Got My Pizza and Beer...How 'Bout Some Baseball
I came home at lunch today hoping to catch a couple of innings of baseball. It seemed like the entirety of Major League Baseball was suffering from rain delays. Happily, I did get to watch a bit of Kansas City beating the Tigers.
That 5:00 start for the Twins was a bitch. I got home in time to hear the Gomez double and see him reach second. Stupid Pizza Hut said 15 minutes and took 25. That said, Twins win and baseball! Gracie was not happy with the baseball and ran into her kennel to hide.
In weather related news, the snow does not end and oh yes, the freeway was closed all day yesterday. It seems a semi decided to take on a snowplow - the fight was considered a draw when the jaws of life got involved. The roads were still an absolute nightmare today. Freeway was also closed going east today. It's supposed to snow tonight and Wednesday and Thursday. Dawn, why on earth did you choose April to get married? May seemed much more civilized.
Spring Cleaning
Whenever I go out of town, I always seem to be inspired to do a massive clean-up before I leave. I think it has something to do with if I die, people can come into my house and not be appalled at my lifestyle. Anyway, today I reorganized my kitchen cabinets, my bedroom closet and put away some china. It was a lot more work than it sounds.
Monday is Opening Day for the Twins. I'm wondering whose grand plan it was to start the game at 6? How am I supposed to get Gracie settled, cook dinner and be ready to see the game when introductions start before I can even leave work?
I was vastly amused to see that they're closing down the Lowry Hill Tunnel on Monday and Tuesday evening for spring cleaning. Do they pay absolutely zero attention to what's going on in the city? The game is a sellout and they are going to close one of the main arteries heading west. Good thinking there.
And Winter Returrns
If next Thursday morning is anything like this morning, I have serious doubts about my ability to make it to Minneapolis. Weather forecasts from now until next Thursday read: snow, snow showers, snow, snow, snow showers, snow. Not good. This morning I got to the highway and looked left to check for cars and saw only whiteout. Super fun drive to work.
The best part though is what was going on with the spawn of the Evil Cows. We had sustained winds of about 40 mph all day. These calves are all of two days old, tiny and not real steady on their feet. I swear I watched one get flung about five feet by the wind. Poor things finally figured out it's best to play dead in these conditions.
Apparently, I'm Going on a Trip
Which is...next week? When I realized this I decided I should maybe firm up some plans. I now have two things firmly scheduled. By next week, I hope to have everything tightly organized because I have a massive amount of things to do and not enough time to do them. I should also make sure my host has found his spare key.
There's also some wedding I'm supposed to go to and I should really look into when that takes place. Oh and find out where too. I'm sure that the invitation is around somewhere...
MLB Extra Innings
For out of market viewers, this is the greatest thing on earth. Apparently DirecTV does an auto renewal on this subscription. I looked it up on my account online the other day and found I was subscribed to Extra Innings and something called MLB Superfan which is an additional $50. I don't want Superfan because it's mostly HD games and I don't have HDTV. I should also add that once the season starts, you can't remove this subscription - what a crock.
So I called DirecTV since it wouldn't let me remove the thing online. Here is a transcript of the call.
Automated voice: Please tell me why you are calling.
E: I want to change my MLB Extra Innings Subscription.
AV: I can help you with that. Would you like to order this?
E: No.
AV: OK. What else would you like to do?
E: I'd like to change my subscription.
AV: Would you like to order this?
E: Yes.
AV: You've already ordered this service. What would you like to do now?
E: Can I talk to someone?
AV: All of our agents are busy. Please hold.
{E waits listening to music & ads}
*Click*
E calls back.
AV: Please tell me why you are calling.
E: I want to talk to someone.
AV: Before I can connect you with an agent, I need to know the reason you are calling.
E: I want to change my MLB Extra Innings subscription.
AV: I can help you with that...
E: NO, you f***ing can't.
AV: I'll connect you with an agent. Please hold.
The agent was very nice and removed the Superfan thing although apparently I wasn't being charged at all for either service so perhaps I shouldn't have called.
Here Comes the Sun
Yesterday Gracie and I went for a walk. Having learned from past experiences, we walked into the wind on the way out. This considerably shortened the walk. The wind was blowing so strong and so cold I could barely see through the tears in my eyes. When we got home I grabbed a book and we sat out on the deck. The air temperature was so cold I could see my breath, yet I was perfectly comfortable if not a bit hot sitting out there for a couple of hours.
It's an odd feeling knowing it's cold out and yet not feeling it a bit. The high topped out yesterday at 42 degrees. Today it was a delightful 51 but the wind was still too strong to walk much further. I just had a bit more motivation after having eaten an excellent ham dinner.
Of Easter Eggs and Bunnies
It's Easter weekend. My mom is harassing me about not going to church on Sunday. I don't feel like driving 80 miles to church and back on Sunday. I especially don't feel like it when I'd have to be at said church at 8:30 meaning I'd have to leave here at 7:30. I think I'll celebrate the resurrection in my sleep and have a nice ham dinner in His honor.
As a commentary on where I live, one of my coworkers today went to her daughter's Easter Party at school. An EASTER party. Wow. Christmas and the general "holiday" party can work, but an Easter party. Of but it's not at all religious I was told. Really? I'm all for parties. More power to them I guess.
Because It Snowed Again
And I'm longing for spring I thought I'd share another place nearby that I could enjoy if it would stop snowing.
Welcome to the Flaming Gorge. This massive reservoir is responsible for the Utah "Navy" constantly driving through town all summer long. This year, I will join the navy out on the water because now I know people with a boat. Although it's really a very beautiful place even if you're not on the water.
At Least It's Sunny
Actually, things are slightly better than that. It was officially announced today that Monday's pay check will include our annual bonus as well as pay increases. Happily the pay increase is retroactive to January 1 which makes the check quite hefty. I'm hoping for a significant jump in my bank account so I can up my emergency fund substantially.
In not so happy news, Gracie seems to be ill. I'm not sure what's wrong though because she pukes everywhere and then wants to run around and play. Whatever she's got, my carpet cannot take much more of it.
The Return of the Evil Cows
Normally, the pasture behind my house contains a pair of horses and a pair of mules. Sunday morning, I went outside and discovered the pasture had been invaded by hundreds of pregnant, evil cows. Damn calving season. My neighbor's dog was highly suspicious of them too. Today he was propped on the fence watching every move they made.
The invasion of cows was also disturbing because I planned a very nice several hours sitting on my deck to read a book or two and the damn cows were quite loud. That said, how many people in Minnesota could sit outside on their deck for hours in early March and have to go inside because they got too hot?
I Hate It When I'm Right
Sunday morning I set off for Denver for a class on marketing dashboard development. This should have been a 5 hour trip cruising down the freeway at 85 miles an hour. I stopped at Starbucks in Rock Springs and headed on my way. Big mistake. Huge. 10 miles down the road the freeway became a skating rink. And inevitably a truck jackknifed. We stopped for a half hour waiting. I was rather industrious during this down time and took the opportunity to read the owner's manual of the Blazer I was driving - I learned how to use the cruise control, how to turn down the bass and how to get the back windshield wiper to spray stuff. We began moving and all appeared well - although the skating rink remained.
Five minutes later and we were stopped again. An hour later and the coffee had run its course and I desperately needed to pee. Middle of nowhere a good 45 minutes from a bathroom even if we did start moving. All I can say is at least Starbucks provides a large cup.
Two hours after stopping, we finally moved. Five hours later and I made it to Cheyenne. A full hour before the massive used book sale closed. The roads could not stop me from getting my books.
A full 10 hours after setting out I finally made it to Denver. Since this post got long, I'll discuss my time in Denver later.
69 Degrees
That's how warm it was in Denver at 5:00 this evening. I am not in Denver so I am currently enjoying massive wind gusts and lots of snow. Snow and wind that are moving towards Denver. I'm sure it will just be a delightful drive to Colorado tomorrow. I hate weather.
