Friday, August 31, 2007

Freedom!

I won't really know what it feels like until next week when I don't have to go in to work. But I'm pretty sure it feels good. Said my goodbyes today at work...while I'm happy to be rid of the job, I will miss the folks I've worked with these last two years. Nonetheless, I was happy to get going.

I took a video of my last seconds of corporate whoredom:




Yesterday, I came into the office to some nice going-away decorations, courtesy of my friend Kori and her kids.




And a funny balloon (front and back):




So, a bittersweet day, but it means that I have just one more week before I'm on that plane! It feels good

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

A big goodbye

Well, it's gone. Seven good years with the Jeep. It's a sad goodbye, but my last major obstacle to leaving.


Monday, August 27, 2007

Saweet!

I found a buyer for my car tonight! We'll finalize the sale tomorrow. So today was a big day. IRA opened. Car sold. AND I cleaned out my desk. And the people rejoiced. NOW I'm starting to feel like it's all real.

Finally setting in

The fact that I'm about to depart is finally starting to set in. My parents had a going-away party for me on Saturday. Lots of family, coworkers and friends came to celebrate (and I even got a little extra beer money out of it!). I have only five more days of cubicle life before me. I also have some real work to do this week (sorry to let down those of you who thought I would be sitting here only semi-conscious for five days).

Also, despite the fact that I'm "ready to go" as far as preparations go, I still have to sell my car and open up an IRA to roll my 401k into. How does no one want to buy a red jeep?? It's a sweet car! Perfect first car for your 16 year old. Wish me luck...

Oh, and today marks a quarter century in the life of Justin. I'm old.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Where I'm headed

I'm realizing that a lot of people don't know exactly what New Zealand looks like, how big it is or that it's composed mainly of two large islands. To make clear exactly where I'm going, I've made a map (god bless google) that includes a marker for Auckland, which is my first stop. I'll continue using maps during my trip so I can show you where I am and where I've been.

Zoom in, drag it around and change it to the satellite view to catch a glimpse at the green country I'm about to visit.


View Larger Map

Monday, August 20, 2007

Insurance: Check

I got word from my agent today that I'm good to go on my medical and life insurance. However, since I'll be 25 on my effective date, the medical's going to cost me another 30-40 bucks. Damn. But it also won't take effect until i leave, not the first like I had hoped, which means I have a week without insurance. I better be sure to take care of myself. I threw away the COBRA information I got on Saturday...oops.

So that's almost the last thing off my must-do list. I'm essentially ready to go. Just have to check and recheck my packing list...I should have everything I need though, just a matter of ensuring that it gets in the pack.

But there's also the matter of selling my car. I had a couple people look over the weekend, but no takers. Anyone want to buy a 96 Grand Cherokee?

Two week notice

Today marks the beginning of my final two weeks of corporate whoredom. I've got a ton to do these two weeks. I have to finish three or four three-minute videos clips. I have to write an employee news article. I have to make a long-promised presentation next week. And more. AND I have to clean out my cube. It's a mess; I don't exactly have a detailed filing system, more like stacks of crap. But, it's got to be done, and it will be well worth it!

Oh, and go see Superbad--It is indeed.

Friday, August 17, 2007

Things I won't miss about Corporate America, part 4

No. 4: The conference room




This is where good ideas go to die. Any corporate whore would tell you they've wasted away countless hours in the confines of the often-windowless conference room. This one, my "home base," if you will, is an obvious exception to that. Even so, I've spent many clock-watching meetings here. Knowing that in 23 short days, my new conference room will be the local pub, is quite comforting.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Things I won't miss about Corporate America, part 3

No. 3: The cubicle



The cube farm -- home of the corporate whore. It's my six-by-six feet of space where I spend 45 hours a week. I've spent more than 4000 hours in this box in the last two-plus years; that's 166 days. Soon, my only surroundings will be the mountains, beaches, fjords and glaciers of New Zealand. Now that's a hell of a promotion.

Friday, August 10, 2007

Things I won't miss about Corporate America, part 2

No. 2: The commute




Don't get me wrong, the rush-hour commute in Omaha isn't that bad, relatively speaking--I have about 20-25 minutes in the morning and a solid half hour in the evening. But it's the principle of the matter! The commute serves as the bookends for your day as a corporate whore. It's symbolic. It's like driving the squad car to your own jail sentece.

But, thank god, I'm selling my car before I head off, and I won't be looking back.

By the way, I'm down to under a month now!

Tuesday, August 07, 2007

Thank God for The Onion

Thursday, August 02, 2007

Things I won't miss about Corporate America

Over the next few weeks, I'd like to share some of the things I deal with on a daily basis that I will not miss once I'm gone. I have no room in my heart for these things, and based on how much they suck, I'm certain they have similar feelings for me.

No. 1:

PowerPoint



Good god PowerPoint sucks. People use it for everything. Presentation? PPT. Need to share a photo? Put it in a PPT. Proposal? PPT. Want to ask for a day off? PPT.

It's depressing.

This guy pretty much sums up how I feel about this godforsaken piece of software. And he's hilarious.