Monday After A Long Weekend

Mondays after long weekends are the hardest things in the world to endure. I have been enjoying myself for days and now..... blah! Up early, go through the routine, fight traffic, get to work, see people you wouldn't ever care to see again (in any reality), try to muddle through.

Yeah, Blah!

I saw some dumb-ass people on the highway again. I was cruising along and noticed that there was a line in the left lane going almost the speed limit. No traffice in the right lane at all. I counted 11 vehicles all following this one dope, stuck in the left lane. The passing lane. There was no one in the right lane. The slow lane. As I passed them I realized they had to all be followers and that I probably wouldn't like any of them. They stayed that way for miles, just following the leader. A dubious leader at that. Weird.

Nicci and I managed to decorate the house this weekend. 3 days worth of decorating. It really does take that long to finish up. We go a little crazy just because we like to. Plus we always have our annual Christmas Open House and it makes the place super cozy being all Christmasy like that. Anyone want to come over for our party? Lemme know. :)

Our tree has so many ornaments now that I am afraid to get any more. We do get new ones but I think if I put one more on the thing it would fall over. It does look very cool though.

Not much to say about the weekend, I guess. It was nice. Quiet. I did try a new wine. It sorta kicked my butt quick too. It is Behringer White Zinfandel/Chardonney. It went right to my head. But it is seriously good. Try it, you'll like it.

This is one of those lame posts that I make just to fill space. I'll look back a few months from now and remember how I felt when I wrote it so it's OK. I guess I should stop babbling and get something going this morning. Sure.... whatever.....

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Just a quickie post to wish all my bestest buds a Happy Thanksgiving. God bless you all.

xoxo YB

So... Why Did I Come In Today?

I can't figure out why I came in to work today. There is nothing happening and a lot of people are outta here. But I do like the lack of population. It's very cool!

I guess I'm here so I don't waste one of my vacation days. That's a good reason. OK, I'll buy it. But I think it will be a boring day.

Plus there is the "lack of motivation on the day before a holiday" issue. It's hard to focus before a long weekend full of the promise of fun and..... well, not going to work. :)

I had an epiphany last night. This may come as a shock to some of you but I don't think I understand relationships like a lot of people do. (Sarcasm?) Specifically the end of them. Perhaps I understand a lot less than most. Yes, this isn't really a surprise. I plan on hashing it out on blogger soon. I just need to get my thoughts together first. But I think either I am way too different about things (as in easy come easy go) or maybe the people I know are way too anal and kinda sad in the way they handle things. Perhaps I don't know anything. We'll see, with a little help from my blog friends.

Anyway, time to find something to get into. See Ya!

My Bruised Buttbone

This morning I bruised my buttbone. Yep, and as embarrassing as that sounds the way I did it was even more embarrassing.

I was sort of leaning on the edge of the bed and I put one sock on. (The new bed is pretty high.) Then I leaned against it to put the other sock on. I felt my foot with the sock start to slip a little but I remember thinking that I had plenty of time to finish and stand up before I fell. Wrong.

My foot with the sock on slipped right out from under me and down I went. Last week it wouldn't have been as bad but the new bed has wooden side rails so my buttbone hit that on the way down. Then it hit the floor. It kinda hurt. ;)

I sat there thinking that what just happened should only happen to kids. They are the ones who usually don't know any better. Kids don't acknowledge the warning signs and have to learn the hard way. But noooo, I let it happen even when I had ample time to avoid the fall.

After I realized my kid-like mistake I just sat there and laughed for a while. Nicci came around the corner, looked at me on the floor, shook her head and walked away. Then I tried to stand up. Ouch! The buttbone is bruised and will remind me for days about my dopeyness. (Is that a word?)

But it still makes me laugh.

Weekend Stuff

I had an interesting weekend, to be sure. I had plans to hang with the band Friday night but that didn't happen. I was really looking forward to it too. But Nicci had different ideas. (Don't ask, it still irritates me.)

Instead I had dinner with my Aunt & Uncle. My Aunt's birthday was Saturday so we took them out to celebrate.

Saturday was weird too. I went to help my Uncle at his store for a while and then helped my Aunt and Mother *shudder* with their indoor yard sale. They have one of those things every year and they get the Firehall meeting room for free. (A side benefit to my Uncle having been the Fire Chief for so many years.) They actuall make out really well. It's pretty funny to see all those old women in there haggling and gossiping all day. Luckily I was only there for about 1.5 hours.

Sunday I went to set up my Mom's PC for her. She just moved and she has no clue about how to do it. First things first; The person who packed it for her needs a smack in the head. That was my first thought. Everything was stuffed into two garbage bags and transported. This is the PC I gave her when I got my new one so luckily I was very familiar with it. But the tangled rat's nest of cables and wires, including the mouse and keyboard, took some time to get straightened out.

I finally got the PC set up and started it only to find that it didn't want to run. As it turned out, she hasn't run her anti-spam filter for months nor has she cleaned out the system. She had 93 different viruses (tracking and data mining ones) and it didn't want to run. She also had 1172 spam emails junking up the thing. No matter how many times I show her how to protect the thing from stuff like that she never does it. It took me 2 hours to get the thing running right again.

Old ladies! Sheesh! No wonder they are victims of identity theft so often.

So my weekend was weird but lame again. Not bad but not great. I think I need a few adventures to get me back on track. I am making plans for some interesting visitations in the near future. That should be fun. Plus I am headed to Williamsburg (The Winery especially!) just before Christmas so that will be cool. Something to look forward to. I guess life can't always be exciting, can it?

Too bad.

Buffy Night

I've had a weird few nights lately. It seems like my life is so normal sometimes but then when I look around with open eyes I know thats not quite the case. Last night it sorta started bugging me. My plans to hang with the band were changed for me and I wasn't real happy all day. At some point I got the Michelle Branch song "Goodbye To You" stuck in my head and I could get it out. So I played the CD a few times and that helped a bit. (I had forgotten how much I love that song.)

Then I started thinking about the first time I heard her sing it. It was on an episode of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer". She did an acoustic version of it. Only at the end of the song did the whole band join in. It was great. So naturally what did I do? I broke out the Buffy DVDs and watched that episode, "Tabula Rasa". The ending of that one really gets to me. It's so sad.

Then I started think about what had led the Scoobies into the situation in that show and I had to watch the "Once More With Feeling" episode. That is probably my all time favorite one anyway. It's the musical one, a la "Brigadoon". I don't think there has ever been a more original episode of any TV show ever done than "Once More With Feeling".

Of course that started my mind again and I started thinking that it was so sad that Tara was killed at the end of that season. That's when Willow went all crazy witch and started killing the bad guys. (She was so hot in all that goth black!) I had to see that again.

So I ended up watching the last 3 shows of the season, "Villians", "Two To Go" and "Grave".

My evening went well into the morning hours. All of it with Buffy and the Scoobies. I sometimes forget how much I loved that show. I don't get attached to shows at all. These days I can't find any that I can watch regularly. Not like that one. It was kinda fun in an odd, melancholy way. All started because my weird mood brought to mind a song that I hadn't thought about in a while.

And guess what? This morning I still have that song in my head anyway. Go figure.

Just A Thought......

.....on fashion.

Guys and belts with blue jeans. I just don't know. To me it's just wrong somehow.

I think the yuppies made dressing up blue jeans the 'in-thing', didn't they? Or have I been out there somewhere and it just occurred to me to be annoyed by this?

Guys and belts with blue jeans? No thanks.

Ethopian Restaurants

Lately I have been hearing a lot about Ethopian restaurants. My friend Lindsey went to one and then my friend Lisa and another co-worker did too. Two different ones. Before last week I had never even heard of an Ethopian restaurant.

It sounds like an interesting experience. You eat everything with your hands, sort of. They give you some kind of bread and you scoop things up with it.

All I ever heard about the Ethopians was that they were starving over there. Somehow having their restaurants in this country seems wrong. Like... shouldn't they be opening a cheap eats place at home? Helping out their country?

Maybe they send all the leftovers home. That would be good.

Yankees News That Makes Me Happy

I totally forgot to shout-out to the world about how happy this trade the Yankees made has made me....... They finally unloaded Wright for another relief pitcher. Any trade involving him would have been awesome. Personally I think they could have just sat him down and would have gotten as much out of him.

I actually jumped up and high-fived myself when I read this. I just haven't remembered to celebrate here with my Yankee friends yet.

Not only does unloading that bum help the Yanks roster but it hurts the Orioles. Since he will be starting for them *ahem* you can count on a few more losses this year. When he starts that is. He's usually only good for about 1/2 a year anyway.

Good job Yankees. Already the 2007 season is looking good.

A Day With Peachy

As Peachy mentioned on her blog she and I spent the day yesterday hanging with the old gang and then touring the Aquarium. It was so much fun seeing her and the others. Mostly her. :) Here are a few pics from the day.


Leaving lunch with the gang, minus the one taking the pic. (Thats Spacebrain on the back left.)


The gang again, with the missing member.


Peachy being herself.



Peachy doing her Vanna White impression.


Me at the same spot just looking cool and relaxed.


Peachy in front of the Harbor, showing off her sexy boots. See that building in the backround with the glass pyramid top? That is the Aquarium. We parked on one side of the Harbor and walked all the way around to get to it. But the parking was free!



Me in almost the same spot, chillin. Is there a recurring theme here?


This guy took a liking to us. He was funny looking but had a great personality. ;)



Same guy, trying to get a smootch.


We liked this one because it looks like something from a Dr. Seuss book.


Nice camoflage. If you were standing back and not focused on this spot you could never see this guy hiding, waiting to take a bite out of you.


Snoozing by the waterfall. This is in the Australian Outback exhibit.


Puffins. That guy in front kept splashing water all over the glass. I thought the pic turned out kinda neat. I was also impressed that Peachy knew they were Puffins.


Peachy's favorite... Bats! It's hard to see but those are bats hanging from the top of the Outback cage. (I had to post this one Peachy. Sorry.)


Peachy and a whale bone. I just posted this one because I like it a lot. Isn't she adorable?


Me making funny faces. It was actually worse before Peachy snapped the pic. :)



It was a great day. Thanks Peachy and "The Gang". I could post more but I think I did enough damage. :)

Gross Post Ahead

Beware!


Ok, you were warned........




I walked into the restroom and there was this old guy in there at the urinal. He was humming as he did his thing. He also was whizzing right into the water so it was loud and splashy. Women may not know what that means to guys so I'll tell you. A guy doesn't have to whiz into the water. He really shouldn't. It's loud and it splashes on his pants and shoes. Gross.

But he was going for it. And enjoying it from the sounds of his tune.

Then he backed away a step and started wagging it. While he zipped up he loudly said, "Ahhhhh..." Then he flushed and once it was done flushing he spit a big loogey into the urinal.

Then he left without washing his hands.

I thought old guys were better mannered than us young guys?

Good thing we aren't a food preparation company, eh?

Weekend Stuff

What a weird weekend we had. Saturday was so amazing outside. It was 78 and sunny.... in November! I couldn't stay inside. I actually went out and mowed the lawn and enjoyed the day. Even though that wasn't one of my weekend plans. I couldn't resist. At least now I can say it was the final mow-job and I can winterize the mower and store it away.

While I was outside a friend stopped by. He was on his motorcycle, out enjoying the day. We talked for about an hour. Work stuff is very interesting between he and I. When I left that short lived job last year (the one I hated and only stayed for 3 weeks) he was here doing the job I'm doing now. But he went to the place I abandoned and recommended me for his vacated position. Thats where I am now. Confused enough yet?

Anyway, we compared notes and then he said he had some more interesting news. His wife of 14 years is leaving. She came home about 3 weeks ago and told him "She doesn't know who she is. She needs to find herself." (That sounds so 70's!) So his life is changing. It took him totally by surprise too. He had no warning. Weird.

Our new furniture was delivered on Saturday.... almost. We ordered this stuff 11 weeks ago and when it finally came the large dresser was damaged and the bed rails were wrong. So they are replacing the dresser and had to take the bed back with them. Supposedly we will be getting the new bed next weekend. The dresser may be another 10-11 weeks.

Shouldn't furniture be something that is easy to get? It seems like we have never, ever had a delivery that wasn't damaged. When I move my whole house I don't have damage. That is without all that wrapping and packaging they have on the new stuff too. But alas, it is the American way now. Do things 2-3 times before it is finally right.

Sunday was fun. I actually decided that my basement room needed a good cleaning. (I'm so domestic... every 6 months.) What was fun was that the vacuum got part of the carpet wrapped around the brush thingy and burned the belt up. Boy did that stink! It didn't do the carpet much good either. But I got to take the vacuum apart and replace all the stuff that burned up. That was neat. I've never taken one apart. But now I'm an expert.

So as you can tell, my weekend was basically Blah! But I think I needed a weekend off. I've been running around way too much lately. The rest was good. The old batteries needed a recharge.

Today should be a non-event filled day. I'm hoping so. Tomorrow I'm headed south to pick up Peachy and she and I are hanging for the day. Meeting up with old work friends (Spacebrain included) and then seeing what mischief we can get into. I am soooo looking forward to seeing her. It's been too long of a break. We'll post pics I'm sure. Stay tuned later in the week.

Morning Observation

Know what I hate? Rude fat-ass people who walk real slowly down the middle of the hallway and won't let you get past. Then I am trudging along behind them listening to their retarded conversation as I am stuck watching their jiggling, flabby buns. That's what I hate.

And in the group is the same dork who trapped me this way earlier in the week with a similar group. Plus he was still expounding on his brilliant musical knowledge just like before. Hey pal... I know they kicked you out of the band for being a poser. (He said he could play but never could.) I know the truth about your sorry ass.... now get out of my way!!!



How's your day going so far? :)

Today's Daily Observation

Nothing excites a department of women like a scheduled "Sex Toy Party".

I wanted to go but they won't let me. It's a women only party.

They did say I can place an order from the catalog though.

I think they missed the point. ;)

I Voted For Me!

I just had the best time voting ever! Plus, I voted for the very best candidate ever.... me! Here's the scoop:

I planned on not voting at all since I haven't been following politics here. I moved back to this state last year and just never bothered. So I planned on skipping it all.

But I decided not to. I had an idea. I went to my polling place and there before my eyes was exactly what I knew would be there. In front of the place was the inevitable 10,572 political signs in every piece of ground that could hold one. Just what I was looking for. Now all I needed was an audience. I was really hoping for a news person too.

I stood there for a while just looking at all the signs. I checked them out as if I was shopping in a department store. I carefully (and as obviously as I could) perused the signs, shopping for someone to vote for, waiting for someone, anyone to say something. It took a long time.

The first person to say something was one of those 'candidate helpers' that hang around outside trying to get a last bit of influence on you as you enter the polls. She looked like an old retired school teacher. She came up to me and asked if I had someone in mind to vote for. So I told her "Not yet. I still have a few more signs to look at before I decide". She looked very confused. Then she started her spiel about her candidate. Part way through I stopped her and said "Please don't try to influence me. When I see the sign I like then I'll know who to vote for." Now she looked very confused.

Helper: "You mean you are going to vote for someone because of a sign?"
YB: "Yep."
Helper: Don't you think you should know the person you are voting for better than that?"
YB: "Seems to me that picking the coolest sign is a good way to choose."
Helper: "You can't be serious."
YB: "Isn't that why they are here? To help you decide who to vote for?"
Helper: "Well yes, in a way.........."
YB: "Good. Thanks then. I'll let you know when I decide."

She walked away shaking her head. I went back to shopping. I got to have the same conversation 3 more times. I really wanted to have a reporter show up and put me into the news. I could have started a whole new campaign scheme. Can you imagine the amount and size of the signs that would show up at the next election if they thought more people did what I was doing? We'd never see the end of them all.

But no reporter. *sigh*

I was also disappointed with the lame 'art work' on the various signs. So I went inside and voted for myself. 2 reasons: One was because I didn't know any of the candidates and the second was that I know for sure if I were to run for something, my sign would be the best one ever. Everyone would change their minds and vote my way once they saw my sign at the door. I voted for the best candidate available to me tonight. Me.

Important Ethical Question Of The Moment

In keeping with the latest trend of blogger world awareness I thought we should discuss this important issue.

Are we too cruel to KFC chickens? Can they be bred, fed, grown to plump juicy, delightfully round proportions and then slaughtered in a more humane way? Pam Anderson thinks so. Do we?

Check out this link.


Pam Anderson KFC Exposé


If Pam Anderson says it is bad, well, it must be. How can she be wrong? Just look and see her credentials:




Not too many others know about breasts any better than she would. The legs too. I mean, anyone who would strip naked in public for their cause has to have some credibility, right? (Now, don't think I am against stripping. Au contraire mon frair , I love that idea! Wish I had been there for that.)

So what does the blog world think? Should we just stop eating delicious KFC chicken and join the ranks of the mentally unstable PETA people? Or should we just keep on keepin on and enjoy what God has given us?

Discuss!

Today's Daily Observation

How come people can't say "height"? Around here it's always "heighth".

Along those lines, a lot of people say "WalMarts" or KMarts". There is no "s" on the end. A lot of them say "mines" too as in "That car is mines". It's "mine" or did you have different grammar classes than I did?

I'd also like to smack the next person who says, "Wit chu..." and not "with you".

It's "creek", not "crick". It's "scratching an itch" not "Itching an itch". It's "turning on a light" not "cutting it on". Cutting usually means off, stopping, eliminating.

English is the language around here but most of the time you just can't tell.

Stupid asses.

Oh... and there is no such word as "irregardless". Look it up.

Daily Observations

WalMart greeters are scary.

One of them greeted us last night and I remember thinking, "She seems a little too friendly." She was kinda heavy and had caked on some of the worst makeup I had ever seen. She wore this way-to-short for her girth mini-skirt that when she turned away from us I could see how it rode up between her legs, revealing lots of leg cheese. It wasn't Halloween so I don't think it was costume.

Then on the way out I saw she was still there. As we passed she smiled and said goodbye and I saw she had almost no teeth. One front one was all black and yellow and the other was only a sliver. There didn't seem to be any more either. Then she winked at me.

I choked back a little bile and left.

WalMart greeters are scary.

Something To Compare It To

Lately I've been thinking a lot about what life was like when I was younger compared to what it is now. More specifically, what it was like to experience something for the first time. How fun and exciting it seemed. Have you ever noticed that the first time for things has a certain zing that never can be repeated? It's true. The second and 10th times all could be great but after the first time, things are never quite the same.

I remember my first kiss. I remember thinking it was the most exciting thing ever. I thought that nothing would ever top that experience. But later in life, after a few more kisses, I realized it was actually the moment that was awesome. Not the quality that made it so great. The quality has gotten better with practice. But nothing compares to that first kiss in terms of excitement.

I remember my first sexual experience. It seemed like the best thing ever to happen. But these days it seems a little lame and even almost gross if I think of it in terms of just a pure sexual act. But back then I thought it was the best. That nothing could ever top it. It's a fond memory but it has been improved upon since. But that moment in time will never change. Nothing will ever take away that excitment. But now I have other memories to compare it to.

It's the same with almost everything. When you have nothing to compare an experience to you believe that the first time is the best ever. The first taste of ice cream, the first roll in the snow, the first love of your life. They all seem to be the best.

Then later you experience things again and you have a reference and you can decide if it was that great or if it was just the moment. Never forgetting the moment but seeing it with more experience is totally different.

These days I am reminded of a lot of moments like that. I have a friend who is a bit younger than me and I have found that I enjoy being with her and watching her reactions to everything. Her reactions remind me of my first time with the same experiences and how I felt then. How I feel now. I see her and I think that someday she will remember this moment and compare it to the most recent time she experiences the same thing. My goal is to make sure her first time at whatever we share isn't something she wants to shrug off. That in 10 years she can look back and still smile. That she will remember the experience with fondness not with relief that she has learned better in her older years. Good goal.

The old saying "Youth is wasted on the young" is truthful if you see it as a statement and not something derogatory. It simply means that the first experience isn't always as good as the repeats. It just seems like it and the young don't have anything to compare it to. Eventually they will and they will remember the first time.

Life can only be understood backward, but it must be lived forward. (Kierkegaard) I get that more and more these days.

Where Have I Been?

I don't know where I've been. I checked in last night and saw that I haven't posted since last Thursday. That sort of weirded me out. It seemed like it was more recent than that. Of course last night I didn't feel like posting either. Go figure.

So, updates on the way.........

On Friday morning I took the Jeep in for service. While I was there I saw this cool little Mercedes on the lot so I took a test drive. It was one of those supercharged smaller cars they make. A 2005. It was fun to drive. Killed a little time too since I was informed that the Jeep had a recall that I didn't know about and my appointment took an hour longer than planned.

Naturally after that morning I just couldn't hang at work so I popped in and left twice. Nothing really going on anyway. One of the trips was to get a Mrs. Potato Head for a sick co-worker. She went in to get her tonsils out on Friday morning. I told her on Thursday that the best part of getting my tonsils out (I was 5) was that I got ice cream and a Mr. Potato Head . I got the toy because I was so bummed about staying in the hospital. So I decided she needed a Mrs. Potato Head to cheer her up. :)

Lets see.... Oh, The Cardinals won the World Series. That was cool. Afetr the Kenny Rogers cheating incident I was hoping that the Cards would stomp all over them. Turns out they did. Thanks guys!

I fell asleep watching the game though. We had friends over for Thai that night and the wine knocked me out.

Saturday was fun. I had most of the day to myself. Doing whatever I felt like doing. I love days like that. Its dangerous to leave me to my own devices sometimes but I do know how to entertain myself.

I did manage to cook a great dinner that evening. I don't cook too often but when I do it's pretty darn good.

I got laid twice over the weekend. That is a new (recent) record for me.

I managed to see The Evil Dead finally. I know, it's an oldie but I never saw it all the wat through. It cracked me up! I love Bruce Campbell anyway so seeing his first big movie was fun. Now I need to see Evil Dead II.

Sunday was spent finishing up a honey-do list around the house. Then I decided to be artsy and get started on some cool painting designs for the house. I miss all the artwork I had at the old place. This time around I can't do cartoons. It needs to be classy. I have some cool ideas and designs ready. I'll post pics when they are done.

Oh yeah... I did see some Football. Mostly its backround noise for me and I don't pay a lot of attention to it. But the Giants won. (Yay Kat!) Pittsburgh lost again. What's up with them anyway? Whatever. It's just not Baseball so I don't really care too much.

So here we are, all caught up. I'm still surprised that I haven't been here since Thursday. Let's see how long until the next post.

Question Of The Day

Is it necessary to tip someone at a buffet place?

I mean, one of those people who seat you and sometimes bring you a drink and then say "There's the buffet." Then you don't see them again. They really don't do anything.

My friend and I had this discussion after going to the buffet today. We left a mini-tip but still can't decide what is right or wrong.

True Art

I wanted to show off my newest artistic creation. I made this at dinner tonight. I call it "Lonely Trees On Lonely Mountain."





I always prefer art with good taste. :)

Sold

First thing this morning we got the news that our company has been sold. Sold to a huge billion dollar, worldwide company. The place is in a mild uproar. I'm not sure why since we all knew it was a possibility. I should say probability.

For anyone who hasn't been through one of these transitions it can be unnerving. But if things go the way it seems they will, we will end up much better off than before.

Not the upper management of course. They are always the first to go. But they get the golden parachutes and move on to bigger and better things.

So all day we are having employee info meetings. The place should be crazy all day. I think it should be a fun time. Somehow I'm not nervous at all. Maybe I like being bought as a commodity. I feel special. ;)

Maybe I'm Confused.....

I've seen this sign at the local KFC for several days now. It says "New Famous Bowls". I keep looking at that sign and wondering about it.

How can something be new but also be famous? If it's famous that makes one think it has been around a while. At least long enough to be famous. Which means it can't be new anymore. Right?

I feel a little confused about this. But maybe it's just me.

Geeky Afternoon

I'd like to say that my weekend was so amazingly exciting that I just can't tell you everything. I'd like to say that but I can't. The weekend was cool, just not too exciting.

I visited with a friend Saturday afternoon. She always keeps me entertained. We hung out and then had lunch at this weird Asian type place. It was good but the place was like an old diner. Yeah, a diner that served Thai. Weird.

I did play poker with the guys on Saturday evening. I was losing badly until we played Acey-Deucey. I was losing worse then. Until I caught a break and won the huge pot. That made me pretty much even for the night. Not bad.

Sunday was weird. Yardwork in the A.M. It was supposed to rain but never did. Then later my Mom of all people stopped in to say hi. It's been months since I've seen her. She and my Aunt were out shopping and decided to stop in. Yay me. :P The visit lasted about 2 hours but seemed like maybe 12.

Afterward I decided to unwind with a nice game of Civilization II. I have all the versions but I like the second one best. I worked on conquering the world while Football was on. Unlike most of my guy friends and a select few of my women friends, Football just doesn't capture my attention. Its just a filler between Baseball seasons for me. I do follow what happens but it isn't like the Yankees are on or anything. So when Football is on it stays in the background for me.

If you know me you know my attention span. It's kinda child-like so I started scanning channels to see if any movies are on. Movies capture my attention unlike most other things. I had options too. I could watch Shopgirl (which KB says sucks), Herbie Fully Loaded or a Vampire thing on Sci-Fi. I switched to Sci-Fi and knew right away I had seen that one. Basically it was crappy so I chose the Herbie movie. I will confess something here; I had seen that too. 4 times. But I like it and I like Lindsey Lohan so I watched it again.

What? I have a weakness for red heads and .... never mind.

Luckily Baseball was soon on and that killed the remainder of the afternoon/evening. Not much excitement going on this weekend. A total geeky Sunday afternoon. But it was nice.

Now it's time for work again. Another "Yay me" is in order, I think.

Happy Monday.

I Don't Get It

I got one of those timer things that you have to get when your coffee pot doesn't have it's own timer. You program it and then plug it into the power outlet. Then you plug the coffee pot into it and when it's time it allows the power to come on.

What I don't get is that it works on batteries. The timer is plugged into the power outlet but it works on batteries.

Doesn't that just sound dumb?

Seems like if it is plugged into the house power it should work on that power.

But it doesn't.

I don't get it.

Lesbians and Babies

There are some things in this world I just can't take. Some things that gross me out so much it irritates me. Today one of those things happened.

One of the women that works here brought in her baby. For whatever reason about an hour ago I walked through the lunchroom into this small crowd of babbling, goofy acting women passing this little kid around. They were acting as if they had never seen one before.

I just watched for a minute and wondered. They really bugged me acting like idiots.

Then this guy came in and started being a dork too. Grabbing the kid and lifting him way up in the air. Talking baby talk. Thats when I left. He was the worst.

Scenes like that really gross me out. Why? I dunno. They just do.

So tonight I am having dinner with my lesbian friends. We are headed out to a steak house to have some good food, commiserate about the Yankees and generally unwind. They are a cool couple. One good thing for sure is that I will never have to worry about a scene like the aforementioned from them. They have nieces and nephews that visit a lot but they don't act all retarded when they see them.

I wonder if a gay couple that has kids ever acts totally annoying about them too? Maybe I should ask.

I still don't get why people bring their toddlers in to work anyway. It's like showing off a new car or something. "Look coworkers. Heres the latest model. I made him this year!"

Yeah, it's probably something like that.

Yellowtail Sucks

I took a friends advice and tried Yellowtail Shiraz last night. What a mistake that was! I eagerly opened the bottle, let it air just a bit and then gave it a taste. Immediately I thought I'd throw up on the spot. It was worse than nasty.

So what did I do? I waited a little while and tried again. I'm like that. Can't just give up on something without giving it the full-out college try. But it just got worse. Sometimes when a wine is not great and it airs a little it will get better. This one didn't. It just got nastier. Like rotten vinegar. (Does vinegar get rotten?)

The worst part? It made my stomach feel bad. Kinda burning and nauseated.

So it wasn't a wine for me. I was so looking forward to it too. But I won't be turned off to Yellotail in general. I will try another one. Just not that Shiraz stuff.

Anyone else have a good wine recommendation? After this experience, I'm not afraid to try anything.

Last Question From TMI Tuesday

Summer got in one last question for me. Funny how everyone who asked something (except Peachy) doesn't have a place for me to ask them something.)

Summer asked two things actually: "If you could switch jobs tomorrow and do anything you wanted (as long as it didn't involve sports), what would it be?"

I can think of two things I'd love to do. I would love to have my own shop. A place that would specialize in local artists as well as carry the classics. I have a passion for the classics, Monet being my fave along with John Singer Sargent. But there should be a place where unknowns can show their talent and make some money too. Maybe get discovered.

The place would have an area where live music could be played on special nights. Maybe a small stage complete with bar (of course). Not a nasty place. A decent place.

It would have a 60's style coffee shop in the basement and there could be cool happenings scheduled there like the beatniks did way back when. Besides, how can you not have good coffee?

The other thing I'd like to do would be own and operate a high class Bunny Ranch in Vegas. :)

Summer also asked: *I bet you thought I was going to ask something else, didn't ya?*

I did think you would ask something different Summer. You missed a good opportunity. I was willing to answer anything. ;)

For Meritt

Help a little? :)

Two Questions So Far

I've gotten only two questions so far for TMI Tuesday. Ok, and some chickens commented that are afraid to play. (Meritt & Yoj) But why? Would I ask naughty questions of you? ;)


Spacebrain asked this: Did you ever wonder why?

Answer: Buddy, I wonder why all the time. I wonder why I'm here. Why you're there. Why crappy songs stick in my head even when I want to forget them. Why some women look prettier than others. Why the Yankees couldn't hit during the post season. Why birds don't poop bomb cats they see as they fly. Why my mind wanders even when I'm in a meeting with the President. Why anyone likes rap music. Why red wine sucks so much. Why flushing a toilet works without stuff flying back atcha. Why people have kids but never seem happy when they are out with them. Why the place you work is still open. Why I never remember a name unless I hear it 100 times first. Why someone actually wrote the book of love since its full of crap anyway.

I wonder a lot more things too. Mostly I wonder why you asked that question. :)

Peachy asked: Are you dressing up for Halloween this year?

Answer: Peachy, I think I'm dressing down this year. Maybe a pro wrassler in those skimpy tights. (I'll have to stuff the front like they do too.)

For work I'm going disguised as someone who really loves being there. Just for that day I think I can do it. :)

TMI Tuesday

Lets have some fun today, shall we? Lets play a game we'll call "Too Much Information Tuesday". Heres how it works:

Ask me a question. I will answer it as honestly as I can (or will). But I will answer it. It may be a story. It may be a sentence. It may be a one word answer. But it will be answered.

The catch is that not only do you get an answer you may or may not like but if you ask a question you get a question in return. You have to answer it.

Anyone asking a question will get a question. So if no one asks today I will know you are all too chicken to have me ask something of you. Anyone game?

Sexy Ugly

I actually talked to my sexy-ugly crush this weekend. It was a chance meeting so I sort of forced the issue. It turned out to be rather pleasant.

For those of you who don't remember what sexy-ugly is, it's a term I got from the movie "Kissing Jessica Stein". Jess and Helen were talking about people they found attractive even though they weren't really physically attractive. Like Mick Jagger. They are sexy but not pretty. Sexy-Ugly. :)

So when Lisa and I were talking about the movie we both laughed about that scene. Then we compared notes about people we thought were sexy-ugly. I mentioned a person who we both know from work who I have always had this strange kinda crush on even though she isn't very attractive at all. There is just something about her. Thats who I ran into this weekend.

I was at Lowe's Saturday walking down the main aisle and I saw her walking toward me. My first thought was, "What is she doing way up here?" My hometown isn't all that close to work. As she approached she looked up and smiled so I stopped and started a conversation. She recognized me from work too so it wasn't so hard. Turns out she had moved nearby a few years ago. She loves the area. Shes the outdoorsey type and lives near the Applachian Trail so it's perfect for her. We talked for a while. It was pleasant to see that she was kind of cool. You never know. She could have been sexy-ugly and a goober. But she's not.

So now I can say hey to her when I see her these days. That will be a nice change. But now I wonder if I will still have the same fascination with her. Sometimes knowing a person changes the interest level. Maybe the fantasy is the thing? I doubt it but you never know. We'll see I guess.

Anyone else have an example of someone they think is sexy-ugly?

Gotta Wonder Sometimes

Today I was waiting at an intersection in a left turn lane for traffic to break. There was a lot of traffic going both ways. I noticed a family on one side of the street waiting to cross. A Mom, Dad and 3 kids, one in a stroller. I knew they would be waiting a while. The Father seemed to know that too. He stood there beating on that crosswalk button that never works trying to get the walk light to turn on. I thought he was trying to pound it into the pole the way he was hitting it.

After a while I saw him grab one of the boys shoulders and push him toward the street. He kept prodding the kid like he wanted him to cross the street. I thought "WTF is that all about?" That's when the kid quickly hopped off the curb and ran through traffic to cross.

I just about freaked because I was sure he would get hit. He didn't but it was close.

Then I saw the Father yelling at him and the kid went to the crosswalk button on the other side and leaned on it, just holding it down.

Apparently the Father figured that pressing both buttons would make the crosswalk light work. It didn't. The lights changed and they had to wait a little longer for traffic. Then it changed and the left lanes got those arrows things so I went. They were still waiting but as I went by I heard the guy yelling for the boy to come back across to them. ???

What a dumbass! He made that kid run through traffic for nothing. I wanted to stop, get out, walk up to him and slap him hard in the back of the head. What a freaking retarded thing to do.

I didn't see if the kid came back across or not. I didn't hear any sirens so I guess that kid did OK. Still, how impatient can a person be to risk injury to their own child?

There sure are some morons out there.

My Life

"What are you looking at?"
YB- "Look at the grass. It's all frosty. But only on top. It looks like crystal with the sunshine glazing over it. Isn't it beautiful?"
"Huh. Just a reminder that Winter is coming and everything will be dead soon."

YB- "What are we doing this weekend? Let's blow off to that cool Bed N Breakfast just for the heck of it. The one near the Gardens."
"What for? There's nothing we can do there that we can't do here."

YB- "What are those for?"
"I got new door knobs for the entire house."
YB- "What!? Don't you realize these are the original brass knobs from when the place was built? They are true antiques, over 50 years old. You can't get these anywhere anymore!"
"Whatever. I want new ones."

YB- "Check out this new song I'm writing. Its actually starting to sound good."
"Oh, so thats what you've been wasting your evening on. I wondered where you were."

YB- "Which wine shall we try tonight?"
"Wine?"
YB- "Yeah. I think we should try the new one... the Yellowtail. It was highly recommended."
"Why wine tonight?"
YB- "It's cold outside. It's a good night to build a fire and sit in front of it with a good wine. Just hang out."
"A fire tonight? I don't think so. I don't want to smell that tonight."

*sigh*

Daily Decisions

Today I made one of those decisions that you make just to get by. I made the decision not to feel bad anymore. So I don't. It's a mind over matter thing. Today I will be OK.

Think it'll work? I'm hoping.

A lot has happened since I've been out of it. Being in la la land on Wednesday I didn't realize that the plane crash in New York took the life of Cory Lidle. I was surprised to hear all the hoopla last night about his "limited flight experience" and "should he or shouldn't he have been flying where he was" etc... For craps sake people! His wife and kid just lost someone dear to them. Seems to me there are more important issues than who or what to blame on the crash. Sometimes I think the media are trained in heartlessness. Perhaps when they graduate media school they have their hearts and consciences removed.

RIP Cory. I feel for your family.




Other news I've missed... hmmm, I see that crazy guy in Korea is acting up again. I think he wants a war for some reason. Paris Hilton is still in the news for her DUI. How fascinating. *yawn* The Mets won. Good deal. A New York team should be in the Series. The stock market is still on speed. I knew I should have spent some money there this past year.

OK, maybe I really haven't missed much after all. :)

So yesterday I came in to work because I had an important project to do. I wasn't feeling up to it but it had to get done. That was one of those daily decisions for yesterday. While I worked I kept ignoring how I felt. We got everything done. It was a longer day than expected but we got done anyway. Today I feel wrung out. I think it took a lot out of me. But I am feeling better. Just tired. I think I'm well on my way back. But now I think today probably shouldn't be a full day. What do you think?

Thanks. i hoped you would say that.

So theres my mindless chatter for the morning. I'm feeling goofy but Ok. Now I need to catch up on the important stuff. (Blogs) That's a good daily decision to make.

Pardon The Interruption

I've been sick. Too sick to blog. Too sick to work too (but that was a good thing).

I shall return.....

Safety Gurus

I believe in the whole 'Safety First!' idea. I really do. Especially in the workplace. But I also believe that having a full time safety department is a weird thing.

It's one of those groups that always have to insert themselves into every scenario. They are the "What if?" people. The "You need to..." people. They are constantly trying to justify their existance.

They can drive you crazy.

This week the safety manager at work decided it will be 'Drive Safe To Work Week'. I haven't heard of any special thing nationwide so it seems we are trying to be a trendsetter maybe? There are these signs stuck everywhere in the company. Every hall, every door. You can't escape them.

Here are a few examples:

An automobile's best performance investment is its driver.

Move over and stop. That ambulance may be carrying someone you know.

Pedestrians have the right of way even when they are wrong.

Unless you are a race car driver driving isn't a competative sport.

This is my personal fave:

How well would you work with someone speeding by your desk at 60 m.p.h.?

(I really don't get that one.)

Having a safety committee is a fine thing. Having a safety department is a little over the top. No matter what you do anymore they are in your face. Its probably because of all the jerks who like to sue everyone for their own stupidity.

I even met a guy once who went to college and graduated with a degree in safety. Now he was a strange fellow, lemme tell ya! How does a person decide to go to school and major in safety?

So this week we are all learning to be better drivers. Safer drivers. Thanks to the cool signs all over the buildings. Personally, I think if someone could cruise by my desk at 60 m.p.h. I'd have to give them kudos. After they stopped of course. ;)

"Thanks safety gurus for making me a better driver. I feel safer already."

Monday Morning Stuff

I feel like I should have a lot to talk about this morning. I feel like it but somehow I don't.

I could talk about how the Yankees stunk it up in Detroit this past week. But I choose not to. One thing I will say is that it is exceptionally difficult to pull for your team for 7-8 months and then watch them implode like that. Its tough living and dying every game, every pitch sometimes, up & downs the whole season just to have it all gone without a fight. Probably the best lineup ever assembled and they couldn't score at all. I wonder if it would be easier if the team actually wasn't as good as they are?

Ah well, they did have a good season.

I'm feeling a little blah today. Like I'm starting to feel sick. You know how that works, the initial warning signs hitting you and you know something is coming. Its not the being sick, its the anticipation. Knowing its coming is the worst.

Friday night I went to a happy hour with a bunch of people from work. I went to hang for a little while and then head home. Of course happy hours always turn into several happy hours. I left late. But it was a great time. There are many incidents I could tell about but I won't. You all know how happy hours can get crazy. This one was no exception. But the one highlight I will tell about was when I was introduced to the 'red-headed slut'.

Everyone knows how much I love red-heads and all so when my friend Lindsey told me she wanted me to meet a red-headed slut, well I just thought that was OK. :)

Turns out it was a drink. It was a good one too. It made me head feel a little funny. OK, I'm a lightweight so it made me feel a lot funny. That was the end for me. Nothing but cokes after that one. But it was worth it.

Played golf with the boys yesterday. I swear, that game was invented by the devil. One time out and I play well. Next time out you'd think I had never played before. If someone can explain that to me I'd appreciate it.

Tonight I go for my first guitar lesson in 19 years. I decided I need to get some help with practice habits and such. I am far more rusty than I originally thought when I started with the band. So going to lessons will help with getting into good practice habits as well as having extra work with the song list. Could be fun.

I saw this freaky movie on SciFi Saturday night. I love those low-budget movies. Sometimes they can be pretty good. This one surprised me. It was called "Rest Stop". It was about this woman who stops at a rest stop in the middle of nowhere. While in the can her boyfriend disappears. As it turns out this rest stop is the hunting ground for a demented redneck in a yellow pick-up. Apparently he has been torturing and killing for decades via stranding women at that rest stop. It was pretty good, to tell the truth. Not an Oscar winner but good for a cheap thrill.

OK, time for more coffee. Happy Monday to everyone. :)

To The New York Yankees.....

Nice job.


Real.


Fucking.


Nice.






(Except for you, Captain Jeter.)

... And why is he still in there?

I think Joe is losing his mind.

As I'm Watching This....

... I am totally disgusted that RJ is still pitching. I knew he was washed up before this season. He does not deserve to be pitching in the post season. He is over the hill.

I hope the Yankees score after that loser is out of the game. He sucks ass!

Just Like My Old Job

This comic really makes me laugh.....




...I think because I could see this exact thing happening where I used to work. Thats how they handled almost everything.

Plus the punchline is funny (to me). :)

Could Be An Interesting Day

Did you ever take a longer road just because you felt like it? I did that this morning. I took a longer, more out of the way road just because the road fit my mood. It is secluded, lonely and deserted. It took far more time to go that way but I really didn't care. Somehow that worked for me this morning.

Did you ever think something about someone and then become surprised that you were right? I did that this morning. I was waiting in the coffee line this morning wondering why it was so slow. I noticed a new face behind the counter. She looked really young. I thought she also looked European. She was new and in training. I noticed one of the regular people showing her the keys and I thought it was excessive. She didn't seem to understand the labels. I remember thinking, "I wonder what country she is from?" Then I spoke to her. She had some heavy accent, maybe French? I dunno. She had this really long french braided hair that hung to her waist. Maybe she really was French?

Have you ever been stuck in traffic and wondered where the nice drivers have gotten to just to be surprised when one shows up? I had that happen this morning. I was stuck for a while trying to turn left across traffic. I waited and started thinking that I had been stupid to end up there. Then suddenly the line of traffic stopped and I saw a guy waving me across. I went by him and waved. That was pretty cool of him. His light was still green and he didn't need to do that. I thanked him several times even though he didn't hear it. Maybe he had been stuck in that left turn lane before too.

Have you ever seen a sight that made you feel the word "alone"? I saw a kid standing all alone in the rain waiting for the bus this morning. It was still half-dark out too. He had a rain coat and his backpack on and was waiting all by himself. I thought, "Now there is a lonely looking picture." It made me think that I knew what "alone" felt like.

Have you ever realized that a day old conversation may have meant more than you took it to mean when it was live? I did this morning. Something my best bud talked to me about yesterday suddenly clicked in my head that it may have meant something totally different than I had taken it for. I can't wait to see her today.

So that's how my brain is working this morning. Tonight we are having a big time happy hour downtown. Lots of people going. Two good people are leaving the company and one has a birthday. Should be fun. It's gonna be the second time we've mingled with co-workers. I think I'll skip out on too much boozing. Gotta keep up appearances. Besides, I can't be late for the Yankee game. :)

With my brain wavelength-ing (I just made that word up) like this, it could definitely be an interesting day.

The Times They Are A'Changing

For the past 2 months I have been stuck to the new job like old chewing gum to the bottom of a shoe. It has been the most high paced, non-stop time I can remember at work in a very long time. This week has been the worst of it all. It seems like I just got started on Monday morning and suddenly it's Thursday. But this week marks a change.

The hard stuff is over. We have accomplished everything we needed to accomplish to get the project back on the right schedule. We have pushed and pulled, bitched, freaked out, laughed and run ourselves ragged and now the tough stuff is done. Life can now resume again.

I am looking forward to it. :)

I got a call from the big cheese yesterday congratulating my group for the job we've done. That was cool. No matter who you are and what you may think of the big cheeses of the world, a call like that feels good. (Good thing he's an OK guy. That made it even better.)

So now I can get into a more normal routine. We all can. There is still work to do. But the work load is much more manageable.

Most of all, I am really looking forward to scheduling days off. That sounds sweet. :) Perfect timing since the Baseball post-season has started. Woo-Hoo!!

I am also looking forward to catching up with everyone. I have been lax in the blog world since I started here. Couldn't be helped though.

So pats on the back for all the good people I work with these days. Even though they will never see this post I want to put that down here so someday I can look back and remember this feeling. Accomplishing what we have feels pretty good.

Now, about those days off.......

My New Super Power

I learned something new at Starbuck's this morning. If you use the cardboard sleeves that they give you for around the cups as a mime for whatever music is playing, someone will laugh.

Its true. Nicci was in a pretty foul mood this morning. So when I grabbed the sleeve waiting for coffee I started moving it like it was a mouth singing the song that was playing. Despite her mood and the obvious stupidity of it, she laughed.

Then I noticed the coffee guy watching me and he laughed. Behind him was Rachel Weisz (not really, just someone who really looks like her that works there) and she was laughing too.

Sometimes my goofinss can be a super power.

Spread the joy, thats me. ;)

Blame It On Society

I met someone at Starbuck's today that made me think of this comic:




When she walked into the store the first thing I noticed was her hard glare. She came through the door and when she was walking toward the counter she looked like her eyes were threatening to throw lasers at everyone. I was amused. But we all know that's the way I am.

So I watched her for a while. She was very pretty. Bright blue eyes, nice figure, generally attractive. She had a nice smile but it looked forced. The corners of her mouth were turned down when she was just standing still and not interacting. Her demeanor was very defensive. She crossed her arms over her chest. Her right leg never stopped its rythym, shaking impatiently.

The thought that popped into my head was that she didn't seem to fit in her clothes. You know that saying? She was dressed professionally and her hair was pulled back very tight into a little tiny ball. (Made me wonder what it was like loosened.) But the whole "leave me alone on penalty of death" attitude didn't seem to fit that pretty face because when the barrista spoke with her she gave a quick smile that totally changed her look.

Suddenly I felt the need to find out about her.

After ordering, she came to stand nearby. When she looked my way, I smiled. She hesitated and then smiled quickly and turned her head. Then she started looking at the news papers in the rack. Standing there with her back to everyone else, leg shaking in time to some secret rythmn. So I went to the rack and took a paper. Not intruding but close enough to her. She looked at me, raised an eyebrow and looked away again. Then I dropped the paper on purpose, right at her feet. I went to grab it but she quickly bent down and handed it to me. I thanked her and was rewarded with another quick smile. She just said "no problem."

Thats when my coffee was ready. I headed to the bar to grab it and the barrista called out another one ready. It was in a stainless steel travel mug. A big one too. Turns out it was hers. So she was right behind me when we got our coffee. I turned and almost bumped into her. I quickly stepped back like I had hit fire or something. I guess it amused her because she smiled again. I apologized and then I asked her about that big travel mug. She explained that Starbuck's will put your coffee into any mug you want. We started walking toward the table where the sugar and stuff is while she told me about the travel mug. I mentioned that she must really like morning coffee to have such a giant mug. Either that or she was the sleepiest person I had ever met. That made her smile again. She started to lighten up.

So the conversation kept going for a while. She told me her name and we chatted for about 10 minutes. She was very nice. At one point I mentioned that she scared me when she walked in, what with the laser eyes and all. She found that really funny. She told me she was one of those unlucky women that everywhere she went someone was hitting on her. Someone was trying to get her to give up her number, trying to find a way to 'know her better'.... etc.... She said she can be pretty defensive these days. Yeah, no kidding!

I just smiled because I understood that. Guys these days don't seems to have as much respect for women like they should. Actually, people don't have the respect they should for others in general. I told her I understood and that I was happy she spoke to me. She laughed and said, "Well, you have a nice face." ??? Ok, I'll take that.

With that she told me to have a nice day and off she went.

As I left to head out to work I started wondering about people like her. She was an attractive woman but she was hiding it thanks to the way society treats attractive women. She was hiding her natural personality too, just to keep herself safe from what she called 'bad people'. Kinda made me sad.

The question is, do we blame this type of thing on society or do we blame society on us?

I easily could be mistaken for one of those type of guys whom she called bad. My natural curiousity and friendliness (when I feel like it) could get me in trouble with the wrong person. But it would be a mistake for someone to think that way about me. But these days, being friendly can get your feelings hurt or worse, some pepper spray in the face.

Deep thoughts for a Monday morning, eh?

But as always, it was nice to make a new friend. :)

For Cindy Lou

As requested by Cindy Lou (see this post), real pics of me.

Not a bad idea Cindy. Besides, I can't resist a "Triple-Dog-Dare". :)



Here is one of me at the beach this Summer. Kinda blurry but the best I can do on short notice.




Here is one from the band's company gig yesterday. (Recent enough CL?) I am at the sound board watching while my piece of crap guitar rots in the sun.


It was an end of Summer theme so we wore cool Hawaiian shirts. :)

1200th Post - A Personal Thanks

She calls me sometimes. Just to talk. To catch up. To enjoy. We laugh. We act silly. We share amazement at the world. We play.

I don't always catch her. But I always wish I did.

I hate seeing that 'missed call' thing on the phone. When I do I know that I've missed her again. It bums me out.

She called last night. I answered. She was surprised. I was happy. Hearing her voice is one of my most favorite things.

We talked. We laughed. We bitched, we commiserated, we shared, we helped each other be less confused. We giggled at the absurdity of it all.

We played.

Our little private corner of the universe is my most favorite place. I wonder if she knows that?

I wonder if she knows how welcome she is in my world? I wonder if she knows how much I appreciate her friendship? I wonder if she'd believe me if I told her?

I may try:

She is a special person. Her style is unique. Her outlook is unique. She is unique. There is only one. That is a shame. For everyone who doesn't get to know her, it is a shame.

I sit in wonder sometimes. Wonder at..... her. I sit and think "What if?" I sit and smile.

Today I was happier. Because last night she called. Last night I answered.

So I will use this little landmark, this 1200th post to tell her that I am thankful. That I am happy that I know her. That she makes me smile. That thinking of her even for just a second, warms me.

Thanks for your sparkle Luv. Life feels so good. :)

Fun And Headaches

Yesterday went pretty OK. The band was good, better than we all expected. The food was great. The crowd was appreciative. Other than the fact that my guitar crapped out on me during the soundcheck, everything went pretty darn good.

Yeah, my new instrument is broken. Its been finicky during practices but it was always easily fixed. Yesterday during the soundcheck it just wouldn't tune. Then once we finally got it right and started the first song, it went wacky again. I had to stop.

But the show went on. :)

I worked with that stupid thing the whole set but it wouldn't tune and stay that way. Then I grabbed the lead guitarists spare and it was so far out that I never got it right until the set was done. I had only two songs in the second set to play so the day was a bust basically. I did get lots of experience with the soundboard at least. Had to do something with myself.

Today my guitar is headed to the shop. That was frustrating.

But my song went well. I didn't totally screw it up. Actually I got a lot of ,"Gee, I didn't know you could sing" reactions from people. I guess I fooled them good! I can't sing. Lots and lots of practice will help anyone stay in key. Suckers!

So thats the update. I managed to play the very last song because the singer was really nervous and she dragged me up to stand with her. I played without plugging in. She felt better having me there for some reason. It was her debut singing solo in front of a crowd. She does a lot of backup singing in the band but it was her first lead vocal. She did great.

So it went well. Who knows? Maybe I'll volunteer for a second singing part?

Nah! That won't happen anytime soon. :)

Take It Easy

Anybody else feeling a little stressed this morning? Feeling like there is some pressure on you that you can't shake? Feeling like you want to just fly away and hide somewhere? Thats how I feel right now. Sort of. :)

Today is the big day. The day this band I joined plays in front of an audience. I am looking forward to it... mostly. It has been 11.5 years since I did anything like this. I am rusty. Luckily a lot of the songs (3) are country (ie: easy) or old rock (ie: easy/familiar). I'm not at all worried about playing.

It's the singing. I have to sing one song. I got roped into it because there just isn't anyone else to do it. The women didn't want to sing the song, Take It Easy by the Eagles, and the one other guy couldn't. So I'm doing it. And I am mediocre at best.

We really need to find a decent male singer for this group.

I never was a good singer. I managed withing very limited range. I think I'll manage today. I'm just not looking forward to it.

Otherwise, today should be a blast. The company is having a lunchtime 'End of Summer Picnic' for the employees. There is food and stuff and they drafted the band to play. Personally, I don't think 5-6 weeks of playing together is enough time to be ready but we are going to wing it. As long as there aren't too many knowledgable musicians in the crowd, we will be able to fake out most people with all the "compromises" we've invented to be ready for this.

So wish me luck. Wish us luck I should say. Aside from the singing I am planning on having a pretty cool day. Ah, what 3-4 minutes of embarrassment compared to a free picnic and a half day off work? :)

Work? What Work?

Anyone else blowing off work today for a round of Golf with their buds? Not too many? Bummer.

I am. Outdoors all day, sunny and 72 degrees. Nothing to do but hang with the guys, suck down a few and hack up the course. Yeah, it's gonna be a tough day. :)

Sorry to rub it in but thats just the a-hole part of me coming to the surface. It gets the best of me sometimes.

See Ya!

Carpe Diem

I remember thinking it could be a bad idea. That it could feasably cost me a lot. Not cost as in money or tangible stuff that I would miss. Cost as in "cost a piece of your soul".

I also knew it could be the best ever. The best choice I had made in decades. I felt it even before I thought it. Then the thought came and I was done. You don't escape truths like that. Not ever.

Funny that the thought didn't come from me. It was inside me. But I had to be told. It had to be verbalized to me so I could allow it to happen. That's when I weighed the potential disasters with the potential experience. There really wasn't a choice.

So now I'm in the thick of it. I'm in it and it's in me. I knew it was possible to be here, now, at this point. But I also thought I could swing it and avoid all the entanglement that comes along when you are not careful.

But can one really be that careful? Can one really control it all the way they think they will? I seriously doubt it.

Besides, controlling it would have made getting to his point impossible. And even though it's going to make it harder in the long run, I never will regret it. Once in a lifetimes are just that. They should never be taken for granted. They should never be regretted. So I won't. I couldn't anyway. No matter what.

So, for the record, so there is no mistaking my intentions at this point in time...... I say "damn the torpedoes."

Question Of The Day

Do you think the morons who can't stay in their lanes while driving have a hard time coloring in the lines too?

Snippets

That's a nice dress.

Thanks. It's a Liz Claiborne. I got it on sale. Real cheap.

Nice. It's kinda sexy.

Ya think?

Yeah. Hey, maybe I need some Liz stuff too.

You like Liz clothes?

Well, maybe just some underwear.

Underwear?

Y'know, to be more sexy.

Nah, it wouldn't work.

Why? Because no one will see them?

Uhmm, Ok, yeah, uh-huh, that's why. (rolls eyes)


**Overheard in line at Starbuck's today. The person considering the underwear was a guy. For the record, the woman did look nice. :)

Deep Thought For The Day

Some people are like Slinkys.
They really serve no purpose
but they still make you smile
when you push them down the steps.

"Gee Whiz!"

I just heard someone say "Oh my golly!" It made me smile. Everyone has expressions they use and usually they don't even know they are using them.

There are a lot of ways to express yourself. I have lots of things I say. Not too long ago I started saying "Gee whiz!" a lot. I started it as a way to make sure I didn't say swear words in the wrong place. You know, like when the boss is acting retarded and you want to say "WTF?" So now I say "gee whiz". Problem is I say it a lot. I know in some situations people hear that and wonder "WTF?"

I remember when I was with a band a few years ago we did a cover of Feeling Groovy. We all thought it was hilarious to walk around saying "Groovy" all the time. Problem is, once you start something like that it sometimes doesn't go away. I can't tell you how many times I've used the word groovy and someone has looked at me funny. It still happens even after all this time. But sometimes someone will like me using the word groovy. Then I wonder what they say without thinking?

The worst time I ever fell into that trap was when I was in the Summer between high school and college. I had a friend who liked to make fun of hippies. He would sometimes look at something and start saying "Wow! Far out man!" Far out. Where the hell did that come from anyway. So one day at college someone said something and I said "Far out man!" Totally making fun like my friend. But they took it as me being serious. One guy looked at me and said, "Far out?" Then they started laughing at me. I felt like a total dork. But how can you explain that you were trying to be funny without looking like you were covering up? Can't.

These days I just listen and wonder at what people say. Not long ago people would say "Word!" I still don't get that one. Others would say "All in that!" That's a weird one. It would be like this... I would say I was going to the Yankee game and someone would look at me and say "All in that!" Confused? Yeah, me too.

Today I think I'll listen to people more closely. I'll try to remember things they say, expressions they use. Then I'll try to post some. Tell me some of your expressions. I am curious to see what other people in other places say to express themselves. Who knows? Maybe I can replace my "gee whiz" with something more groovy. ;)

Stinky Boy Floyd

I have a friend who is stinky. Not a personal hygiene thing. What I mean is that he is capable of the worst farts ever. I mean, think of the worst sliced cheese you can ever remember and multiply it a few times. Thats how this guy is. Every time. Ever since I've known him.

What made me think of this is that we were recently helping another friend move and he tried to kill some of us with his cheesey blasters. He and I were headed to the attic with something relatively heavy when he started giggling. That is the first warning you get with him. He giggles. So I just set the box down and walked back to the end of the hall. Naturally the stink followed us anyway. It was so rude smelling! Like he is rotten inside.

Then someone else came up and walked throught the hall. When they got to the stink spot they just stopped and started acting like they were gagging. Then he immediately turned to Stinky and gave him crap about it. He knew where it had come from without even asking. Stinky just giggled.

You see, we all know this guys stench too well. We also know that it will linger for a long time. Long enough to turn your stomach if you don't walk away. I think there is something wrong with his insides. He could be on an all water diet and still stink up the town.

I remember one time we went to the grocery store. We were in line talking to some other friends we had run into when he started giggling and walking away. He turned to me and said, "I think we should go now." I stepped forward and said, "Wait a second. I'm not done..." Thats when it hit me. The stink was unbelievable! Right in the front of the grocery store. He just kept on walking saying "We need to go now" and giggling.

The first time I experienced one of his cheesy blasters was a time when we were at this game room. It was a popular hangout in town (a looong time ago now). It was a crowded Friday night. He was playing some game and some of us were just hanging when he started giggling. Everyone looked at each other and started leaving. I was asking why they were leaving when it hit me. I couldn't believe it. I looked at him and said, "Did you do that!?!" He just giggled and kept playing the video game. I left the room. The whole place cleared out for about 10 minutes. All but him.

So he has been rotten for a very long time. The moving incident reminded me of how rotten. Stinky Boy Floyd is a good name for him I think. Pretty Boy Floyd was a notorious gangster back in the 30's. I think his type of gangster activity is almost as bad. He isn't killing anyone, but still......

Quiz Time

Class Clown You are 28% Rational, 71% Extroverted, 100% Brutal, and 71% Arrogant.

You are the Class Clown. This means you wear grease paint and have a big, red nose... I really need to stop thinking so literally... Anyway, I MEANT to say that you are the Class Clown, and this means that you are extroverted, mean, and arrogant. You are not very rational, so you gravitate towards things that produce feelings or emotions over thoughts (like fart jokes or spitballs, for instance). You are also an extrovert and rather full of yourself, so of course you want constant attention for yourself and think you are somehow better than others. (Upon hearing the expression "you are full of yourself", you probably also slyly feel the need to ask women if they would like to be "full of yourself" too. I am assuming you have a penis. I often make that assumption, being fond of the penis.) You can also be a bit mean-spirited, and like a class clown you wouldn't hesitate to make a joke at someone else's expense, no matter how terrible it would make them feel. A lot of people probably find your antics annoying, sophomoric, and desperately histrionic. Like some sort of crack-taking hyperactive monkey, you'd do anything, mock anyone, just to get someone to pay attention to you for five seconds. So your personality defects are that you have to be the center of attention, that you don't care about others, and that you are rather irrational and motivated by intuitions. Now stop walking around with those books on your head and sit down this instant! Or else I'll be forced to stand here, hands on my hips, doing nothing once again! To put it less negatively: 1. You are more INTUITIVE than rational. 2. You are more EXTROVERTED than introverted. 3. You are more BRUTAL than gentle. 4. You are more ARROGANT than humble. Compatibility: Your exact opposite is the Robot. Other personalities you would probably get along with are the Schoolyard Bully, the Smartass, and the Brute. * * If you scored near fifty percent for a certain trait (42%-58%), you could very well go either way. For example, someone with 42% Extroversion is slightly leaning towards being an introvert, but is close enough to being an extrovert to be classified that way as well. Below is a list of the other personality types so that you can determine which other possible categories you may fill if you scored near fifty percent for certain traits. The other personality types: The Emo Kid: Intuitive, Introverted, Gentle, Humble. The Starving Artist: Intuitive, Introverted, Gentle, Arrogant. The Bitch-Slap: Intuitive, Introverted, Brutal, Humble. The Brute: Intuitive, Introverted, Brutal, Arrogant. The Hippie: Intuitive, Extroverted, Gentle, Humble. The Televangelist: Intuitive, Extroverted, Gentle, Arrogant. The Schoolyard Bully: Intuitive, Extroverted, Brutal, Humble. The Class Clown: Intuitive, Extroverted, Brutal, Arrogant. The Robot: Rational, Introverted, Gentle, Humble. The Haughty Intellectual: Rational, Introverted, Gentle, Arrogant. The Spiteful Loner: Rational, Introverted, Brutal, Humble. The Sociopath: Rational, Introverted, Brutal, Arrogant. The Hand-Raiser: Rational, Extroverted, Gentle, Humble. The Braggart: Rational, Extroverted, Gentle, Arrogant. The Capitalist Pig: Rational, Extroverted, Brutal, Humble. The Smartass: Rational, Extroverted, Brutal, Arrogant.

My test tracked 4 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 99% on Rationality You scored higher than 99% on Extroversion You scored higher than 99% on Brutality You scored higher than 99% on Arrogance

Link: The Personality Defect Test written by saint_gasoline on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the 32-Type Dating Test

Change The Subject Please!

The department I am part of is almost all women. I am the only guy with the exception of the Section Manager. Normally I would say "Woopie!" to that but no such luck these days.

The reason? Because when you get a room full of women talking (and they do talk a lot) what do they talk about? C'mon ladies, you know what the major subject is... Ok I'll remind you. They talk about kids. Almost exclusively kids. Their kids. Each others kids. The kids in their families. The kids that are friends with their kids. Kids. Almost exclusively the topic is kids.

If they aren't talking about kids, which is rare, they are husband bashing. But I think that's funny so I don't mind. It kinda gives me an incite into what may be happening behind my back. :)

But they always come back to that one topic. They compare stories. Stories about being in labor. Stories about poopies and accidents and school and first words and first steps and dumb things kids do. No matter what the subject starts out to be it always goes back to breeding and the results.

It is exasperating.

I really don't mind the occasional cute story. They aren't so bad. I actually enjoy them sometimes. It's the never ending, same old rehashing of them that makes me nuts. I think they don't notice that even though their kid may have done something neato to them, it has already been done by some kid and talked about ad nauseum by some other parent in the same room.

I miss my days with Peachy. I miss Peachy and Spacebrain and Brownie and Kris and even the dopey Engineers back at the old job. At least when I had them I had some interesting things to discuss. Especially with Peachy. I really miss you Peachy. :(

So mostly when I go into the department these days I say hi and keep on moving. If I don't there will be stories about some kid and their antics of the night before. There will be pictures that I can not stand there and pretend to be interested in. (They always have pictures too. I swear they keep Kodak in business.) So I keep moving.

I know people love their kids. Thats a good thing. But to listen to it day in and day out makes me even more glad I was not caught in that trap. If I would ever wake up one day and find myself being so one dimensional it would be time to consider hari-kari.

Bunny Fun

Check out this guy. (Or is it a gal?)



That tube it's in is only 3" x 4". Thats how tiny the bunny is. It ran into my garage when I was mowing. I scared it and 3 more out of a nest they had in my side yard. I didn't even know the nest was there.


Here it is when it ran into the garage. That leg is only 1 1/2" tall.



I managed to catch the bunny by using brand new leather gloves to nudge it into that white tube thingy. Then I put it into the nest again. I then managed to catch all the others and return them to the nest. I noticed then that the nest was showing the babies way too much. I think it was probably fine when they were smaller but it now was too shallow. So I went to the garden and cut out some turf and added it to the cover. The bunnies seemed to like it. :)


Then Momma Bunny stopped by. She started nursing the babies. It was neat to see.



If you look closely enough you will see tiny baby bunny feet sticking out from under Momma.






I am so glad that I didn't mow down the little buggers. That would have sucked. But they are safe now. Momma comes back every evening. Probably morning too but I don't see her. That nest is in the middle of our side yard so I guess we have adopted a family. I don't mind. But soon they will get big and start eating Nicci's garden. Then I wonder if she will still think they are so cute? ;)

Pretty Funny

This story is awesome! "A nurse returning from work discovered an intruder armed with a hammer in her home and strangled him with her bare hands."

Is that the best thing you've heard in a while? A guy with a long list of criminal offenses including an almost murder, breaks into the woman's home. Then when she gets there she not only isn't freaked out but she proceeds to stramgle him to death. Ha!

When that guy gets to robber hell he's going to really pay for that one. Imagine all those bas ass dudes finding out that an unarmed woman killed his ass with her bare hands. An eternity of embarrassmant along with... well, you know the deal. I love it. :)

On a side note, has anyone seen Streamo? (Stream Of Consciousness) It appears that the site has been deleted. I think that sucks. There was a lot of good stuff on there. There were also a lot of participants and I know I didn't get a vote on whether or not to delete it. I'm sad.

Anyway, I'm off to help a friend move now. It should be fun. I never mind helping someone move. I hate to move myself though. But thats a different thing altogether.

Everyone have a happy Saturday.

Epiphany

I was driving down the highway this morning just minding my own business when suddenly a thought hit me; I thought that I was there at that particular moment in time at that particular spot because of everything I had ever done in life. Everything I had done, everything I had seen, every decision I ever made had led me to that moment in time. And what was I doing? I was driving down the highway going to work.

Depressing, ain't it?

It sure is. Thinking that the culmination of my life experiences had led me to that spot on the highway doing something no free person would ever really volunteer to do is a bummer.

Think about it. You are sitting there right now reading this. The culmination of all your life's moments have led you to this time where you are reading some bonehead spouting useless stuff like this. Does it feel right or wrong? Or does it not feel? Maybe you don't really care about it. That's cool. Some people don't.

My advice is this; don't think about it. That's what I decided to do after the great revelation this morning. I just let it go. No sense going nuts over something I can't change now. I put myself here and so I deserve where here is.

Yay me.

Opposites Attract

So Paris Hilton and Lance Armstrong are hanging out together? There's an odd couple to be sure. Talk about opposites. It's almost as opposite as if Derek Jeter and Mariah Carey would get together. Oh, yeah, I forgot. Well it would be as bad as if Courteney Cox and David Arquette would... huh? Oh, yeah right. Well, it would be just as opposite as Nicole Kidman and Lenny Kravitz dating. They did? Ok, maybe it is as odd as Tom Cruise with... almost anyone. How more opposite can you get than that? Can't.

Good.

Now that we have established that let's just admit to a couple of things here. Opposites definitely do attract. Easy to admit to. We have all experienced it I'm sure.

Next, people in 'the limelight' have strange dating habits. They will date anybody it seems. Doesn't seem to matter to them. Maybe they know it's all temporary anyway so they just go for it? I dunno.

But I have been the victim several times of falling for an opposite, so I get it. 3 times to be precise.

I have a habit of being attracted to the good girls. The ones who every normal guy would want to bring home to Mother. The problem(s) here are that I am not quite the normal guy and I really don't care what my Mother thinks about anything. Besides, if I liked someone I sure wouldn't want them to meet her anyway. But I digress...

I have been in 3 serious relationships that were doomed from the start. Every one of the women was pretty much from the same mold. A nice family girl. The girl next door type. Homemaker, sweet, innocent. The exact opposite of the woman I am compatible with. But thats who I sucker for. Even though I know it's wrong I still go for it. I am attracted to my opposite so much that my head gets lost until it's too late. Then I have screwed up both of us.

On the other hand, they seem to think they can tame me. Calm me down. Help me join the ranks of the domesticated. One even wrote me a letter after we split saying just that. She expected to be able to change me. Weird. Both of us. Weird.

So yeah, I get that opposites attract. I understand wanting the person you know you shouldn't have. But I also know (through personal experience) that even though opposites attract, it never works out.

So I say, good luck Paris/Lance. I hope you are just playing because it seems like a strange pairing. But what the hey? Have fun with it.

Now, Tom Cruise pairing with anyone at all, that is something else altogether. ;)