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That awkward space between reality and reality television.
Thursday, October 30, 2003
I keep holding on to dreams and these slow moving trains...and I don't know how long I can last. -Pat Green
Today was my last day working for the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Of course, that is exactly what I said about 14 months ago, but life has a funny way of bringing you back to the places you thought you had left for good. Working on the train is easily the best job that I've ever had at this point in my life, although, the other nominees for that title are Wendy's burger flipper, landscaper for the uptight Yankee, and ticket agent. As eager as I am to leave, I'm still a little saddened by the thought that I may never again have the opportunity to work such a carefree job.
As Crew Chief, my unofficial duties included plumber, Coca-Cola machine repairman, janitor, electrician, tour guide, mediator, Dear Abby, etc. Despite the messes I've had to deal with...both figuratively and literally...there are many more good memories of the railroad. I feel like for a moment I was able to step into a time when things were simpler. The days of passenger trains are long gone, but I feel like I was able to experience a time when train traveling across the land was the only way to fly. So, here is a quick list of things I will miss about my days as a railroader:
-wearing an engineers hat to work everyday
-playing cards in the club car with the brakemen
-listening to old conductors and engineers tell their stories of working in the days of steam engines for the Chessie system, Southern Railway, the L & N, or ESC.
-being asked for my autograph (ok, that only happened twice)
-being asked if people can have their picture taken with me (that happened almost everyday)
-getting hit on by elderly women
-climbing up into the cupolo of the caboose
-yelling "All Aboard!"
-witnessing God's amazing creation everyday
-exchanging witty banter with eccentric old folks
-listening to a live bluegrass band during all my breaks
-giving smart alleck answers to dumb questions
-hearing statements like "cutting the nuts off a frog" and "humping a goat" and not batting an eyelash (this is legitimate train lingo...and not nearly as dirty as it sounds).
Check back here in the next week or so to find out where I'll end up next. As for a tagboard topic, what is the best/worst job that you have ever had?
Ok, Possum out.
"Ahh, there's nothing like flying across the country on a train." -Homer Simpson
Today was my last day working for the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad. Of course, that is exactly what I said about 14 months ago, but life has a funny way of bringing you back to the places you thought you had left for good. Working on the train is easily the best job that I've ever had at this point in my life, although, the other nominees for that title are Wendy's burger flipper, landscaper for the uptight Yankee, and ticket agent. As eager as I am to leave, I'm still a little saddened by the thought that I may never again have the opportunity to work such a carefree job.
As Crew Chief, my unofficial duties included plumber, Coca-Cola machine repairman, janitor, electrician, tour guide, mediator, Dear Abby, etc. Despite the messes I've had to deal with...both figuratively and literally...there are many more good memories of the railroad. I feel like for a moment I was able to step into a time when things were simpler. The days of passenger trains are long gone, but I feel like I was able to experience a time when train traveling across the land was the only way to fly. So, here is a quick list of things I will miss about my days as a railroader:
-wearing an engineers hat to work everyday
-playing cards in the club car with the brakemen
-listening to old conductors and engineers tell their stories of working in the days of steam engines for the Chessie system, Southern Railway, the L & N, or ESC.
-being asked for my autograph (ok, that only happened twice)
-being asked if people can have their picture taken with me (that happened almost everyday)
-getting hit on by elderly women
-climbing up into the cupolo of the caboose
-yelling "All Aboard!"
-witnessing God's amazing creation everyday
-exchanging witty banter with eccentric old folks
-listening to a live bluegrass band during all my breaks
-giving smart alleck answers to dumb questions
-hearing statements like "cutting the nuts off a frog" and "humping a goat" and not batting an eyelash (this is legitimate train lingo...and not nearly as dirty as it sounds).
Check back here in the next week or so to find out where I'll end up next. As for a tagboard topic, what is the best/worst job that you have ever had?
Ok, Possum out.
"Ahh, there's nothing like flying across the country on a train." -Homer Simpson
Thursday, October 23, 2003
CLASSIFIEDS
After spreading my resume around over the course of the past few months I seemed to be getting absolutely nowhere until a couple of friends stepped in (thanks for your help Chris and Schyler) to offer their assistance. The result is a very promising interview; my first since graduating back in May. I am at the point where any job that will allow me to get away from Sylva and get out on my own is looking like a good option. However, as I go over my mental list of what I would like in a job, I find that this job for which I am interviewing meets very little of this criteria. I am prepared to do what I have to do as life takes it's course. Even if this job works out, I have promised myself that I will continue the pursuit of a job that will truly make me happy. As a first step in this process I have decided to take out an add in my own weblog to show prospective employers what it is that I am looking for in a career as well as what I bring to the table as an employee.
WANTED: A job with advancement potential in the field of television, video or film production. An opportunity to express and cultivate my own creativity while honing my craft. A friendly and relaxed work environment, preferably spending at least part of the time outdoors. The chance to work closely and rub elbows with famous people. A chair with my name on the back, barbecue for lunch everyday, and a bluegrass band performing during breaks (you think it is crazy, but I actually have all this in my current job...well, except the chair with my name). As for salary, I make $7 an hour currently and would love to be paid enough to not have to live at home...I don't ask too much...you see "cash ain't status for a guy like me."
I am a highly motivated, fast learning, slow talking graduate of one of the best public universities in the nation. My liberal arts education has prepared me for such practical applications as working crossword puzzles, playing trivial pursuit, and recording clever anecdotes for an online journal. I have been groomed for the entertainment industry since I was seven years old. I am a credible talent on stage (award winning ballet dancer at age 12), behind the camera (an award winning documentary at age 20...ok, the award was an A grade), and backstage (sound board operator for professional theatre company at age 21). I have experience working with celebrities including, but not limited to, the UNC Clefhangers, women's soccer star Jenna Kleugel, Delbert McClinton, Bob Dole, Bubba Sparxxx, Collective Soul, and Jessica Tandy's daughter. I am willing to travel as well as extremely flexible with work hours (provided I can work in jeans and flannel). I am praying to relocate. My previous work experience includes doing landscaping where I learned to deal with my cranky, Yankee boss, working in a ticket office where I assisted cranky, rich Yankees with their over-the-phone season ticket orders, and working as crew chief on an excursion railroad where I was in charge of customer relations (most of the time that meant calming down cranky Yankees).
If you are interested in employing me, please send your application to:
MTS, Inc.
ATTN: Brian "Possum" Sellers
Sylva, The Great Smoky Mountains
USA
Career recomendations appreciated on the tag board.
WANTED: A job with advancement potential in the field of television, video or film production. An opportunity to express and cultivate my own creativity while honing my craft. A friendly and relaxed work environment, preferably spending at least part of the time outdoors. The chance to work closely and rub elbows with famous people. A chair with my name on the back, barbecue for lunch everyday, and a bluegrass band performing during breaks (you think it is crazy, but I actually have all this in my current job...well, except the chair with my name). As for salary, I make $7 an hour currently and would love to be paid enough to not have to live at home...I don't ask too much...you see "cash ain't status for a guy like me."
I am a highly motivated, fast learning, slow talking graduate of one of the best public universities in the nation. My liberal arts education has prepared me for such practical applications as working crossword puzzles, playing trivial pursuit, and recording clever anecdotes for an online journal. I have been groomed for the entertainment industry since I was seven years old. I am a credible talent on stage (award winning ballet dancer at age 12), behind the camera (an award winning documentary at age 20...ok, the award was an A grade), and backstage (sound board operator for professional theatre company at age 21). I have experience working with celebrities including, but not limited to, the UNC Clefhangers, women's soccer star Jenna Kleugel, Delbert McClinton, Bob Dole, Bubba Sparxxx, Collective Soul, and Jessica Tandy's daughter. I am willing to travel as well as extremely flexible with work hours (provided I can work in jeans and flannel). I am praying to relocate. My previous work experience includes doing landscaping where I learned to deal with my cranky, Yankee boss, working in a ticket office where I assisted cranky, rich Yankees with their over-the-phone season ticket orders, and working as crew chief on an excursion railroad where I was in charge of customer relations (most of the time that meant calming down cranky Yankees).
If you are interested in employing me, please send your application to:
MTS, Inc.
ATTN: Brian "Possum" Sellers
Sylva, The Great Smoky Mountains
USA
Career recomendations appreciated on the tag board.
Wednesday, October 15, 2003
It was too good of a thought to be true. It was 1984 all over again, you could say. Yup, the Cubbies lost three straight games in the NLCS that year too. I had never bought into the "curse of the goat" until now, but it is hard not to believe that there is a higher baseball authority with a personnal vendetta against the North Siders when all hope of erasing 58 years of ineptitude was snatched away by a 25 year old Little League coach. I feel terrible for him and I understand that he did not realize what was going on, but you cannot tell me that that one moment did not cost the Cubs the championship (Alou catches that ball...out 2, Gonzalez does not get in a hurry on the ensuing ground ball while trying to turn the double play and easily makes out 3). With respect to Steve Goodman, why don't you play me "that lonesome loser's tune, that's the one I like the best":
A Dying Cubs Fan's Last Request
By the shore's of old Lake Michigan
Where the "hawk wind" blows so cold
An old Cub fan lay dying
In his midnight hour that tolled
Round his bed, his friends had all gathered
They knew his time was short
And on his head they put this bright blue cap
From his all-time favorite sport
He told them, "its late and its getting dark in here"
And I know its time to go
But before I leave the line-up
Boys, there's just one thing I'd like to know
Do they still play the blues in Chicago
When baseball season rolls around
When the snow melts away,
Do the Cubbies still play
In their ivy covered burial ground
When I was a boy they were my pride and joy
But now they only bring fatigue
To the home of the brave
The land of the free
And the doormat of the National League
Told his friends "You know the law of averages says:
Anything will happen that can."
That's what it says.
"But the last time the Cubs won a National League pennant
Was the year we dropped the bomb on Japan"
The Cubs made me a criminal
Sent me down a wayward path
They stole my youth from me
(that's the truth)
I'd forsake my teacher's
To go sit in the bleachers
In flagrant truancy
and then one thing led to another
and soon I'd discovered alcohol, gambling, dope
football, hockey, lacrosse, tennis
But what do you expect,
When you raise up a young boys hopes
And then just crush 'em like so many paper beer cups.
Year after year after year
after year, after year, after year, after year, after year
'Til those hopes are just so much popcorn
for the pigeons beneath the 'EL' tracks to eat
He said "You know I'll never see Wrigley Field, anymore
before my eternal rest
So if you have your pencils and your score cards ready,
and I'll read you my last request
He said, "Give me a double header funeral in Wrigley Field
On some sunny weekend day (no lights)
Have the organ play the National Anthem
and then a little "na, na, na, na, hey hey, hey, Goodbye"
Make six bullpen pitchers, carry my coffin
and six ground keepers clear my path
Have the umpires bark me out at every base
In all their holy wrath
Its a beautiful day for a funeral, Hey Ernie lets play two!
Somebody go get [Harry Caray] to come back,
and conduct just one more interview
Have the Cubbies run right out into the middle of the field,
Have [Alex Gonzalez] drop a routine fly
Give everybody two bags of peanuts and a frosty malt
And I'll be ready to die
Build a big fire on home plate out of your Louisville Sluggers baseball bats,
And toss my coffin in
Let my ashes blow in a beautiful snow
From the prevailing 30 mile an hour south west wind
When my last remains go flying over the left field wall
Will bid the bleacher bums adieu
And I will come to my final resting place, out on Waveland Avenue
The dying man's friends told him to cut it out
They said stop it that's an awful shame
He whispered, "Don't Cry, we'll meet by and by near the Heavenly Hall of Fame
He said, "I've got season's tickets to watch the Angels now,
So its just what I'm going to do
He said, "but you the living, you're stuck here with the Cubs,
So its me that feels sorry for you!
And he said, "Ahh Play, play that lonesome losers tune,
That's the one I like the best
And he closed his eyes, and slipped away
What we got is the Dying Cub Fan's Last Request
And here it is
Do they still play the blues in Chicago
When baseball season rolls around
When the snow melts away,
Do the Cubbies still play
In their ivy covered burial ground
When I was a boy they were my pride and joy
But now they only bring fatigue
To the home of the brave
The land of the free
And the doormat of the National League
A Dying Cubs Fan's Last Request
By the shore's of old Lake Michigan
Where the "hawk wind" blows so cold
An old Cub fan lay dying
In his midnight hour that tolled
Round his bed, his friends had all gathered
They knew his time was short
And on his head they put this bright blue cap
From his all-time favorite sport
He told them, "its late and its getting dark in here"
And I know its time to go
But before I leave the line-up
Boys, there's just one thing I'd like to know
Do they still play the blues in Chicago
When baseball season rolls around
When the snow melts away,
Do the Cubbies still play
In their ivy covered burial ground
When I was a boy they were my pride and joy
But now they only bring fatigue
To the home of the brave
The land of the free
And the doormat of the National League
Told his friends "You know the law of averages says:
Anything will happen that can."
That's what it says.
"But the last time the Cubs won a National League pennant
Was the year we dropped the bomb on Japan"
The Cubs made me a criminal
Sent me down a wayward path
They stole my youth from me
(that's the truth)
I'd forsake my teacher's
To go sit in the bleachers
In flagrant truancy
and then one thing led to another
and soon I'd discovered alcohol, gambling, dope
football, hockey, lacrosse, tennis
But what do you expect,
When you raise up a young boys hopes
And then just crush 'em like so many paper beer cups.
Year after year after year
after year, after year, after year, after year, after year
'Til those hopes are just so much popcorn
for the pigeons beneath the 'EL' tracks to eat
He said "You know I'll never see Wrigley Field, anymore
before my eternal rest
So if you have your pencils and your score cards ready,
and I'll read you my last request
He said, "Give me a double header funeral in Wrigley Field
On some sunny weekend day (no lights)
Have the organ play the National Anthem
and then a little "na, na, na, na, hey hey, hey, Goodbye"
Make six bullpen pitchers, carry my coffin
and six ground keepers clear my path
Have the umpires bark me out at every base
In all their holy wrath
Its a beautiful day for a funeral, Hey Ernie lets play two!
Somebody go get [Harry Caray] to come back,
and conduct just one more interview
Have the Cubbies run right out into the middle of the field,
Have [Alex Gonzalez] drop a routine fly
Give everybody two bags of peanuts and a frosty malt
And I'll be ready to die
Build a big fire on home plate out of your Louisville Sluggers baseball bats,
And toss my coffin in
Let my ashes blow in a beautiful snow
From the prevailing 30 mile an hour south west wind
When my last remains go flying over the left field wall
Will bid the bleacher bums adieu
And I will come to my final resting place, out on Waveland Avenue
The dying man's friends told him to cut it out
They said stop it that's an awful shame
He whispered, "Don't Cry, we'll meet by and by near the Heavenly Hall of Fame
He said, "I've got season's tickets to watch the Angels now,
So its just what I'm going to do
He said, "but you the living, you're stuck here with the Cubs,
So its me that feels sorry for you!
And he said, "Ahh Play, play that lonesome losers tune,
That's the one I like the best
And he closed his eyes, and slipped away
What we got is the Dying Cub Fan's Last Request
And here it is
Do they still play the blues in Chicago
When baseball season rolls around
When the snow melts away,
Do the Cubbies still play
In their ivy covered burial ground
When I was a boy they were my pride and joy
But now they only bring fatigue
To the home of the brave
The land of the free
And the doormat of the National League
Monday, October 13, 2003
The week in Haiku...
Train experience:
"Handling decrepit women"
Good on resume
Pat Green on the Hill
Gotta go to Cat's Cradle
Today....I'm still here
Celebrate Sarah
Toilet plunger on table
At Chili's dinner
MTS Improv
Makes it's triumphant return
Best moment: "Hold me"
(I guess you had to be there)
Business lunch meeting
With Chris Hoss and the mrs.
Whoa! Me a banker?
Chicago Cubbies
One win away from Series
First time since the Bomb
Is there an event in your week that can only be expressed in a 17 syllable poem? If so, share with us on the tag board! Best submission gets a special surprise.
Train experience:
"Handling decrepit women"
Good on resume
Pat Green on the Hill
Gotta go to Cat's Cradle
Today....I'm still here
Celebrate Sarah
Toilet plunger on table
At Chili's dinner
MTS Improv
Makes it's triumphant return
Best moment: "Hold me"
(I guess you had to be there)
Business lunch meeting
With Chris Hoss and the mrs.
Whoa! Me a banker?
Chicago Cubbies
One win away from Series
First time since the Bomb
Is there an event in your week that can only be expressed in a 17 syllable poem? If so, share with us on the tag board! Best submission gets a special surprise.
Saturday, October 04, 2003
In an effort to keep up with the latest trends in entertainment, I have decided that Possum Holler should stage an award show...or rather, an award journal. The first annual Possum Holler Possum Awards or "Posse" will be presented Monday, January 26th. What kind of awards does Possum hand out? Well, the Posses will span all sorts of my personal interests. And the nominees are:
Best Movie:
Big Fish, Cold Mountain, Lost in Translation, Pirates of the Carribean, School of Rock
Best Album:
Rock n Roll (Ryan Adams), Wave On Wave (Pat Green), Terra Firma (Acoustic Syndicate), The Jealous Kind (Chris Knight), Under the Table and Above the Sun (Reckless Kelly)
Best Roommate:
Josh Baker, the cardboard deer, Will Hart, Marc Jones, Jimmy Satterwhite
Best Live Album:
Live at Billy Bob's (Jack Ingram), SHOW (Allison Moorer), Full Exposure (Cory Morrow), LIVE (Charlie Robison), Blue Light Live (Wade Bowen & West 84)
Best Job:
Janitor, Railroad Crew Chief, Roadie, Unemployed, Umpire
Best Game:
UNC over Duke (NCAA b-ball), Cubs over Braves (MLB Divisional Series), Good Ol' Boys over Drinking Problems (Intramural Softball), Chris Moneymaker over Sam Farha (World Series of Poker), Kansas St. over Oklahoma (NCAA football)
Best Song:
Wave on Wave (Pat Green), Constantly (Cross Canadian Ragweed), Songs About Rain (Gary Allan), Hurt (Johnny Cash), A Little Bit (Jack Ingram)
Most Entertaining Television:
Arrested Development, The Second Joe Millionaire, The Simple Life, Newlyweds, Kids in the Hall re-runs
Best Birthday Celebration:
Elvis Presley (Jan 8), Lori Woods (Aug 28), John Nagy (Sept ?), Possum (Oct 2), Sarah Wilda (Oct 11)
Best Living Arrangement While Homeless:
Jeremy Ingle's, Marc Jones', NMR (King, John and Derek), Evan Travis', Mendenhall (my sister's dorm at UNCG)
and finally...
MAN oF The YeaR:
All men who are not communists are considered nominees.
Feel free to cast your votes on the tag board...however, your votes will not be taken into consideration.
Best Movie:
Big Fish, Cold Mountain, Lost in Translation, Pirates of the Carribean, School of Rock
Best Album:
Rock n Roll (Ryan Adams), Wave On Wave (Pat Green), Terra Firma (Acoustic Syndicate), The Jealous Kind (Chris Knight), Under the Table and Above the Sun (Reckless Kelly)
Best Roommate:
Josh Baker, the cardboard deer, Will Hart, Marc Jones, Jimmy Satterwhite
Best Live Album:
Live at Billy Bob's (Jack Ingram), SHOW (Allison Moorer), Full Exposure (Cory Morrow), LIVE (Charlie Robison), Blue Light Live (Wade Bowen & West 84)
Best Job:
Janitor, Railroad Crew Chief, Roadie, Unemployed, Umpire
Best Game:
UNC over Duke (NCAA b-ball), Cubs over Braves (MLB Divisional Series), Good Ol' Boys over Drinking Problems (Intramural Softball), Chris Moneymaker over Sam Farha (World Series of Poker), Kansas St. over Oklahoma (NCAA football)
Best Song:
Wave on Wave (Pat Green), Constantly (Cross Canadian Ragweed), Songs About Rain (Gary Allan), Hurt (Johnny Cash), A Little Bit (Jack Ingram)
Most Entertaining Television:
Arrested Development, The Second Joe Millionaire, The Simple Life, Newlyweds, Kids in the Hall re-runs
Best Birthday Celebration:
Elvis Presley (Jan 8), Lori Woods (Aug 28), John Nagy (Sept ?), Possum (Oct 2), Sarah Wilda (Oct 11)
Best Living Arrangement While Homeless:
Jeremy Ingle's, Marc Jones', NMR (King, John and Derek), Evan Travis', Mendenhall (my sister's dorm at UNCG)
and finally...
MAN oF The YeaR:
All men who are not communists are considered nominees.
Feel free to cast your votes on the tag board...however, your votes will not be taken into consideration.
