 |
|
About This: | |
|
 |
You tell me... OK, fine, be that way! When I think of a description, I'll type it here. Or maybe here ---> x But probably not there | | | V |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
My IMood: | |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wICQ Status: |
|
|
|
 Click Here |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wLinks: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Needed to Complete My |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wFriday, August 29, 2003 | |
|
|
The romanticized small town life debunked I figured leaving early for my final this morning gave me enough time to go to the bank and deposit my paycheck. My atm card has been in my dad's car all week, which means I haven't spent much money, but also that I'm out of cash. Next door to the bank is a coffee place (where I go to get boba, usually) so I figured I could grab caffeine and a croissant, and not hear my stomach rumbling during my final. So I walk on in to my local coffee house at 11:00 a.m. to see a guy with a lot of blonde hair resting his head on the counter. I stand there reading the menu for a few minutes when he finally notices me. "Can I get a vanilla iced latte without whip cream?", I ask. "Hmm, I guess so." He then proceeds to take the longest 12 minutes of my life to make this drink. Meanwhile, some girl comes out from the back and he tells her he can't hear the music (possibly because he has a coffee grinder on). She screeches something at him, but doesn't turn up the music. Then she notices me and says, "Hey, you went to my high school!" And I'm like, "yeah, I went there." I actually recognized her, she was a freshman when I was a senior, but she probably thinks I'm my sister, who would have been a year behind her. Alright, so she gets all excited and calls to the guy who is milking a cow for my latte (I think) and says, "Hey, she went to our high school too!" So they asked when I graduated, and I tell them. The girl gets all excited and saying I must know her brother. And she starts quizing me on all his nicknames... Totally does not ring a bell (I didn't want to me an asshole and go, "I only took AP classes, so I don't know most people"). I finally just say, "Oh, yeah, he had 2 first names, I remember him by his other one." Whatever. Well, the this girl starts telling me how much she loved all of the security guards, and the people at the health center, and asks if I remember them. I tell her that I never went to the health center. Then she starts telling me how great everyone was there, and asking me if I miss high school. I tell her, "The last 2 years I was really just ready to leave." (Like I'm ready to leave with my damn $3.25 latte!) Then I start to stare aloofly at the bakery case. The croissants look like they took them out of the Costco wrapper last week and left them in the case too long. I think she realized I was ignoring her, so the girl reaches under the counter, pulls out a dirty, crumpled polo shirt like the guy was wearing and starts to put it on. She even unbuttoned her pants to tuck it in. He finally finishes my drink, hands it to me, gives me my change (I so didn't leave a tip) and I start to leave. Right then I hear her say, "We better put our hats on, the health inspector is going to be here any minute." posted by Jenny on 8/29/2003 11:28:00 PM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wMonday, August 25, 2003 | |
|
|
I feel like I'm treading water, but without the chlorine taste. I desperately wanted to get out of working on this awards show, and my boss knew it. Then a show decided to reshoot scenes from it's pilot that same day and she asked me if I wanted to be moved over to be "the person who knows what she's doing." Uh, yeah... So they couldn't find a supervisor to cover because everyone in the company was working on the awards show. But eventually they got someone who agreed to come in before she had to go to her other job. I agreed to drop the paperwork off, and possibly handle the timecards if the show went a little over. Then they decided to move their start time back an hour on the night before. So I became "in charge". I guess it wasn't that bad. We had no paperwork, so we had to write everything on the back of papers people had on their clipboards from Friday night. (I was late, I stayed up all Thursday, worked 8.5 hr (overtime) Friday night and slept until 10 minutes before I was supposed to be there Saturday morning.) Anyway, we load the audience with 3 people who have never seated before (but one of them did) and someone who had probably not done groups or tickets, but handled both. Plus we had this temps from a temp agency that is basically hell to work with. We also had a useless, dirty, rude, smelly, annoying guy who got hired about half way through last season, but who still doesn't know how to do anything either. But, like I said, the audience got loaded in. Then the supervisor left, and I was in charge. I did breaks, which is a whole other story in itself. I had to write someone up because he took off when I sent him on break and I came to find out he did the same thing the night before. And I had to put out a fire when smelly guy insulted 2 groups of tourists from Australia by calling them "convicts from a prison colony" and a group of tourists from New Zealand by calling them Aussies. I think I calmed all but 2 of them down by making jokes about Violet Crumble and Vegemite. When the show was over, I went by the office and found the paperwork in the very bottom of the drop box, underneath everything from Friday's shows. So I sat in the hallway outside the office and filled it all out for almost an hour. Then I went home totally exhausted. Yesterday I helped my boss' best friend move in with my boss. The friend's boss was there helping too. Weird. Around 5:00 my mom called and said that grandma was there and she wanted to see me. Grandma had told my dad yesterday that she hadn't seen me in 3 weeks, so be sure I was there when she came over. But Sunday was exactly 2 weeks since I'd seen her at my parents' anniversary party. My mom said she'd tell her that. Then I asked if my sister was home yet, and she said she wasn't. So I pointed out that it's not fair that I can't have a life because she wants me to be home so she can look at me. So my mom told me not to come home until 6:30. I get home a few mintues after 6:30, grandma was in the bathroom, my parents were watching tv and my sister was in the computer room. I go right in to the kitchen and start eating a slice of pizza. As I'm shoving a huge bite in my mouth, she comes in the kitchen, slaps her hands on the table and says "Do you want to give me a kiss or just slap me in the face?" My response was, "Can't, eating." So she goes in to the den to watch Ebert and Roeper (my first instinct is still always to call it "Siskel and Ebert"). I finish up dinner and figure I have to go sit in there. I asked her if the 3/4 sleeve cotton shirt she's wearing is new, figuring this was a neutral thing to say because she's always looking for that exact shirt. She snaps back something about she's had this for a long time, where have I been. Then my mom starts talking about some ceremony our city is having tonight and how she wants to go. My sister wanted to go, but then my mom decided not to. Grandma starts playing the martyr, saying she'll go home early if everyone wants to go. But my parents stayed with her and we left at a little after 7:00. Next thing I know I come home that night and my mom is telling me all of this stuff that I allegedly yelled at her when she came in to the kitchen and "tried to kiss me". I tell my mom what grandma said to me, and she says that's not what grandma told her. As if that's surprising. Now I have to go to class and come up with a good excuse as to why I still haven't finished my paper that was due on Friday. Actually, I have an excuse, I just need to find out if there's any benefit to turning it in at this point. Today is the first day my Disneyland pass isn't blacked out this summer, I'll probably go there too. Electrical Parade here I come! (My first instinct here is still to call it "The Main Street Electrical Parade".) posted by Jenny on 8/25/2003 11:19:00 AM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wTuesday, August 19, 2003 | |
|
|
Rednecks, Militant Vegans Parents who bring squalling brats to R-rated movies, Creationists Bill Gates, NAMBLA Members Scientologists, John Mayer The Pope, Republicans River Styx DMV Employees, USC Trojans River Phlegyas George Bush, Oakland Raider Fans Annoying Warm-up, Crazy Fan, Masculine Co-worker The New York Yankees, The Shaver, Girl who's out to get me at work posted by Jenny on 8/19/2003 11:20:00 PM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wSunday, August 17, 2003 | |
|
|
|
I am Robert Redford.  Pre-Hyptnotized Peter What Office Space character are you? brought to you by Quizilla
What Type of Seducer are You? created by  polite_society I am 49% Evil Genius  I want to be evil. I do evil things. But given the opportunity, and a darn good reason I may turn to the good side. Besides I am probably a miserable evil genius. Take the Evil Genius Test at fuali.com posted by Jenny on 8/17/2003 03:29:00 PM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wSaturday, August 16, 2003 | |
|
|
Oops Yesterday I got a compliment sent about me to the office because I showed up at work early. In fact, when the call time came around, there were 2 out of 4 people there. Eventually we got 3! I did groups while I trained a new person on how to do tickets. I did VIP's because someone had to. I then got pulled from that show and put on another because people called off and they were going to be short too. When the call time came around for that show, I was there. No one else was. We also eventually got 3 people for that, including me. I handled the groups and trained another guy to do groups. It was his first day ever. He refered to it as his trial by fire. He did a really good job though. In fact, if he had been anything less, it wouldn't have worked out, because I was doing 4 people's jobs. I ended up getting 7.75 hours, which is a half hour more than I would have gotten had I stayed on the earlier show, because I got there earlier than everyone for the show I ended up on, and stayed later than everyone on the show I started out on. But at dinner, I was in the lounge area that we break in, and my supervisor from yesterday was there. Actually, when I parked today I went upstairs and sat down next to my boss, on the other side of where the supervisor was sitting. She was kissing my ass so hard I think it scared my boss. But then I had to go walk 2 blocks to where I was supposed to check in, so I left after like 10 minutes. Anyway, I walk in to the break room, and she's there. She must have gone outside to smoke or something, because my boss was sitting on the floor with me eating and says that someone else called the office today and said that after what the supervisor said, I might be afraid to tell what happened. So I say, "Yeah well, she did threaten me not to tell you." And it turns out, she was still in the room. So I guess she hears this and comes and stands behind me. The guy who was supervising outside (and later wrote up the compliment) asked what happened and I told him "Yesterday I cried for the first time in a really long time." And then she steps around and walks right in front of me. She was really pissed for the rest of the night. Stood right outside my stage door smoking a cigar so I'd see her every time I went outside. Once I had to walk past her because we were about to wrap (they lied, it took forever) so I had to go find someone and find out how to clock out (i.e. Does the show I worked on have to pay for the time I worked for the other show before I got switched over). So I go roaming around the lot, and after I got my answer, I walked by her and said something nicely about something that was going on with her show (I should mention that she was just working like me, not supervising) and she turns around violently, stares and me and keeps smoking. Oops, I think she's pissed. posted by Jenny on 8/16/2003 10:39:00 AM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wFriday, August 15, 2003 | |
|
|
Ultra Stretch-Resistant Tri-Laminate I have been sweating in to one of these for the last 11 hours. It's really slimey and gross. Yet still resisting stretch. Blogger ate the rest of this entry the last time I wrote it up. I'll redo it, somewhat less eloquently and publish in a few days (I don't have the strength to do it all again at once). The first thing that got out of hand was craft service. While I was outside with audience coordinator and a few people waiting for seats, she asked me to go to craft service and get them bottles of water. I ducked inside the studio to grab the stuff when my supervisor yelled at me for now staying outside and helping the audience coordinator like she asked me to. Next, we had a lot of extra people who didn't get seats. At one point they passed out pieces of fruit to the people sitting in the front of the audience and not the people in the back. I usually get a few pieces of candy from craft service (tootsie rolls and jolly ranchers) for kids whenever we have any in the audience. The audience people and the craft service lady know about it, they think it's cool. So I told the audience coordinator that I was going to grab candy for the people who had to stand. I run back there, grab and handful and pass it down the line. Then I go back to get a handful for the other side of the aisle. I was coming around the corner when my supervisor saw me and started yelling at me for taking so much candy for myself. Then, the producer came around from the other side and she kept on yelling about it. He never would have known about the candy if she hadn't of yelled at me in front of him. She told me to put it all in my pocket, which I did. I said I was going to go put it all back after the next scene, and she told me not to go back there again. So I said I'd give it to the audience like I had planned to and she told me not to do that either. But then she walked away and I gave it all to the audience after the next break. I did keep 1 laffy taffy for myself, though. When she found out about that she flipped out because she thought I went back after she said not to. More about this later... Today we did 2 shows. At one point near the end of the first one, my supervisor comes up to me, points her finger in my face and says, "You're fucking antsy, you're all fucking antsy, we're going to have a talk about this later!" When the audience leaves one person stands on the corner and tells everyone to turn right and stay single file on the left side of the street they're walking in. Then another person stands at the end and tells them to turn left, or stand in line for the bathroom. She wanted me to be in the middle of this 40 foot walk making sure people stayed single file to the left. But, when the person leading out led the audience out (I was with her because I was going to help lead out and stop at my position when we passed it), A bunch of people turned left out the door instead of right and tried to get in to office buildings on the lot. So I chased them down. Then when I got back 6-7 people had decided to sit at the tables in the courtyard and wait for the guests to come out after the show. So I chased them away. Then as I turn around more people are going left, and some are sitting down in a bench and smoking. I finally get the courtyard clear when this security guard (the regular one had already left to help some slutty looking teens starts their car) comes up to me and tells me to make sure the groupies leave the lot. To digress: They closed the gate, meaning we were full, had enough audience and it was past the arrival time. These girls (the leader looked like Dee Snider) show up late at the guard gate (not the audience gate) and demand to be let in. Security has no idea what to do, so they give them wrist bands (that gives you access to be on the lot, but not to just walk on to any part of any stage or buildings or anything that you'd need a badge for.) So now we have too many people, and some people end up standing in the back so these girls can come in to the studio. Then they complain because they got seated 2 and 2 in the front row, instead of all 4 together. Then they wanted to give all this stuff to the host, which they got to do. But since that wasn't good enough they decided to have 3 people sit on 2 seats. I know the fire marshall doesn't all that, so I didn't immediately regulate on them. I tried to get other people to, but they didn't, so I let it go. Anyway, after the show I get the courtyard clear, who are the last 4 people out of the show, but Dee Snider and her professional groupies (they were bragging about all the concerts they've getten backstage at). The security guard comes up to me and tells me to make sure they leave the lot. Basically, no one wanted to acknowledge that they had the wristbands by asking for them back, because then they'd know they had something special. So they tell me they're just going to wait in the courtyard for this guy who was backstage (without revealing which show it was, I'll say he's a really good friend of one of the guests). But I happen to know he's not backstage. They tell me that they left a gift for him with the host, and I say I'm sure he'll get it. After going back and forth about them trying to get backstage (by now the stage door is closed and I wouldn't even let them back inside the studio, let alone backstage) they finally start to leave really slowly. I'm following them, when Dee turns around and says, "Oh, I'm sorry, you probably want to get by us." And I say, "No, I have to follow the audience out." She tells me that's what they're doing. Then one of her friends stops to smoke and I tell her she needs to leave. She tells me she's just going to smoke by the ashtray first, and I tell her there's no loitering. They start to walk again and ask me if they can go back and switch the gift they left for the guy who was backstage (which he wasn't) when before I could answer my supervisor comes out and sees me out of position. She screams at me to come back to the courtyard and starts screaming at me that I wasn't doing anything. I'm like, "What? I had to stop like 4 people from getting in that building, chase 6 people out of the chairs and-" She interrupts to keep on berating me. By this time, the groupies have turned around and come back to the stage door! So now I'm trying to tell her that I'm supposed to make sure these girls leave the lot, but I can't say that in front of them. Instead I run ahead and catch about half of the audience and tell them to walk single file on the right side of the street, which they were basically doing, they just weren't single file. Eventually Dee's crew comes around the corner and walks 4 by 4 down the middle of the street towards the bathroom. I tell them they can't, but they ignore me. Then I point them towards the bathroom line, but they still ignore me. Now my supervisor comes around the corner and yells at me that they're not walking single file on the correct side. I turn around and keep directing everyone else out, and she starts yelling at the girls over and over again, but they ignore her. So I say, "yeah, they don't listen." She freaks out and grabs me and drags me over to where I had been positioned before the show started. She tells me that when the second show gets out, before they finish the last scene I'm supposed to come out here and stand right where she's standing. So I say, "Ok." Then she tells me again. And I say "Ok" again. Then she starts to walk away and I just move about halfway inbetween where I was just standing and where she was standing. So she comes back, grabs me again and says, "If you don't want to stand right here, you can move 2 feet this way and be in the shade, but not 2 feet that way." And I nod. Then she starts yelling at me that people try to walk out the car exit. I say "I know", because I've done this position many times before. But I'm also wondering why she's throwing a fit about the shade when it will be night time by the time the second show exits. So I decide I better just stand there, but by then all of the audience had passed me except for maybe 6 people. So now I'm just standing in the spot she told me to stand in for about 20 seconds when she comes back again and starts yelling at me about all this stuff that I can't even understand because she's so worked up. Two other people came up to try to talk to her and looked scared when they saw what was going on. One backs away and she follows. Then the other looks at me and shrugs and follows too. Then my supervisor comes back (the other 2 were close enough to hear this, because 1 commented to me later). She yells, "I'm dealing with emotional shit, so I'm just going to be yelling at you for the rest of the day. "At this point everyone is sitting under the awning in the audience holding area because the load out is over, and I'm still standing there. Then I hear a lot of yelling and finally, "Where's Jenny, we're all late for lunch because she's holding us up! Jenny, get over here right now, you're making us late!" I walk under the awning, right past everyone and head over to lunch. Of course some of them still sit there and don't move. So we have lunch, that was a whole other set of issues. For one thing, the producer thought that taking one meal for each person was too much food. So she watched us take 1 of each thing the cater had per person. I took 2 spoonfuls of macaroni, but no chicken or beef. I actually took less macaroni than the supervisor did because I took small spoonfuls, but she got upset and said I took 2 helpings. Then she sat next to me and watched me eat it. When I moved because one person was sitting alone at their own table, she followed me and sat across from me. Then we went over by the studio door to wait in the courtyard because they weren't ready to let the second audience in. I went in the studio to go to the bathroom, and discovered I'd gotten my period. So then I left the studio and started to go to my car to get stuff, but realized my car keys were back inside, so I went in to get them. When I was walking back out of the door (I was inside for less than 30 seconds, and I would have had to walk all the way around the stage, behind the bleachers and the set to get to craft service) she met me in the doorway and berated me saying I just had lunch and now I've gone to craft service twice for more candy. Of course, the producer walked right past us as she was doing this. Then she tells me I still have to work if I get sick from all that candy. Then when I went to my car she let everyone else go back inside to get drinks from craft service because there were no drinks at lunch. By now they're getting ready to let the second audience in to the holding area, so I go over and stand where she put me at the end of the load out, now wearing a small bag with midol and some other stuff. She started yelling that I was supposed to leave my bag at stage (which I would have done, had I been allowed to go back in there to use the bathroom again). Then, one of the people who had heard her yelling at me before comes up and tells me that her 97 year old aunt died yesterday in St. Louis. But still, what she said to me wasn't an excuse, it was a reason. She recognized that she was taking her personal problems out on me, but didn't even try to stop doing it. You can't say, "I'm just going to be picking on you for the rest of the day." We all have problems, but we don't bring them to work. To make a long story slightly shorter, while I was standing there she came by and yelled at me, and said I could sit down. So I did. Then she came by again and I stood up. She started yelling that if she catches me sitting down again, she's writing me up. Now, the entire time she's walking back and forth and yelling at me every time, there's at least 30 audience members witnessing this. After the 3rd time they were coming across the aisleway and asking me if I was ok, and saying that my boss was mean. I was yelled at at least 5 times, I never said anything back. Then she comes up to me and yells, "move these people!" I start to move everyone that I have there, when she comes over and starts yelling that she only asked me for 12 people. I tell her she said, "move these people", and that's what I did. She says that first, she takes up the VIP, then we take up the first 50. The person in my position is only supposed to send her enough people to make up the first 50, that's how it's always been done. Now, the early show today was the first time we'd take the VIP separately as opposed to in the first 50, and after we took them up, we took everyone else together. But now I'm getting yelled at saying this is the way it's always been. Plus, I've never done this position for the load in before, so how am I supposed to know what to do unless she tells me? Well, anyway, she takes off, and I now have to move 35 or so people back across the street so they can wait for about a minute until she calls for the second group. An old guy gets out of line, and puts his hand on my shoulder and says, "If my boss yelled at me like that, I'd cry." About a minute later, the audience is walking up, and I know I'm supposed to follow the line, but instead, I'm leaning against the wall, trying to wipe away tears as they develop so no one sees me crying. Then some co-worker walks up to me and starts trying to tell me something, but I have no reaction. So she starts making jokes, but I'm just standing there, when she realizes that I'm crying, and leaves me alone. It couldn't have been more than a few minutes later that I start to catch up with the line of audience. In fact, I caught them before they got to the next waiting area. Now I'm standing in a parking lot at the end of the line of audience when I hear my supervisor screaming that I'm not with the audience. I was, she just couldn't see me because they're all taller than I am. So she comes over with 2 other people and starts yelling at me for crying. I say that my contacts are falling out. Which is true, because I cried them out and had to put them back in, which stung, a lot. So she starts saying that I'm lying, and that she just hurt my feelings. Then she takes everyone else in to the courtyard and tells me to stand on the corner so I can watch 50 audience members around the corner, and 70 more where I had just been standing. 2 more co-workers walk by, including the one who saw me crying, and go in the courtyard. After about 10 minutes, my supervisor comes back out and tells me I have to smile when I'm around audience. Well, there are 6 people in the courtyard, and if you want someone who's smiling, you're going to have to make one of them do some work today. Later, after everyone but me had had another break, she gathered everyone around my position and said, "No one tells the office about any of this." And pointed right at me. Now, don't you think that if you're going to pull everyone out of their positions on a show, it should be to say, "Everyone calm down, breathe, let's get back to work." Not just to threaten everyone. So after she left, I went up to someone and said, "she's fucking kidding herself if she thinks I'm not telling the office." Her response was that I had to do what I thought was right. Later, I was sitting on the back audience stairs while they were filming, and my supervisor came up to me and said the I usually do a good job, that's why she needs me on this show. She said she thinks I could be a supervisor, or even skip that step and be a coordinator (which is an impossibility with this company). At the end of the night, when I was walking out of the studio, she called out after me, "Goodbye Jenny, have a nice night!" She's never called me Jenny before, always Jennifer. And I doubt she's ever said have a nice night to anyone. By the time I went online tonight, someone had gone over to my bosses' apartment and told her I had something to tell her. She im-ed me and asked, but as I started to tell her, she said she was tired and went to bed. But I'll see her tomorrow at work. posted by Jenny on 8/15/2003 12:52:00 AM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wTuesday, August 12, 2003 | |
|
|
Started at 10:16 a.m. PST By my schedule I have to be in the shower at 10:30. We'll see if that holds up. Sunday night I chose, as usual to talk to someone online instead of write my paper. Fortunately I discovered on Monday morning that there was a much easier topic than the one I thought I had to do. Plus, she said since it was just 1 part of a midterm, it could be hand written. I wrote it in class. But before that I was late to class, and the in class part of the midterm. First there was a car fire, then there was an accident. Finally, open road, but having got a speeding ticket the last time, I figured I should stay at the limit, even as everyone and their mother passed me. When you drive slower, it takes longer to get there. However I did not leave early. If anything I left a little later than I should have, because I was doing research online. So I get there and I get handed a piece of paper with 3 terms. She initially said 4, yeah! Of course, there are 4 on the back. However she did take my suggestion and give us 6, from which we choose 4. As I'm walking to my seat, people start to get up to hand in their tests. It must have taken me 15 minutes, I'm not sure how late I was, but we were only supposed to get 20. In the end, she didn't exactly rip the tests out of our hands anyway. As the rest of the class was coming in she said, "Alright, it's time to start writing your last sentence... or two." I did one more sentence, got up to the table, thought of another one, and wrote in right there on her podium. She didn't remember to ask me for my paper, which was good, because I didn't have to pretend I left it in the car. Turns out that was our break, so an hour and a half later, we only got 10 minutes. I probably took 15 or 20, though. First I kept writing the paper I had started in class. Then I decided I needed something to drink, and possibly candy because in class we ate hardtack and johnny cakes. One guy actually chowed down like they were a nice snack. After the hardtack, I purposely took the smallest crumb of a johnny cake I could find. I ate half of both. THe johnny cake was thoroughly disgusting, but I did take a second bite of the hardtack, to confirm that it really was that hard. So by the time class was over, my 1 1/2 page paper had skewed off course with fact and wasn't answering the question. I orginally thought I could answer it in 2 handwritten pages, but I went to my car, and it ended up taking a 3rd. I turned it in by slipping it under the professor's door at about 4:40. Now that I think about it, that means that I sat in the car with the air on for about 40 minutes. (I should mention, it was the hottest day it's been that I can remember at school, plus, it was fairly humid, and "unhealthful" air quality to boot.) I couldn't remember her name to drop it in her box, but she thinks that sliding things under the door is more secure anyways. I got her name off the door, and went back down staurs. There was a fax in her box that had come in right before I got there. I suppose I should have left the paper under that, not that that's a fool proof time stamp anyways. I'm not all the confident about my answers on either part, whether or not the paper was late. When there are hardly any instructions, I never know how to gage it. Plus, I can't even remember 2 of the 4 terms I answered. I know I rocked the Declaration of Sentiments. I think I did ok on John Brown. I got the general concepts, but I couldn't remember the exact names (I did know Harper's Ferry, I mean, come on). I feel like I forgot something though. I wonder if we'll get it back tomorrow... Anyway, I go back to my car ready to hightail it out of there and begin on the long freeway trip home... but my car won't turn over. So AAA had to come out and find me, which was interesting. I'm not sure if the guy ever called me back, my phone fell between the seats or something while I was waiting and I still can't find it. But by 5:40-something (Probably 5:49) I was on the road. Now I better stop and get ready for work, which I was late to on Friday, and since it's the same show, should be early to today. Or at least on time. posted by Jenny on 8/12/2003 10:46:00 AM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wSunday, August 10, 2003 | |
|
|
I could make a page just about this. In the Running: Candidate Bios These are some of the Californians who filed nomination documents with county registrars before Saturday's 5 p.m. deadline, a key step toward appearing on the ballot in the Oct. 7 recall election. Their ranks include professional politicians, a radiologist, a nuclear engineer, an adult education teacher, a porn star and a 100-year-old woman from Long Beach. The availability of information and photographs of candidates varied Saturday. There are various ways to place a name on the ballot, but many filing for the recall took a similar route — submitting signatures of 65 registered voters from their party and county and paying a $3,500 fee. Democrats and Republicans could avoid the fee by submitting 10,000 signatures. Up to 150 signatures could be required of minor-party candidates hoping to avoid the fee. To qualify for the ballot, a candidate's signatures must be verified by county officials. Secretary of State Kevin Shelley's office must then process the fee and certify the candidates. A final list of official candidates is expected to be released Wednesday. * Angelyne Age: "Ageless" Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Billboard model, entertainer Residence: Rancho Palos Verdes and Bel-Air Family: Single, no kids Education: Declined to state Career Highlights: Known for billboard campaign. Featured in more than 43 films and more than 1,000 magazines and televisions shows. Quote: "We've had Gray. We've had Brown. Now it's time for some blond and pink." * Brooke Adams Age: 25 Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Business account executive with Gramercy Partners publishing house. Residence: Dana Point Family: Single Education: B.A. in communications, USC, 2000 Career Highlights: Cable television reporter before entering publishing. Quote: "It's time for my generation to lead California. Davis has done a terrible job of leading California and so have Democratic and Republican politicians. I believe my candidacy will empower my generation to control our own destiny." * Iris Adam Age: 50 Party: Natural Law Occupation: Business analyst, UC Irvine Residence: Irvine Family: Married, two children Education: B.A. in education, University of Wyoming, 1975. Career Highlights: Fund-raiser for children's charities. Raised three foster children. Former director of school for gifted children. Quote: "The recall is disruptive. Sustainable economy, quality education, health care are not Republican or Democratic issues. They are important issues. We need to infuse coherent consciousness into the process to solve the problems of California." * Mohammad Arif Age: 33 Party: Independent Occupation: Businessman Residence: Los Angeles Family: Married, no children Education: B.A. in commerce, Punjab University, Pakistan. M.A. in economics, Punjab University, Pakistan. Career Highlights: Organizer for Pakistan People's Party in late 1980s. Quote: "My agenda is to work for the common people — for everyone." * Badi Badiozamani Age: 55 Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Businessman and author Residence: San Diego Family: Married, two daughters Education: B.A. in 1973 from Shiraz Pahlavi University in Iran; M.A. in public administration, Roosevelt University, Chicago, 1977. Career Highlights: Served in Iranian navy 1973-75. Immigrated to California in 1981. Founded insurance company and translation services firm in San Diego. Appointed by Gov. Pete Wilson to serve five years on Governor's Joint Advisory Board; currently on San Diego Business Advisory Board and San Diego International Affairs board. Author of a book, "Iran and America: Rethinking Love Lost," to be published this fall. Quote: "This is an opportunity for me to offer my experience and assistance back to the state that let me and my family live the American dream." * John W. Beard Age: 41 Party: Republican Occupation: Businessman Residence: Chatsworth Family: Married, five children Education: Los Angeles Baptist High School, 1980. Career Highlights: Helped make family graphic arts and printing business into multimillion-dollar company: G2 Graphic Service. Quote: "I want to run California like a business. This state would be in a lot better condition if its government treated the people of California like customers, not tenants." * Ed Beyer Age: 37 Party: Republican Occupation: Private investigator Residence: San Clemente Family: Married, two children Education: Attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Career Highlights: Founded Transwest investigative services at age 23. Quote: "We need to bring people and jobs back to California." * Cheryl Bly-Chester Age: 45 Party: Republican Occupation: Business owner, environmental engineer Residence: Roseville Family: Single, three children Education: B.S. in civil engineering, UC Davis, 1979; MBA, American Graduate School of International Management, 1984; postgraduate certificate in nuclear power reactor safety, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1986. Career Highlights: Engineering career in transportation, energy and environmental fields for 27 years. Wrote a chapter in highway engineering handbook, freelance journalist. Quote: "I can keep businesses in California by eliminating unnecessary regulatory duplication, and reorganize and consolidate the governor's office to cut spending and improve the economy." * Audie Elizabeth Bock Age: 57 Party: Democrat Occupation: College professor, author specializing in Asian culture. Residence: Piedmont Family: Single, one child Education: B.A. French, Wellesley College, 1967; M.A. East Asian studies, Harvard University, 1974. Career Highlights: From 1985 to 1999, owned film distribution company handling mostly foreign films. Elected to California Assembly in 1999, the first Green Party candidate in the country to win statewide office. Served until 2000. Wrote three books on Japanese film. Taught ethnic studies at Harvard, Yale and UC Berkeley. Currently teaching in Peralta Community College District, Oakland. Quote: "Where is what my party stands for in all of this? I will bring those things back, and we will do them right. There are people in Sacramento who are willing to do that, but they couldn't do it under Gray Davis." * Art Brown Age: 38 Party: Democrat Occupation: film writer, director Residence: Canoga Park Family: Single Education: B.A. in economics, UC Berkeley, 1988; J.D., Loyola Law School, 1993. Career Highlights: Wrote a handful of studio and independent films, including "Best Men." Quote: "I absolutely have some genuine issues. I started for publicity, but now that I'm running, I kind of want to run. I want to stir up the pot. I'll debate anyone at any time, and hopefully at least give the voters something to chew on." * John Christopher Burton Age: 50 Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Civil rights attorney Residence: Pasadena Family: Married, two children Education: B.A. in anthropology, UCLA, 1976; J.D., Hastings College of the Law, 1978. Career Highlights: Adjunct law professor at University of West Los Angeles, 1981-89. Opened own civil rights law practice, 1984. Quote: "The recall campaign, which I oppose, is an attempt by right-wing forces to undermine democratic rights and accelerate the accumulation of corporate profits and the wealth of the rich. But if the recall is successful, California's working people need an alternative to the pro-big-business policies of the candidates associated with the Democratic Party." * Cruz Bustamante Age: 50 Party: Democrat Occupation: Lieutenant governor, California Residence: Elk Grove Family: Married; three children, two grandchildren Education: Attended Fresno City College, California State University. Career Highlights: Director, Fresno Summer Youth Employment Program, 1977-83. Elected to state Assembly, 1993; Assembly speaker, 1996-98. Lieutenant governor since 1998. Quote: "I believe in my heart that as I move forward that it's going to be very important that we don't allow those folks without experience and who have just some kind of philosophical, extreme agenda to gather and to somehow be able to obtain this position. I'm opposed to the recall." * Peter Miguel Camejo Age: 63 Party: Green Party Occupation: Investment firm chairman and co-founder. Residence: Folsom Family: Married, two children Education: Attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 1958-60; UC Berkeley, 1965-67. Career Highlights: Lifelong supporter of civil rights for minorities and workers. Unsuccessful 1976 run for president as a Socialist. Founding member of California Green Party in the 1990s. In 1987, helped create Progressive Asset Management Inc., focusing on socially responsible investments. Quote: "If I became governor, I would do an investigation into what has happened, because millions of dollars have been given away." * D. Logan Darrow Clements Age: 34 Party: Republican Occupation: Businessman Residence: Pacific Palisades Family: Single Education: B.A. in economics, University of Rochester, 1981. MBA, University of Rochester, 1992. Quote: "I have a plan to dramatically improve the economy in California: to reduce the amount of government and government interference in the economy." * Gary Wayne Coleman Age: 35 Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Actor Residence: Culver City Family: Single Education: General equivalency diploma. Career Highlights: Starred as Arnold Drummond in 1970s TV sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes." Quote: "I am the least-qualified man that might do the best job, if I were really running. But I'd say people first, corporations second. I'd send private citizens and investigators to go get California's $38 billion back." * Scott Davis Age: 38 Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Owns Valero Solutions, high-tech software consulting company. Residence: Palo Alto Family: Single Education: B.S. in business, University of North Carolina, 1987; master's in business administration from the University of Georgia, 1988. Career highlights: Won professional awards at several companies he worked for before starting his own business. Has done consulting work for Dell Computer. Community activist. Quote: "I'm the real Davis for governor. I'm unhappy with the status quo government. I want to make our state government more efficient and I want to lower taxes." * Bob Edwards Age: 42 Party: Democrat Occupation: Divorce lawyer Residence: Hayward Family: Married; two sons, one stepson Education: B.A. in political science, San Francisco State, 1983; J.D., San Francisco Law School, 1991. Career Highlights: Member of California State Bar since 1991. Established own law firm in Fremont, 1991. Quote: "I was concerned that an ultraconservative would win. I felt it was my responsibility to put my name on the ballot because I think I can make a change for the better. This is an amazing thing for California." * Warren Farrell Age: 60 Party: Democrat Occupation: Author of books on fathers and families Residence: Carlsbad Family: Married, two children Education: B.A. in social studies, Montclair State, 1965; M.A. in political science, UCLA, 1966; PhD in political science, New York University, 1974. Career Highlights: Books include: "Father and Child Reunion" and "Why Men Are the Way They Are." Quote: "One of my purposes is to create stronger families so we have more functional citizens that are paying taxes than are tax sponges." * Larry Flynt Age: 60 Party: Democrat Occupation: Publisher Residence: Beverly Hills Family: Married, five children Education: Attended high school Career Highlights: President, Larry Flynt Publications. Owner of Hustler Casino. Imprisoned for six months in 1983 for contempt of court. Sponsors Larry Flynt Foundation, which supports research on spinal cord injuries and civil liberties. Quote: "Just because I peddle in porn doesn't mean I'm not concerned about the serious ills all of us are facing." * Lorraine Abner Zurd Fontanes Age: 41 Party: Democrat Occupation: Filmmaker Residence: Westwood Family: Married, one daughter Education: B.A. in radio, television and film, Temple University, 1983. Career Highlights: Motocross journalist; directed film that was shown at the Sundance Film Festival in 1994. Quote: "My platform is basically common sense for California. It's time we got together and stopped bickering." * Leo Gallagher Age: 57 Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Comedian Residence: Agoura Family: Divorced, 2 children Education: B.A. in English, University of South Florida, 1970. Career Highlights: Has toured United States since early 1980s; known for smashing watermelons and other produce on stage. Quote: "Anybody can be meat and potatoes; I'm the spice in this election. We're having fun with it. I'm not going to be elected." * Hank Gehman Age: 54 Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Contractor Education: Graduate, Columbia University 1978; graduate work in American history, UC Berkeley, 1979. Family: Married, no children Quote: "I just decided I wanted to use this [recall] as a vehicle to create a forum for Californians." * Howard Allen Gershater Age: 60 Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Owner of two hearing-aid stores. Residence: Camarillo Family: Married, three children Education: B.A. in sociology and psychology, University of Vermont, Burlington, 1966. Career Highlights: As a college student, walked across America twice. Early 1970s, started the Fabulous Fifties Talent Agency, booking musical bands and his own engagements as an traveling disc jockey and Elvis tribute singer. Ran unsuccessfully for Vermont state Senate in 1978 and 1980. Moved to California in 1981. Quote: "If I'm supposed to run for this office, please let there be some sign At that very instant, this giant comet streaks across the sky and the comet is as bright as can be for five seconds OK, thank you, I got the message." * Gerold Lee Gorman Age: 42 Party: Democrat Occupation: Unemployed Residence: Martinez Family: Single, no children Education: B.S. in engineering physics, UC Berkeley, 1995. Career Highlights: Worked most recently as applications developer at a now-defunct dot-com. Ran unsuccessfully for mayor of San Bruno, 1991. Substitute teacher in California public schools 1996-98. Quote: "Education and public safety — these are the critical issues. I'm going to try to make good and wise decisions for the people. I will bring creative thinking to government." * Richard Gosse Age: 54 Party: Republican Occupation: Educator, author Residence: San Rafael Family: Married, no children Education: B.S. in government, University of San Francisco, 1970. M.A. in secondary education, San Francisco State University, 1977. Career Highlights: Middle school teacher in San Francisco for nine years. Became a full-time advocate for the unmarried in 1980. Author of eight books about life as a single person. Quote: " 'Fairness for singles' — that's my platform Someone has to stand up for the 34% of the population that is single and neglected by the politicians Single people pay more taxes than married people. Single people pay a much higher auto insurance rate than married people." * Joe Guzzardi Age: 60 Party: Democrat Occupation: Adult education teacher and opinion columnist for local newspaper and Internet magazine. Residence: Lodi Family: Single, one son, two grandchildren Education: B.A. in English, University of Pittsburgh, 1964. Career Highlights: Investment banker in New York City for 15 years; in banking for two years in Seattle before entering education. Quote: "I'm running because I'm very disappointed. In the 15 or so years since I returned to California, no politicians have been willing to discuss the impact of illegal immigration on California and the impact of illegal immigration on population growth in California." * Sara Ann Hanlon Age: 61 Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Businesswoman and commercial artist Residence: La Mirada Family: Married, two stepchildren Education: B.A. in graphic design, UCLA, 1964. Career Highlights: Signal Hill city councilwoman 1986-90 and 1992-97. Mayor of Signal Hill, 1989-90 and 1995-96. Quote: "I'm running because I don't think the politicians are listening to the people in California." * Ivan Hall Age: 42 Party: Green Occupation: Owner of denture manufacturing business. Residence: Redding Family: Married, three children Education: Attended Indiana University, Purdue University and other institutions. Career highlights: Five years in the Navy. Helped spearhead opposition to fiberglass factory in Shasta Lake. Co-founded Citizens for Cleaner Air. Quote: "What I'm sick and tired of is the baloney. Whether you get an actor with no experience or Gray Davis with tons of experience, all we get is a bunch of hoopla." * Ralph A. Hernandez Age: 55 Party: Democrat Occupation: Inspector, Contra Costa County district attorney's office. Residence: Antioch Family: Married; three sons, two daughters Education: B.A. in criminal justice, Cal State Sacramento, 1981. Career Highlights: D.A.'s office inspector for 17 years; before that was police officer in Pittsburg, Calif., and Half Moon Bay. Member of Antioch City Council, 1992-95. Quote: "The state needs a take-charge guy at the top. I am a take-charge kind of guy. I believe the state needs someone to look out for people, [not] for special interests or campaign contributors. I am tight with a dollar, and I believe the state should be [so] with the public's money." * Jim Hoffmann Age: 39 Party: Republican Occupation: High school social studies teacher Residence: Hesperia Family: Married; two daughters, one stepdaughter Education: B.A. in history and German, Eastern Illinois University, 1986; M.A. in education, Northern Illinois University, 1990. Career Highlights: Taught in Chicago until 1995, then moved to California. Taught social studies at Manteca High School until June; will start at Hesperia High School in September. Ran unsuccessfully for Manteca City Council in 1999. Quote: "When I signed the petition, I never thought I'd run. But I thought, 'Why not?' I can't do any worse than they're doing. And I teach government, so it's a logical leap." * Arianna Huffington Age: 53 Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Syndicated columnist, author Residence: Los Angeles Family: Divorced, two children Education: M.A. in economics, Cambridge University, 1971. Career Highlights: Wrote best-selling biographies of Pablo Picasso and Maria Callas. Conservative political commentator before emerging left of center. Quote: "The time has come to take back our government and ensure that it works for all Californians, not just those who can afford to buy their own personal politician. This is not a question of right or left; it's a question of right or wrong." * Michael A. Jackson Age: 39 Party: Republican Occupation: Electrical engineer Residence: Long Beach Family: Married, two children Education: A.S., Citrus Community College, 1994; B.S., electrical engineering, UCLA, 1996. Career Highlights: Served in Navy 1982-91 as nuclear power plant engineer and on submarines. Now project manager for a satellite company. Quote: "Schools start off the whole chain of events. They don't instill any discipline in the kids, and they grow into adults with no discipline. We don't care what our politicians are doing in Sacramento. No one is taking responsibility for their community anymore." * Edward T. Kennedy Age: 49 Party: Democrat Occupation: Businessman Residence: Weaverville Family: Divorced, no children Education: B.S., political science, Allentown College of St. Francis de Sales, 1975; MBA, University of Notre Dame, 1977. Career Highlights: Small-business and sales consultant in Bay Area since early 1980s. Quote: "The purpose of government is to get you born healthy, educated, to live securely and to die with integrity. The current team is striking out on all of these. They are greedy people doing the work of special interests with no oversight." * David E. Kessinger Age: 61 Party: Democrat Occupation: Paralegal Residence: Riverside Education: B.A., accounting, Riverside University (now defunct), 1969; attended California Southern law School, 1970-73. Career Highlights: Served on Riverside County Democratic Central Committee in 1980s. Quote: "I'm good at balancing the budget. I live relatively comfortably on $10,000 a year I know how to tear into a budget and see what's there, what's fluff and if it's really meaningful." * Eric J. Korevaar Age: 44 Party: Democrat Occupation: High technology consultant Residence: La Jolla Family: Married, one child Education: B.S. in physics, Caltech 1981; PhD in engineering, Princeton University, 1987. Career Highlights: Founded AstroTerra Corp. in 1992, developing optical wireless communications; sold company in 2000. Currently president and owner of the Science Artist consulting services. Quote: "I felt strongly that this whole recall effort was wrong because it was basically paid for by very specific political purposes, rather than coming about because the government had done something wrong." * Dick Lane Age: 65 Party: Democrat Occupation: Psychology professor, San Jose State University Residence: Sunnyvale Family: Divorced; seven children, five grandchildren Education: A.A., East L.A. Community College, 1959; B.A. in government, Cal State Los Angeles, 1961; M.A. in government, Cal State Los Angeles, 1969; PhD in international relations, USC, 1975. Career highlights: Congressional candidate, 15th District (Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties), 1998 and 1996; four years on state Democratic Party Central Committee; member of Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties' central committees; worked on at least a dozen political campaigns. Quote: "If the Republicans take over the government, the Democratic Legislature's not gonna give them the time of day for three years. What you'll have is stagnation and both parties coming out with black eyes because they won't be able to address any real issues." * Gary Leonard Age: 52 Party: Democrat Occupation: Freelance photographer Residence: Los Angeles Family: Single, two children Education: B.A. in motion picture and TV production, UCLA, 1973. Career Highlights: Freelance photographer since 1978. Spent 11 years chronicling construction of Walt Disney Concert Hall. Quote: "I'm running because I can. This is history and I wanted to be part of it. I'm serious about doing this, but I'm not serious about winning. I don't think there will be another opportunity to do this and I just couldn't pass it up." * Todd Richard "The Bumhunter" Lewis Age: 27 Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Film producer, performer, businessman Residence: West Hollywood Family: Single Education: B.S. (declined to disclose institution) Career Highlights: Appeared as "The Bum Hunter" in 2001 movie "Bumfights." Recently released his own film, "The Bum Hunter." Quote: "People are going to know the Bum Hunter is doing this, and hopefully it will get the young demographic to go out there, support me, register to vote, and be involved in future elections. And it will draw attention to the homeless people; no one realizes how many people are out there." * Calvin Louie Age: 54 Party: Democrat Occupation: Certified public accountant Residence: San Francisco Family: Married, no children Education: B.S. in accounting, UC Berkeley, 1971; working on master's degree at Golden Gate University. Career Highlights: Accountant since 1971, CPA since 1980. Has served on a number of commissions, including the San Francisco Human Rights Commission in the late 1990s. Quote: "I guess I took out my papers way before Bustamante jumped in. At that time, there was no Democratic candidate on the ballot. I didn't want the governorship going to a Republican; that was my main reason of jumping into the governor's race." * Frank A. Macaluso Jr. Age: 44 Party: Democrat Occupation: Radiologist Residence: Visalia Family: Married, three children Education: B.A. in chemical engineering, University of New Mexico, 1981; M.D., University of New Mexico, 1985. Career Highlights: Variety of positions in oil and gas industry, one year medical training at Veterans Hospital in Fresno, 1985. Quote: "California Democrats need a financially conservative governor that would control spending and promote a business-friendly environment in our state without sacrificing education, health care and transportation. I feel that I am one of the most well-qualified in that field." * Paul "Chip" Mailander Age: 37 Party: Democrat Occupation: Golf professional Residence: San Diego Family: Married, no children Education: High school, Omaha. Career Highlights: Navy for eight years. Currently manager a golf shop in Rancho Santa Fe; also teaches golf. Quote: "One of our members came in last Sunday and said that of all the people, I should run. He said I was a great person and would make a great governor. I'd have to look at the fiscal crisis, then chip away at it, as they say in golf." * Robert C. Mannheim Age: 55 Party: Democrat Occupation: Retired businessman, accountant and attorney. Residence: Agoura Hills Family: Married, three children Education: B.A. in economics, UCLA, 1969; J.D., Southwestern University, 1974. Career Highlights: Worked at Arthur Andersen accounting firm 1969-72; became a CPA in 1972. Passed California bar exam, 1974. Manager at a Beverly Hills accounting firm 1979-85; Retired in 1986. Quote: "When I first heard it would take 65 signatures and $3,500 I said, 'Hey, it sounds like a lot of fun.' " * Bruce Margolin Age: 61 Party: Democrat Occupation: Criminal defense attorney and director, National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML). Residence: Beverly Hills Family: Single, three children Education: Law degree, Southwestern University, 1967; Graduate, Valley Community College, 1962. Career highlights: Represented Timothy Leary; has promoted reform of marijuana laws for three decades. Quote: "I strongly feel marijuana laws must be legalized. All drug laws have to be looked at. It's a complete waste of taxpayers' dollars, and the prison system is out of control." * Paul Mariano Age: 56 Party: Democrat Occupation: Public defender Residence: Martinez Family: Single, one child Education: B.A. in political science, Cal State Sacramento, 1973; J.D., Hastings College of the Law, 1976. Career Highlights: Trial attorney with Contra Costa County's public defender's office since 1977. Quote: "I'm running because I'm opposed to the recall process. If elected, I would institute Gray Davis as my chief of staff. That would make him the de facto governor of California, the position to which he was duly elected." * Gino Martorana Age: 56 Party: Republican Occupation: Restaurant owner Residence: Kingsburg Family: Married; three children, one grandchild Education: No formal education; dropped out of 10th grade to work as a barber. Career Highlights: Owner of Gino's Italian Eatery since 1993. Quote: "Business is my thing. The state is complaining we don't have any money, but they are involved in so many things that hinder business. They need to get out of the way." * Mike McCarthy Age: 44 Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Used-car dealer Education: Attended Cuesta College Family: Married; one son Residence: Pismo Beach Career highlights: Owns McCarthy Wholesale chain of used-car dealerships in San Luis Obispo and Arroyo Grande. Established a Sober Graduation program five years ago that gives a free car each year to one graduating high school senior who vows to stay sober. Active in the Central Coast History Foundation. Quote: "The answers to all difficult problems are not where we seek them. It's a bigger budget, but as a businessman, I deal with problems and have to have creative solutions." * Robert McClain Age: 38 Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Civil engineer Residence: Oakland Family: Married, no children Education: B.A. in science, civil engineering, UC Berkeley, 1986; M.S., UC Berkeley, 1988; MBA, UCLA, 1993. Career Highlights: Project management for Port of Oakland, Quote: "My primary goal is to have a stable, long-term, adequate budget plan for the state. I originally thought it would be fun to be on the ballot, but the process has become more serious — quite serious." * State Sen. Tom McClintock Age: 47 Party: Republican Occupation: California state senator, District 19. Residence: Newbury Park Family: Married, two children Education: B.A. political science, UCLA, 1978. Career Highlights: Elected to state Assembly in 1982 at age 26; served until 1992. Served again 1996-2000. Ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1992 and for state controller in 1994. Elected to state Senate in 2000. Known as an anti-tax crusader; favors abolition of vehicle license fee. Quote: "If my family had come here looking for a better future for their kids today, rather than in 1965, they wouldn't have found it in California." * Scott Mednick Age: 47 Party: Democrat Occupation: Co-owns a company (with candidate Kelly Kimball) making beer directed at spring-breakers. Residence: Calabasas Family: Married, three children Education: B.F.A., Rhode Island School of Design, 1978; M.A. in applied psychology, Santa Monica University, 1996. Quote: "Since the circus had already begun, as marketers we thought it was a great opportunity to at least expose our brand name to people. But more important than that, we believe any system that allows for this to happen is broken and the system needs to be reformed." * Carl Mehr Age: 70 Party: Republican Occupation: Real estate owner Residence: San Diego Family: Married, four children, eight grandchildren Education: B.S. in electrical engineering, Iowa State University, 1961; M.S. in electrical engineering, University of Santa Clara, 1965. Career Highlights: Served in Army 1953-56. Worked at IBM in mid-1950s on prototype computers and on Apollo spacecraft at General Dynamics in 1960s. Ran unsuccessfully for Lemon Grove City Council in 1982. Quote: "Businesses have to live within their means or go bankrupt. The state should have to do the same, but they think they can just keep taxing us. Well, they've got another think coming You have to look at the complaints that businesses have in California. There's a problem when you have a business that has been here for 100 years and they're leaving for Nevada." * Jonathan Miller Age: 41 Party: Democrat Occupation: President of Diamond Systems, which sells industrial computers. Residence: San Mateo Family: Single Education: B.S. in computer science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Career Highlights: Started Diamond Systems 14 years ago. Quote: "California needs a long-term plan for resource independence, specifically electricity and water, so that we can ensure continued economic prosperity and social progress." * Jeffrey L. Mock Age: 50 Party: Republican Occupation: Business owner Residence: Rancho Palos Verdes Family: Married, two children Career Highlights: Has run metal recycling company in Compton since 1975. Quote: "Most of our state's economic ills have to do with the fact we don't have support for businesses. My mission is to bring out to the forefront the problems manufacturing companies are having in California and the United States." * John "Jack" Mortensen Age: 44 Party: Democrat Occupation: Painting contractor Residence: Folsom Family: Married, three children Education: Attended San Jose City College for one day. Career Highlights: Opened his own painting business in 1984. Quote: "I have the right to stand up I'm going to stand up and I'm going to see if the people of California feel the same way I do." * Geoff Nathanson Party: Republican Occupation: Broadcaster, business consultant Residence: El Segundo Family: Single, no children Education: B.A. in history, UCLA, 1987. Career highlights: Longtime Los Angeles radio and television sports reporter. Quote: "A government for the people, by the people should be run by one of the people. Instead, the people running things are disconnected from the regular persons. They don't have anybody fighting for them right now. That's what I want to do." * Wolfgang Georg Neckien Age: 59 Party: Republican Occupation: Small-business owner Residence: Northridge Family: Married, three children Education: High school (in Germany) Career Highlights: Immigrated to California from Germany in 1964. Trained as a machinist in the United States. Opened W Machines, an aircraft-parts business, in San Fernando in 1974. Quote: "People are supposed to run on an issue and on who you are, not what somebody else has done wrong. So I am going in so that at least somebody was there who was speaking for the small people." * Leonard Padilla Age: 64 Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Bounty hunter; president, Lorenzo Patino Law School. Residence: Sacramento Family: Divorced, four children, one stepchild Education: College equivalency diploma; J.D, Lincoln Law School, 1980. Career Highlights: Served in Air force 1957-63. Bounty hunter since 1975. Co-founded Lorenzo Patino Law School. Quote: "We have elected professional politicians and bureaucrats to run the state, and that's how we got into the mess that Californians are in." * Charles "Chuck" Pineda Jr. Age: 63 Party: Democrat Occupation: Retired criminal justice administrator Residence: Sacramento Family: Married, two children Education: A.A. in social sciences, East Los Angeles College, 1962; B.A. in sociology and psychology, Azusa Pacific University, 1964; criminal justice fellowship, Harvard University, 1972-73. Career Highlights: In Army, served as a topographical surveyor in South Korea, 1959-61. Variety of roles at California Youth Authority 1965-82, from parole officer to chief of human relations. Designed and implemented Gang Violence Reduction Project, 1976; oversaw it until 1979. Served on various parole boards. Multiple unsuccessful runs for state office, including governor. Quote: "I'm kind of like the Spartacus of the Democratic Party. I am an independent thinker and I represent the interests of the regular people." * Heather Peters Age: 37 Party: Republican Occupation: Mediator Hometown: Santa Monica Family: Married, no children Education: B.A. in business administration, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 1987. J.D., Southwestern University School of Law, Los Angeles, 1990. Career Highlights: Founded a mediation business in 2002; volunteers at Los Angeles Superior Court. Practiced business law for 10 years at Barger & Wolen. Quote: "I'm a centrist who wants to get the message out that the recall is not a 'vast right-wing conspiracy' or some elaborate payback scheme for what happened in Florida. I'm running to take the politics out of government and return the power to the people." * Jeff Rainforth Age: 35 Residence: Sacramento Party: Filed as nonpartisan but registered as a member of the Reform Party. Occupation: Market coordinator for Best Buy's district office in Sacramento. Family: Single Education: Spent two years studying political science at Santa Rosa Junior College in 1998-2000 (did not graduate). Career highlights: Ran for Congress in California District 6 in 2002 as a Reform Party candidate. Is chairman of the board of the Reform Party of California. Quote: "Our message, which has been the same for the last 10 years, is fiscal responsibility and political accountability. We're primarily interested in the financial well-being of the United States and keeping American jobs in the U.S." * Ned F. Roscoe Age: 42 Party: Libertarian Occupation: President of family-owned national discount cigarette chain. Residence: Napa Family: Married, three children Education: B.A. in economics, University of Chicago, 1982. Career Highlights: Family has been in the grocery business since 1957. In 1990s, began specializing in discount cigarettes. More than 300 stores in 20 states, including 150 in California. Sponsored Proposition 28, an unsuccessful attempt to repeal the cigarette tax in 2000. Quote: "No new taxes, no new stupid laws I have a better chance of winning the election than I do of purchasing a winning lottery ticket." * Sharon Rushford Age: 52 Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Co-owner of Rushford Construction Residence: San Jose Family: Married; two children, two grandchildren Education: San Jose High School, 1969 Career Highlights: Member of Managed Care Reform Council and Kaiser Permanente Reform Committee. Quote: "I'm taking this opportunity to use my firsthand experience with problems within the health-care industry and the flaws within the mandatory arbitration system to bring justice back into managed care." * Georgy Russell Age: 26 Party: Democrat Occupation: Software engineer Residence: Mountain View Family: Single, no children Education: B.A. in computer science, UC Berkeley, 1999 Career Highlights: Ten-year member of Death Penalty Focus, a nonprofit group working to abolish the death penalty. Quote: "The current list of candidates is career politicians and millionaires; I'm running so someone can represent the average Californian." * Darrin Scheidle Age: 37 Party: Democrat Occupation: Technology entrepreneur Residence: El Cajon Family: Married, one son, two stepdaughters Education: Attended Mesa Community College and San Diego City College. Career Highlights: Founded four companies, including Livescan, which provides digital fingerprinting services. Quote: "There is a lot of money being spent in Sacramento on things that don't matter to anybody. We need to do something to entice people to stay in California and buy California-made or -grown things." * Arnold Schwarzenegger Age: 56 Party: Republican Residence: Brentwood Family: Married, four children Education: B.A. in business and international economics, University of Wisconsin-Superior, 1980. Career Highlights: Won Mr. Olympia bodybuilding title seven times, 1970-75 and 1980. Star of numerous films, including "Conan the Barbarian" (1982), "The Terminator" (1984), "Total Recall" (1990), "True Lies" (1994), "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines" (2003). In 2002, promoted Proposition 49, aimed at funding before- and after-school programs. Chairman, National Inner-City Games Foundation. Quote: "It doesn't matter if you are a Democrat or Republican, if you're young or old, what the racial thing is, nothing matters to me. To me what matters is that I want to represent everyone in California. That is the important thing." * Ralph S. Sherwood Age: 55 Party: Republican Occupation: Former plumber, disabled Residence: Moorpark Family: Married, one child Education: High school graduate Career Highlights: Plumber until 1987, when he became disabled after injuring his back. Quote: "It's the first time in the history of California that a small man can make his voice heard. Maybe the little guy will get a shot this time. I'm someone who isn't part of the political system and can do much better than those who are." * Richard Simmons Age: 51 Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Attorney, author Residence: Los Angeles Family: Divorced, one child Education: B.A. in pre-law and business, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, 1973; J.D., UC Berkeley, 1976. Career Highlights: Has written books on business and employment law, including "California Anti-Business Employment Law: A Monument to Inefficiency." Quote: "This is a terrific opportunity for Californians to change direction from an administration that has failed the people, created a staggering budget deficit and sold out to special interests. Jobs don't create themselves; businesses need to create them." * Bill Simon Jr. Age: 52 Party: Republican Occupation: Businessman Residence: Pacific Palisades Family: Married, four children Education: B.A. in history, Williams College, 1973; J.D., Boston College, 1982. Career Highlights: Assistant U.S. attorney for Southern District of New York, 1983-88; partner in William E. Simon & Sons investment firm, 1988-present. Quote: "This campaign will be a battle for the heart, the soul and the future of California. When the dust settles, voters are only going to ask one question: Who has the courage to solve the financial crisis?" * Mathilda Karel Spak Age: 100 Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Hospital and senior center volunteer. Limited herself to four days a week after turning 100. Residence: Long Beach Family: Widowed, no children Education: Bachelor's degree in business, Northwestern University, 1920s. Career Highlights: Worked in real estate and insurance in Chicago; retired 1960. Named "ambassador" of 99 Cents Only Stores when she was 99. Quote: "They're some very important and wealthy people. But I'll fight it out. With my experience at [nearly] 101 years old, I can outlive all of them." * Christopher Sproul Age: 44 Party: Democrat Occupation: Environmental attorney Residence: San Francisco Family: Married, one child Education: B.A. in political science, UC Santa Barbara, 1980. M.A. in political science, UC Santa Barbara, 1982. J.D., UC Berkeley School of Law, 1986. Career Highlights: Intern for Rep. Mark Hannaford (D-Long Beach), 1977; law clerk to federal Judge William Rey in Los Angeles, 1986-87; attorney with Environmental Protection Agency's San Francisco office, 1987-2002; attorney with Environmental Advocates, a public-interest environmental law firm, since 2002. Quote: "The recall is a charade. I figured the more people on the ballot, the more ridiculous this whole thing will look. None of the candidates in the recall deserve to replace Gov. Davis, who rightly won the last general election." * Lawrence Steven Strauss Age: 37 Party: Democrat Occupation: Business, real estate and personal injury lawyer at own Studio City firm. Residence: Sherman Oaks Family: Married, two children Education: B.S. in finance and real estate, USC, 1988; law degree, 1991, Loyola Law School; studying aviation at Glendale Community College. Career highlights: Two-year member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Assn.; has volunteered at Valley Presbyterian Hospital, Van Nuys. Quote: "I have to manage my own business and manage my own funds. I know how to budget, and I don't spend when I don't have the money." * Tim Sylvester Age: 39 Party: Democrat Occupation: Entrepreneur Residence: Santa Cruz Family: Married, no children Education: B.S. in computer engineering, Iowa State University, 1987. Career Highlights: Recently founded a computer networking equipment company. Product manager for Cisco Systems, 1996-2001. Quote: "The recall is unfair. If it hadn't been for Darrell Issa and his money, it wouldn't have happened. I am absolutely not making a serious bid for governor. Just as Issa got out his checkbook to fund the recall, I got out mine to protest against it." * A. Lavar Taylor Age: 45 Party: Democrat Occupation: Tax attorney Residence: San Juan Capistrano Family: Married, one child Education: B.S. in political science, University of Illinois, 1978; J.D., Georgetown Law School, 1981. Career Highlights: Attorney for IRS, 1981-87; assistant U.S. attorney in Los Angeles, 1987-89. Private practice since 1990. Quote: "I'm hoping that people will see someone like me who has never run for office before and think that they can make a difference too. I'm concerned about the political system in the U.S. It has become really polarized and people are talking at each other." * Diane Beall Templin Age: 56 Party: American Independent Occupation: Attorney, real estate broker Residence: Escondido Family: Divorced, one child Education: B.S. in social welfare, State University of New York, Buffalo, 1969. J.D., State University of New York, Buffalo, 1973. Career Highlights: Ran unsuccessfully for California attorney general in 1998 and 2002, and for U.S. senator in 2000. Has practiced estate planning law since 1974. Quote: "I'm not one of the good ol' boys. The chaos in California has to do with the party politics in Sacramento. If you are happy with the way Republicans and Democrats are working, fine, vote for them. But if you're not, its time for someone new." * Brian S. Tracy Age: 59 Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Business consultant, motivational speaker, author Residence: Solana Beach Family: Married, four children Education: B.A. in commerce, University of Alberta, Canada, 1978. Career Highlights: Started Brian Tracy International in Edmonton, Canada, in 1981. Moved to San Diego, 1986. Company sells Tracy's books and audio and videotapes, and arranges his speeches and consulting services. Quote: "I'm a realistic optimistic. I think my chances are very good. There are tremendous problems in the political structure of California. I think that only an independent with a very, very clear plan to run and with a series of very well-thought-out solutions can win this election." * Peter V. Ueberroth Age: 65 Party: Republican Occupation: Businessman Residence: Laguna Beach Family: Married, four children Education: B.S., San Jose State College, 1959 Career Highlights: President of 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee; 1984 Time magazine Man of the Year; major league baseball commissioner, 1984-89; headed Rebuild Los Angeles after 1992 riots. Quote: "Once the campaign has ended, I believe that I will be the best-qualified person to get the tough job done." * Chuck Walker Age: 47 Party: Republican Occupation: Business intelligence analyst Residence: Scotts Valley Family: Married, two children Education: B.S. in business administration, Cal Poly Pomona, 1989. Career Highlights: After several years as a computer programmer, now working for Seagate Technology analyzing corporate data for market research. Served on Scotts Valley City Council 1996-2000; as mayor in 2000. Quote: "I wasn't satisfied with the choices we were given, and I feel I have a good, solid plan for California and its economic recovery. I haven't heard a plan from anybody else." * Paul Walton Age: 47 Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Owns Castle Creek Inn Resort and Spa in Escondido Residence: Escondido Family: Single, no children Education: B.S. in public administration, San Diego State University, 1977; teaching credential, San Diego State, 1979. Career Highlights: Taught secondary school for three years; started business promoting Sprint long distance; retired at 30. Quote: "I've always been intrigued by government and politics. I just never really pursued it. I look at this as an opportunity for an ordinary guy to be able to get in and take a shot at it and you never know. After all, Funny Cide did win the Kentucky Derby." * C.T. Weber Age: 62 Party: Peace and Freedom Party Residence: Sacramento Occupation: Part-time analyst for California Highway Patrol; union organizer for the California State Employees Assn. Family: Married, one daughter Education: B.A. in history, 1969, M.A. in public administration, 1980, Cal State Long Beach. Career Highlights: Currently president of District Labor Council 784 of the civil services division of CSEA, Local 1000, of Service Employees International Union. Quote: "The Peace and Freedom Party stands for women's rights, the environment and democratic socialism. The Peace and Freedom Party probably has the most labor-friendly party and platform in the state. For example, the current governor treats state employees very shabbily." * Jim Weir Age: 59 Party: Democrat Occupation: Electronics technology instructor and small-business owner Residence: Grass Valley Family: Married, no children Education: B.S., physics, math and aerospace, San Diego State, 1967. Career Highlights: Designed landing radar for the Apollo lunar spacecraft at Teledyne Ryan. Founder and president of small aircraft electronics company. Served on Nevada County Board of Supervisors, 1986-94. Quote: "My motivation is obviously to win, but also to get the maximum number of people to the polls so that this election is not determined by a small minority of voters at either end of the spectrum. Transportation and education are the heart and soul of California; they need to be dealt with at all costs." * B.E. Smith Age: 56 Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Disabled veteran Residence: Denny Family: Married, four children Education: High school graduate. Career highlights: Army, 4th Infantry Division, 1967-68, Vietnam; went to prison under the medical marijuana Compassionate Use Act, 1996. Quote: "I would like to stop the war on drugs. If I get elected I will pardon all people convicted in California under drug laws so they can get their rights back, and then take money saved from prisons and put it toward education." * Todd Carson Age: 34 Party: Republican Occupation: Commercial real estate developer and investor; former admissions counselor and lacrosse coach, Chapman University, Orange. Residence: Newport Beach Family: Married, one child Education: B.A. in psychology, Chapman University 1992; real estate license, 1993. Career highlights: Three-year member of the Western Carwash Assn.; member of Chapman University men's lacrosse alumni boards and Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity alumni boards. Quote: "The state's not run like a business, and it needs to be because you're dealing with dollars. Political parties get put before the budget." * Paul W. Vann Age: 62 Party: Republican Occupation: Financial planner Residence: Laguna Hills Family: Widowed, two children, four stepchildren, four grandchildren. Education: B.S. in marketing, New York University, 1969; MBA, UCLA, 1970. Career highlights: Co-founder, Morasha Jewish Day School, Rancho Santa Margarita. Past president, Society of Financial Service Professionals, Orange County, and National Assn. of Insurance and Financial Advisors, West Los Angeles. Has volunteered for the Jewish Federation in L.A. and Orange counties Quote: "I would put the gold back in the Golden State by setting finances straight. I'd make everything public, because what goes on in Sacramento is not a matter of national security." * Bill Vaughn Age: 57 Party: Democrat Occupation: Structural engineer Residence: Lafayette Family: Married, one child Education: B.A. in economics, University of Buffalo, 1970; B.S. in structural engineering, Portland State University, 1983. Career highlights: Engineer for 17 years; has owned a structural engineering company since 1994. Before that was a contractor in Eugene, Ore. Quote: "This election was an opportunity to take our concerns as structural engineers to the people. I don't know how else we would have done it unless we did a letter campaign." * Shu Yih Liu Age: 58 Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: CEO of the Stuttz automobile company Residence: Westwood Family: Single Education: BSCE in civil engineering, Chicago Tech, 1972. Career Highlights: Owned real estate, such as the old RCA building, throughout Los Angeles area. Quote: "I don't have any interest in personal fame. I see that there is a big solution for the deficit. California has lost its chi — it's aura — and I have the solution. As soon as I am in the position to do so, I will announce plan to solve the problems in California." * Paul Walton Party: Nonpartisan Residence: San Diego Occupation: Hotelier :* Christopher Ranken Party: Democrat Occupation: Planning commissioner Residence: San Mateo * John J Hickey Party: Libertarian Occupation: Director, Sequoia Health Care District Residence: San Mateo * Daniel Watts Party: Green Occupation: College student Residence: Santa Clara * Stephen Knapp Party: Republican Occupation: Engineer Residence: Santa Clara * Robert Cullenbine Party: Democrat Occupation: Retired Residence: Santa Clara * Camilla Cochran Party: Democrat Occupation: Attorney/homemaker Residence: Santa Clara * Dan Houston Party: Republican Occupation: Businessman Residence: Santa Clara * Nathan Whitecloud Walton Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Student Residence: San Diego * Elizabeth Swayney Party: Nonpartisan Residence: Alameda * Mike Schmier Party: Democrat Residence: Emeryville * Donald P. Wang Party: Republican Residence: Alameda * Jerry Kunzman Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: CEO Residence: Richmond * Vip Bhola Party: Republican Occupation: Businessman Residence: North Hollywood * Matt Lemcke Age: 22 Party: Democrat Occupation: Student, filmmaker Residence: Burbank Quote: "I'm going to go up there and try to get people to fix the mess that we're in." * Darryl L. Mobley Age: 46 Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Business entrepreneur Residence: Danville * Robert C. Newman Party: Republican Occupation: Psychologist, farmer Residence: Riverside George Schwartzman Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Businessman * Joseph R. Evanns Party: Republican Residence: Ventura * Kevin Richter Party: Republican Occupation: Respiration consultant Residence: San Joaquin * Michael Cheli Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Indian gambling businessman Residence: Sonoma * Dorene Musili Party: Republican Occupation: Education Residence: Sonoma * Vic S. Bajwa Party: Democrat Occupation: Entrepreneur Residence: Sonoma * Mike McNeilly Party: Republican Occupation: Artist Residence: Beverly Hills * Douglas Anderson Party: Republican Residence: Ventura * Sharon Holland Party: Nonpartisan Residence: San Francisco * Bryan Quinn Party: Republican Occupation: Businessman * Joel Britton Party: Nonpartisan Robert Cullenbine Party: Democrat * Camilla Cochram Party: Democrat * Christopher Ranken Party: Democrat * Marc Valdez Party: Democrat Occupation: Air pollution scientist Residence: Sacramento * David "Laughing Horse" Robinson Party: Democrat Occupation: Tribal chairman * Garrett Gruener Party: Democrat * William Chambers Party: Republican Occupation: Railroad switchman/brakeman * Lingel Winters Party: Democrat Occupation: Consumer business attorney * Dennis McMahon Party: Republican Residence: San Francisco * Charles Henderson Party: Nonpartisan Occupation: Teacher * Bill Prady Party: Democrat Residence: Encino * Kurt E. "Tachikaze" Rightmyer Party: Nonpartisan Residence: West Covina * Scott "Gray Will Stay" Sookman Party: Nonpartisan Residence: Beverly Hills Occupation: Small-business owner * Lester Terry Tate Speight Party: Nonpartisan Residence: Santa Monica Occupation: Office manager * Bill Thill Party: Democrat Residence: Sherman Oaks Occupation: Business owner * Lynda L. Toth Party: Democrat Residence: Los Angeles Occupation: Educator and author * William James Tsangares Party: Republican Residence: Los Angeles Occupation: Businessman * Ruben Raul Vega Party: Democrat Residence: Los Angeles Occupation: Banker * John Christopher Burton Party: Nonpartisan Residence: Pasadena Occupation: Civil rights lawyer * Dennis Hugh Conn Party: Nonpartisan Residence: Valencia * Mary "Mary Carey" Cook Party: Nonpartisan Residence: Los Angeles Occupation: Adult film actress * Pauline "Teena" Cooper Party: Democrat Residence: Los Angeles Occupation: Registered nurse * Temila C. Jensen Party: Democrat Residence: Granada Hills Occupation: Attorney * David "Renaissanceamerica.org" Johnson Party: Democrat Residence: Beverly Hills Occupation: Aerospace engineer * Trek Thunder Kelly Party: Nonpartisan Residence: Venice Occupation: Business executive/artist * Sergio Myers Party: Nonpartisan Residence: West Hollywood Occupation: Reality television producer * Gregory J. Pawlik Party: Republican Residence: Pacific Palisades Occupation: Realtor, businessman * Joel Britton Party: Nonpartisan Residence: Los Angeles * Robert "Butch" Dole Party: Republican Occupation: Small-business owner Residence: Santa Clara * Gene E. Forte Party: Republican Occupation: Executive recruiter, entrepreneur Residence: Monterey * Diana Foss Party: Democrat Residence: Santa Clara * Ronald Friedman Party: Nonpartisan Residence: Los Angeles * Justin Garten Party: Nonpartisan Residence: San Bernardino * Michael R. Hinson Party: Nonpartisan Residence: San Bernardino * S. Issa Party: Republican Occupation: Engineer Residence: Arcadia * Kelly P. Kimball Party: Democrat Residence: Los Angeles * Paul Nave Party: Democrat Residence: Marin * Don Novello Party: Democrat Residence: Marin * Bryan Quinn Party: Republican Occupation: Businessman Residence: Santa Clara * Reva Renee Renz Party: Republican Residence: Orange County Daniel Richards Party: Republican Residence: San Bernardino * Erik R. Smith Party: Democrat Residence: San Francisco * Alex St. James Party: Republican Residence: Sacramento * Michael Wozniak Party: Republican Occupation: Retired police officer Residence: Alameda * John W. "The Bear" Zellhoefer Party: Republican Occupation: Energy consultant, entrepreneur Residence: Santa Clara posted by Jenny on 8/10/2003 10:32:00 AM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wSaturday, August 09, 2003 | |
|
|
I promised these awhile ago. Fortunately I didn't build them up too much. 
What happened was I scanned them as B+W documents, but forgot to change my html from ".jpg" to ".gif". I figured I'd just post them at the top because they'll probably knock that previous post off the page. Also, I was floored when I saw this as blogger's newest "What's Up" item. How time's change Help. Today we're launching our new support system. It features a completely rewritten knowledge base and a new email-based system for answering your requests. If you find something not covered in the new documentation or need technical support, simply follow the link at the bottom of any knowledge base page. – Jason G. [8/7/2003 4:32:34 PM] posted by Jenny on 8/09/2003 07:16:00 PM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wFriday, August 08, 2003 | |
|
|
Grrr Because I got my raise on the 2nd day of a 2 week pay period, they calculated that last 2 weeks at the old rate. But since it took them so long to pay me, I had already reported my earnings. In fact, I've already gotten my unemployment check. But apparently 2 weeks from now, I'll get a check with my raise. Still, what kind of moron accountant can't calculate 2 rates into 1 check? posted by Jenny on 8/08/2003 10:52:00 PM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wThursday, August 07, 2003 | |
|
|
Pictures! I got this phone call this morning. Looked at the caller ID, and as I was picking up the phone it started to register as odd that someone from the pb's area code would be calling me. But that's because it was him. Good reason, eh? See, he emailed me when I was in San Fran to say that he was home from his trip, but his father was sick, so he'd be going up there for a few days. Then I left him a voicemail on Tuesday night saying that I was glad he made it home ok, I was sorry to hear about his dad, and that I'd be thinking good thoughts for both of them. (Because I genuinely am trying to.) He called this morning to say that his dad isn't doing as well, and he's trying to get him transfered to a hospital local to him (him, him, which him?) Anyway, we talked a little, and he asked me to pass on a message to someone in email, which I did. He seemed really interested in what I did yesterday, which was, make finger puppets our of Gummi Bears. I was taking pictures to tell the story of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, but it didn't work out. (Notice the use of alt tags) 
 posted by Jenny on 8/07/2003 12:24:00 AM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wWednesday, August 06, 2003 | |
|
|
He had a comb over. I got a speeding ticket today. My first moving violation ever. I'm travelling down the freeway in the carpool lane with some guy in front of me going pretty slow for that freeway. (Now would be a good time to mention that I had my sister with me.) Suddenly the guy finally decides to speed up. I didn't particularly want to keep up with him, he'll probably just slow down. I'm going along with the speedometer just below 85 (though really, I think it's off by a few MPH) when I notice a highway patrol guy in my rear view. I never panic when I see them, because I have this theory that most of them don't want to pull you over. Actually, it's a cop theory. Most cops are patrol men or detectives or something. They're on their way somewhere in the cop car, and they don't want to lower themselves to traffic cops for pulling you over because you didn't signal 50 feet before the corner. Plus, most cops are bad drivers. Besides, slamming on the breaks to slow down is a total tell. Alright, so I take my foot off the gas and ease down to about 75 (by the speedometer, so probably less). I'm not blazing ahead of anyone else on the freeway or anything, but everyone else is seeing this guy and slowing down. The guy tails me for over 10 miles (yeah, I notice things like that). I figure he's running my plates and finding that he's got nothing on me. Then he goes over the double yellow on the carpool lane and passes me on the right, giving us a nice long stare as he does so. The whole time he's in front of me, I'm pacing him and he actually speeds up to over 80, so I slow down, wanting him to get far ahead. Then after a few minutes he slows down and gets behind me, again crossing the double yellow to enter the carpool lane. Now at this point, I'm thinking this guy is just a really bad driver. After a few more minutes he suddenly pulls over to the far right lane. There are quite a few cars in the 2 right lanes, less in the middle lane, no one in the left lane, and me in the carpool lane. Within a few more minutes he's weaved back through traffic and behind me again. A few minutes after that, I see him go rather quickly to the far right lane, so I'm figuring he's going to get off the freeway. The next thing I know he's behind me with his siren on. Go figure he felt the need to go behind me a 4th time. Of course, he turned his siren on right as I hit a point where the double yellow picked up again. So I'm thinking, I'll wait about a mile and the lane will open up again. But it didn't for 2 miles. With no break in site this guy is pulling up along side me with his siren on and lights flashing. Apparently it is now ok to break the law. So I go over the double yellow and stop on the shoulder. He uses his speaker to say it's illegal to stop on a shoulder, so I get off the freeway, only to drive down a street where all the signs said, "No stopping any time." I finally just stopped there after 3/4 of a really long block. Apparently it is also ok to stop in a no stopping zone. So the guy comes to the passenger window and asks me if I knew how fast I was going. I'm thinking he means 80, but I say, "A little too fast, I guess." He asks if I'm in a hurry and I say that I'm going to class. He says that when I passed him I was going 77. I am actually quite proud that I reigned myself in and only drove 77 MPH. But I got a ticket anyway. At least I stopped at the last exit in L.A. county, I guess. It still took the guy 15 more minutes back at his car looking me up or whatever. I made fun of his combover. I also had enough time to help my sister fill out her entire work history on a job application. Because she didn't want me to make fun of his combover. And not a citation, I have a court date in October (5 days before I have jury duty). Personally, I'd like to find out if I still have to appear if I don't want to contest it. My dad says that if you don't get a monetary citation you're probably not elligible for traffic school. But if I am, I'd like to get it over with before October. Also, yesterday I determined that the thermometer magnet I bought in Chinatown works by sitting on it for 5 minutes, thus making the temperature rise. posted by Jenny on 8/06/2003 10:57:00 PM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wTuesday, August 05, 2003 | |
|
|
Insight into a paranoid woman's mind. Every so often one of my Grandma's friends will call absolutely frantic because they haven't been able to reach her all day. People we've never even heard of. Today some woman named Charlotte called around 3:30 and wanted me to reassure her that my Grandma is alive and well. As far as I know she has a cold. But I haven't actually seen her in 2 weeks. She did however call today just before noon to ask me to buy her lottery tickets. So I just told this Charlotte woman that she doesn't have call waiting, and is probably on the phone. For all I know she's been calling all day and getting the machine because my Grandma is out. Well, actually, I was messing with her long before that. When I picked up the phone and heard the feeble old voice cracking on the other end I knew what the call was about. She asked, "Who am I talking to?" and all I said was "Jenny..." She goes on, "Oh, is this the granddaughter of, um... um..." I actually made her spit out the name before I replyed "Yea." So anyway, I think (and my mom agrees) that Grandma gives our number to all of our friends because she thinks that when she dies, we won't call them. Therefore eventually they won't here from her, and will have to call us to find out. She is very paranoid about when she dies. She's already reaching out beyond the grave. For example, she's been telling me since I was 10 that I have to pass drug tests to get my inheritance. So I don't use the money on drugs. She's also consistently trying to get reassurances from us that we'll keep in touch with my uncle's ex-wife. But we don't have to. How can she make us? Also, we're supposed to give his ex-wife's daughter some jewelery. Now, as far as I'm concerned, she can have all that gaudy crap. Let's ignore the fact that Grandma's wrists are bones with skin (because she's saved 1-2 links out of every bracelet, like that will help). My mom says we should keep it all and she'll melt it down. I always say, "For what, Fillings?" She can have 1st, 2nd & 3rd pick of the jewelry. When she moved in to the home her daughter-in-law came and supervised everything we packed, kept or gave away. We gave her stuff, it was no big deal. My sister and I took the 2 best sets of dishes (I got the good set, I mean, it is our family's china, even if it's not that old, and my sister got the every day ones, which were hardly used and pretty good quality to begin with). She was offered a set for her daughter and said it wasn't worth having them shipped up north. That is the first time I have ever seen her turn down something free. (Actually, dividing up a person's personal belongings brings out the worst in people. One woman called and said that if my Grandma wasn't keeping a Waterford bowl she had given her for an anniversary or something, she wanted it back. My Grandma gave it to my mom, so the woman called us and tried to say it should go back to her before it was passed on to family. And another woman who has the same fine china set (the one that I got) wanted it from my Grandma because her husband has Parkinson's and has dropped a lot of her pieces. When my mom said "no", she came in to my mom's office and said, "Remember that nice Waterford bowl (different one) I gave you for your wedding?" Actually, my mom does remember it, it is her favorite bowl, and earlier that year Grandma chipped it while she was cleaning. And then there's the pseudo-relative who sat there and turned her nose up every time I got to keep a piece of furniture.) Ok, back to the phone calls. Why else do we get 4-5 of these phone calls a year, from people we've never heard of, on an unlisted number unless she's giving it out? Should we ask her to make a list of the phone numbers of everyone we should call when she dies? Isn't that poor taste? Maybe her daughter-in-law can have 1 piece of jewlery for every call she makes. We'll take care of the flowers and guestbook. Dying slowly is painful for everyone involved. posted by Jenny on 8/05/2003 05:51:00 PM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
w | |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
A simple prop to occupy my time. Sometimes the searches people use to get to this site are really funny. Well, no they're not. Kinda funny may be more accurate. Just when I finally got around to posting some of them, my webstats disappeared. I found that the pages exist, they're just not indexed anymore.
It's fun to go to google and stick this stuff in with "grammaticallyincorrect" to see what I said that generated the search result. Also, I've noticed that in April 8 people got here by looking for lexapro. But then last month, 2 people wanted to see Carson Daly in his underwear. I am only slightly less worried about the person who wanted to see Craig Bierko in his. Hmm... something to ponder... posted by Jenny on 8/05/2003 01:25:00 PM |
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
w | |
|
|
Lunchtime conversation. Me: We have fries. Her: What do we have to go with them? Me: Just fries. ::I go into the kitchen:: ::She follows me and opens the freezer:: Her: Ooh, I could have a rice bowl. Me: I guess I could have a hot dog and fries. Her: A hot dog does sound tempting. ::looks in the freezer:: Her: Do we have any? Me: Check the fridge... and check the date one them. ::opens fridge, looks, looks in freezer again:: Her: Oh, here they are! ::looks them over:: Her: There's no date! Her: ::singing:: Because Oscar Meyer has a way with B-O-L-O-G-N-A Me: It doesn't matter if they're frozen. Her: How many do you want. Me: 2, but only if we have buns. Her: 2 sounds good. Me: I'll make the fries first, then you make the hot dogs. ::I start putting the fries out on a cookie sheet:: Her: ::singing:: Because Oscar Meyer has a way with B-O-L-O-G-N-A. Me: Ok, stop. Her: Are you making regular, or Sour Cream and Onion? ::I look at her:: Her: ::whispers:: Because Sour Cream and Onion are good Me: I thought they were "eew!" Her: Before I actually tried them! ::Return to fry preparation:: Her: ::singing:: Because Oscar Meyer has a way with B-O-L-O-G-N-A. Me: DNA? I wonder if you can do DNA testing in a chicken breast a figure out which chicken it came from. Her: Ok, you did not just say that! ::Leaves kitchen:: posted by Jenny on 8/05/2003 12:41:00 PM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
w | |
|
|
I don't even think I should have to dignify Voicemails like this with a response: "Jenny, it's Grandma. You promised to call me, I've been waiting for your call. I want to make sure that you got home ok. Your father isn't answering his phone at all. And you know, a promise is a promise." I don't think that repeatedly saying, "Uh huh" is a promise. She called me twice on Sunday at 5:00 p.m. all frantic because she thought that my father said they'd be home at 3:00. Then she called back because she forgot that I had just told her that their flight didn't leave until 4:30. On Saturday was called her twice to tell her we got there, and her phone was busy both times. Then she goes crazy calling everyone's cell trying to find us. But we did call. She just wasn't thinking about us until she had no one else on the phone to talk to. Now I have to go get ther 4 lottery tickets because I "really will be true friend" if I do... posted by Jenny on 8/05/2003 12:07:00 PM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wMonday, August 04, 2003 | |
|
|
We had to back in to the bathroom! Before I left my parents called. My mom and her sister were laughing so hard about their room we couldn't understand them. We thought they were idiots. Then we get to our room the next day, and call them. We were laughing so hard they couldn't understand us. They are still idiots. My sister was describing the room to my mother and i shouted out, "don't forget to tell her about the bathroom we have to back in to!" My mom didn't get that that meant that it wasn't big enough to turn around in. When sitting on the toilet, my left leg was under the sink, my right light was almost against the tub/shower and my knees were less than an inch from the door, which had a full length mirror on it. No one should have to see that, especially not me! And, the toilet paper holder was mounted to the wall under the sink, because that was the only available wall space. Plus, we had 2 twin beds. Now, here's the picture I promised. 
I'm holding up these new candies from Jelly Belly I highly recommend the cappuccino. posted by Jenny on 8/04/2003 08:06:00 PM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wSunday, August 03, 2003 | |
|
|
This post brought to you from San Francisco via free internet access. That really is all. I can't check my email because pop-ups are disabled. Also, tab key is disabled, why? Last time I was here (as in Sony's Metreon) I checked my email just fine. This time, I sent myself a digital postcard. So I'll post that picture of me when I get home. Right now I have to go back to my hotel and back in to my bathroom. I'll explain that later. posted by Jenny on 8/03/2003 01:34:00 PM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wSaturday, August 02, 2003 | |
|
|
Sleepless and Guilty I don't know where to begin. I had very coherent thoughts as I lay sleepless in bed. By the time I committed to getting up came downstairs those had left me. My alarm is going off at 5:00 a.m. It is now 2:00 a.m. It is now 2:30 a.m. Earlier I got home from work only to be ripped a new one over my response to the 2nd email. I'm in the midst or writing an apology. So as I write this, I know it won't be posted until I get back from San Francisco. I just don't think it's right to post this before I send an apology. Though it's not really an apology. The subject is, "I'm sorry", but the message is that I could have said things better than I did before. So I rephrase some things. As per usual I apologize that what I said hurt so deeply, since that was an unintended consequence. But really, I'm not all that sorry for most of what I said. There is only 1 person who I have apologized to in almost 15 years to whom I was actually genuinely sorry. Mostly I feel bad for myself. I feel horrible that someone whose opinion matters a lot to me will be very disappointed in me when this comes out. This is the one person to whom if I am forced to tell this story, I'd cry as I told it. For the reason stated above. Because I treated someone so poorly that it will reflect so badly on me. It's probably not who you think it is. posted by Jenny on 8/02/2003 03:11:00 AM |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
wFriday, August 01, 2003 | |
|
|
There's something about the type written page that turns me on. Yesterday I was downstairs teaching another intern something. The woman who watches me like a hawk who had moved downstairs was out of town, yeah! Anyway, I was basically "supervising" her doing what I had just taught her when I found an electric typewrite. Fully electric, I had no idea how to set the margins. So I got out some scrap paper and started typing: 
Later there was a fire alarm which proved to be a real fire. If by fire I mean the incident where someone left their popcorn in the microwave too long. We had to evacuate the building. Someone came out and told everyone that they had to work late to make up the 15 minutes lost. It was already 5:30 or so. I grabbed my keys and cell phone, but I left these pages sitting there. So I figured I better go back. Somehow the burnt popcorn smell made it's way into the air ducts and stunk up the whole building. Needless to say, I didn't stay long. The official tally stands as follows: Telemarketers: 9 Grandma: 7 Parents: 6 Hang-ups: 17 (As of 11:00 p.m. Friday, August 1, 2003) posted by Jenny on 8/01/2003 10:59:00 PM |
|
|
|
|
|