Sven the Blue Rat
Sven the Blue Rat passed promptly and peacefully on Thursday, February 11, 2010 at his home in "East Mortington," IL.
Presumably born between October 1 and November 1, 2008 in Peoria and obtained from the PetSmart at Glen Hollow on Saturday, November 29, 2008. The lone blue rat in the store, Sven caught the eye of his "mother," Sparky, who has an affinity for all things the color blue. "He was the best $13 I ever spent..." Sparky was quoted as saying just after the burial ceremony, which took place this past Thursday afternoon.
Sven was an avid lover of cheese, potato oles, grapes, climbing, dancing, and sleeping. His favorite hobbies included redecorating his house, watching television with family members, and chewing on sticks. Sven also loved music; his favorite artists were Kings of Leon, My Morning Jacket, Shinedown, and Eric Clapton. A gentle creature, he never intentionally bit or scratched a family member or friend. While rather cautious in nature (he was only loose in the house once and voluntarily returned to his home soon after getting away), Sven did venture outdoors from time to time for convertible rides around the Peoria-area.
But Sven will be remembered most for his ability to listen and his animated demeanor. "You just expected him to jump up and start talking!" Mama Sparky, Sven's "grandmother," said when asked about the experience of living with Sven. "He was a good little guy," Papa Sparky added. "Living with him broadened our horizons."
"Judge me for not what I am but who I am," was Sven's motto. A pioneer in the Rat-Acceptance movement, Sven won over many a visitor, including those from regions historically afflicted with illness spread by rats. Sven loved all visitors he met and was especially fond of his Aunts Ames and Cher, as well as his aunt Ally, whom he never had the pleasure of meeting in person. Sven many times mentioned the great time he had during the week this past summer he stayed with his Aunt Kat and Uncle Todd in Dunlap. While never a visitor, through pictures and stories he was infamous among the 3rd shift operators and management team at Big Yellow in East Peoria.
Sven will be greatly missed, but he will be remembered fondly and shall always be forever grateful for his companionship, support, love, and mad rat belly dancing skills.
Sven was buried in a non-denominational ceremony under a new tree at the home he shared with his family. He is survived by his family and a legion of friends and admirers. Per his request, his home and furnishing were donated to the science class at a local school. Donations to animal-based causes can be made in Sven's honor.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Monday, February 08, 2010
Snow What?
I used to laugh at that scene in Fargo where William H. Macy is having a hissy fit while scraping his windshield. Well, that's kind of me now, sans actual fit but complete with vigorous scraping motion and weird cold-induced noises.
See, the trick is to bundle up really well and then just take a dash at your car. I'm slowed a bit by the turnstile gate at work, but if I can get some speed up, it keeps me from cussing (loudly) and warms me up a bit before I get to scraping. For the record, I miss Canyonero 2.0 because it had a remote starter and keyless entry, so I could start my car from a distance and not worry about my keys getting locked inside. I do love my Toyota, but all of the braking system/accelerator issues in the media are overshadowing the possessed power locks these cars tend to have. And I just don't even want to bother with risking getting locked out of my running car in a parking lot - especially at work.
Here are some tips for you who aren't fortunate enough to live in a tundra and thus aren't seasoned snow removers:
1. If you can, have your car running while you scrap. It's not 100% necessary but it really does help and it's efficient.
2. Get one of those long handled scrapers. They're great for us short girls and it gives you some mechanical advantage.
3. Wear gloves. Mittens work too. Just makes sure you have something covering the digits so you don't feel like you're going to snap one off.
4. If it's snowing/going to snow and you're going to be parked in place for a while, put the wiper blades up on your car. It eliminates the need to 'peel and pray' prior to scraping
5. Caught completely unprepared? Use a plastic (credit-type) card. Don't use an important one as there's decent chance of bending it up during use. Or, better yet, get a cute boy to scrape for you. Actually, any helpful boy will work just fine. If he won't help, that's what snowballs with pennies jammed in them are for
6. Frozen locks? I like key+lighter. Do not attempt if you just sprayed alcohol de-icer all over everything though - probably not the type of fun you want to have
7. If you do happen to run your wipers over the ice and find that they then won't contact the windshield well, pick 'em up and drop 'em back against the windshield a few times and they should start working better
While this seems pretty basic, I had to learn a few on that list the hard way. Unfortunately, "move to a warm climate" isn't a good avoidance plan because the whole country, it seems, has been locked in an icy death grip this winter. Being optimistic: at least it's good weather to chill a case in the trunk while at work all day.
I used to laugh at that scene in Fargo where William H. Macy is having a hissy fit while scraping his windshield. Well, that's kind of me now, sans actual fit but complete with vigorous scraping motion and weird cold-induced noises.
See, the trick is to bundle up really well and then just take a dash at your car. I'm slowed a bit by the turnstile gate at work, but if I can get some speed up, it keeps me from cussing (loudly) and warms me up a bit before I get to scraping. For the record, I miss Canyonero 2.0 because it had a remote starter and keyless entry, so I could start my car from a distance and not worry about my keys getting locked inside. I do love my Toyota, but all of the braking system/accelerator issues in the media are overshadowing the possessed power locks these cars tend to have. And I just don't even want to bother with risking getting locked out of my running car in a parking lot - especially at work.
Here are some tips for you who aren't fortunate enough to live in a tundra and thus aren't seasoned snow removers:
1. If you can, have your car running while you scrap. It's not 100% necessary but it really does help and it's efficient.
2. Get one of those long handled scrapers. They're great for us short girls and it gives you some mechanical advantage.
3. Wear gloves. Mittens work too. Just makes sure you have something covering the digits so you don't feel like you're going to snap one off.
4. If it's snowing/going to snow and you're going to be parked in place for a while, put the wiper blades up on your car. It eliminates the need to 'peel and pray' prior to scraping
5. Caught completely unprepared? Use a plastic (credit-type) card. Don't use an important one as there's decent chance of bending it up during use. Or, better yet, get a cute boy to scrape for you. Actually, any helpful boy will work just fine. If he won't help, that's what snowballs with pennies jammed in them are for
6. Frozen locks? I like key+lighter. Do not attempt if you just sprayed alcohol de-icer all over everything though - probably not the type of fun you want to have
7. If you do happen to run your wipers over the ice and find that they then won't contact the windshield well, pick 'em up and drop 'em back against the windshield a few times and they should start working better
While this seems pretty basic, I had to learn a few on that list the hard way. Unfortunately, "move to a warm climate" isn't a good avoidance plan because the whole country, it seems, has been locked in an icy death grip this winter. Being optimistic: at least it's good weather to chill a case in the trunk while at work all day.
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Scotch and Sunday
After taking a weekend off from everything, I've decided to prepare for the upcoming week the best way I know how: drinking. A beer mug is the best I could find, but I filled it to the top line of the design with ice and then I filled the mug a quarter of the way with Chivas Regal. Finally, I topped it off to the ice line with water from the reverse-osmosis tap at the sink. Can't go muddying my tasty drink with that nasty Peoria-area water.
I guess I could say I'm celebrating tonight. I've decided that after a week of being, yet again, down with the sickness that I'm ready to be well again. Also, last week was one of those sweeps week-like in terms of things happening. You name it, it occurred. Reappearance of long lost hot guy? Check. Broken equipment. Check. I stopped shipments from multiple facilities. Basically, I bamf-ed it out. And I felt like hell and probably should have been at home in my jammies, but I toughed it out and went at it.
So raise a glass and here's to me. I rock. This week and then one more week after that and I'm off to Florida, potential future home of mine. I don't know when or how I'll end up there, but I'd like to think it's somewhat of a certainty. It's weird there and it's warm. Basically, it's my kind of place. I don't think my story here is over quite yet, but it's fun to drink my scotch and contemplate what's on the horizon.
After taking a weekend off from everything, I've decided to prepare for the upcoming week the best way I know how: drinking. A beer mug is the best I could find, but I filled it to the top line of the design with ice and then I filled the mug a quarter of the way with Chivas Regal. Finally, I topped it off to the ice line with water from the reverse-osmosis tap at the sink. Can't go muddying my tasty drink with that nasty Peoria-area water.
I guess I could say I'm celebrating tonight. I've decided that after a week of being, yet again, down with the sickness that I'm ready to be well again. Also, last week was one of those sweeps week-like in terms of things happening. You name it, it occurred. Reappearance of long lost hot guy? Check. Broken equipment. Check. I stopped shipments from multiple facilities. Basically, I bamf-ed it out. And I felt like hell and probably should have been at home in my jammies, but I toughed it out and went at it.
So raise a glass and here's to me. I rock. This week and then one more week after that and I'm off to Florida, potential future home of mine. I don't know when or how I'll end up there, but I'd like to think it's somewhat of a certainty. It's weird there and it's warm. Basically, it's my kind of place. I don't think my story here is over quite yet, but it's fun to drink my scotch and contemplate what's on the horizon.
Friday, October 16, 2009
What Would You Do if a Crazy Person Punched You?
As I'm presently home-bound, afflicted with (according to the doctor) 'probably H1N1,' I have a lot of time to catch up on my intellectual reading...TMZ, Perez Hilton. Fark, etc. One story that caught my attention was the crazy guy that punched Leona Lewis in the head during one of her book signings. Seeing as how being randomly accosted by strangers appears to be part of my going-out-routine, I can't help but a) thank my lucky stars that no one's actually punched me yet, and b) wonder what I would do in such a situation. Well, given how on this past Saturday night at Fourth Street, I had some drunken idiot-girl dressed as a ghoul run up and scream into my face and I responded (much to her surprise and dismay) by getting back into her face and screaming her down and away from me until she ran off, I think I probably would have punched the guy back. Thoughts?
PS - I blame ghoul-girl for infecting me with 'probably H1N1'
As I'm presently home-bound, afflicted with (according to the doctor) 'probably H1N1,' I have a lot of time to catch up on my intellectual reading...TMZ, Perez Hilton. Fark, etc. One story that caught my attention was the crazy guy that punched Leona Lewis in the head during one of her book signings. Seeing as how being randomly accosted by strangers appears to be part of my going-out-routine, I can't help but a) thank my lucky stars that no one's actually punched me yet, and b) wonder what I would do in such a situation. Well, given how on this past Saturday night at Fourth Street, I had some drunken idiot-girl dressed as a ghoul run up and scream into my face and I responded (much to her surprise and dismay) by getting back into her face and screaming her down and away from me until she ran off, I think I probably would have punched the guy back. Thoughts?
PS - I blame ghoul-girl for infecting me with 'probably H1N1'
Friday, September 11, 2009
Where Were You 8 Years Ago This Morning?
I vividly recall lying in my bed, the radio alarm clock had been going off intermittently for the past half hour and at this point, I was fading in and out of consciousness while top 40 radio played in the background. It was almost 8 o'clock (central time) because at this point, as it did every morning, it had come for the news update. I closed my eyes and began to allow myself to drift back to sleep because I still had 90 minutes until it was time for financial accounting class to begin.
"A plane has flown into the World Trade Center..."
I opened my eyes at the sound of this news and pondered its implications. Small aircraft could become disoriented in thick fog. Perhaps it was foggy in New York City and not beautiful and clear like it was in Southern Illinois. I turned on the television, channel on NBC affiliate from last viewing, thinking I'd get a visual from the Today Show.
The image on the television was the utter antithesis of what I had expected. Yes, it's anticipated that an airplane crash will be bad but this was just shockingly awful. One deep, gaping hole with pattern of wings and opaque black smoke pouring into the crisp and clear New York morning. I sat upright in bed, transfixed, mouth agape and staring at the screen. My mind could not comprehend that this, the stuff of movies, could be happening in reality while I watched. At this point I had no concept of time, merely before and after what I would see next.
From the corner of the screen, I saw a white-silver streak scream across the screen and into the South Tower. I saw the building swallow the plane and then vomit flames out the side. I stared in horror at the building on the screen, bracing myself for the coming onslaught of projectiles to assault the tower. But they didn't come, it wasn't a missile, it wasn't a missile in the traditional sense but a plane used as such.
I called my Dad. I called my Mom. I called Ames. And then, I got in the shower, washed my hair, dried off, put on jeans, tshirt, flip flops, grabbed my backpack and I went to class. Driving up whatever road it was I took to class, I turned on the radio, but the stations were still playing music. I could have sworn that at one point a station was playing REM's "It's the End of the World as We Know It." As wrong as that would have been, I'm positive it did occur. I'm pretty sure at one point I cried while watching the towers burn while dressing to leave. It was the first time I can ever recall crying, or even reacting at all, over something I saw on the news.
"There's nothing we can do right now, let's have class" was the battle cry of my professor. Even now, nearly a decade later, I still don't think this was a callous statement, but I can't really, even now, put into words why. Classes ended early. I was walking to my car and met up with a group of students, huddled around a portable television. We all shook hands and introduced ourselves to each other and then silently watched as the south tower fell. Even on a six by six screen, it felt like that cloud of smoke, ash, bodies, and debris was surrounding us. We all just stood there and looked at each other. Someone choked out "God Bless America, donate blood!" and we all parted ways. I never saw any of these people again but I'm not sure that I could even have picked them out of a crowd after that. I stopped and bought gas on the way home, knowing that the price would go up. By the time I got home, the north tower had fallen.
September 11th is a very abstract thing to me. This year I'm pretty angry about it. Not so much that it happened but that no one's talking about it today. It's only been 8 years and our whole way of life has changed because of it in ways both obvious and subtle.
In the days following the attack, I was in awe of how quiet things were. When this happened, I was living in a flight path and would often hear planes and helicopters passing over. For nearly a week I heard nothing. Standing in the side yard, I stood at the sky and searched for signs of anything that flew but there was nothing, not even birds.
So yes, I remember where I was and what I was doing on the morning of September 11. And I also remember what I was that afternoon, evening and the days following.
I vividly recall lying in my bed, the radio alarm clock had been going off intermittently for the past half hour and at this point, I was fading in and out of consciousness while top 40 radio played in the background. It was almost 8 o'clock (central time) because at this point, as it did every morning, it had come for the news update. I closed my eyes and began to allow myself to drift back to sleep because I still had 90 minutes until it was time for financial accounting class to begin.
"A plane has flown into the World Trade Center..."
I opened my eyes at the sound of this news and pondered its implications. Small aircraft could become disoriented in thick fog. Perhaps it was foggy in New York City and not beautiful and clear like it was in Southern Illinois. I turned on the television, channel on NBC affiliate from last viewing, thinking I'd get a visual from the Today Show.
The image on the television was the utter antithesis of what I had expected. Yes, it's anticipated that an airplane crash will be bad but this was just shockingly awful. One deep, gaping hole with pattern of wings and opaque black smoke pouring into the crisp and clear New York morning. I sat upright in bed, transfixed, mouth agape and staring at the screen. My mind could not comprehend that this, the stuff of movies, could be happening in reality while I watched. At this point I had no concept of time, merely before and after what I would see next.
From the corner of the screen, I saw a white-silver streak scream across the screen and into the South Tower. I saw the building swallow the plane and then vomit flames out the side. I stared in horror at the building on the screen, bracing myself for the coming onslaught of projectiles to assault the tower. But they didn't come, it wasn't a missile, it wasn't a missile in the traditional sense but a plane used as such.
I called my Dad. I called my Mom. I called Ames. And then, I got in the shower, washed my hair, dried off, put on jeans, tshirt, flip flops, grabbed my backpack and I went to class. Driving up whatever road it was I took to class, I turned on the radio, but the stations were still playing music. I could have sworn that at one point a station was playing REM's "It's the End of the World as We Know It." As wrong as that would have been, I'm positive it did occur. I'm pretty sure at one point I cried while watching the towers burn while dressing to leave. It was the first time I can ever recall crying, or even reacting at all, over something I saw on the news.
"There's nothing we can do right now, let's have class" was the battle cry of my professor. Even now, nearly a decade later, I still don't think this was a callous statement, but I can't really, even now, put into words why. Classes ended early. I was walking to my car and met up with a group of students, huddled around a portable television. We all shook hands and introduced ourselves to each other and then silently watched as the south tower fell. Even on a six by six screen, it felt like that cloud of smoke, ash, bodies, and debris was surrounding us. We all just stood there and looked at each other. Someone choked out "God Bless America, donate blood!" and we all parted ways. I never saw any of these people again but I'm not sure that I could even have picked them out of a crowd after that. I stopped and bought gas on the way home, knowing that the price would go up. By the time I got home, the north tower had fallen.
September 11th is a very abstract thing to me. This year I'm pretty angry about it. Not so much that it happened but that no one's talking about it today. It's only been 8 years and our whole way of life has changed because of it in ways both obvious and subtle.
In the days following the attack, I was in awe of how quiet things were. When this happened, I was living in a flight path and would often hear planes and helicopters passing over. For nearly a week I heard nothing. Standing in the side yard, I stood at the sky and searched for signs of anything that flew but there was nothing, not even birds.
So yes, I remember where I was and what I was doing on the morning of September 11. And I also remember what I was that afternoon, evening and the days following.
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Signs the World is Ending
I've been reading about the end of times lately. The latest theory is in the year 2012, when the Mayan calendar ends, the poles on the earth will reverse and the world will end in the process. There's little scientific support in such an event occurring, but I do think the end is in fact here, and see below for my reasons why:
1. Climate changes - they never bode well for any species, inevitably some species will die and others will emerge. Hence, our world, as we know it, at least, could end.
2. Increase in celebrity deaths. All of our entertainers will die and we in turn shall perish from boredom.
3. Proliferation of idiocy. The intelligent will be so busy working on bettering the world and academic pursuits that the intelligent will die off and the idiots shall reign supreme. Left to play with the toys devised by the intelligent, the world will inevitably end with a mighty bang preceded by a "hey y'all, watch this!"
4. Mr. Chevy Nova got engaged recently
5. Lately all the negative Nancies I know have been cheerful. If it wasn't said that some people get better just before it ends, I'd believe it based on seeing certain people actually crack wide, toothy smiles
I've been reading about the end of times lately. The latest theory is in the year 2012, when the Mayan calendar ends, the poles on the earth will reverse and the world will end in the process. There's little scientific support in such an event occurring, but I do think the end is in fact here, and see below for my reasons why:
1. Climate changes - they never bode well for any species, inevitably some species will die and others will emerge. Hence, our world, as we know it, at least, could end.
2. Increase in celebrity deaths. All of our entertainers will die and we in turn shall perish from boredom.
3. Proliferation of idiocy. The intelligent will be so busy working on bettering the world and academic pursuits that the intelligent will die off and the idiots shall reign supreme. Left to play with the toys devised by the intelligent, the world will inevitably end with a mighty bang preceded by a "hey y'all, watch this!"
4. Mr. Chevy Nova got engaged recently
5. Lately all the negative Nancies I know have been cheerful. If it wasn't said that some people get better just before it ends, I'd believe it based on seeing certain people actually crack wide, toothy smiles
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Creative Funding
I read an article on cnn.com tonight stating that California is kicking around legalizing marijuana and putting a $50 tax per ounce in hopes to raise money to get out of its current cash-strapped condition. Estimated figures put revenue generated at $1billion. So, the question is this - if California legalizes (the sale of) pot, do you think they'll tack on a bunch of regulations about how it can be used once sold? Will it be legal to possess it? Or will it be like the radar detector - sure, you can buy it, but don't be caught owning it?
The article also mentioned that Kentucky is putting a tax on ring tones.
Given all the Hollywood-types and other "important" people with cell phones in California and that marijuana is unofficially one of the cash crops of Kentucky, I think things may be a bit backward.
Thoughts?
I read an article on cnn.com tonight stating that California is kicking around legalizing marijuana and putting a $50 tax per ounce in hopes to raise money to get out of its current cash-strapped condition. Estimated figures put revenue generated at $1billion. So, the question is this - if California legalizes (the sale of) pot, do you think they'll tack on a bunch of regulations about how it can be used once sold? Will it be legal to possess it? Or will it be like the radar detector - sure, you can buy it, but don't be caught owning it?
The article also mentioned that Kentucky is putting a tax on ring tones.
Given all the Hollywood-types and other "important" people with cell phones in California and that marijuana is unofficially one of the cash crops of Kentucky, I think things may be a bit backward.
Thoughts?
Monday, July 27, 2009
I thought Hindsight was 20/20
I've been reading old chat logs lately as I've been missing some folks that I no longer get to see as often as I used to. I always thought that I did a decent job of not taking people for granted, but from the dull ache I feel when I read through some old conversations, I'm afraid I did. I'm also amazed at how just now it seems that I'm able to consciously admit how badly I lied to myself for about a 15 month window. I was trying so hard to make something work that even though I was pretty much outright saying to some people that it wasn't and I was miserable that I completely missed this fact myself. Lessons learned from this: if something is in your life and suddenly there's less room for things that once really mattered a lot then that is not a good thing. If people go away because of this new thing in your life, that's not a good thing either. And if you suddenly realize that when the smoke clears, people are glad you're "back," then things were an unspeakable level of wrong.
A long time ago, I realized that I missed out on something that was potentially awesome (or not, but I think it would have been more awesome than not if the timing had been right) due to wasting my time with something that made me unhappy and I complained about but never really did anything about and I swore I'd never be so focused on making what I didn't want work out of sake of pride that I would do that again...
So I'm digging through some papers a few days ago and you know what? I think did it again...and it only took me years to figure out that I messed up...again.
This post has been brought to you by being tired and not knowing what you've got until it's gone. Oh, and staying up too late to finish getting the song "Damn I Wish I was Your Lover" by Sophie B. Hawkins in the name of nostalgia. For a song that sometimes I need to listen to, I'm surprised I don't have it more readily at hand
I've been reading old chat logs lately as I've been missing some folks that I no longer get to see as often as I used to. I always thought that I did a decent job of not taking people for granted, but from the dull ache I feel when I read through some old conversations, I'm afraid I did. I'm also amazed at how just now it seems that I'm able to consciously admit how badly I lied to myself for about a 15 month window. I was trying so hard to make something work that even though I was pretty much outright saying to some people that it wasn't and I was miserable that I completely missed this fact myself. Lessons learned from this: if something is in your life and suddenly there's less room for things that once really mattered a lot then that is not a good thing. If people go away because of this new thing in your life, that's not a good thing either. And if you suddenly realize that when the smoke clears, people are glad you're "back," then things were an unspeakable level of wrong.
A long time ago, I realized that I missed out on something that was potentially awesome (or not, but I think it would have been more awesome than not if the timing had been right) due to wasting my time with something that made me unhappy and I complained about but never really did anything about and I swore I'd never be so focused on making what I didn't want work out of sake of pride that I would do that again...
So I'm digging through some papers a few days ago and you know what? I think did it again...and it only took me years to figure out that I messed up...again.
This post has been brought to you by being tired and not knowing what you've got until it's gone. Oh, and staying up too late to finish getting the song "Damn I Wish I was Your Lover" by Sophie B. Hawkins in the name of nostalgia. For a song that sometimes I need to listen to, I'm surprised I don't have it more readily at hand
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Top Down, Top Off
I'm having regular dates these days...3 days a week with a personal trainer. Somehow in the past year and a half, I've become rather jabba-the-hutt-esque in my figure, so I'm logging what I eat on a website and having someone reintroduce me to the finer points of push ups, chin ups, and clean and jerking until I can once again see my feet over the bag of beer, doritos, and wings I call a stomach.
Cut to Wednesday night - I'm burning up from burning calories. It's dark and I'm driving through the country. Boys drive around sans shirt all the time, why can't I? So, glad in Nike sports bra support goodness, I meander down the country roads with the top on my car down and my shirt off. It felt awesome! I forsee a ritual coming to be...and in honor of this, I made my latest mix cd:
Talking Heads - Road to Nowhere
Harvey Danger - Flagpole Sitta
R.E.M. - What's the Frequency, Kenneth?
Cake - Rock'n'Roll Lifestyle
Fall Out Boy - I Don't Care
The Arcade Fire - Wake Up
My Morning Jacket - One Big Holiday
Matthew Sweet - We're the Same
Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Better than Ezra - Good
The Shins - New Slang
Townes Van Zandt - Dead Flowers
Modest Mouse - Float On
Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight
The Hold Steady - Constructive Summer
The Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight
Pearl Jam - Yellow Ledbetter
And of course, let's toast to the things that inspired this latest mix: sports bras, moonlight, new beginnings and new physiques. Last but not least, let's give a hand to Lady the Convertible and the fun I'll have in her
I'm having regular dates these days...3 days a week with a personal trainer. Somehow in the past year and a half, I've become rather jabba-the-hutt-esque in my figure, so I'm logging what I eat on a website and having someone reintroduce me to the finer points of push ups, chin ups, and clean and jerking until I can once again see my feet over the bag of beer, doritos, and wings I call a stomach.
Cut to Wednesday night - I'm burning up from burning calories. It's dark and I'm driving through the country. Boys drive around sans shirt all the time, why can't I? So, glad in Nike sports bra support goodness, I meander down the country roads with the top on my car down and my shirt off. It felt awesome! I forsee a ritual coming to be...and in honor of this, I made my latest mix cd:
Talking Heads - Road to Nowhere
Harvey Danger - Flagpole Sitta
R.E.M. - What's the Frequency, Kenneth?
Cake - Rock'n'Roll Lifestyle
Fall Out Boy - I Don't Care
The Arcade Fire - Wake Up
My Morning Jacket - One Big Holiday
Matthew Sweet - We're the Same
Queen - Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Better than Ezra - Good
The Shins - New Slang
Townes Van Zandt - Dead Flowers
Modest Mouse - Float On
Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklight
The Hold Steady - Constructive Summer
The Smashing Pumpkins - Tonight, Tonight
Pearl Jam - Yellow Ledbetter
And of course, let's toast to the things that inspired this latest mix: sports bras, moonlight, new beginnings and new physiques. Last but not least, let's give a hand to Lady the Convertible and the fun I'll have in her
Return to the Daylight
It's over...my time on 3rd shift and come and gone and now I am back amongst the daywalkers. And I'm hating it. True, I no longer spend all weekend sleeping because I'm sleep deprived from the week and I no longer have a good excuse for sleeping all day. But sleep-stuff aside, my biggest beef with daytime working hours is...all the people that are around during the day, just hanging around and doing what they usually do, only now I have to see it. I am also being invited to meetings again and I've never been what you'd call a meetings person. Last issue...and most importantly...no longer can I put my feet on my desk (because the brain juice is kept in my toes and I need it to roll to get the ideas to flow) and yell out curse words and pepper my patois with "shop talk." I loved me some shop talk...
Anyway, now I'm also doing the quality thing, which is incredibly slow moving in comparison to operations. I've always been a bit of "go! go! go!" in my working style...doesn't mesh as well with meticulous problem solving. Or does it? Things will be interesting as I inject a bit of moon into the sun.
It's over...my time on 3rd shift and come and gone and now I am back amongst the daywalkers. And I'm hating it. True, I no longer spend all weekend sleeping because I'm sleep deprived from the week and I no longer have a good excuse for sleeping all day. But sleep-stuff aside, my biggest beef with daytime working hours is...all the people that are around during the day, just hanging around and doing what they usually do, only now I have to see it. I am also being invited to meetings again and I've never been what you'd call a meetings person. Last issue...and most importantly...no longer can I put my feet on my desk (because the brain juice is kept in my toes and I need it to roll to get the ideas to flow) and yell out curse words and pepper my patois with "shop talk." I loved me some shop talk...
Anyway, now I'm also doing the quality thing, which is incredibly slow moving in comparison to operations. I've always been a bit of "go! go! go!" in my working style...doesn't mesh as well with meticulous problem solving. Or does it? Things will be interesting as I inject a bit of moon into the sun.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
On Demand
I have found something to fill the deep void in my life...On Demand television. Right now, I'm in my second home, the cloth recliner, having yet another night of no sleeping due to my whacked out hours and my general propensity to being nocturnal.
Since discovering this nifty little feature of our overpriced cable service, I'm much less bitter at the cost knowing that I've been able to catch up on Season 2 of Breaking Bad. South Park on Demand, yes please. Watch the Hills? Why not?
Right now I'm awaiting daybreak with episodes of Veronica Mars from season 1. Sure, I have the series downstairs on the bookcase but...that would require me to get up. Then again, I have to shift periodically to avoid bedsores.
Could this be just a gateway drug to TiVo???
I have found something to fill the deep void in my life...On Demand television. Right now, I'm in my second home, the cloth recliner, having yet another night of no sleeping due to my whacked out hours and my general propensity to being nocturnal.
Since discovering this nifty little feature of our overpriced cable service, I'm much less bitter at the cost knowing that I've been able to catch up on Season 2 of Breaking Bad. South Park on Demand, yes please. Watch the Hills? Why not?
Right now I'm awaiting daybreak with episodes of Veronica Mars from season 1. Sure, I have the series downstairs on the bookcase but...that would require me to get up. Then again, I have to shift periodically to avoid bedsores.
Could this be just a gateway drug to TiVo???
Friday, March 27, 2009
Google by Alphabet
In the spirit of MySpace and the MySpace-ization of Facebook via surveys, I just made up/figured out this one. I go into Google and see what all I have searched and then list the first item searched for each letter of the alphabet. Fun eh? (Don't worry, readers of Sparkyworld, both of you, I go back to work on Sunday night.)
Here goes:
A - aaliyah
B - BE addicts (yeah, i do'nt know what this is either
C - calendar
D - DiDough's Twisted Pretzels (don't eat there, the manager is a douche)
E - Environmental Health and Safety PhD Programs
F - factory
G - George Boze (something to do with the bloody strike of the 90s up here in P-town)
H - H&M
I - I-64 exits
J - Jackson, MS (the first one involves illegal activities, so this is the second one)
K - my name!
L - LEEP (a procedure to correct a rogue who-who-dilly)
M - Morton Bank (best interest rates in town my arse!)
N - NIOSH erc
O - O (apparently I googled a letter)
P - Peoria, IL (wow, I'm lame)
Q - quantitative respirator fit testing (i'm really lame)
R - Raceway Woods
S - Samsung SCHu740
T - t le clerc
U - U2 Lyrics
V - valentine's day gifts for men (back when i cared)
W - walker, texas ranger
X - X17
Y - yates
Z - zangief (Street Fighter, Hells Yeah!)
These are pretty lame, so here are the most entertaining ones from my searches, as determined by me:
A - Angry Defecation (from back when I was trying to apprehend "The Mad Crapper")
B - Bathroom Injury Statistics
C - caloric value of kleenex
D - Draw a Mailbox psychological test
E - Ecclesiastes 7:13
F - falling into lava
G - gang bang
H - hairless hampsters
I - i has a karot
J - Jing Jang Cream
K - Keep Louisville Weird
L - Laws of Power
M - mac of macistant
N - nail gun injuries
O - obama questionnaire
P - Pekin Chinks
Q - quotes
R - ringworm
S - scream queens
T - taming pet rats
U - underwriters laboratory
V - vayo con dios
W - watchmen trailer (!!!)
X - only 1 search, the aforementioned x17
Y - Yuri Ebihara
Z - zangief (check out the chest hair on zangief!)
In the spirit of MySpace and the MySpace-ization of Facebook via surveys, I just made up/figured out this one. I go into Google and see what all I have searched and then list the first item searched for each letter of the alphabet. Fun eh? (Don't worry, readers of Sparkyworld, both of you, I go back to work on Sunday night.)
Here goes:
A - aaliyah
B - BE addicts (yeah, i do'nt know what this is either
C - calendar
D - DiDough's Twisted Pretzels (don't eat there, the manager is a douche)
E - Environmental Health and Safety PhD Programs
F - factory
G - George Boze (something to do with the bloody strike of the 90s up here in P-town)
H - H&M
I - I-64 exits
J - Jackson, MS (the first one involves illegal activities, so this is the second one)
K - my name!
L - LEEP (a procedure to correct a rogue who-who-dilly)
M - Morton Bank (best interest rates in town my arse!)
N - NIOSH erc
O - O (apparently I googled a letter)
P - Peoria, IL (wow, I'm lame)
Q - quantitative respirator fit testing (i'm really lame)
R - Raceway Woods
S - Samsung SCHu740
T - t le clerc
U - U2 Lyrics
V - valentine's day gifts for men (back when i cared)
W - walker, texas ranger
X - X17
Y - yates
Z - zangief (Street Fighter, Hells Yeah!)
These are pretty lame, so here are the most entertaining ones from my searches, as determined by me:
A - Angry Defecation (from back when I was trying to apprehend "The Mad Crapper")
B - Bathroom Injury Statistics
C - caloric value of kleenex
D - Draw a Mailbox psychological test
E - Ecclesiastes 7:13
F - falling into lava
G - gang bang
H - hairless hampsters
I - i has a karot
J - Jing Jang Cream
K - Keep Louisville Weird
L - Laws of Power
M - mac of macistant
N - nail gun injuries
O - obama questionnaire
P - Pekin Chinks
Q - quotes
R - ringworm
S - scream queens
T - taming pet rats
U - underwriters laboratory
V - vayo con dios
W - watchmen trailer (!!!)
X - only 1 search, the aforementioned x17
Y - Yuri Ebihara
Z - zangief (check out the chest hair on zangief!)
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Home
I will sum it all up by saying that it's good to be home. I've missed it. I've missed everyone. Times are different now. My life is somewhere else. Our lives are all changing. We're growing up and laying roots and starting families of our own. Days like today make me think about laying some roots of my own. I'm not saying I'm going to run out and do it tomorrow, but now I'm more open to the idea. So maybe it's time to grow up, once I figure out how. And when that day comes and even thereafter, I'll always remember what it was like to be young each time I go home.
I will sum it all up by saying that it's good to be home. I've missed it. I've missed everyone. Times are different now. My life is somewhere else. Our lives are all changing. We're growing up and laying roots and starting families of our own. Days like today make me think about laying some roots of my own. I'm not saying I'm going to run out and do it tomorrow, but now I'm more open to the idea. So maybe it's time to grow up, once I figure out how. And when that day comes and even thereafter, I'll always remember what it was like to be young each time I go home.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
The Wolves Picked One of Us Off
Work is getting weird...and hostile...and sad...and just...weird. The aura in the building is one part post-apocalyptic shock and another part extreme sense of impending doom. Oh the joys of an imploding economy! We're all literally taking it one day at a time, waiting to get a small envelope, which means that our days are number and the date of our professional death at Big Yellow will be imminent in 60 days.
There was a mass reduction in force amongst the hourly ranks last week and the fallout still lingers heavy in the air. Now there are stage whispers of another coming for the management and salary folks and small tribes are begining to form.
Me, I'm the last of the mohicans, with the mm likely being the latest casualty in the war on cost. I'm already working with the pretty boy, who is about to embark on his final 30 days with the company. Working with him is like working with the walking dead. And now that the mm has abruptly vanished, I feel like...
You know when the zombies are attacking and then there are only 2 people left? We were those two people and we had our backs against each others, fighting the good fights (people! quality! velocity! cost!) and being glad to 'live' another day. Well, the zombies picked him off and now it's just me against the horde. What do I do?
I keep my head low, draw a circle in salt on the ground, pick up a board and start swinging. Oh hells yeah I feel defeated and sad and lonely, but now I'm mad as hell and feeling that old defiant spark rearing it's head (which is a sensation very much akin to the one I get when a fervor for pyromania sets in). Yes, I'mna light this bitch on fire, keep on swinging, and not go quietly into that good night.
...and then I'm going to go home and mourn some more. No, wait. I'm going to drive to Tennessee, listen to a lot of Leonard Cohen, and smoke me some Dunhills. That's what I'm gonna do...
Work is getting weird...and hostile...and sad...and just...weird. The aura in the building is one part post-apocalyptic shock and another part extreme sense of impending doom. Oh the joys of an imploding economy! We're all literally taking it one day at a time, waiting to get a small envelope, which means that our days are number and the date of our professional death at Big Yellow will be imminent in 60 days.
There was a mass reduction in force amongst the hourly ranks last week and the fallout still lingers heavy in the air. Now there are stage whispers of another coming for the management and salary folks and small tribes are begining to form.
Me, I'm the last of the mohicans, with the mm likely being the latest casualty in the war on cost. I'm already working with the pretty boy, who is about to embark on his final 30 days with the company. Working with him is like working with the walking dead. And now that the mm has abruptly vanished, I feel like...
You know when the zombies are attacking and then there are only 2 people left? We were those two people and we had our backs against each others, fighting the good fights (people! quality! velocity! cost!) and being glad to 'live' another day. Well, the zombies picked him off and now it's just me against the horde. What do I do?
I keep my head low, draw a circle in salt on the ground, pick up a board and start swinging. Oh hells yeah I feel defeated and sad and lonely, but now I'm mad as hell and feeling that old defiant spark rearing it's head (which is a sensation very much akin to the one I get when a fervor for pyromania sets in). Yes, I'mna light this bitch on fire, keep on swinging, and not go quietly into that good night.
...and then I'm going to go home and mourn some more. No, wait. I'm going to drive to Tennessee, listen to a lot of Leonard Cohen, and smoke me some Dunhills. That's what I'm gonna do...
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Stay Out of My Sleep!
I think it's a new record...almost a year? A little over a year? For years now, been my own personal Freddy Kruger invading my sleeping, saying cryptic things to me and then vanishing when I wake, leaving me in a daze that haunts my memory for the remainder of the week.
Last time we met, you gave me "advice" in the form of a cryptic, word playing sentence. I went to visit you last night, in a townhouse that you could theoretically own in a town vaguely familiar but probably nowhere I've never actually been. Your neighborhood screamed of yuppiness but your place was unassuming...basically a shotgun house as part of a complex built into a hill with your living quarters resting above the garage. I don't know why we met up or exactly why I was in town, but I received a call from you immediately after I was kicked out (as in forcibly removed by security) from a health fair. I was dressed to kill in a black skirt suit and a purple shirt...high heeled boots and made myself at home on your bed, which was located in your living room. You told me that you could pay $2000/mo for a place with an actual bedroom or $850/mo for this.
You didnt say anything cryptic to me this time, but you served me beer in a glass, saying that I was dressed too nicely to drink from a bottle or can. I took off my shoes and rubbed my stocking feet all over your comforter. You made a half-hearted effort to rub my feet and I combed your hair. We discussed our paths in life, where we thought we'd be and where we think we're going. You never asked me why security removed me from the health fair and I never offered as reason as I, myself, do not know. Then your wife came home and you told me that I'd have to leave out the window. I slapped you in the mouth and told you that I'd never see you again, but you just smiled and said you'd see me next year.
I think it's a new record...almost a year? A little over a year? For years now, been my own personal Freddy Kruger invading my sleeping, saying cryptic things to me and then vanishing when I wake, leaving me in a daze that haunts my memory for the remainder of the week.
Last time we met, you gave me "advice" in the form of a cryptic, word playing sentence. I went to visit you last night, in a townhouse that you could theoretically own in a town vaguely familiar but probably nowhere I've never actually been. Your neighborhood screamed of yuppiness but your place was unassuming...basically a shotgun house as part of a complex built into a hill with your living quarters resting above the garage. I don't know why we met up or exactly why I was in town, but I received a call from you immediately after I was kicked out (as in forcibly removed by security) from a health fair. I was dressed to kill in a black skirt suit and a purple shirt...high heeled boots and made myself at home on your bed, which was located in your living room. You told me that you could pay $2000/mo for a place with an actual bedroom or $850/mo for this.
You didnt say anything cryptic to me this time, but you served me beer in a glass, saying that I was dressed too nicely to drink from a bottle or can. I took off my shoes and rubbed my stocking feet all over your comforter. You made a half-hearted effort to rub my feet and I combed your hair. We discussed our paths in life, where we thought we'd be and where we think we're going. You never asked me why security removed me from the health fair and I never offered as reason as I, myself, do not know. Then your wife came home and you told me that I'd have to leave out the window. I slapped you in the mouth and told you that I'd never see you again, but you just smiled and said you'd see me next year.
Monday, March 02, 2009
Top 5 Things No Amount of Book-Learnin' Can Prepare You For
1. Telling someone they are laid off and won't have a job in 60 days
2. Telling someone they are laid off and won't have a job in 60 days because someone has more union seniority than they do
3. Telling someone that after 30+ years, they will probably be laid off soon because the steward (with less than 5 years) is taking their job
4. Telling someone they are being bumped out of their job and going to another facility
5. Telling someone that their work cell is again being closed due to low work and giving them the forms to file for unemployment for yet another week
1. Telling someone they are laid off and won't have a job in 60 days
2. Telling someone they are laid off and won't have a job in 60 days because someone has more union seniority than they do
3. Telling someone that after 30+ years, they will probably be laid off soon because the steward (with less than 5 years) is taking their job
4. Telling someone they are being bumped out of their job and going to another facility
5. Telling someone that their work cell is again being closed due to low work and giving them the forms to file for unemployment for yet another week
Sunday, March 01, 2009
I Think I'll Go for a Jog
Tonight at volleyball, I thought to myself, "hey, I know...jogging!" Random thought - yes, but did you expect anything less from moi? It's just that I noticed the exercise endorphins kicking in and felt nicely constricted by the sports-bra-tank thing keeping the ladies under control and realized that I just need to get off the couch and go jog. That, and I think I spent the majority of my weekend on the couch...sleeping and eating. I'm like a cat with a job. My sloth is really starting to get to me.
I tried out the new Q'doba that opened in EP tonight...taco salads es muy bueno. However, I think I'm going to get it without the shell next time because the temptation to eat it is much too great. The Q'doba also serves beer, so I can probably get the guys to go with sometime.
Talladega Nights is on TBS right now...I think I'm going to get this moving on DVD. It's not particularly awesome but quotable as hell. I wanna go fast too. And having a pet cougar would be pretty sweet...I'd sick it on people and ride around on it.
The Watchmen comes out next weekend...I hope I'll see it at least twice next weekend. Went to see Confessions of a Shopaholic yesterday after beers at Old Chicago. That movie was...cute, but more like a morality play? It's definitely a how-not-to guide. I wanted to go home and cut up all my credit cards after watching this movie. Then again, all of them are paid off, so I guess I'll just not use them this month.
Okay...off to juice up on Red Bulls (because for having slept a lot this weekend, it wasn't at the best times for being on a 3rd shift schedule) and paint on my face. Gots-ta go to work.
Tonight at volleyball, I thought to myself, "hey, I know...jogging!" Random thought - yes, but did you expect anything less from moi? It's just that I noticed the exercise endorphins kicking in and felt nicely constricted by the sports-bra-tank thing keeping the ladies under control and realized that I just need to get off the couch and go jog. That, and I think I spent the majority of my weekend on the couch...sleeping and eating. I'm like a cat with a job. My sloth is really starting to get to me.
I tried out the new Q'doba that opened in EP tonight...taco salads es muy bueno. However, I think I'm going to get it without the shell next time because the temptation to eat it is much too great. The Q'doba also serves beer, so I can probably get the guys to go with sometime.
Talladega Nights is on TBS right now...I think I'm going to get this moving on DVD. It's not particularly awesome but quotable as hell. I wanna go fast too. And having a pet cougar would be pretty sweet...I'd sick it on people and ride around on it.
The Watchmen comes out next weekend...I hope I'll see it at least twice next weekend. Went to see Confessions of a Shopaholic yesterday after beers at Old Chicago. That movie was...cute, but more like a morality play? It's definitely a how-not-to guide. I wanted to go home and cut up all my credit cards after watching this movie. Then again, all of them are paid off, so I guess I'll just not use them this month.
Okay...off to juice up on Red Bulls (because for having slept a lot this weekend, it wasn't at the best times for being on a 3rd shift schedule) and paint on my face. Gots-ta go to work.
Friday, February 27, 2009
The Longest Short Month
So is it the persistent gloomy weather or the hint of spring that makes February almost unbearably long. I don't even recall there being sweet relief of February Sweeps on tv to give glimmer of hope. Then again, life itself was dramatic enough this month that anything on television would likely pale in comparison.
Let's say that life is a sitcom, or in my case, a 50 minute long HBO show (because let's face it - NBC just isn't ready for 'shop talk') with a new episode airing weekly and I'll get 4 can't miss episodes for the month. This would be the time where we break out the big story arc, "kill off" characters, have our gimmicks and guest stars and end each ep with the ominous "to be continued..." My sweeps month would start something like...
I'm sitting on the couch with my feet up, dozing with a laptop on me (per the usual) when the phone rings ( taking dramatic license here) with one of my counterparts asking me if I've checked my work email. Cut to the computer screen and see in big, bold words something to the effect of "Leader Meetings: Lay Offs" My phone would jingle the cute little blip of an incoming text message and the screen would say something about meeting at 9... Cue Theme Music (Though I must take an aside to state that I'm not sure how the theme credits to My Life as a TV Show would look these days.)
Everything here after, saving the details could be given in a synopsis ala TV Guide, but with spoilers because I really want you to know what happens (as people read this either out of morbid curiousity/boredom/to keep abreast of my doings)! So, after dramatic opening things would get rolling at a nice hum. Maybe a montage of me napping on the couch, in the chair, various places where I sleep during the day would be in order, especially to capture the epic 24 sleep I had after handing out layout notices.
Week one sweeps ep would be all about the immediate fallout of the lay off notices and revealing to the audience who go short envelopes and who did not, which would answer the question posed in the commercial advertising the week one ep. The subplot of the fate of Canyonero would continue with me having to wait yet another week to learn of my car's fate and going to Pekin for traffic court. The week would conclude with a guest appearance by folks from the Tech Center when I go out to booze it up for a night and get Tracy to comment about me "hanging out with old guys and lighting fires." I think that episode would end with me going home and sitting down in the chair and falling asleep (which for those who watch regularly know this is a common theme).
The President's Visit to HH would be our big gimmick episode with the guest star being the man himself there to tell us how he's going to Barack the economy back into shape. That episode would be all about sweeping the building with the secret service and sneaking in the area where the speech would be to take funny pictures. Week 2 would also reveal the fate of Canyonero 2.0 (totalled) and the introduction of El Convertibal! (or whatever new car shall be named). This would be a funny ep that showcases me giving car salesmen hell. It'd also show one of my former employees getting carted off by the secret service (true, but played up for comedic effect) and everyone's reaction to it. (On an aside this really happened and now, almost a month later, it's actually a really sad story but more about that later.) Fade out as I drive off into the clear night, listening to "Flashing Lights" by Kanye West in my new car, smiling that all the drama of January's car wreck is finally behind me and I'm getting back to some semblance of normalacy. (I'm also smiling because now that I'm not in the already-smoked-in-Chevy Cobalt, I have good reason to quit my brief return to smoking...Dunhills and Marlboros...this time the lights, in the hard pack. Yeah, immediately following the wreck I found myself driving around and smoking while listening to a lot of the The Smiths, Nirvana, and Cure...but I think I'm over this now.)
Week 3's ep is the Valentine's Day ep...it reintroduces a face from my past as my spur-of-the-moment V-day "date" and then follows us emailing back and forth for the next week, eventually going out on something that is decided at the evening to being a real date. In the middle of all that emailing is a slew of guest stars as I go back to my old place of work to visit for the day as well as a count down to departure of 'regular' cast members who are getting moved around due to our "deteriorating global economic conditions." But the...date, that's the big news. In a move that's surprised even me, I've found myself thinking of someone often and that's made this week go by at a snail's pace.
This brings us to now...week 4... I haven't quite figured out how to sum it all up, but I feel like there needs to be some sort of denouement for all of this, but for what. The week has been long because I've been antsy for the weekend, hoping to spend part of it with that boy who has the Death Star as the centerpiece on his dining room table. I've also felt wistful knowing that the relationship I've had with another person is changing and that all of that delicious sexual tension probably went away after that one morning in December (that was all just a dream, btw, it must have been - that's the only explanation) and now we're relegated to "just friends" (though some people are so awesome that to be relegated to such with them is a most exhalted honor...mm is one of those people). That was doused pretty much too when the mm overheard me cooing to death star boy on the phone. So cue the dramatic music...March comes the day after tomorrow.
How will it end? Stay tunes and find out next week on...
So is it the persistent gloomy weather or the hint of spring that makes February almost unbearably long. I don't even recall there being sweet relief of February Sweeps on tv to give glimmer of hope. Then again, life itself was dramatic enough this month that anything on television would likely pale in comparison.
Let's say that life is a sitcom, or in my case, a 50 minute long HBO show (because let's face it - NBC just isn't ready for 'shop talk') with a new episode airing weekly and I'll get 4 can't miss episodes for the month. This would be the time where we break out the big story arc, "kill off" characters, have our gimmicks and guest stars and end each ep with the ominous "to be continued..." My sweeps month would start something like...
Everything here after, saving the details could be given in a synopsis ala TV Guide, but with spoilers because I really want you to know what happens (as people read this either out of morbid curiousity/boredom/to keep abreast of my doings)! So, after dramatic opening things would get rolling at a nice hum. Maybe a montage of me napping on the couch, in the chair, various places where I sleep during the day would be in order, especially to capture the epic 24 sleep I had after handing out layout notices.
Week one sweeps ep would be all about the immediate fallout of the lay off notices and revealing to the audience who go short envelopes and who did not, which would answer the question posed in the commercial advertising the week one ep. The subplot of the fate of Canyonero would continue with me having to wait yet another week to learn of my car's fate and going to Pekin for traffic court. The week would conclude with a guest appearance by folks from the Tech Center when I go out to booze it up for a night and get Tracy to comment about me "hanging out with old guys and lighting fires." I think that episode would end with me going home and sitting down in the chair and falling asleep (which for those who watch regularly know this is a common theme).
The President's Visit to HH would be our big gimmick episode with the guest star being the man himself there to tell us how he's going to Barack the economy back into shape. That episode would be all about sweeping the building with the secret service and sneaking in the area where the speech would be to take funny pictures. Week 2 would also reveal the fate of Canyonero 2.0 (totalled) and the introduction of El Convertibal! (or whatever new car shall be named). This would be a funny ep that showcases me giving car salesmen hell. It'd also show one of my former employees getting carted off by the secret service (true, but played up for comedic effect) and everyone's reaction to it. (On an aside this really happened and now, almost a month later, it's actually a really sad story but more about that later.) Fade out as I drive off into the clear night, listening to "Flashing Lights" by Kanye West in my new car, smiling that all the drama of January's car wreck is finally behind me and I'm getting back to some semblance of normalacy. (I'm also smiling because now that I'm not in the already-smoked-in-Chevy Cobalt, I have good reason to quit my brief return to smoking...Dunhills and Marlboros...this time the lights, in the hard pack. Yeah, immediately following the wreck I found myself driving around and smoking while listening to a lot of the The Smiths, Nirvana, and Cure...but I think I'm over this now.)
Week 3's ep is the Valentine's Day ep...it reintroduces a face from my past as my spur-of-the-moment V-day "date" and then follows us emailing back and forth for the next week, eventually going out on something that is decided at the evening to being a real date. In the middle of all that emailing is a slew of guest stars as I go back to my old place of work to visit for the day as well as a count down to departure of 'regular' cast members who are getting moved around due to our "deteriorating global economic conditions." But the...date, that's the big news. In a move that's surprised even me, I've found myself thinking of someone often and that's made this week go by at a snail's pace.
This brings us to now...week 4... I haven't quite figured out how to sum it all up, but I feel like there needs to be some sort of denouement for all of this, but for what. The week has been long because I've been antsy for the weekend, hoping to spend part of it with that boy who has the Death Star as the centerpiece on his dining room table. I've also felt wistful knowing that the relationship I've had with another person is changing and that all of that delicious sexual tension probably went away after that one morning in December (that was all just a dream, btw, it must have been - that's the only explanation) and now we're relegated to "just friends" (though some people are so awesome that to be relegated to such with them is a most exhalted honor...mm is one of those people). That was doused pretty much too when the mm overheard me cooing to death star boy on the phone. So cue the dramatic music...March comes the day after tomorrow.
How will it end? Stay tunes and find out next week on...
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Alt-Country/Bluesy(grass) Rock Mix
Brand new mix for cruising around the in the rental cobalt
Old Crow Medicine Show - "Union Maid"
Uncle Tupelo - "No Depression"
Cat Power - "Lost Someone"
Diamond Rio - "Beautiful Mess"
Gov't Mule - "Beautifully Broken"
Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins - "Happy"
My Morning Jacket - "Sec Walkin"
Gov't Mule - "Slackjaw Jezebel"
Jenny Lewis - "The Next Messiah"
My Morning Jacket - "Golden"
Wilco - "Should've Been in Love"
Rolling Stones - "Wild Horses"
Uncle Tupelo - "I Got Drunk"
Margot & the Nuclear So and So's - "Talking in Code"
Shooter Jennings - "Last Time I Let You Down"
Wilco - "It's Just that Simple"
Old 97s - "Four Leaf Clover"
Kings of Leon - "I Want You"
Brand new mix for cruising around the in the rental cobalt
Old Crow Medicine Show - "Union Maid"
Uncle Tupelo - "No Depression"
Cat Power - "Lost Someone"
Diamond Rio - "Beautiful Mess"
Gov't Mule - "Beautifully Broken"
Jenny Lewis and the Watson Twins - "Happy"
My Morning Jacket - "Sec Walkin"
Gov't Mule - "Slackjaw Jezebel"
Jenny Lewis - "The Next Messiah"
My Morning Jacket - "Golden"
Wilco - "Should've Been in Love"
Rolling Stones - "Wild Horses"
Uncle Tupelo - "I Got Drunk"
Margot & the Nuclear So and So's - "Talking in Code"
Shooter Jennings - "Last Time I Let You Down"
Wilco - "It's Just that Simple"
Old 97s - "Four Leaf Clover"
Kings of Leon - "I Want You"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
