Did You Know It's Hot Outside?
I know. Shocking. I went for a run yesterday. On a positive note, the ace wrap around my ankle kept me from feeling too many twinges. On the not so bright side, it basically cut off the circulation to my foot.
Also, it was hot. Really, really hot. And it was 8:30 at night. I jumped in a very cold shower when I got home and felt much better.
This weekend I also ventured out to River City Days for the annual library book sale. 1 bag of books = $1. The selection is not the best, but what the hell? For a dollar if I only like a few of the fifty books I got, it was worth it.
USPS
I'm impressed. I sent a birthday card to my dad last night. His birthday is today. I dropped the card at the post office at 4:45 PM. Final collection is at 5:00. Amazingly, the card was in his mailbox this morning. That's some speedy work by the postal service. Good work, boys!
Seriously?
This woman irritates the hell out of me. Why did you have the kids in the first place? People pity my kids because I cancel out on all kids events because they bore me. I send the nanny instead. Selfish? Self-Centered? You suck a lot. When your kids turn down spending time with you because they know you'll quit in a few minutes, that's a sad statement on your life. If you don't want to be a parent, don't have the kids in the first place.
My Children Bore Me to DeathIn other news, I went grocery shopping for the first time in months the other day. Yesterday, I had pierogi with sauteed onions and fresh green beans. Tonight, we're looking at tortellini salad and beef stroganoff. I love it when I'm actually motivated to cook.
Death and Taxes
Today I discovered that someone had put some M&Ms in the cube next to me. Turns out that there are not only M&Ms but also some kind of giant Reece's Pieces. It was an exciting discovery.
So the other day I was doing my taxes. Why would someone do their taxes in July? Good question. What the hell is the state thinking? I had to go digging for my 1040 form and find my W-2. Apparently, this set of tax rebates requires figuring out how much non-taxable revenue, but not all because some of the non-taxable revenue doesn't count and it's up to me to guess which does and does not count, I need to include to figure out how much I'm owed. If it wasn't worth a couple hundred dollars, I wouldn't bother with this crap. Why couldn't they require this stuff be done when all the other tax stuff is due in April? Stupid government.
Irresponsibility
So I just read an article in Haaretz about a couple who moved to Israel yesterday. Very committed Jews, they left their nice suburban life in New England to go to the war zone that is currently Israel. They had the option not to go right now, but went anyway. Personally, I find this decision stupid. But they are adults and can do what they want (I am all for this process of Natural Selection). What I found horribly irresponsible is that they are taking their three children, ages 7, 5 and 4 months, along for the ride. You know, Israel will still be there in a couple of months (unless Iran's nuclear capabilities are better than we know), but by then hopefully, there will not be an aerial bombardment in its cities. I really despise people like this.
You know who I despise, but have suddenly gained respect for? Katie Couric. I really can't stand her, but she has gone on the record stating that she will not go to Israel because "the situation there is so dangerous - as a single parent with two children, that's something I won't be doing." Way to stand up for your responsibilities.
The Hell?
I read a story in the paper today about some stupid woman in Wisconsin who is suing her parents because she slipped and fell on the ice in their driveway. Apparently, they did not properly maintain their drainage gutters or something. She sucks.
I read another story about how an ambulance crashed into the train here in Bloomington. Did you know that the train has right of way over an ambulance? Because you know, when every second counts, it's important that people get to the Mall of America on time. Boo!
Textbooks
I should probably mention that I get large discounts (new for cheaper than used) on higher ed books. Also free shipping. So anybody taking a class that requires a text from Allyn and Bacon or Prentice Hall should ask me first before buying the book.
The Good Old Days
Or the good old things as it were. Yesterday, I continued on my exercise plan. This time I knew where I was going (although there was a brief moment of indecision over direction at one point). I decided I should run a bit farther today so I dug out my track trainers - these are the shoes I wore to run track in eighth grade, so you know, they're a bit old - Grabbed my equally ancient Walkman and headed out.
It seems it was a day for memories of times gone by. The Walkman has got to be at least 14 years old (and still going strong) and the tape in it was one made for me by ex-boyfriend, Chris, back in the days of my love for Shaggy and no CD player in my car. I'm ashamed to admit it, but back then I would actually listen to KDWB in hopes that they would play some Shaggy which of course they did because they only have a playlist of fifteen songs each month. It's an excellent tape to walk/run to because Chris was a weekend DJ or something and other than the Shaggy songs in the beginning (which are awesome), it's basically a constant dance mix with a good beat. Makes me want to hit the club or something (although getting me to dance involves copious amounts of alcohol). Hmm...I wonder if V wants to get drunk and go somewhere this weekend.
And I'm off-topic. Not that I ever had a topic to begin with. I think it's the toxic fumes coming off the wall behind me, making me loopy. I should go now.
How did that happen?
Last night, I was feeling guilty about not going swimming after work. Since there was no Twins game to watch (tell me again why it wasn't televised), I decided to go for a walk. Usually when I walk I take the path to the dam then turn around and come back. It's about a two mile walk. Last night, owing to my guilt, I kept walking past the dam. I figured I could find the trail that semi-loops back to the ballfields behind my house. So I kept walking and every time I came upon a fork in the trail, I took the one that appeared to go back to where I figured the looping trail I was looking for came out.
Three things to note about the trail system in the city:
1) There are over 40 miles of trails running through the city
2) The trails are completely wooded and it is often impossible to know where you are
3) All the trails, no matter what direction you are going, are uphill
After walking in 800 million degree heat for an hour, I came upon a large hill with many, many steps. The trail curved so I was unable to see exactly how many steps were involved in continuing onwards, but up I climbed. At the top, the trail forked three ways. I went straight. Bad idea.
Note to self: Always stay on the paved and/or obviously well-groomed gravelled trail.
So there I was, lost in the wilds of Chaska. I finally came out behind the elementary and high schools where the path ended. This is about a mile west and a half mile north of where I needed to be. So I turned around and took a different fork. Another trail ending in a random neighborhood. I turned around again and took the third fork. Success! I ended up behind the trailer park that overlooks the dam.
This trail was fun because it divides the trailer park from the $500,000 houses that back right up to the trail. Interesting dichotomy there. Eventually, I came upon the tunnel under the street that leads back to the park. Being excited to have figured out where I was, I ran the final half mile to the volleyball court where my ankle gave out and I limped my way home. Thus ended my trek.
Someone remind me never to do that again.
Can I Just Say?
Hooray for air conditioning! Although I did sit out on my deck last night reading for a couple of hours, I spent most of the weekend sitting inside doing nothing. That could explain the extreme back pain I experienced. I also spent two lovely hours in the pool trying to alleviate said back pain. It didn't work and I had to share the wall lane so I banged up my left arm pretty badly, but nice cool water is good when it's like a million degrees outside.
This weekend totally made me think about swimming to Grandma's last year. I may have left my house for that.
The Amusements of the Train
On my ride home last night, I had the joy of sitting next to some extremely drunk forty-somethings. They were vastly entertaining and they liked me because I humored them. One guy was obsessed with my teeth. Apparently, they are beautiful. I'll take a compliment from a drunk. I was invited to go out drinking with them but had to regretfully turn them down as it was a work night. Stupid job getting in the way of my social life. As with everything else, this story also does not have any redeeming value except to remind me that drunk people on the train are fun.
Anyone else remember the passed out girl from last summer?
Office Romance
I have to post because even as we speak Blonde HR girl is flirting with one of my coworkers. The girl is over at his desk at least four times a day and she does this whole flirting routine. Could she be any more obvious? And at the office? Bad form, my dear, bad form. Brian, of course, is quite encouraging of this behavior but it's really obnoxious to those who have to see/hear it. Take it out of the office, please.
Where's the Creativity?
There's a certain author that I read that is apparently a huge fan of country music. I like her books in general but it annoys me greatly when she winds something from a song into the book. It makes me wonder about her creativity level. And people who don't listen to country music wouldn't recognize that it came from a song. Case in point, in the last book I read of hers she referenced no less than three country songs - one of which was the catalyst for the big happy ending.
Seriously, she used "John Deere Green" to illustrate small town crime. It didn't involve a water tower (most likely because the town didn't have one) and she changed Charlene's name to Lurleen, but that's the most her creativity would extend.
Secondly, she used "Austin" and the whole answering machine message to get the hero and heroine back together in the end. While the message would fit the hero's character, come on. Can you not think of something better than that for your story?
Pointless Story
Apparently, it's supposed to hit 100 this weekend. Needless to say, I was not pleased to return home on Sunday night and find that my air conditioner wasn't working. Seeing as it was after 11:00 and I was tired, I tried flipping the breaker and when that didn't work, opened the windows and turned on the fan in my room.
After work the next day, I went home and investigated the problem. The fan which is controlled by my gas furnace was not working, but I had hot water (also gas powered) so I knew that it was not a power issue. This is when I started worrying about having to call in the experts. I tried turning on the heat. Nothing. Boo to the furnace. I looked inside the furnace, saw nothing unusual, put the cover back on and had instant air conditioning. Problem fixed. I am awesome. My house is now a cool 72 degrees. Yay me.
Pictorial
Theodore Roosevelt National Park - North Dakota
Wibaux, Montana - The nice man running the rest stop let us know that the highway patrol was on vacation so we were free to speed.
Heaven's Peak - Glacier National Park
Cracker Flats - Glacier National Park
My back is just now recovering from this ride.
Spacious skies, purple mountains, amber waves of grain - Somewhere in Montana
Scene of the brutal murder of my dad's 15 year old cousin - Harlem, Montana
A Field - Somewhere between Minot and Jamestown North Dakota
Seriously?
Next time I leave, I'm not coming back.
Real Estate
Last night we examined the Real Estate Guide for western Montana. We found an excellent place for a mere $14,900. Sell your car and buy a house. I don't think so. That said, I could definitely live in Anaconda. Now all that's left is to find a job...
Happy Fourth of July. I will be attending my second fireworks display this evening. Apparently Butte decides to do theirs the night before. I'd say the amateur fireworks were more entertaining. Although I had to roll up the car window for fear someone would shoot a rocket into the car. Ahh the joys of legal fireworks and a college campus. I also attended a parade this morning where I recognized the governor of this great state because he brought his dog along. The dog is featured on the state maps. He's obviously a relative of George.
