Got a call today from my good friend Zach at the Aeros. (I love Aeros customer service people, by the way) We talked about the offseason, about the team's weaknesses last year and how we feel the upper management in Minnesota has done a good job of making adjustments so that we'll have a more exciting and competitive product on the ice. Then Zach asked if I was interesting in purchasing a voucher pack, like I have in years past (tho not last season). I told him that this was a bad month to ask me anything about money, as it was tighter than usual, and he said "Hey, that's fine. I can definitely understand that. How about I just email you the information, and you can look it over, and then in another couple of months I'll check in with you before the season to see if it's something you might be able to swing." I said that'd be great, and we hung up.
I love working with the Aeros organization.
***
This evening, at something like 8:30, I was going to make myself a nice Banquet fish sticks dinner (yay VBS week!) when I got a call from Allstate fire insurance, or something like that. You could tell the girl on the other side of the line was reading from a script, and that it had been a long day but it was her job to sound friendly so gosh darn it, she was going to sound friendly . Apparently, I know qualify for something impressive because it has the word Platinum in front of it, and she wanted to sign me up right there on the spot for 2 months at $1.99. After I agreed to sign up, she'd send me the information on it, and if I wanted to cancel I could just call or go online and let them know, neat and easy, nothing to worry about. I said I was a little leery of agreeing to anything I hadn't read and asked if they could just send the information. She said yes, sir, absolutely, she'd just sign me up for $1.99 and then send mail me a packet of info. I said I wasn't crazy about the idea, because I've seen situations where communication broke down and somebody wanting to cancel something lost something in the mail, or it didn't go through, and I just didn't want to risk it without knowing for certain what I was agreeing to.
At this point, it was like a competition. We were trying to see who could force the other one to accept our position with more tact.
She said that Allstate greatly appreciated and cares for my business, and so I could trust that they were not going to get me into anything that could get me into trouble, because I am valued customer and they would do anything to keep me satisfied, and did I understand that? I said yes, I did believe that, and that was why I was certain they would not force me into accepting anything I hadn't had the chance to read BEFORE agreeing to any service. She said that was why there were absolutely no commitments and no contracts, and all the information would be in the packet I'd be sent once she signed me up.
"I think what you're hearing me say," I said, "is that I'm going to have to pass for now."
She thanked me and wished me a good night. I wished her the same, and she muttered a half-hearted "thanks" and was gone.
Sometimes, no means no, ma'am. Especially when there are fish sticks a-waitin'.
Showing posts with label day-in-the-life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label day-in-the-life. Show all posts
Monday, July 19, 2010
Sunday, July 18, 2010
v2, d120: $62.87
We have an old apple juice plastic jug that we use to throw our loose change in. We've been doing this with varying levels dedication on and off for the last...um...I don't really know how long, and it wouldn't be an accurate assessment anyway since we occasionally stop for three or four months at a time. The idea is, when this thing is full, we'll use the money in it to help us go on our next "big" vacation, whenever that is.
Sometimes, when I'm really bored or just really unfocused, I'll sit down, pour out all the change in the jug, and count it. The jug is currently only about 1/5 full, but it still takes me around half an hour to separate all the coins by denomination and then count, starting with the quarters and working my way down to the pennies. It's a really boring, tedious task, but I'm pretty A.D.D. so sometimes it helps calm me down when I can't get my mind settled on one thing or another. Once we fill this thing up a bit more, however, I'm probably going to have to stop doing this, or I'll go mad.
I don't do this often, by the way. Juuust in case you were worrying.
Sometimes, when I'm really bored or just really unfocused, I'll sit down, pour out all the change in the jug, and count it. The jug is currently only about 1/5 full, but it still takes me around half an hour to separate all the coins by denomination and then count, starting with the quarters and working my way down to the pennies. It's a really boring, tedious task, but I'm pretty A.D.D. so sometimes it helps calm me down when I can't get my mind settled on one thing or another. Once we fill this thing up a bit more, however, I'm probably going to have to stop doing this, or I'll go mad.
I don't do this often, by the way. Juuust in case you were worrying.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
v2, d119: Swamped update
Man! I am SWAMPED today!
You'd think, on a day with no official commitments until midnight and no work assignments, I'd have a pretty easy go of it. Oh-ho-ho, no! Kim and I have basically been going non-stop every moment we've been awake today. And I've a bit more work to get done, so I won't stay long.
However, I found it worth noting that today, I have won the battle against every dirty dish, counter, and stove in the apartment.
Man, I love that song.
You'd think, on a day with no official commitments until midnight and no work assignments, I'd have a pretty easy go of it. Oh-ho-ho, no! Kim and I have basically been going non-stop every moment we've been awake today. And I've a bit more work to get done, so I won't stay long.
However, I found it worth noting that today, I have won the battle against every dirty dish, counter, and stove in the apartment.
Man, I love that song.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
v2, d114: Not An Airplane
The other day, I was playing with my son in his small, round, turtle-shaped sandbox. The routine usually goes a-something like this: I take the lid off the sandbox, and he plops down in with all of his diggers and scoops and plays for awhile, sometimes taking loads of dirt all over the patio in one of his wagons, sometimes burying this digger or that one, and during this portion of playtime I'm reclining in a lawn chair I bought for Kim a few years ago, reading my latest library book. After a while, he always asks if I want to dig with him, so I put down my book and cram myself down into this tiny sandbox with Robbie and every one of his diggers.
Now, last time we were digging together, Robbie handed me his front-end loader (he had a plastic shovel in his hand) and pointed to a spot in the sandbox. "Here Daddy," he said, "you dump it out riiiight here." So I filled the bucket on the loader full of sand and dropped it on the very spot. Robbie's face became somewhat pained. "Noooo!" he said. "What?" I asked him. "I did exactly what you said. I put the dirt right where you wanted me to put it."
"But," he said, looking me straight in the eye. There was a very adult-looking concern creeping across his face, "but...but that" he pointed now to the loader in my hands, "that is not an airplane."
Ah. Of course. After I scooped up the dirt into the loader's bucket, I picked the machine up, carried it through the empty space above the sandbox, and then deposited it in the correct spot with the loader's wheels never once touching the ground. In my folly, I didn't stop to consider that a real front-end loader cannot fly. I should have made my machine drive on the ground like a real loader. I immediately apologized and then did it the RIGHT way.
His sandbox, his rules. And really, he did have a remarkably valid point.
When this whole "big brother" thing happens sometime in February or March, he will most definitely be ready to go.
Now, last time we were digging together, Robbie handed me his front-end loader (he had a plastic shovel in his hand) and pointed to a spot in the sandbox. "Here Daddy," he said, "you dump it out riiiight here." So I filled the bucket on the loader full of sand and dropped it on the very spot. Robbie's face became somewhat pained. "Noooo!" he said. "What?" I asked him. "I did exactly what you said. I put the dirt right where you wanted me to put it."
"But," he said, looking me straight in the eye. There was a very adult-looking concern creeping across his face, "but...but that" he pointed now to the loader in my hands, "that is not an airplane."
Ah. Of course. After I scooped up the dirt into the loader's bucket, I picked the machine up, carried it through the empty space above the sandbox, and then deposited it in the correct spot with the loader's wheels never once touching the ground. In my folly, I didn't stop to consider that a real front-end loader cannot fly. I should have made my machine drive on the ground like a real loader. I immediately apologized and then did it the RIGHT way.
His sandbox, his rules. And really, he did have a remarkably valid point.
When this whole "big brother" thing happens sometime in February or March, he will most definitely be ready to go.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
v2, d111: "Hey! I'm makin' a sandwich here!"
Well, yesterday was a long day. We'll leave it at that :-)
Fortunately, it is now Thursday, meaning we're on the downward slope of this week.
Apparently, people now worry when I unexpectedly don't blog for a day. Many apologies. Sometimes it just doesn't work out. Now, if I don't blog for, say, three days, and there's no explanation, then feel free to worry ;-)
I'd wondered what made a deli a "New York deli." Answer: pastrami. And kosher. NOT attitude, bad dialect, and constant talk about the Knicks, Yankees, and Rangers.
Learned a new bit of slang: "Perf." It's short for "Perfect." I think. Ah, text-messaging and the Internet. Killing the English language, one syllable at a time ;-)
Maybe I don't want to be an English teacher someday. Maybe I should teach grade-school P.E. instead.
And that, for some reason, makes me think of this:
I'm kinda surprised/amazed I actually remember that.
Fortunately, it is now Thursday, meaning we're on the downward slope of this week.
Apparently, people now worry when I unexpectedly don't blog for a day. Many apologies. Sometimes it just doesn't work out. Now, if I don't blog for, say, three days, and there's no explanation, then feel free to worry ;-)
I'd wondered what made a deli a "New York deli." Answer: pastrami. And kosher. NOT attitude, bad dialect, and constant talk about the Knicks, Yankees, and Rangers.
Learned a new bit of slang: "Perf." It's short for "Perfect." I think. Ah, text-messaging and the Internet. Killing the English language, one syllable at a time ;-)
Maybe I don't want to be an English teacher someday. Maybe I should teach grade-school P.E. instead.
And that, for some reason, makes me think of this:
I'm kinda surprised/amazed I actually remember that.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
v2, d99: Late-night bloggings
Bah. I did so well all week at blogging during my lunch break.
I usually do my best thinking at night, but when it comes to blogging late at night, it is usually among the VERY last things I do, so on days like today when I've been fairly tired/sluggish all day anyway (thank you, head cold!), I feel like I must have squandered an opportunity earlier in the day to sit down and write something clever, engaging, or insightful.
Today was pretty much Fathers'-Day-Come-Early. Because I was sick, Kim let me relax for the first half of the day, so I slept in until 11:30 (and then napped again from 2:30-4:30). I helped around the house a little bit--some dishes here, some laundry there--and supervised Robbie playing in the sandbox. Also went on a Wal-Mart run at one point and took the little guy with me so that Kim could have the house to herself to get some things done. (Just happened to be a fenced-off construction zone at the far end of the Wally World parking lot with a backhoe loader and an excavator taking the weekend off, so we had to walk all the way across the parking lot to get a closer look) For dinner, Kim and Robbie made a homemade pizza, which was fantastic and filling. Plus, I put Robbie to bed tonight, so I don't feel like I was a worthless bum, but I got plenty of rest anyway.
Of course, I've been fairly groggy most of the day, and now is no exception, so I'll be to bed here pretty shortly. Need to read another 10 pages or so of my library book, because it's due Monday and non-renewable, and these pages take a bit longer for me to get through than most.
T-minus six days until vacation. A very well-timed vacation, too.
I usually do my best thinking at night, but when it comes to blogging late at night, it is usually among the VERY last things I do, so on days like today when I've been fairly tired/sluggish all day anyway (thank you, head cold!), I feel like I must have squandered an opportunity earlier in the day to sit down and write something clever, engaging, or insightful.
Today was pretty much Fathers'-Day-Come-Early. Because I was sick, Kim let me relax for the first half of the day, so I slept in until 11:30 (and then napped again from 2:30-4:30). I helped around the house a little bit--some dishes here, some laundry there--and supervised Robbie playing in the sandbox. Also went on a Wal-Mart run at one point and took the little guy with me so that Kim could have the house to herself to get some things done. (Just happened to be a fenced-off construction zone at the far end of the Wally World parking lot with a backhoe loader and an excavator taking the weekend off, so we had to walk all the way across the parking lot to get a closer look) For dinner, Kim and Robbie made a homemade pizza, which was fantastic and filling. Plus, I put Robbie to bed tonight, so I don't feel like I was a worthless bum, but I got plenty of rest anyway.
Of course, I've been fairly groggy most of the day, and now is no exception, so I'll be to bed here pretty shortly. Need to read another 10 pages or so of my library book, because it's due Monday and non-renewable, and these pages take a bit longer for me to get through than most.
T-minus six days until vacation. A very well-timed vacation, too.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
v2, d97: An Unexpected Delight
Not "unexpected" in the sense that I didn't think it would happen today, but "unexpected" in that, a year ago, I wouldn't have expected to get such joyful serenity out of the activity.
Lately I've been spending half or more of my lunch break going out for a jog*, but today I forgot to bring a spare T-shirt so that was obviously out of the question. I needed to drop a book off at the library and pick up some "On Hold's" for Kim, and I had planned to just drive by there and run in and out at the end of my break, but since I had nothing else to do I decided to walk the couple blocks down to the library and spend some time there.
Up until this past year, it had been a long, LONG while since I spent any real time or energy reading. Then, about a year ago, I decided it was time to broaden my horizons, so I asked all of Facebook for suggestions and put together a list of books, most of which I'd never heard of, and started through it. It was a good move, because I'd spent so long away from recreational reading that I didn't even know where to start, how to find a book for myself.
Through reading a bunch of things I probably wouldn't have read on my own, I've picked up the knack for A) finding something to read without any help or suggestions from an outside party, B) taking risks reading/appreciating something that seems out of my experience/genre of choice, and C) making numbered lists/using slashes to break up sentences.
Thus, going to the library without anything particular in mind has become a quiet, peaceful sort of joy. Browsing the spines, the titles, the authors, taking out the occasional book to skim the inner-flap, thinking that every single one of these books was written, at one point in time, by a living, breathing, passionate artist with a personality and character quirks and literary flaws and strengths. Now that I've written a rough draft of a total of one novel and am in planning stages for one or two more, I no longer look at a book and see a cover with pages and typewritten words. Each one is a part of someone's life, a party they've chosen to share. Each book needs to be read to be validated. Every title quietly calls out, "Pick me! Pick me!" and behind its voice the author's grinning black-and-white photo secretly hopes that I'll step out of my world and into theirs for a few hours.
I can empathize with that.
Suddenly, I don't just see an overwhelming deluge of words and ideas, I see choices. Possibilities! Potentially hours of enjoyment followed by a fond recollection that will last as long as my mind can call it forth. Potentially a long, boring, offensive, trite piece of trash that will leave a bad taste in my mouth until I wash it out with something a bit fresher or an old favorite. Regardless, the material sandwiched within each cover offers me an experience created between the author's genius and my own experiences and expectations, something that we can only create together (to echo Orson Scott Card).
I am shopping. Not this one, not this one, this looks interesting, but not right before I leave for vacation. Maybe later. Here, this one is worth a gamble...
I have friends who love shopping for something specific. For some (usually women), it's shoes, clothing, purses maybe. For others, it's music, movies, trying to find something new, something fresh, something indie, before everyone jumps on the bandwagon. The process holds as much (or more) joy than the result. It's never been a concept I've ever really identified with, to be honest. Today, however, I think I realized that I do get it after all.
Perhaps my transition to English nerd is complete. Who'd have thought. The quiet time spent among the rows of books, authors, stories, and ideas is both soothing and exhilarating. It's a peaceful place to me. It's an active place. An unexpected delight.
For the record, I picked up a couple of novels I am going to try to finish before I leave for my vacation next week. Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt by vampire-novelist-turned-Catholic-Biblical-fiction-writer-extraordinaire Anne Rice was an unusual choice. I don't usually go for those "early childhood of Christ" type stories--which is exactly why I thought I ought to give it a try. It claims to be based on the gospels and most respected New Testament scholars. An early review claims it presents Jesus as "nature mystic, healer, prophet, and very much a real young boy" who is "grappling to understand his miraculous gifts and numinous birth." My initial reaction is skepticism, as I sometimes feel that we lose the reality of God in our romantic fantasies of His stories (and trying to craft them in our own image), but I'm acknowledging my bias at the front end of the story so that I can better lay it down to see what the novel is really about. I also picked up Stephen King's The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, because I think King has such an incredible imagination and the gutsy ability to say "reality be damned!" when his story calls for it. Plus, a friend is currently reading this, and I don't often get to discuss a book with someone who's finished it within, say, a month of my first read of it. I enjoy that experience.
Anyway, there you have it. My delightful lunch break, spending half an hour at the library and then half an hour blogging about it.
I'm curious: what are your unexpected delights? What things absolutely make your day in a manner that you would have never expected a year or two or three ago?
Footnote:
*accidentally typed "going out for a job" not once, but twice. Slip?*
Lately I've been spending half or more of my lunch break going out for a jog*, but today I forgot to bring a spare T-shirt so that was obviously out of the question. I needed to drop a book off at the library and pick up some "On Hold's" for Kim, and I had planned to just drive by there and run in and out at the end of my break, but since I had nothing else to do I decided to walk the couple blocks down to the library and spend some time there.
Up until this past year, it had been a long, LONG while since I spent any real time or energy reading. Then, about a year ago, I decided it was time to broaden my horizons, so I asked all of Facebook for suggestions and put together a list of books, most of which I'd never heard of, and started through it. It was a good move, because I'd spent so long away from recreational reading that I didn't even know where to start, how to find a book for myself.
Through reading a bunch of things I probably wouldn't have read on my own, I've picked up the knack for A) finding something to read without any help or suggestions from an outside party, B) taking risks reading/appreciating something that seems out of my experience/genre of choice, and C) making numbered lists/using slashes to break up sentences.
Thus, going to the library without anything particular in mind has become a quiet, peaceful sort of joy. Browsing the spines, the titles, the authors, taking out the occasional book to skim the inner-flap, thinking that every single one of these books was written, at one point in time, by a living, breathing, passionate artist with a personality and character quirks and literary flaws and strengths. Now that I've written a rough draft of a total of one novel and am in planning stages for one or two more, I no longer look at a book and see a cover with pages and typewritten words. Each one is a part of someone's life, a party they've chosen to share. Each book needs to be read to be validated. Every title quietly calls out, "Pick me! Pick me!" and behind its voice the author's grinning black-and-white photo secretly hopes that I'll step out of my world and into theirs for a few hours.
I can empathize with that.
Suddenly, I don't just see an overwhelming deluge of words and ideas, I see choices. Possibilities! Potentially hours of enjoyment followed by a fond recollection that will last as long as my mind can call it forth. Potentially a long, boring, offensive, trite piece of trash that will leave a bad taste in my mouth until I wash it out with something a bit fresher or an old favorite. Regardless, the material sandwiched within each cover offers me an experience created between the author's genius and my own experiences and expectations, something that we can only create together (to echo Orson Scott Card).
I am shopping. Not this one, not this one, this looks interesting, but not right before I leave for vacation. Maybe later. Here, this one is worth a gamble...
I have friends who love shopping for something specific. For some (usually women), it's shoes, clothing, purses maybe. For others, it's music, movies, trying to find something new, something fresh, something indie, before everyone jumps on the bandwagon. The process holds as much (or more) joy than the result. It's never been a concept I've ever really identified with, to be honest. Today, however, I think I realized that I do get it after all.
Perhaps my transition to English nerd is complete. Who'd have thought. The quiet time spent among the rows of books, authors, stories, and ideas is both soothing and exhilarating. It's a peaceful place to me. It's an active place. An unexpected delight.
For the record, I picked up a couple of novels I am going to try to finish before I leave for my vacation next week. Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt by vampire-novelist-turned-Catholic-Biblical-fiction-writer-extraordinaire Anne Rice was an unusual choice. I don't usually go for those "early childhood of Christ" type stories--which is exactly why I thought I ought to give it a try. It claims to be based on the gospels and most respected New Testament scholars. An early review claims it presents Jesus as "nature mystic, healer, prophet, and very much a real young boy" who is "grappling to understand his miraculous gifts and numinous birth." My initial reaction is skepticism, as I sometimes feel that we lose the reality of God in our romantic fantasies of His stories (and trying to craft them in our own image), but I'm acknowledging my bias at the front end of the story so that I can better lay it down to see what the novel is really about. I also picked up Stephen King's The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon, because I think King has such an incredible imagination and the gutsy ability to say "reality be damned!" when his story calls for it. Plus, a friend is currently reading this, and I don't often get to discuss a book with someone who's finished it within, say, a month of my first read of it. I enjoy that experience.
Anyway, there you have it. My delightful lunch break, spending half an hour at the library and then half an hour blogging about it.
I'm curious: what are your unexpected delights? What things absolutely make your day in a manner that you would have never expected a year or two or three ago?
Footnote:
*accidentally typed "going out for a job" not once, but twice. Slip?*
Sunday, June 13, 2010
v2, d94: While I'm Here...
So apparently the Houston Zoo Blog is using GUEST BLOGGERS. Hm, wonder where they got THAT idea from, hmmmmm???? ;-)
So I'm composing a list of things I ought to do at some point since I'm living in this huge metropolis. Keep in mind I grew up in a town of 10,000, so there are a lot of opportunities that exist down here that didn't exist up there. For example: about a month ago, Tarvis and I took in an Indian movie. Foreign films! At the movie theater! Never seen that before! A couple years ago, I ate Afghan and Lebanese food. (The Afghan was good, the Lebanese...not so much) Hello, multicultural cities! Last year, we took in the uber-cheesy Thanksgiving Day Christmas fireworks for the first time. Fireworks! On Turkey Day! Novel!
I'm looking around to see what other things I can get here that I may not get wherever I move next. For example: did you know Houston has a professional women's football team? They play in Sugar Land somewhere. (Yet we don't have professional lacrosse. Boo.)
Any suggestions of "big city life" that I need to make sure I don't miss out on? (Note: this isn't an "I'm leaving Houston soon!" post, but I would hate to leave here thinking I'd left something undone or untried. Within reason, of course)
So I'm composing a list of things I ought to do at some point since I'm living in this huge metropolis. Keep in mind I grew up in a town of 10,000, so there are a lot of opportunities that exist down here that didn't exist up there. For example: about a month ago, Tarvis and I took in an Indian movie. Foreign films! At the movie theater! Never seen that before! A couple years ago, I ate Afghan and Lebanese food. (The Afghan was good, the Lebanese...not so much) Hello, multicultural cities! Last year, we took in the uber-cheesy Thanksgiving Day Christmas fireworks for the first time. Fireworks! On Turkey Day! Novel!
I'm looking around to see what other things I can get here that I may not get wherever I move next. For example: did you know Houston has a professional women's football team? They play in Sugar Land somewhere. (Yet we don't have professional lacrosse. Boo.)
Any suggestions of "big city life" that I need to make sure I don't miss out on? (Note: this isn't an "I'm leaving Houston soon!" post, but I would hate to leave here thinking I'd left something undone or untried. Within reason, of course)
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
v2, d89: "I Ramble. All Alone, By Myself, I Ramble!"
Man, I just posted a long post on my reading blog. I don't feel like writing another one! ;-)
I led our company Bible study time this morning. It's something I technically do fairly often, but this is the first time in quite a while that I actually had a full session, and I think I managed to keep going for about forty minutes. Time sure flies when you're talking.
I always feel like I'm sorta rambling whenever I'm up there, or like I'm talking too fast. Truth be told, I do ramble, and I do talk too fast. As I reflected on this today, however, I realized it was because I talk pretty much exactly like I think: quickly, fairly haphazardly, though never without direction. After the lesson was over, Johnson was encouraging me, and she mentioned that she followed everything, and that my rambling isn't generally bad or incoherent, it's just rambling. A couple of other friends said similar things, and I've determined that it's not really content that's my weak spot, it's focus.
Well, surprise, surprise, surprise.
That's how I speak, and it's how I write. I don't usually stop to refine before I try to communicate an idea. Of course, you already know this, because you read this blog. And I've had people say for years that one reason they like reading my writing or chatting with me online is because they can hear my voice by reading my words. Still, it felt like a minor lightbulb moment when I first said it--which was the moment I first thought it, of course.
So, apologies for the typos. Apologies for the ramblings. Obviously, you wouldn't mind too much, or you wouldn't read and listen.
And I'd like to genuinely thank you for reading and listening. I promise I'll keep on a-ramblin' so long as I've got something to say (or trouble sleeping).
I led our company Bible study time this morning. It's something I technically do fairly often, but this is the first time in quite a while that I actually had a full session, and I think I managed to keep going for about forty minutes. Time sure flies when you're talking.
I always feel like I'm sorta rambling whenever I'm up there, or like I'm talking too fast. Truth be told, I do ramble, and I do talk too fast. As I reflected on this today, however, I realized it was because I talk pretty much exactly like I think: quickly, fairly haphazardly, though never without direction. After the lesson was over, Johnson was encouraging me, and she mentioned that she followed everything, and that my rambling isn't generally bad or incoherent, it's just rambling. A couple of other friends said similar things, and I've determined that it's not really content that's my weak spot, it's focus.
Well, surprise, surprise, surprise.
That's how I speak, and it's how I write. I don't usually stop to refine before I try to communicate an idea. Of course, you already know this, because you read this blog. And I've had people say for years that one reason they like reading my writing or chatting with me online is because they can hear my voice by reading my words. Still, it felt like a minor lightbulb moment when I first said it--which was the moment I first thought it, of course.
So, apologies for the typos. Apologies for the ramblings. Obviously, you wouldn't mind too much, or you wouldn't read and listen.
And I'd like to genuinely thank you for reading and listening. I promise I'll keep on a-ramblin' so long as I've got something to say (or trouble sleeping).
Saturday, June 5, 2010
v2, d87: 102
Robbie's temperature last night was 102. Today it got down to 99, but that was as low as it went. It would also spike from time to time a bit higher than that. As such, we have to stay home from church tomorrow.
Man, Robbie is going to be really upset tomorrow morning. I will also probably have to stay home with him Monday, since he's not allowed to go to school until he's fever-free for 48 hours.
Considering how sick he supposedly is, though, the kid's spirits are sky-high. He's been running, laughing, playing. He's been a bit quicker to get irritable and tired, but overall I'd have guessed he was just tired/cranky rather than sick. If I didn't know better, of course. Which I do. Obviously.
Man, it sucks to see your baby so sick.
Hey, check this out: I just got an email in my work account from a lady asking to submit her script for a musical based on Princess Diana. Apparently, it was big in Omaha. The librettist/playwright works with Manheim Steamroller, too! I'd post a link, but I'm afraid they might trace it, and somehow that would result in my getting fired. Don't ask how, just accept that that's what would happen ;-)
All right, tonight I leave you with Louie's Year-in-Review video. Man, I love this bear.
Man, Robbie is going to be really upset tomorrow morning. I will also probably have to stay home with him Monday, since he's not allowed to go to school until he's fever-free for 48 hours.
Considering how sick he supposedly is, though, the kid's spirits are sky-high. He's been running, laughing, playing. He's been a bit quicker to get irritable and tired, but overall I'd have guessed he was just tired/cranky rather than sick. If I didn't know better, of course. Which I do. Obviously.
Man, it sucks to see your baby so sick.
Hey, check this out: I just got an email in my work account from a lady asking to submit her script for a musical based on Princess Diana. Apparently, it was big in Omaha. The librettist/playwright works with Manheim Steamroller, too! I'd post a link, but I'm afraid they might trace it, and somehow that would result in my getting fired. Don't ask how, just accept that that's what would happen ;-)
All right, tonight I leave you with Louie's Year-in-Review video. Man, I love this bear.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
v2, d85: Dinosaur Party!!
***Editor's note: I missed yesterday's blogging because I accidentally fell asleep before midnight. Whoops. And I don't feel bad about it, either. Not one bit.*****
Robbie's loving his new 3-year-olds class. The day after everyone left to go back home, he wasn't so crazy about leaving for school. Something about having a family dote on you and acres of dirt to play in for a week will do that to a kid. The last two days, though, he's been ready to go. Even turned off the end of Bob the Builder himself this morning.
Clearly, he just wasn't being challenged enough with the 2-year-olds any more ;-)
Anyway, they have a lot of theme days in this class. Yesterday was Dinosaur Day, and everybody was supposed to bring a dinosaur to class. Kim did some digging and found that we had a small yellow generic bipedal plant-eating dinosaur toy he could take. I have no idea where it came from, but it came in handy yesterday. Apparently Dinosaur Day was a huge hit, and the kid now loves his yellow Genericosaurus. Which means, of course, he lost it as soon as he got home.
Rawr.
Today was "The Letter Y" day. Kids were supposed to bring something that starts with the letter Y. Choices are limited. Robbie took a ball of yellow yarn. Tomorrow is Cheese Day. When I say they have a lot of theme days, I mean they have a LOT of theme days.
Last night was our Second Company performance for The Little Foxes. I'm proud of the work everyone put into the evening, and I think it went over pretty well with all of our paid guests. As always, the Development Cheese was greatly appreciated. (Should have taken some home for Cheese Day, even though I think they're actually eating Cheeto's, not actual cheese)
In other news, I'm reading through the Scott Pilgrim saga and thinking, "Um...maybe I don't actually want to see this movie?" I dunno, maybe the novelty and the quirkies hold stronger in a two-hour format than they do when you try to sit down and read four books in a row. Here's hoping, because the trailers are freakin' awesome.
Finally, I'm glad the Flyers won last night. As much as I want Chicago to win the series, I really want it to go six or seven games. Well played, evil Philly. Well played.
Robbie's loving his new 3-year-olds class. The day after everyone left to go back home, he wasn't so crazy about leaving for school. Something about having a family dote on you and acres of dirt to play in for a week will do that to a kid. The last two days, though, he's been ready to go. Even turned off the end of Bob the Builder himself this morning.
Clearly, he just wasn't being challenged enough with the 2-year-olds any more ;-)
Anyway, they have a lot of theme days in this class. Yesterday was Dinosaur Day, and everybody was supposed to bring a dinosaur to class. Kim did some digging and found that we had a small yellow generic bipedal plant-eating dinosaur toy he could take. I have no idea where it came from, but it came in handy yesterday. Apparently Dinosaur Day was a huge hit, and the kid now loves his yellow Genericosaurus. Which means, of course, he lost it as soon as he got home.
Rawr.
Today was "The Letter Y" day. Kids were supposed to bring something that starts with the letter Y. Choices are limited. Robbie took a ball of yellow yarn. Tomorrow is Cheese Day. When I say they have a lot of theme days, I mean they have a LOT of theme days.
Last night was our Second Company performance for The Little Foxes. I'm proud of the work everyone put into the evening, and I think it went over pretty well with all of our paid guests. As always, the Development Cheese was greatly appreciated. (Should have taken some home for Cheese Day, even though I think they're actually eating Cheeto's, not actual cheese)
In other news, I'm reading through the Scott Pilgrim saga and thinking, "Um...maybe I don't actually want to see this movie?" I dunno, maybe the novelty and the quirkies hold stronger in a two-hour format than they do when you try to sit down and read four books in a row. Here's hoping, because the trailers are freakin' awesome.
Finally, I'm glad the Flyers won last night. As much as I want Chicago to win the series, I really want it to go six or seven games. Well played, evil Philly. Well played.
Monday, May 31, 2010
v2, d83: Beach party!!
Went down to the Gulf with the family-in-law today. You know, despite living in Houston for almost five years, I'd never been to Galveston. I'd actually been to the Pacific more times than I'd been to the Gulf since I moved here. Very sad, yet true.
Anyway, today's trip was a blast. My beach-going experiences have all been based on the tourist-heavy beaches of southern California, so the relatively sparsely-attended (even on Memorial Day!) Galveston beach was refreshing. It was also nice that the water wasn't so cold you had to get out after about fifteen minutes due to your toes turning different colors/losing all feeling.
Julie, Christina, and I ventured out far enough that there were fish swimming literally right to us. At one point, two fish leaped out of the water in tandem between Julie and I when we were about ten feet apart. This meant the pelicans also came pretty close. Robbie came briefly out to join us (the water was really only approaching chest-high to me at that point) and couldn't stay focused on one spot long enough to actually see many fish, but he enjoyed it anyway.
That kid LOVED the ocean! He played hard the entire time we were there. He would shriek with delight every time a wave would hit that was high enough to splash him in the face or knock him slightly off-balance. He divided his time pretty equally digging sand into a bucket, digging water into a bucket, jumping over waves by holding someone's hands, wading by himself, running through the lowest-tide area, filling up his bucket with water, and just hanging out in "deeper" water in my arms. I was afraid we weren't going to get him to leave without throwing a major fit, but I said the magic word (McDonald's) and we were off.
Now that I know the beach isn't going to be horribly crowded, and now that I know how much the kid loves it, hopefully we can make the occasional trip down to the coast.
Meanwhile: Remember, everyone, hurricane season starts June 1st! Last year, the only North American hurricane landfall was in Canada somewhere. While I wouldn't mind another mild summer of storms, Experts are predicting the WORST SEASON IN HISTORY!!! Of course, they've been predicting this worst season in history for the last four years, and I think it's only happened once, so we shall see.
Anyway, today's trip was a blast. My beach-going experiences have all been based on the tourist-heavy beaches of southern California, so the relatively sparsely-attended (even on Memorial Day!) Galveston beach was refreshing. It was also nice that the water wasn't so cold you had to get out after about fifteen minutes due to your toes turning different colors/losing all feeling.
Julie, Christina, and I ventured out far enough that there were fish swimming literally right to us. At one point, two fish leaped out of the water in tandem between Julie and I when we were about ten feet apart. This meant the pelicans also came pretty close. Robbie came briefly out to join us (the water was really only approaching chest-high to me at that point) and couldn't stay focused on one spot long enough to actually see many fish, but he enjoyed it anyway.
That kid LOVED the ocean! He played hard the entire time we were there. He would shriek with delight every time a wave would hit that was high enough to splash him in the face or knock him slightly off-balance. He divided his time pretty equally digging sand into a bucket, digging water into a bucket, jumping over waves by holding someone's hands, wading by himself, running through the lowest-tide area, filling up his bucket with water, and just hanging out in "deeper" water in my arms. I was afraid we weren't going to get him to leave without throwing a major fit, but I said the magic word (McDonald's) and we were off.
Now that I know the beach isn't going to be horribly crowded, and now that I know how much the kid loves it, hopefully we can make the occasional trip down to the coast.
Meanwhile: Remember, everyone, hurricane season starts June 1st! Last year, the only North American hurricane landfall was in Canada somewhere. While I wouldn't mind another mild summer of storms, Experts are predicting the WORST SEASON IN HISTORY!!! Of course, they've been predicting this worst season in history for the last four years, and I think it's only happened once, so we shall see.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
v2, d78: Bachelor Bloggin' #3
Last night, I took an extra work shift. Figured it would give me something to do and a place where I could be around friends. Was a good choice. We (as a company) forgot to schedule security personnel to patrol our parking lot during the Tuesday night special event performance, so Tarvis got volunteered. I figured, "That sucks. I will stand outside for three hours, too." So I did.
There were no break-ins, no knife fights, and no shady drug deals. Tarvis and I are awesome security guards.
There were, however, kittens. And we got to watch the kittens twice before they hid behind the tires again.
Got Kim's car fixed up a bit today, had a really horrible and frustrating afternoon, met with Dave for Dinner, and then to a get-together at HannahDeb's apartment. A full Wednesday, but an overall good one. Now just getting some laundry done so I can be ready to go for my 6:30 a.m. work call tomorrow. Also, get to pick up my gorgeous wife from the airport tomorrow night! You know what that means...I need to pick up the living room. Admittedly, I've spent fairly little time in the house while the family's been gone, but I still want to leave it at least a little nicer than it was when they left.
Thanks for all the feedback on yesterday's guest blog. I'm sure they won't all be as entertaining as Nikolai's, but it really is a cool exercise to try to force yourself to think and write in another character's thoughts and voice. Oh, and Nikolai told me that it wasn't the real Iron Lung who left a comment, because he texted the Iron Lung this afternoon and the REAL Iron Lung had no idea what he was talking about. Which, admittedly, isn't all that unusual for the Iron Lung, but Nikolai is still pretty convinced it's not the real guy.
One more bachelor blog tomorrow, and then I start eating healthily again! Hooray, longevity!
Oh, one last thing: I'm thinking of doing something wild like taking a trip to Austin next Wednesday night and getting back for work the next morning. Um...any takers??
There were no break-ins, no knife fights, and no shady drug deals. Tarvis and I are awesome security guards.
There were, however, kittens. And we got to watch the kittens twice before they hid behind the tires again.
Got Kim's car fixed up a bit today, had a really horrible and frustrating afternoon, met with Dave for Dinner, and then to a get-together at HannahDeb's apartment. A full Wednesday, but an overall good one. Now just getting some laundry done so I can be ready to go for my 6:30 a.m. work call tomorrow. Also, get to pick up my gorgeous wife from the airport tomorrow night! You know what that means...I need to pick up the living room. Admittedly, I've spent fairly little time in the house while the family's been gone, but I still want to leave it at least a little nicer than it was when they left.
Thanks for all the feedback on yesterday's guest blog. I'm sure they won't all be as entertaining as Nikolai's, but it really is a cool exercise to try to force yourself to think and write in another character's thoughts and voice. Oh, and Nikolai told me that it wasn't the real Iron Lung who left a comment, because he texted the Iron Lung this afternoon and the REAL Iron Lung had no idea what he was talking about. Which, admittedly, isn't all that unusual for the Iron Lung, but Nikolai is still pretty convinced it's not the real guy.
One more bachelor blog tomorrow, and then I start eating healthily again! Hooray, longevity!
Oh, one last thing: I'm thinking of doing something wild like taking a trip to Austin next Wednesday night and getting back for work the next morning. Um...any takers??
Monday, May 24, 2010
v2, d76: Bachelor Bloggin #1
First night as a temporary bachelor: Spaghetti O's and tortilla chips for dinner, Sharks and Blackhawks on TV, and an early night to bed (which still results in falling asleep after midnight). Yeah, I'm pretty sure I'd have done fairly well on my own as an adult ;-)
Early morning booking today. Had to be at work at 6:15 to get to the school in Sugar Land by 7. Burger King took a bit longer than expected because the lady who took our order did it wrong, and then she disappeared. It was bizarre. They were trying to track down the lady who'd taken our order, and she was absolutely nowhere to be found. I also had to tell her that this was a To-Go order something like five times during the process.
Conclusion from my 2009-10 touring experiences: Hatcher has a fast-food curse against him. You will not go into a fast food establishment with him and walk out with everything you order. And if you try to correct the mistake, things will just get bizarre.
That said, BK breakfast > Whataburger, McDonald's, and Jack in the Box breakfasts.
By the way, I really feel for Sharks fans right now. It looked like maybe, just maybe, it was actually finally their year. I really wanted this to be their year (now that the Pens and Avs were done, of course), but I didn't actually think they were going to beat the Hawks. But four games to none? That just doesn't seem fair. They were all tight games, and the Sharks probably had the better part of the play for one or two of 'em, but I always felt the Blackhawks were the best team in the NHL all season, and they showed it.
It's been a bad year for predictions in the NHL, especially for me, but I picked the Hawks to win it all this year and I think I'm going to be right on that one.
Habs are down 3 games to 1 to the Flyers. Just the way they like it.
Anyway, keeping my head above water. Doing my best not to feel lonely and sad. Of course, the rest of the touring team had the rest of the day off and fun things planned with loved ones. Couldn't guilt trip them into letting me tag along ;-)
That's a major kid, by the way. I would feel totally awkward crashing someone else's day with parents or being third man in for a romantic afternoon in the sun. If there's anything I've learned from following hockey all these years, it's that the third man in always gets tossed out of the game.
Now, there's never been a rule about the third woman in, so I have to assume that it would theoretically be perfectly legal for a female player to join in a fight between two other players. That little loophole is straight out of Tolkien, and one of these days somebody is going to exploit it.
In the meantime, I'm going to take a walk down to the library for my lunch break, get some work done, and maybe kick out of here a bit early. Since, you know, I've been here since 6:15.
Early morning booking today. Had to be at work at 6:15 to get to the school in Sugar Land by 7. Burger King took a bit longer than expected because the lady who took our order did it wrong, and then she disappeared. It was bizarre. They were trying to track down the lady who'd taken our order, and she was absolutely nowhere to be found. I also had to tell her that this was a To-Go order something like five times during the process.
Conclusion from my 2009-10 touring experiences: Hatcher has a fast-food curse against him. You will not go into a fast food establishment with him and walk out with everything you order. And if you try to correct the mistake, things will just get bizarre.
That said, BK breakfast > Whataburger, McDonald's, and Jack in the Box breakfasts.
By the way, I really feel for Sharks fans right now. It looked like maybe, just maybe, it was actually finally their year. I really wanted this to be their year (now that the Pens and Avs were done, of course), but I didn't actually think they were going to beat the Hawks. But four games to none? That just doesn't seem fair. They were all tight games, and the Sharks probably had the better part of the play for one or two of 'em, but I always felt the Blackhawks were the best team in the NHL all season, and they showed it.
It's been a bad year for predictions in the NHL, especially for me, but I picked the Hawks to win it all this year and I think I'm going to be right on that one.
Habs are down 3 games to 1 to the Flyers. Just the way they like it.
Anyway, keeping my head above water. Doing my best not to feel lonely and sad. Of course, the rest of the touring team had the rest of the day off and fun things planned with loved ones. Couldn't guilt trip them into letting me tag along ;-)
That's a major kid, by the way. I would feel totally awkward crashing someone else's day with parents or being third man in for a romantic afternoon in the sun. If there's anything I've learned from following hockey all these years, it's that the third man in always gets tossed out of the game.
Now, there's never been a rule about the third woman in, so I have to assume that it would theoretically be perfectly legal for a female player to join in a fight between two other players. That little loophole is straight out of Tolkien, and one of these days somebody is going to exploit it.
In the meantime, I'm going to take a walk down to the library for my lunch break, get some work done, and maybe kick out of here a bit early. Since, you know, I've been here since 6:15.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
v2, d75: The Week Ahead
Welcome to Bachelor Week here at FOMW. My wife is going to be in San Diego until late Thursday night on a work trip and my son is staying with his great-grandmother and an aunt or two in Oklahoma until next Saturday.
I've been kind of dreading this week. I don't do well with a lonely apartment, and I really haven't been a in good place lately when it comes to friends and social stuff anyway, and I'm also suffering from a fairly sever case of wanderlust, so I'm also pretty jealous that everyone is having adventures and I'm sitting at home in a very very empty apartment for the next four nights. I was kind of afraid I was likely just going to sit around at home and be in a foul mood, possibly to the extent of turning down perfectly good opportunities to get out, do something, or have fun, so as not to bring down any well-meaning amigos.
But you know what? Screw that. I don't want to be sad or lonely this week. I'm going to find stuff to do that I like to do. I'm going to make good use of whatever time I am at home. I'm going to eat the leftovers that Kim has been storing up for me specifically for this week, and I'm going to like it.
And if anybody has any ideas for a fun reason to get out of the house for an evening, please, give me a call. It would be good to be around people when possible.
You know, we just might see something pop up on the secret blog again soon.
I've been kind of dreading this week. I don't do well with a lonely apartment, and I really haven't been a in good place lately when it comes to friends and social stuff anyway, and I'm also suffering from a fairly sever case of wanderlust, so I'm also pretty jealous that everyone is having adventures and I'm sitting at home in a very very empty apartment for the next four nights. I was kind of afraid I was likely just going to sit around at home and be in a foul mood, possibly to the extent of turning down perfectly good opportunities to get out, do something, or have fun, so as not to bring down any well-meaning amigos.
But you know what? Screw that. I don't want to be sad or lonely this week. I'm going to find stuff to do that I like to do. I'm going to make good use of whatever time I am at home. I'm going to eat the leftovers that Kim has been storing up for me specifically for this week, and I'm going to like it.
And if anybody has any ideas for a fun reason to get out of the house for an evening, please, give me a call. It would be good to be around people when possible.
You know, we just might see something pop up on the secret blog again soon.
Friday, May 21, 2010
v2, d73: Quick update
Hey all!
No actual blogging, because my sister-in-law is on the couch wanting to sleep. And I was at work at 5:45 this morning. Woohoo for fifteen-hour work days!!
No actual blogging, because my sister-in-law is on the couch wanting to sleep. And I was at work at 5:45 this morning. Woohoo for fifteen-hour work days!!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
v2, d63: Rough
Today was rough.
Man, I really just don't know what else to say about it. I've been staring at this blank box where blogging text is supposed to go for the last twenty minutes, and all I've got is "today was rough."
I'm a bad blogger.
Here's some stuff that makes me smile:
Smile, go to bed, try again tomorrow, hope for a better result. Check.
Man, I really just don't know what else to say about it. I've been staring at this blank box where blogging text is supposed to go for the last twenty minutes, and all I've got is "today was rough."
I'm a bad blogger.
Here's some stuff that makes me smile:
Smile, go to bed, try again tomorrow, hope for a better result. Check.
Monday, May 10, 2010
v2, d62: Mondays are slow...
...and don't let anybody tell you otherwise!
I've got a few things left to finish up at the office today and a lot of time to do them in, so I'm going to get a little blogging done now so maybe I don't have to stay up heinously late to get it done. After all, I've got two early, early mornings this week. Fortunately, it looks like I'm not working any evenings this week, so there's a winner.
You know, due to Birthday Mad-Libs and Mothers' Day, I never got around to posting anything about the Red Wings 5-game exit to the perennial playoff chokers, the San Jose Sharks. A 4-1 series win makes it look pretty one-sided, but in reality it was a pretty great series. All four Sharks wins were by one goal. The only Red Wings win was 7-1. Go figure. Unlike in the film, Megashark gets the unanimous decision over Giant Octopus. Now, hoping the Pens can close out the Habs tonight, and that the Bruins/Flyers and Hawks/Canucks all manage beat each other up for a full seven games.
Anyway, if you want to read a severe Red Wings roast, Puck Daddy's annual playoff eulogies series has got it for you. Click here; it's brutal, but probably the best-written eulogy of the bunch so far. Just remember, I warned you. It's brutal.
In other news (or what passes for news on Mondays), I was treated to lunch today by one of only six other coworkers reporting to work today. We had fish tacos from Berry Hill. I'd never had fish tacos before, and they were pretty good. They really pile the cilantro and red cabbage on, though, and I had to water it down somewhat by taking a bit off the top. Also, no sauce, but that's nothing personal. I almost always get my lunch sans sauce. All in all, though, not bad, and apparently fish tacos are on sale on Mondays.
I like fish, by the way, and Houston is a better place to get fish than, say, just about anywhere in Kansas.
Finally: I want to take a trip. I want to get on an airplane and go somewhere for about five or six days. I want to go somewhere either I've never been or somewhere I rarely go. Obviously, I'm not going to do this, but the wanderlust is pretty strong. "Wanderlust" also seems like a good name for a German comic book character.
All righty, back to work!
(Edited to add: this)
I've got a few things left to finish up at the office today and a lot of time to do them in, so I'm going to get a little blogging done now so maybe I don't have to stay up heinously late to get it done. After all, I've got two early, early mornings this week. Fortunately, it looks like I'm not working any evenings this week, so there's a winner.
You know, due to Birthday Mad-Libs and Mothers' Day, I never got around to posting anything about the Red Wings 5-game exit to the perennial playoff chokers, the San Jose Sharks. A 4-1 series win makes it look pretty one-sided, but in reality it was a pretty great series. All four Sharks wins were by one goal. The only Red Wings win was 7-1. Go figure. Unlike in the film, Megashark gets the unanimous decision over Giant Octopus. Now, hoping the Pens can close out the Habs tonight, and that the Bruins/Flyers and Hawks/Canucks all manage beat each other up for a full seven games.
Anyway, if you want to read a severe Red Wings roast, Puck Daddy's annual playoff eulogies series has got it for you. Click here; it's brutal, but probably the best-written eulogy of the bunch so far. Just remember, I warned you. It's brutal.
In other news (or what passes for news on Mondays), I was treated to lunch today by one of only six other coworkers reporting to work today. We had fish tacos from Berry Hill. I'd never had fish tacos before, and they were pretty good. They really pile the cilantro and red cabbage on, though, and I had to water it down somewhat by taking a bit off the top. Also, no sauce, but that's nothing personal. I almost always get my lunch sans sauce. All in all, though, not bad, and apparently fish tacos are on sale on Mondays.
I like fish, by the way, and Houston is a better place to get fish than, say, just about anywhere in Kansas.
Finally: I want to take a trip. I want to get on an airplane and go somewhere for about five or six days. I want to go somewhere either I've never been or somewhere I rarely go. Obviously, I'm not going to do this, but the wanderlust is pretty strong. "Wanderlust" also seems like a good name for a German comic book character.
All righty, back to work!
(Edited to add: this)
Sunday, May 9, 2010
v2, d61: Mothers' Day 2010
Buying a Mothers' Day present for your wife is a little awkward. At least it is for me. I'm sure in a couple years' time I'll be fully acclimated to the mom/wife gift-giving dichotomy, or else I'll just make Robbie pick something and say it's from the both of us. For now, though, it's a bit of a head-scratcher.
Follow me, here.
Valentines Day present = something romantic and/or sentimental + chocolate
Christmas present = something fun/something she wants.
Birthday present = either something fun OR something she needs/has been asking for + dinner
Mothers' Day present = Flowers? Isn't that something you're supposed to get for YOUR mom? Card? Isn't that a bit impersonal? Sentiment? Romance? Practicality? Mom-related? Gah!
Now, I've got a little added pressure on me, because I've done pretty well with gifts since we've been married. They haven't all been home-runs (figuratively speaking), but quite a few of them have, and I think most of the ones that weren't home runs were at least ground rules doubles, so I put a bit of pressure on myself to get a good present.
Wellll, this year I went out and bought the first three books from this here series. I know Kim likes them, because she's checked them out of the library twice in the past year, so I'm pretty sure she'll read 'em through another time or two. It seemed a bit risky to me because, again, I'm not sure if books are an acceptable gift for this particular special occasion, but they went over very well, so I feel pretty good about it.
Whew.
Other winning Mothers' Day gifts for your wife: a nice nap, an afternoon outside with the child so she can rest, staying up late to help with laundry, and staying up even later to wash dishes and clean out the fridge.
Happy Mothers Day to all!
Follow me, here.
Valentines Day present = something romantic and/or sentimental + chocolate
Christmas present = something fun/something she wants.
Birthday present = either something fun OR something she needs/has been asking for + dinner
Mothers' Day present = Flowers? Isn't that something you're supposed to get for YOUR mom? Card? Isn't that a bit impersonal? Sentiment? Romance? Practicality? Mom-related? Gah!
Now, I've got a little added pressure on me, because I've done pretty well with gifts since we've been married. They haven't all been home-runs (figuratively speaking), but quite a few of them have, and I think most of the ones that weren't home runs were at least ground rules doubles, so I put a bit of pressure on myself to get a good present.
Wellll, this year I went out and bought the first three books from this here series. I know Kim likes them, because she's checked them out of the library twice in the past year, so I'm pretty sure she'll read 'em through another time or two. It seemed a bit risky to me because, again, I'm not sure if books are an acceptable gift for this particular special occasion, but they went over very well, so I feel pretty good about it.
Whew.
Other winning Mothers' Day gifts for your wife: a nice nap, an afternoon outside with the child so she can rest, staying up late to help with laundry, and staying up even later to wash dishes and clean out the fridge.
Happy Mothers Day to all!
Saturday, May 8, 2010
v2, d59: Make Me Sleepy
Putting my son to bed this evening ended up turning into a five-hour nap on my son's bedroom floor. Whoops.
Hopefully, that's not the last of the sleep I get this evening. It's 3:06 a.m. right now and I'm about to head to my own bed with my library book. My intention is to wake up at 9 a.m., because I have a performance at HPL of all places and we need to be there at 11:15, and blah-blah-blah load the van, grab lunch on the way, etc.
Enjoyed the midnight showing of Iron Man 2 last night. Pretty sure I only stayed up marginally later than I would have had I not gone to the flick, so no real worries. Also had a very good day at work today, I think. Had our post-production meeting of Alice, which means I guess I'm officially not directing anymore, so that's kind of a bummer. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I'll know what my next project is going to be. If I'll have a "next project" coming up anytime soon, that is. As always, I'm learning never to take this sort of thing for granted.
Good night, my friends! Enjoy your weekend!
Hopefully, that's not the last of the sleep I get this evening. It's 3:06 a.m. right now and I'm about to head to my own bed with my library book. My intention is to wake up at 9 a.m., because I have a performance at HPL of all places and we need to be there at 11:15, and blah-blah-blah load the van, grab lunch on the way, etc.
Enjoyed the midnight showing of Iron Man 2 last night. Pretty sure I only stayed up marginally later than I would have had I not gone to the flick, so no real worries. Also had a very good day at work today, I think. Had our post-production meeting of Alice, which means I guess I'm officially not directing anymore, so that's kind of a bummer. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I'll know what my next project is going to be. If I'll have a "next project" coming up anytime soon, that is. As always, I'm learning never to take this sort of thing for granted.
Good night, my friends! Enjoy your weekend!
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