Real Mexican food is in Texas

I have this list on my wall. Actually I have a couple of lists pinned up on the bulletin board. One list is titled things to do before I graduate. I have a month left, its time to start putting some X's next to the items. First thing that gets the cross mark, George Bush Museum. Anything to say? Not really, it is a museum and for the most part they bore me.

Texas, the largest state in the contiguous United States. A state home to three of the top ten cities in terms of population. A state that at one point was a nation itself. A state that just so happens to boarder Mexico. Mexico a place where the American dream lives and cheap tequila flows.

Mexico is only about a 5.5 hour drive. 5.5 hours for legal drinking age to be pretty much non existent. A short jaunt where you can buy chicklett bubble gum and talk the little Spanish you learned in high school. We are in Mexico, we need to eat Mexican food (but not drink the water). I learned something America does better than Mexico. Mexican food is like tex-mex but bland, one more chalk mark on the scoreboard for America.

We found a club where 8 bucks (10 talked down) could get you unlimited drinks. This club had several floors, and a basement were you could forgo the steps and take either the slide or one of two poles. The fireman in me always opted for the pole, except once where I had to give the slide a try. Upstairs they had an outdoor patio, where low and behold was another check mark waiting for the pencil. The mechanical bull. I've always wanted to ride one and what better place than Mexico. The first time I got on, I pretty much got off. It was harder than it looked and at 2 bucks I figured the bull won its match. Later that night maybe with the drinks talking to me or the my George Washingtons itching in my pockets I gave in. I did a lot better and rode it in true rodeo fashion with one hand raised in the air and a look of concentration on my face.

Other highlights include the power going off, meeting but not buying from Johnny the Mexican crack dearler, seeing an electric chair of sorts where if you can take the highest voltage you get your money back(it was closed, but still found it pretty shocking(no pun intended) that it existed). We ended the night at the Corona club where the opening scene of Desparado is filmed if anyone cared to know. An American girl came up to me and asked if I wanted to dance, and then apologized because she said I was in highschool. I said I'm 23 and she didn't believe it and wanted a look at my ID. With drivers liscense ready she was soon proved wrong and now wanted to dance. Lesson of the story: If you judge me by how I look you won't get your dance.

Crossing the Rio Grande late that night not only did I now have my rights as a United States citizen back, but also have a few more memories of my years at A&M. As James Taylor sings in one of his songs, "Oh, Mexico. It sounds so simple I just got to go." I now have and my pencil now rests on top my desk, freshly sharpened waiting for the next adventure for that fateful X.

Payless....maybe the should pay more on their facilities.

Yesterday I was in the great midwest state of Kansas. Topeka is not only the state's capital, but in addition houses Payless Shoes headquarters. I'll admit, I went there not too excited about the company, but I'm even less excited about the economy. I guess Payless for me is a whole pride issue. I've put a lot of effort to be the student I am today with the background I have. I want more than Payless.

Anyways I went to Kansas to rack up some more frequent flyer miles. I also went because I have an open mind and wanted to see what they have to offer. Two negatives: Don't give a guy who is slightly over 6 foot a Chevy Cavalier to drive for a hour and a half. When my knees are doing the steering, I need more leg room. Also don't put me in a hotel thats not that decent, but on the far opposite side of town. I'm not so negative as not to realize that flying me up was an expense for them. I am still grateful for having the opportunity to visit.

Upon arrival, I went into the lobby where I saw a few other candidates. Blank stares all around. I was the first person to actually break the silence and start talking. After a short introduction, the interviews began. There were 4 of them in a row, approximately 30 minutes each. I felt I did just fine on them, but who knows what they saw. My favorite interviewer was a lady with a great sense of humor. However all of sudden she went off tangent and started saying don't trust anyone. That there is office politics in this male dominated job. I don't know if she looked across, but I am a white male, kind of fit the mold don't you think. All in all, I really did enjoy the people I met and hearing their experiences.

After the wrap up I went to Lawrence to go surprise my Grandma. It took me awhile to find her, but alas she had cards in her hand and playing a good game of Pinochel (spelling???). Back to Texas.

So now I have a few more things going for me. In a few weeks I will be in Michigan interviewing with Ford Motor Company. I've always been passionate about this industry and I can only hope an offer is extended. Also recently I have been informed I have made final rounds for Accenture. Two of my top three I've applied for I've made it to finals. As a Montanan just might say: I'm stoked.

Big fish in a small pond or small fish in a big pond....How about big fish in a big pond.

When I came to A&M, I was number 468-88-9976 (obvisouly not my real social security number). As I sat among hundreds in my classes I was just another name less face with a pen in a hand and a beat up notebook on the desk. Years have gone by and not much has changed. Classes have for the most part become smaller and interacting with the professors is now more frequent. I've done well for myself with internships, high GPA, and extra curricular activities. I'd say I'm a decent size fish. Not the biggest, but definitely not one you would consider tossing back.

The number I now am, that question is up to the HR Recruiters and other managers I have interviewed with. If you do some quick math my new number is probably around 452. The number of people who I am competing against for the same jobs. I'll be generous, give or take that number a bit. I am competing for a coveted few spots at a few companies. I am competing among hundreds of A&M students for a chance to have a second or on site interview. Magic time machine takes us forward...WHOOOOOSH. Okay, I'm now at the corporate office or at least a major center for their business. I am about to go through multiple interviews. Now not only am I still competing with the best A&M students, but now there are students from Rice, UT, and other schools thrown in the mix. No matter how you do the math, the odds aren't in your favor.

Lets throw in a kicker, a mulitpler to increase your chances. Wait a minute, that multipler does not exist for me because I am a white male. I agree that diversity in the workforce is important. I feel companies that ignore this have the potential to fail in the long run. However when you are in the position of a potential hire or a potential reject, you may take a step back and feel things are unfair.

So lets hope the economy turns around. Lets hope the GNP increases and that the unemployment rates continue to decrease. Lets hope that corporate america is about to toss out their commericial size fishing nets, and me a simple fish gets tangled in the webbing and brought on in.

Trick and tricks.

Halloween. A holiday that comes around once a year. Images of witches, pumpkins, and ghosts consume peoples' thoughts. Man how it is changed throughout the years. As a child it is a festive time, one wear cavities and sugar headaches dance around in your mind. Then there's that pivotal age. That age wear trick or treating becomes childish. I wonder who ever started that. My guess was just pompous 5th or 6th grader who never liked dressing up. So from junior high through high school Halloween becomes costume parties or helping the parents distribute candy to kids who are just like you were a few years ago. If you were like me, it might have meant doing a little egging or toilet papering. Misspent youth? Nah, I loved every minute of it. Yes, when I am someday an adult and have to clean it up I am certain I will gripe about it. Then I'll realize somethings just don't change.

College Halloween. For the most part just plain dirty. I've some real creative costumes now, from a guy who is a shower stall to a man dressed up like everyones favorite drink Jaegermeister. These creative wears are usually worn by the male population. Girls on the other hand resot to a different tactic. Substitute creative for slutty. A simple outfit like a Girl Scout all of sudden becomes a mid drift baring cosmopolitan drinking girl. Dorothy from Wizard of Oz was a simple Kansas girl, raised on a farm and unfortunately swept away to a magic land by a tornado nonetheless. Magic land now becomes Northgate and simple Dorothy is now ass hanging out cleavage showing girl trying not to get with the just the tin man, but the scare crow and the lion. College Station has been home for 4 years now, and there really is no place like home.