frustrations

Arg... today sucked.

Work was mostly ok, except that it was slow [didn't have a lot to do most of the day - which makes the time go by slower] and I was SUPER tired. There were a few times it was really hard to stay awake. Although I got enough sleep last night, I had stayed up too late both Friday and Saturday nights, so tonight will be catch-up if I can make it to bed in time [I guess that depends on how long I take to rant about my stuff here...]

So when I get out of work and start my car up my 'tire pressure indicator' light comes on. I bust out my trusty cigarette lighter powered air compressor and get to work on the tires. When I get around to the front passenger side I find that while it's not flat, it IS completely bald. No tread left. Not showing cord yet, but no tread left [which is not great since it's cold and rainy here right now.] This annoys me because that tire has no more than 23,000 miles on it since that's all the car has. It's also possible that was one of the tires that had to be replaced in my accident repairs, in which case it didn't even last 13,000 miles, because my accident was right around 10K. So I drive to Sam's to see about getting a new tire. The guy there didn't seem to have his crap together and I wasn't totally sold, so I went on to NTB. The guy there was knowledgeable and I ended up getting two tires because the other front one [driver's side] really didn't have much tread left either. Just the other day when hanging out with my friends Danny and Craig they related their experience with having to get new tires for their Acura. Apparently car and tire companies have conspired together to create a new breed of tire and force them on people who like nice cars. They're called V-rated tires - they cost more, and wear out faster because they are "softer." But to switch to a lower rating of tire you would have to replace all 4 at the same time. So anyway, like my Acura friends, I'm stuck with V-rated tire choices. They get the old tires off and look at the wear on them and tell me my alignment may need adjustment. So they put it on their fancy computer that shows the alignment, and of course, the front end is way off - so there's another $80 on top of the $275 for the tires. I walk out of there having dropped around $360 or so and by this time it's about 6pm and I'm already hungry. [I had left work just before 4:30pm.] But I was determined to get to the gym and at least do something there, and it was just around the corner from the tire place.

So I get there and can't decide what I want to do, but settle on just swimming laps. Well, a few weeks back I was doing some weight stuff and my right shoulder started hurting. Since then whenever I've done anything with weights my shoulder starts to hurt again, so whenever it does I avoid activities that would stress it until the hurt goes away. It had been long enough I didn't figure there would be any problem. Wrong. It start hurting about 10 minutes into my swimming. I did another 5 minutes just doing a one-armed side-stroke [not using my right arm for that one] and then quit. By the time I got dressed and out of the gym it was after 7pm and I was starving. I knew I had salad at home, so I could eat that, but I didn't have any protein [meat] so I would have to stop at the store for that. Foolishly, I chose Walmart.

Now... I think all decent people hate Walmart, for varying reasons, but everyone still goes there because it's cheap. My reason for hating it is usually the other "patrons" one encounters there as well as the cashiers. Today was an especially bad example. I get my three things - a bunch of bananas, a single steak packet, and a little bag of baby carrots and go to the "express lane." I always avoid the self-check option when I have fruit to be weighed [bananas.] There are only 2 'speed' lanes open, and as I walk up one of them has the dreaded "flashing light" which translates into 'I've got a high-maintenance customer and this is going to take a while' so I go to the other lane. There is a woman with her boy there and they don't seem to have much stuff. What I didn't realize at first glance was that this woman had apparently seen more that she wanted than her bank account could handle, so the transaction they were performing when I first came up was actually reversing the first iteration of her transaction. Then they had to ring up the stuff she could afford [while her boy, in the meantime, tried to balance the reject stuff she couldn't pay for on top of a display next to the cashier stand that was taller than he was, so it fell down all over the place.] Anyway, the cashier finishes the 2nd ring up and the lady takes an inordinate amount of time to run her card through the machine [honestly, how hard is it? apparently very, watching this chick.] So then I think they're done, and now it will be my turn. Wrong. The cashier turns on the flashing light and after looking for a manager for a minute or two, walks off to get one. [The chick has already wandered toward the manager stand] and at that point I'm like... [there are no words - only rage feelings]

So I go in search of another line. I find another line with only one person who has but a few items and I think I've struck gold. As I stand there waiting behind this person, I realize that the cashier is not wearing anything that would indicate he is a Walmart employee. He is also quietly, but still very audibly, singing to himself - with a very mumbley African accent - songs that seemed to be something about Jesus. The person in front of me finishes their transaction and leaves, and it is my turn. As he scans my items and rings me up, he does not even pause once in his Jesus singing. No conversation or anything - he's COMPLETELY in his own little praise-Jesus world. I run my card in the little thing and it says "ask cashier to press credit key" which I try to do, but can't manage to get out any real words because I'm so overcome by the complete and utter bat-shit-crazy that is coming from across the counter. I get my items and walk away and feel a little bit sorry for the poor people in line behind me who must also then deal with that dangerously insane individual. I thought about alerting the management to the fact that they were employing[?] someone who belonged in a padded room, but then I remembered it was Walmart...

And of course, when I get home and go in my kitchen I remember that I am out of milk...

On the plus side, however, I built an excellent fire in my fireplace which only took one light and it was raging in no time. So I think I'll sit there and bask, while listening to my iTunes on shuffle for a little bit before I head to bed...

I'll just have oatmeal [made with water] in the morning and hopefully remember to stop and get milk before I get home tomorrow...

forgot to eat...

Today I had lots of fun - my travel group had a local activity. We went to lunch together first at a place called Obzeet [generally a very weird place with somewhat spotty and unfriendly service, but good food] and then we went to an ice rink and went ice skating - something I couldn't even tell you when the last time was that I went, but probably at least 15 years ago. The last time I was even on an ice rink at all was playing broom ball back in '01.

The first pair of skates they gave me at the rental counter were figure skates made from hard plastic, with buckles similar to ski boots. Although there was a cushy lining inside the skates, as soon as I got out on the ice I immediately felt all kinds of pain, as they were very uncomfortable. I fell once, and then other members of the group, seeing the plastic skates, recommended I go get a pair of lace-ups, which I did. This time they gave me hockey skates [with no toe pick.] Those were more comfortable, and I got out on the ice and made it a lap or two before falling again. It was pretty hard to get back up with those skates on, but I eventually did, and didn't fall again the whole rest of the time. I started getting the hang of it a little by the end - not trying anything fancy, by any means, but was doing better than where I started out. After that some of the members went to Blue Goose Cantina and we hung out talking for a while. I left at 4 to take my friend Chris to the airport for his trip to Germany to spend Xmas with his parents.

I got my car washed on the way home [the winter weather had made it unbearably dirty over the past week and I paid for the $3 wash with the change in my ashtray.] Once I got home I got on the internet and started planning my trip to Austin for the Brazilian Carnaval they have there. It was cold in my apartment so I also got a little fire raging. As I was sitting at the computer planning away I started feeling a little weird. I assumed it was because I was cold [the computer is not near the fireplace] so I went and warmed myself by the fire for a little while. The feeling didn't go away. I took me a minute or two, but I realized I hadn't eaten anything since lunch, and it was now 8:30pm. I usually eat every 4 hours. So I ate some baby carrots, and quickly popped a pot-pie in the microwave and fixed my blood sugar levels. :) Now I'm going to lie by the fire and watch a movie.

great weekend

Ahhh... I love four day weekends...

In an effort to use up the last of my paid time off from work [otherwise I would forfeit it] I took off Friday and today and I'm very glad I did. I originally had a whole lot more planned this weekend than I actually did, but it was a good thing that some of the stuff got canceled - it gave me more rest time.

Friday I took it easy most of the day, and went on a lunch date. Friday evening I had a game night planned, but since I had set it up fairly last minute and it's the holiday party season, no one but my friend Chris came. But that was OK. Chris and I just ended up going to see Twilight. It was my second time to see it, but it's a good little movie, and this time it was in DLP, so it's like watching it in enormous HD [love it.]

Saturday morning I originally had a boot camp planned through my fit club, but the only girl who had RSVP'd yes said she was backing out since there wouldn't be anyone else there. Which was fine... gave me time to sit around and be lazy instead. :)
One of the highlights of my weekend was getting to take a 3 hour nap on Saturday afternoon. Ahhhhh... After I woke up from my 3 hour nap I went to the gym [and had surprisingly little energy there - I couldn't do nearly as much of a workout as I normally would...] and then went to a dinner party. I left the dinner party a little after 10pm and went right to bed when I got home.

Most of the day Sunday was also spent lazing around and taking it easy. Then in the late afternoon I went to the gym again and then to a holiday party at my friend Jim's place. From there I went to my friend Danny's place and hung out with him for a bit, watched Simpsons, and then I went to the LITE Dallas Annual Christmas Party, which was SO much fun. It was at the House of Blues. I got invited because one of the bosses of the company was in my travel MeetUp group. There was a good number of people from the travel group there and we had lots of fun hanging out, dancing, and getting our pictures taken in the photo booths they had set up. Glad I was able to stay out and not have to worry about getting home early to I could go to bed in order to get up for work...

Now today will be another day of lazing around and taking it easy. :) Tomorrow I have to go back to work, but at least it will only be a 4 day work week, and then next week will only be a 3 day work week!

Arizona for Thanksgiving

Just got back from a fun and relaxing vacation to Arizona for Thanksgiving. Here's a quick recap of events.

Erlynne, Chris, Ethan, Tristan and I all drove in Chris' mother's van, taking the drive easy - in installments - staying over night in Midland TX on the way out. When we got there on Saturday evening, Lana, Erlynne and I all went directly out to see "Twilight." It was pretty good. Entertaining enough for someone who hadn't read the books [me] - and from what I gathered - enthralling for those who HAD read the books.

I can't currently think of all the details of all the things I did the rest of the week, except for rappelling. That was certainly a highlight. Chris and I went with his nephew Jared to a park where there was a huge rock formation pretty perfect for rappelling. It was my first time and I was really nervous at first, but I was already feeling like a pro by my 2nd and 3rd trips down the rope. A couple showed up to set up for their family reunion and I went down at the same time as the girl to reassure her that it wasn't that scary. I forgot to bring my camera that day, so I don't have any pictures, but Chris did get some, and some video, so we'll see if I can get some of those and post them.

Thanksgiving day itself was lots of fun. Lana and her kids and I all got up early and went to see Porter, Eric, and Dixie compete in a triathlon. I DID bring my camera with me that day - so you can see my pictures on Facebook where I uploaded the best of them. When I heard what the triathlon entailed I thought 'I could do that, easy' so... next year I will. Lana said Staci had also said she wanted to do it next year... so next Thanksgiving I challenge all my siblings and in-laws to "bring it" because I'm totally there! The rest of the day was fun, too - Thanksgiving dinner at the Shumway's was plentiful and varied, and after eating Dana played the piano and the singers took turns performing. I even dusted off my old, unused, vocal chords and mumbled through a song.

Overall a very fun and relaxing trip for me. I got to take a nap most of the days, so hopefully that will catch me up on my rest. Now it's off to bed so I can get up early for work again tomorrow [frowny face.]

long time no post

I was recently chided for not posting any updates here in a long time. I knew it had been a while, but when I got on and looked - Holy Fudge! It's been almost 2 months. The reason for that as some may already know - is that I'm constantly busy. Ever since I discovered MeetUp.com there's almost never a reason to stay home just killing time. I can always be out and about - meeting and associating with people from different cultures, countries, and all kinds of different backgrounds. I have radically diversified my social circle faster than I ever imagined possible. A good thing, methinks.

So the most recent adventure: Last weekend I went with my Travel MeetUp to Hot Springs Arkansas. We went to experience the fall colors and see Hot Springs. Here are a few pictures I took:



...and here's a picture someone else took that has me in it [to prove I was actually there]

and here's a picture taken by someone who's a much better photographer than I

add a couple of insults to injury

This past weekend I threw my lower back out while over-exerting myself a bit playing frisbee. Well, round about the same time my food poisoning decided to come back [the bacteria and/or virus wasn't really gone - even though I felt ok for a week.] So now not only am I back on a liquid diet with my stomach churning, but also most movements I make that involve my lower back [which is almost ALL movement] are excruciatingly painful. When I woke up this morning I felt so crappy I just wanted to call work and tell them I wasn't coming in. However, since I've already got all my time off planned for pretty much the rest of the year, I don't have much leeway there. So I went in to work. It wasn't long, however, before I realized that I really shouldn't be there. I figured that one out due to the fact that I was spending more time in the bathroom than I was at my desk working. And of course the one day I can't eat anything, and the one day this has ever happened since I've been working here - they were giving away free ice cream in the cafeteria!

So I came home at noon, made myself some chicken broth and am now going to sleep the rest of the day. Hopefully I'll be better tomorrow.

sick in Boston, but a cash haul is always nice...

going back a little bit...

On the Tuesday after Labory Day I flew out to Boston for a few days on the Cape [in Provincetown, MA] and then a few days with Clark and family in Framingham. Well, something I ate on Tuesday gave me some pretty hardcore food poisoning, so a disproportionate amount of my trip was spent lying in bed/sleeping during the day/subsisting on a liquid-only diet/and generally feeling like puréed tarnation...

On my first day of seeing Clark and Benjamin I did manage to get my camera out and take some pictures... here's a few of them





I did manage to get out and swim in Walden Pond, as well as go to the site of "the shot heard round the world" [the beginning of the American Revolution.] And the important part was getting to see Clark, Guinevere, and Benjamin and hang out with them, so mission accomplished. Oh yea, the last evening I was there [on Clark's birthday] Guinevere made a SUPERB clam chowder, and since I was luckily weaning slowly back on to solids by that time I got to eat as much as I wanted. :) They also gave me a really funny birthday card and my favorite present - COLD, HARD CASH! Which was just the start of the cashflow... :)

When I got back to Dallas I got another birthday card from Lady and Schteve, with MORE CASH! So, SCORE! Then at work they were going to have cake for my birthday, but the lady who was going to get it had a flat tire, so they just gave me the money they would have spent - so, SCORE! Then our sister department happened to also be having "birthday celebration" that day and had enough cake and ice cream to go around, so we ended up being able to have some after all - AND I kept my cash! SCORE! :)

Then today I went to the Fort Worth Bird Mart and sold off a few birds, and most of the excess cages that I needed to get rid of, so I came home with a wad of CASH, so again, SCORE!