Doolittle's
So last night I went to Doolittle's Air Cafe for dinner. The thing is Doolittle's has decided to be more upscale and they are now Doolittle's Woodfire Grill. Which is fine except along with the rich wood treatments, the airplane motif is still prominent. I think the restaurant needs to make a decision - Are they still an air cafe or are they a woodfire grill?
People suck, but not the Twins
I'm not a planner. You know why? Because everytime I make plans - rearrange my schedule, tell friends I'm not free, give up a job - people cancel on me. I've had it. Seriously, in the last two weeks I have had five actual planned events. Do you know how many have been cancelled? Four. I'm done. It's not fair to me, it's not fair to the people I work for, it's not fair to my other friends whom I have told I can't go out because I have something to do. By the way, this is not a knock at the people who read this blog - just a statement about where I'm at these days because I'm sick and tired of this and I'm done with it.
Case in point, I made an arrangement to meet with someone last week. Do you know what? They never showed up, never called, never e-mailed and when I talked to them next I never even got an acknowledgement or apology. So not cool. And the world wonders why I hate people.
So anyway, there I was at Twins Unplugged yesterday, bored out of my mind without even a book to entertain me and a dead cell phone battery. The actual event was fun, just not the waiting hours for it to start. The freaks that show up at those events are somewhat scary in a harmless kind of way. I really don't want to be associated in anyway with "that creepy fan". The train lady was there and she totally freaks me out. Anyways, the Twins gifted me with free tickets (for halfway insulting Cuddyer, go me!) and I also won a signed Brad Radke baseball. I knew the Twins loved me.
Bonus - gas prices in Shakopee were 20 cents lower than anywhere else. A fact I was aware of, but something not worth driving there just to take advantage of.
ETA - And now I've lied because I just got an e-mail about plans for tonight. However, these plans are set in stone and nothing short of death or dismemberment will cause their cancellation.
And Once Again I Get Screwed...
There was an all company drawing today. Did I win the Twins tickets? No. And the winners wouldn't take my captain's chair in trade for the tickets.
Bitter. So bitter.
Holy Nightmare
So there I was happily swimming along yesterday. Swimming up the lane I was watching tot time where all the babies get to play in the little pool with their parents. Sadly, on my trip back there's usually not much to see until I looked up once and saw a middle-aged man wearing what appeared to be his nice white underwear. I thought maybe I was just seeing things wrong - goggles with water on them and catching a glimpse while swimming not being exactly conducive to perfect vision. As I got closer, I realized I was right. While puzzling why someone would not use a swimming suit at a public pool, I kept swimming. On my way back from the next lap, horror of horrors, the man turned on the shower located in the pool area. Wet t-shirt contests have nothing on this guy. So sick.
How to Keep E from Quitting
One of my coworkers gave me flowers today. She said she hopes it helps this week be better than the last. Not sure that's gonna happen, but it was worth a shot. The roses are nice. Maybe if there were more of them, they'd help cover up the toxic smell of paint currently permeating my office.
If I walk out of my job, would someone be willing to help cover my mortgage?
Belfield
My vacation planning is finally getting somewhere. Although I was somewhat disturbed when I discovered that even motels in Belfield, North Dakota are full. Seriously, Belfield? I've driven across the state many, many times and I never even knew it existed. It took me three days of internet searching to find out that there are even accomodations in this town. To be fair, they don't have a giant cow standing on a hill to make me remember them. Maybe the town of New Salem had the right idea. Though the cow doesn't really inspire me to visit New Salem.
Perhaps next time I'll try and plan things more than a week or two before I leave. A novel idea, I know.
Welcome to the Hotel California
Trip planning drives me nuts. Usually I don't do any planning because the places I go generally aren't really high on the list of fantastic tourist destinations or because I'm totally willing to stay at the Bates Motel because it's cheap. However, it seems even the Bates motel is sold out for the nights I want it. Maybe I can just sleep in the car? Or I could drive to Canada and see what I find there. No, wait. The Calgary Stampede is going on that week. No way would I find a room within 100 miles of Calgary. Stupid people's vacations getting in the way of my vacation.
Question
Is it a good sign or a bad sign when your hairdresser is discussing possible job openings for you with her other clients? It seems odd to me, but apparently the client was interested and sent her card to me.
SCUM Manifesto
Some people are so crazy and hate-filled that they end up being amusing. The SCUM Manifesto has some fantastic quotes. After referring to males as a biological accident (an incomplete female if you will) and advocating their extinction, she offers up this line:
"Men who are rational, however, won't kick or struggle or raise a distressing fuss, but will just sit back, relax, enjoy the show and ride the waves to their demise."
I love the lyrical "ride the waves to their demise" part. I'm going to have to use that sometime.
My Bobbleheads Are in Full Game Mode - Radke's Pitching to Guzman
You know what's really rude? Setting up an appointment with someone, missing it, and then never acknowledging or apologizing for not being there. A call or e-mail would be nice. I know things come up, but don't expect me to be receptive to any overtures when more than a week has passed without any word. Unless you're dead or in the hospital, you have no excuse. None.
I wonder what makes the construction guys think that yelling their conversations to each other is acceptable. Do the rest of us in this office really need to hear it? It's bad enough that they are burning things, making really loud drilling noises and using the loudest nail gun ever to put up walls. Oh and HR? Now that you've got your wall, if I see you anywhere near my side of the building, I'm calling security.
I primed my deck last night. I got paint on me everywhere. I half-heartedly tried to get it off, but since I have two more nights of painting ahead of me, I don't know what good it's going to do to scrape my skin off when I'll only turn around and have to do it again.
No Dark Sarcasm in the Classroom
Now I've always been quite fond of sarcasm. Why wouldn't you want it in the classroom? Now I'm analyzing The Wall. Apparently I need to stop listening to Pink Floyd.
While Swimming today, I discovered that my swimming suit does not fit. It always seemed to fit in the past. Yes, it's a size 10 and no, I don't wear anywhere near a 10, but that was not a problem in the past. Do you suppose I just dropped ten pounds in the last few months? No, I don't think so either. Dammit, now I have to go buy another expensive suit. I need at least three and I'm down to two. One of which is on the edge of being worn out.
It just occurred to me that there has been a sad lack of Manamana playing at the Dome this season. That makes me sad.
Why does it always start raining just in time for the Twins games? My satellite does not like rain. Boo to the rain's timing! Although the inch and half yesterday and the extra half inch this afternoon was very helpful to my lawn greening efforts.
In case you were wondering, the paint scraping efforts have gone quite well. Humidity and rain helped make the paint easier to scrape off. I may yet be able to start sanding and priming this week.
My shoes were delivered this afternoon. Thank you Sketchers for not discontinuing my favorite shoes.
Finally, when in Mitchell a couple of weeks ago, we parked behind this truck.
I was unaware that Dawn had trademarked herself.
Also, apparently there is a Dawn Circle of Excellence. Who knew?
Ahhh, Sleep
Yesterday I went home after work. Since it's the first time all week I've been able to go home and do nothing, it felt great. Sadly, it also meant I had to start on the projects I've been putting off. Yesterday was the time to make headway in scraping paint off my deck railing so I could spend the next set of sunny and dry days priming and painting it. I now have three slivers in my pinky. I haven't even gotten to the difficult part of the scraping yet. Something to look forward to this weekend I guess.
The thing that really upsets me about this scraping/painting thing is that I know that as soon as I finish, somebody'll decide that the new decks are going up next month and all my work will be for naught.
In other news, the Twins swept the Red Sox, I saw two grand slams this week, and I got a full ten hours of sleep last night. Also, it's the weekend and I have no plans. Good deal all around.
More Letters
Dear Twins,Thank you.
Love,
E
Dear Idiot Who Decided to Drive As Slowly As Possible So You Could Make the Left Turn Arrow But Not Me,I really, really, really hate you. A lot. Perhaps you noticed that when, after sitting through another cycle of lights, I passed your ass before I got stuck behind you all the way home. Wow do I hate you.
Not Amusedly,
E
Dear Train Maintenance People,Do you think it might be possible to not have maintenance in the tunnel for the twenty minutes the Twins trains are coming through? I'm all for repairs but sitting around for 20 minutes when it's almost midnight and I have to be at work at 7 is not fun.
Regards,
E
Dear Twins,
That was totally great last night. I love the win and Johan, you are the best! Twingo cards are easier to mark when the only play ever scored on the Sox side is a K. However, could we please just win the game in 9 innings (8.5 would be optimal) and not have to sit through another 3? Stop running/bunting/hitting into double plays - I'm looking at you Torii. I'm tired. I'd like to be home by 11:00 tonight. Please work on that, would you?
-E
Letters
Dear Waste Management,
6:30 AM is not an okay time to start collecting garbage. 7:15 AM is only slightly more acceptable to pick up the recycling.
Dear Super Loud Cell Phone Talking Construction Guy,
This is an office. I am trying to work. I recognize that you are trying to build offices behind me and a big wall to protect Human Resources from my evil presence and that you are apparently having a difficult time with the measurements. However, that does not mean that you need to pace around behind me talking overly loudly into your mobile while exclaiming over how much extra space you have.
Dear Weeds,
I am going to get more ammunition tonight. The reprieve will cease in mere hours. Say your prayers.
Dear X,
I don't have to tell you everything that is going on in my life. You are a peripheral acquaintance. I rarely sit around and think, "Hey, I should tell X I'm doing something. X has a right to know in case X wants to say no. I'll totally do whatever X wants." Doesn't happen. Never will.
Best Regards All,
E
Home Ownership
When you own your own home, there is a rather sad tendency to be proud of the most ridiculous things. Sunday I came home from the Twins game and decided it was time to kill the weeds currently using my air conditioner for a trellis. A couple hours after spraying them, I decided they weren't dying quickly enough and went out to spray them again. The weeds' leaves were delighfully yellow an hour later. Yay for Round-Up. Those bastards won't be growing up through the rocks any time soon.
I also watered my sadly burned up lawn on an ODD day. I was finally in compliance with the city's watering restrictions. So proud.
I'm All Alone
Everyone's gone. My house is my own again. I can go home after work tonight and all I will be met with is silence. I'll have to crack open a beer to celebrate. Life is good.
ETA - I've decided to visit a local watering hole for happy hour. Then I can get a happy hour companion to drive me to the mall for a movie. After the movie, I can get my movie companion to drive me back to the restaurant. I can drink lots. Yay!
Land of the Cowboy
The "Family" Quartet
My mother made the whole family come home this weekend because she promised her church that we would play a quartet on the bells (my dad does not play so they had to recruit another person with our last name to make it work - not a particularly difficult thing to do in Scandinavian filled Minnesota). Anyways, we played perfectly and were applauded. My dad said the church members were so impressed because it's the first time they've actually been able to identify the song being played. We've now spoiled them horrendously. Good thing most people were out of town.
