. A few people have taken a good hard look at my drums for sale, but they haven't gone anywhere yet.
Today I'm stuck working in the real estate office and it is going a little slow. I've got too many art and music projects on the horizon. Some are things I'm finding out about recently that have deadlines and some are just things I want to do. I can't wait to get home and turn up the guitar real loud for about five minutes, then I'll go back to helping my folks out at the brick house.
Finally got a contract on the house I have listed in Somonauk. Looks like it's going to go through this time. Yesterday I finally procured tickets to see Radiohead. For about five years I've been trying to see this band and it looks like it is finally going to happen. My friend Mike suggested we go to Lollapalooza but I'm not sure I can afford tickets and it is the same weekend as my family's annual summer "Come to the Farm" party. So if you can't make it to Lollapalooza, maybe you can come check out our shindig.
Worried about gas prices? Drive a bicycle.
07 May 2006
11 April 2006
"Grr.""
"Grr."
Itis the only word that I can think of that represents my state of mind. You can tweak it, add some R's, exclamation points, or even profane remarks preceding or following it. It all boils down to the same fundamental emotion.
Much of this frustration comes when I start looking at bills that are due this month. This frustration is augmented by the fact that the majority of these bills originate from the real estate business. Office technology fees, monthly Errors & Omission insurance, quarterly Multiple Listing Service fees, and cell phone bill (because I might not have one if I weren't a Realtor).
What does a fellow like me do when the bills keep piling up? Spend more money, of course! I went and bought a drawing tablet, a little smaller and more economical than the tablet I had a couple years ago. I've been tinkering in Flash and now that I have a method to record audio with, I can start making some little Flash movies. Will they in turn make me any money? Not at first, but who knows? I could be the next Homestar Runner. Mostly I want to build my skills for future employment.
With that in mind, what kind of Flash movies would you most be interested in seeing?
The Story of John
Real Estate Transactions 101
Patient & Shrink serials
I Hate My F***ing Job music video
I'll take other suggestions too. Maybe I'll do something interactive
There are some buzzings around the office. I might find myself in trouble.
Itis the only word that I can think of that represents my state of mind. You can tweak it, add some R's, exclamation points, or even profane remarks preceding or following it. It all boils down to the same fundamental emotion.
Much of this frustration comes when I start looking at bills that are due this month. This frustration is augmented by the fact that the majority of these bills originate from the real estate business. Office technology fees, monthly Errors & Omission insurance, quarterly Multiple Listing Service fees, and cell phone bill (because I might not have one if I weren't a Realtor).
What does a fellow like me do when the bills keep piling up? Spend more money, of course! I went and bought a drawing tablet, a little smaller and more economical than the tablet I had a couple years ago. I've been tinkering in Flash and now that I have a method to record audio with, I can start making some little Flash movies. Will they in turn make me any money? Not at first, but who knows? I could be the next Homestar Runner. Mostly I want to build my skills for future employment.
With that in mind, what kind of Flash movies would you most be interested in seeing?
The Story of John
Real Estate Transactions 101
Patient & Shrink serials
I Hate My F***ing Job music video
I'll take other suggestions too. Maybe I'll do something interactive
There are some buzzings around the office. I might find myself in trouble.
30 March 2006
Fickle John Morton
Surprise, surprise, I'm starting to have doubts about going back to school to be a math teacher. It started sinking in today when I started looking over the curriculum. First off, it would take me more like 3-4 years to get through, not 2-3. Second, I came to the dreadful realization that during my second year in the program, I would have to work as a student teacher during the days and take classes at night. That's not terrible, but it would mean if I get the job at Target, I'd have to give it up because of my schedule during my second year. I really don't want to do that.
When I think about it further, teaching math to high school kids is by no means a dream. If I'm going to compromise what I'm going to do, I may as well work in a warehouse and save the tuition money for other things. What are my dreams? I'm not sure exactly, but it involves creating something. It occurs to me that with the effort it would take to work full time and go to school, I could forego school and teach myself things I really want to know. Get my Flash skills up to date, get better at drawing and music...these are all things I have wanted to do for a long time. Going back to school and working full time would make those things more difficult to do. There are only so many hours in a day and unfortunately, sleep isn't always optional.
My dream, vague as it may be, is to work for myself. I have some ventures in mind and nearly all of them can be started part time in the beginning. Some involve creating a tangible product, others involve creating online entertainment supported by advertising revenue.
Well, that's what's on my mind. Thoughts and suggestions are welcome. Thanks for tuning in.
When I think about it further, teaching math to high school kids is by no means a dream. If I'm going to compromise what I'm going to do, I may as well work in a warehouse and save the tuition money for other things. What are my dreams? I'm not sure exactly, but it involves creating something. It occurs to me that with the effort it would take to work full time and go to school, I could forego school and teach myself things I really want to know. Get my Flash skills up to date, get better at drawing and music...these are all things I have wanted to do for a long time. Going back to school and working full time would make those things more difficult to do. There are only so many hours in a day and unfortunately, sleep isn't always optional.
My dream, vague as it may be, is to work for myself. I have some ventures in mind and nearly all of them can be started part time in the beginning. Some involve creating a tangible product, others involve creating online entertainment supported by advertising revenue.
Well, that's what's on my mind. Thoughts and suggestions are welcome. Thanks for tuning in.
26 March 2006
19 March 2006
17 March 2006
I Shall Not Want...Maybe
Although I haven't been a church going soul in quite some time, a lot of the very basic principals taught in church have stuck with me. The bit that's been getting me lately is wealth and possession and what we think we need and/or deserve.
The reason this has been coming up for me is that I'm really crossing my fingers that I'll have a new job shortly (or rather, an additional job) and I'm already starting to count the money. It's a bad habit, but I'm a dreamer. I get to thinking about paying all my bills off and after I've eliminated my emediate debt how great it would be to buy a new car. Not just any car, but a nice used sporty car. I'm thinking a 2004 Ford Mustang Mach I would be nice. Then I start thinking about how selfish that is to spend all that kind of money when I could get something much more simple that would still get me from point A to point B. A lot of people would respond to that, "If it's the car you want and you have the funds to get it, just get it." We live in this society where we tell ourselves we deserve these things and that we should reward ourselves for our hardwork. However, most major religions have their own concept of the afterlife or reincarnation, and go on to say that our we our meant to suffer while we live this life. Our hard work will go on to be rewarded when we have left this world (or when we are reincarnated in our next life, depending on the religion). Few mention that our hard work will be rewarded now in this life with fast cars. Of course a car and unimaginable rewards of the afterlife are hardly equal rewards.
Part of me thinks that taking a vow of poverty and giving up things like guitar amps and drumsets and xBoxes would be the humble or noble thing to do. Then there is the rationalizing part of me that argues a certain amount of wealth is necessary to perpetuate our survival and the ability to help others. Take a look at Bill Gates. I'm a Mac user, not a big Microsoft fan, but I can't deny that he's used his considerable wealth to help thousands of people. He probably has a decent wardrobe, but many times you see him in a basic sweater and khakis. He isn't wearing Armani suits, but he isn't a slob either. Now if Bill Gates one day sold everything he had, went around wearing sweat pants, and drove around in a used Honda Civic, people would think he was crazy. He might take all the wealth he gained from selling those possessions/stock/whatever and donate it to several worthy causes, but that would be it. He'd have nothing more to give. At the moment he can continue to generate considerable wealth because he also holds onto much of it. Now, if we all took a vow of poverty and then went on to share our wealth with other nations, that might do some good. But if we were all smart enough to do that, then life wouldn't have to be suffering in the first place because we'd all be helping each other and pledging to be equal (because we've all promised to be poor). Effectively we'd be creating a utilitarian society. In the real world, it just could never work that way.
Certainly if my goal was to stay a Realtor, I'd be expected to maintain a certain amount of wealth. One needs to display a certain amount of success to others so that they are confident in your abilities. My success indicates that I have made my clients successful, or else they wouldn't have given me their business. If Donald Trump took up residence in a cheap apartment and wined and dined his business partners at Taco Bell, they wouldn't take him seriously and would take their buisness elsewhere. To some extent this applies to most jobs. People notice your appearance, what you wear, what you drove into the parking lot, and other little details, even if only subconsciously. They account for these details when they interview you for a job. They might not care what kind of car you drive, but if one fender is a different color than the rest of the car, they might hold it against you. We're all superficial about something.
So if my goal is to be a high school math teacher, is there any way for me to say that I need a nice used sporty car? I'm not sure there is. That doesn't mean I still don't want one. It's not as if I am a monk or even that I subscribe to a specific world religion. Still I can't help but feel that we reward ourselves a little too often and maybe we need to worry about the welfare of the rest of the world. What really kills me is that there will probably be a day when I talk myself into buying such a car and I'll forget all about this. Someone will tell me I deserve it and it's okay, and I'll believe them because I want to. It isn't as if I'm going to go tell everyone to get rid of their cars. My grandpa has three extra cars that he doesn't need. He just likes them. If I call him up and tell him he needs to sell his cars, that's the same as judging him. And if it were in fact wrong/uncessesary to have these nice things, selling them would only make a guilty party out of the new buyer. Do you see how ever solution has a new problem attached with it? Hell, I could argue that me spending more on a car than I need creates a chain of supply and demand that puts food on someone else's table. If life is meant to be suffering, then no amount of sacrifice is going to make the suffering any better, and all people of the world will never experience the equal amounts of suffering in our life time. That is, unless World War III starts tomorrow and all bets are off.
It's a lot to think about. It's no wonder I'm stressed out.
The reason this has been coming up for me is that I'm really crossing my fingers that I'll have a new job shortly (or rather, an additional job) and I'm already starting to count the money. It's a bad habit, but I'm a dreamer. I get to thinking about paying all my bills off and after I've eliminated my emediate debt how great it would be to buy a new car. Not just any car, but a nice used sporty car. I'm thinking a 2004 Ford Mustang Mach I would be nice. Then I start thinking about how selfish that is to spend all that kind of money when I could get something much more simple that would still get me from point A to point B. A lot of people would respond to that, "If it's the car you want and you have the funds to get it, just get it." We live in this society where we tell ourselves we deserve these things and that we should reward ourselves for our hardwork. However, most major religions have their own concept of the afterlife or reincarnation, and go on to say that our we our meant to suffer while we live this life. Our hard work will go on to be rewarded when we have left this world (or when we are reincarnated in our next life, depending on the religion). Few mention that our hard work will be rewarded now in this life with fast cars. Of course a car and unimaginable rewards of the afterlife are hardly equal rewards.
Part of me thinks that taking a vow of poverty and giving up things like guitar amps and drumsets and xBoxes would be the humble or noble thing to do. Then there is the rationalizing part of me that argues a certain amount of wealth is necessary to perpetuate our survival and the ability to help others. Take a look at Bill Gates. I'm a Mac user, not a big Microsoft fan, but I can't deny that he's used his considerable wealth to help thousands of people. He probably has a decent wardrobe, but many times you see him in a basic sweater and khakis. He isn't wearing Armani suits, but he isn't a slob either. Now if Bill Gates one day sold everything he had, went around wearing sweat pants, and drove around in a used Honda Civic, people would think he was crazy. He might take all the wealth he gained from selling those possessions/stock/whatever and donate it to several worthy causes, but that would be it. He'd have nothing more to give. At the moment he can continue to generate considerable wealth because he also holds onto much of it. Now, if we all took a vow of poverty and then went on to share our wealth with other nations, that might do some good. But if we were all smart enough to do that, then life wouldn't have to be suffering in the first place because we'd all be helping each other and pledging to be equal (because we've all promised to be poor). Effectively we'd be creating a utilitarian society. In the real world, it just could never work that way.
Certainly if my goal was to stay a Realtor, I'd be expected to maintain a certain amount of wealth. One needs to display a certain amount of success to others so that they are confident in your abilities. My success indicates that I have made my clients successful, or else they wouldn't have given me their business. If Donald Trump took up residence in a cheap apartment and wined and dined his business partners at Taco Bell, they wouldn't take him seriously and would take their buisness elsewhere. To some extent this applies to most jobs. People notice your appearance, what you wear, what you drove into the parking lot, and other little details, even if only subconsciously. They account for these details when they interview you for a job. They might not care what kind of car you drive, but if one fender is a different color than the rest of the car, they might hold it against you. We're all superficial about something.
So if my goal is to be a high school math teacher, is there any way for me to say that I need a nice used sporty car? I'm not sure there is. That doesn't mean I still don't want one. It's not as if I am a monk or even that I subscribe to a specific world religion. Still I can't help but feel that we reward ourselves a little too often and maybe we need to worry about the welfare of the rest of the world. What really kills me is that there will probably be a day when I talk myself into buying such a car and I'll forget all about this. Someone will tell me I deserve it and it's okay, and I'll believe them because I want to. It isn't as if I'm going to go tell everyone to get rid of their cars. My grandpa has three extra cars that he doesn't need. He just likes them. If I call him up and tell him he needs to sell his cars, that's the same as judging him. And if it were in fact wrong/uncessesary to have these nice things, selling them would only make a guilty party out of the new buyer. Do you see how ever solution has a new problem attached with it? Hell, I could argue that me spending more on a car than I need creates a chain of supply and demand that puts food on someone else's table. If life is meant to be suffering, then no amount of sacrifice is going to make the suffering any better, and all people of the world will never experience the equal amounts of suffering in our life time. That is, unless World War III starts tomorrow and all bets are off.
It's a lot to think about. It's no wonder I'm stressed out.
15 March 2006
Website Mania!
EDIT: Day Two- It's looking like it may be more like 9pm or even midnight. It always takes longer than I think.
13 March 2006
This could work too
DeKalb Distribution Center Job Fairs
Full-Time Warehouse Workers
$14.00 with progression up to $17.00
Requires ability to operate forklifts, routinely lift up to 60lbs., accurately log inventory and safely operate warehouse equipment (forklifts, etc.).
Full-Time Packers
$11.90 with progression up to $14.45
Requires the ability to lift up to 30lbs., accurately scan and input data into the inventory database and maintain related paperwork.
Both positions require superb organization, customer service, problem solving and decision making skills in processing mechandise, and a HS diploma or equivalent.
Must be 18 or older and present valid indentification to attend the Job Fairs.
Benefits include medical, dental, 401(k), and employee discounts!
I will definitely be at this job fair. The problem will be transitioning between Coldwell Banker Primus and Target if I get the job. I won't quit CB Primus, but I'll have to make a dramatic shift in the hours I am available. I'm curious if there will be two or three shifts there.
Cross your fingers for me!
11 March 2006
A Baseball Bat Will Do The Trick
This week without television has really be great. I'll admit, there were times it was tempting to watch something, but I'm glad I haven't. It doesn't even seem like it has been a week, because with all the time I've freed from the idiot box, I've been so busy! I've practiced so much more guitar. I've read the newspaper. My thoughts have been more complete. I played a game of chess with my sister. I've listened to more new music.
The downside is that I've realized how much more dependent other people are on their televisions, and how ignorant the human race chooses to be. Why are we so addicted to television? Because the programming is well constructed and entertaining? Hardly. My thinking is that we're brought up with it. We're brought up with it because our parents were brought up with it. Our grandparents are the exception. Very few of them had a television in the house when they were young. Think back to your upbringing. Did you ever have television taken away from you as a punishment? Giving up television shouldn't seem like a chore, and good behavior shouldn't be complimented with something that robs us of ambition and imagination.
Yes, there are television programs that I enjoy. But what happens if I miss one? At the very worst, the question of "How is this going to end?" goes unanswered. All other side effects and outcomes are positive. I have a suspicion that if I continue to keep the television off, my imagination will begin to thrive again.
Here is a suggestion to all you naysayers thinking you can't possibly live without your regular programs. Evaluate the shows you are watching and decide which are the very few you can't live without. Instead of watching the programs when they first air, find a way that you can record them and play them back later. Then set aside only one block of time in a week in which you allow yourself to watch them. Stick to it. I think you'll find the mild inconvenience of giving up immediate gratification will be outweighed by the many benefits.
The downside is that I've realized how much more dependent other people are on their televisions, and how ignorant the human race chooses to be. Why are we so addicted to television? Because the programming is well constructed and entertaining? Hardly. My thinking is that we're brought up with it. We're brought up with it because our parents were brought up with it. Our grandparents are the exception. Very few of them had a television in the house when they were young. Think back to your upbringing. Did you ever have television taken away from you as a punishment? Giving up television shouldn't seem like a chore, and good behavior shouldn't be complimented with something that robs us of ambition and imagination.
Yes, there are television programs that I enjoy. But what happens if I miss one? At the very worst, the question of "How is this going to end?" goes unanswered. All other side effects and outcomes are positive. I have a suspicion that if I continue to keep the television off, my imagination will begin to thrive again.
Here is a suggestion to all you naysayers thinking you can't possibly live without your regular programs. Evaluate the shows you are watching and decide which are the very few you can't live without. Instead of watching the programs when they first air, find a way that you can record them and play them back later. Then set aside only one block of time in a week in which you allow yourself to watch them. Stick to it. I think you'll find the mild inconvenience of giving up immediate gratification will be outweighed by the many benefits.
09 March 2006
Big Bad Microsoft Vs. My New Blog Design
I should also mention that I will be changing the main title...but not just yet. It's late.
EDIT: It's still late...I changed the logo at the top. More than likely you weren't watching for the half hour the other one was in place, so it's all the same to you, isn't it?
EDIT NUMBER 2: Well, it looks okay on PC versions of IE, but the font is awfull big even at 1024x768. The CSS text descriptions are set relative to standard HTML formatting, not specific pt sizes or pixels. It may be a pain to change, but there are really only two that should need adjusting.
Currently Listening To:
Weezer - Make Believe - Perfect Situation
08 March 2006
Good Fortune Smiles on John Morton
Things are slowly looking up. Monday I nearly had a panic attack when I looked at all the bills that I'm going to have due at the end of the month, I still haven't quite figured out how I'm going to pay them, but my Federal tax return should be in before most are due.
Well, after my near panic attack, I called my voicemail at work and found that an offer had finally come in on my listing in Somonauk. After some paperwork and voicemail counter-offering, a price was agreed upon and a closing date was set by Tuesday night. If all goes well I should have a very respectable check coming my way in about five and a half weeks. It won't pay off all my debts, but it will pay all the bills for that month and take a good bite out of my credit card balance.
Tonight my grandpa called me and asked me if his car is worth $600. I had been asking him if he would think about selling it to me, even though I don't have any money yet. My dad said he would probably sell it for about $1000. When I told my dad that Grandpa would sell it to me for $600, he said he'd buy it at that price. I think what I'll do is offer my Grandpa $800 for it if he'll allow me to buy it on an installment plan. That way he'll get a little more and I don't have to come up with all the money plus tax, title fees, and insurance at once.
I've got to apply for more jobs, but I really want something to open up in DeKalb. That would make the most sense since that is where I'll be going back to school.
Tonight I got home and it was really hard to not turn on the television. I ate some food and got my sister to play chess with me. It was down to my King and Rook against her King and there was no way I could force a checkmate so I gave up. Eariler today I finally sat down and decided I'd learn the intro to Weezer's "My Name Is Jonas". It isn't complicated, just fast. I don't have it 100% yet, but I think I'll be there soon.
The last order for business tonight will be to finish up my snail mail newsletter. Then tomorrow I will make copies and stuff them into envelopes and mail them off. Hazaa, hazaa!
Currently listening to:
Weezer - Weezer - Buddy Holly
Well, after my near panic attack, I called my voicemail at work and found that an offer had finally come in on my listing in Somonauk. After some paperwork and voicemail counter-offering, a price was agreed upon and a closing date was set by Tuesday night. If all goes well I should have a very respectable check coming my way in about five and a half weeks. It won't pay off all my debts, but it will pay all the bills for that month and take a good bite out of my credit card balance.
Tonight my grandpa called me and asked me if his car is worth $600. I had been asking him if he would think about selling it to me, even though I don't have any money yet. My dad said he would probably sell it for about $1000. When I told my dad that Grandpa would sell it to me for $600, he said he'd buy it at that price. I think what I'll do is offer my Grandpa $800 for it if he'll allow me to buy it on an installment plan. That way he'll get a little more and I don't have to come up with all the money plus tax, title fees, and insurance at once.
I've got to apply for more jobs, but I really want something to open up in DeKalb. That would make the most sense since that is where I'll be going back to school.
Tonight I got home and it was really hard to not turn on the television. I ate some food and got my sister to play chess with me. It was down to my King and Rook against her King and there was no way I could force a checkmate so I gave up. Eariler today I finally sat down and decided I'd learn the intro to Weezer's "My Name Is Jonas". It isn't complicated, just fast. I don't have it 100% yet, but I think I'll be there soon.
The last order for business tonight will be to finish up my snail mail newsletter. Then tomorrow I will make copies and stuff them into envelopes and mail them off. Hazaa, hazaa!
Currently listening to:
Weezer - Weezer - Buddy Holly
06 March 2006
Hardly In Love
To get back in the swing of things, I recorded a quick cover tonight. It sounded good in my headphones as I played it back, but when I exported from Garageband to iTunes and played it back, the vocals seem much higher and the guitar much quieter. I'm not sure if I should look to the headphones, Garageband, or the computer speakers for the change. I suppose I could burn a CD and play it on the stereo, but it's not like this is going to go on a record or anything. If you want to hear, here it is: http://www.threechordme.com/sounds/alwaysinlove.mp3
If you don't recognize the tune, it is Wilco's "Always In Love" from Summerteeth.
I turn on the television too much. So I've covered it up. No TV for at least a week. No movies, no video games, no nighttime dramas or sitcoms. No TV. I encourage others to try it out as well.
Still looking for jobs, praying that I'll hear back from 3M, but not counting on it. I'm finishing up a snail mail newsletter. Those of you who read my blog regularly probably won't get much new from it, but I'm doing it by hand and it should be pretty to look at. Is it improper to end a sentence with "at"? Is "at" a proposition? You're not supposed to end sentences with propositions. It confuses folks from Missourri.
If you don't recognize the tune, it is Wilco's "Always In Love" from Summerteeth.
I turn on the television too much. So I've covered it up. No TV for at least a week. No movies, no video games, no nighttime dramas or sitcoms. No TV. I encourage others to try it out as well.
Still looking for jobs, praying that I'll hear back from 3M, but not counting on it. I'm finishing up a snail mail newsletter. Those of you who read my blog regularly probably won't get much new from it, but I'm doing it by hand and it should be pretty to look at. Is it improper to end a sentence with "at"? Is "at" a proposition? You're not supposed to end sentences with propositions. It confuses folks from Missourri.
03 March 2006
14 January 2006
Pay attention class
I hate to be one of those bandwagon guys, but I'm starting to get into The Postal Service now. The first listen through their album I didn't think too much of it, but recognized some catchy parts. Still, it was good enough that I decided I needed to listen to it some more. Now on listen five or six, I'm really liking many of these songs. I'm pretty sure that I stole this album from my cousin Jordan, so I'll have to go out and get a legit copy soon (because I'm good like that). It's also inspiring to create music that is synthesized. I've been doing a little of that lately, but mostly just drum tracks. Songs like "The Distric Sleeps Alone Tonight" are pleasantly computery, but can be dissected to be played on an acoustic guitar if you really wanted to do that. Maybe what I have to do is write with a guitar, and translate it to pleasant computerness, that is, if I am so inspired.
In other news, I have completed uploading a draft version ofThe Stagecoach Stop site. You'll notice if you follow the link that it is connected to the Three Chord Me site. Anyway, check it out, tell me what you think, tell me what needs to be fixed. I'll make changes to it just like I do to everything else.
In other news, I have completed uploading a draft version ofThe Stagecoach Stop site. You'll notice if you follow the link that it is connected to the Three Chord Me site. Anyway, check it out, tell me what you think, tell me what needs to be fixed. I'll make changes to it just like I do to everything else.
13 January 2006
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