Thursday, April 3, 2008
Kade's Lush Connections
How fitting--I just learned that Bill W (the one whose friends attend the AA program he started) was born on my birthday--but about 95 years before me. Regardless, Bill W was born on November 26th, which is very fun. So, does this make me a friend of Bill W?
Monday, March 17, 2008
My Weekend Update
So, I reckon it is time yet again for an update. Time just flies and so the opportunities to update my blog completely escape me.
To give the Cliff’s Notes version, the business opened (www.SecondCoats.com) and I decided to take a well-deserved short vacation.
For the non-Cliff’s Notes version: I went to DC for my short vacation, leaving Raleigh on Friday evening and getting back late last night. Darin, of course, lives there, and Cammie Jan flew in from Tucson on Saturday, so the Fearsome Threesome…The Rat Pack…CaJaDarKad…whatever the three of us are called (this is more inside joke for Darin, Cammie Jan, and myself than anything)…had a bit of time to hang out.
The drive up wasn’t too shabby, other than having to call a potential drunk driver in to the state police. It was a bit on the crazy side. Upon my arrival, we went to dinner at a good Italian place that was very tasty, though I was hungry enough at that point it wouldn’t really have mattered if it had been bland and horrible. Well…maybe not. It probably would have. Regardless, it was me, Darin, Darin’s gf Melanie, roommate Adam, and Adam’s gf Emmy. After dinner, we went to a birthday party for one of Darin’s friends, which of course was just a load of fun for me, only somewhat knowing one person who was there. Thank heavens Melanie is very nice and talkative…we had fun chatting.
After that, we headed back to Darin’s, where he and I both fell asleep watching this horrible, awful, scary show that gave me nightmares. Saturday, we got up and went shopping for a swimsuit for Darin (he had some fun in one store, as it turns out they have a very odd communal changing room) and I, meanwhile, bought me some more shoes. Because I need them. Badly. We went to a couple of stores and then headed over to the airport to pick up Cammie Jan, after which we headed into the District for a delicious appetizer meal of grasshopper tacos and guacamole. Well, I say delicious, but by delicious, I mean the guacamole was quite tasty. The tacos were very spicy and very crunchy and I can’t say I’d necessarily have them again. If I was really hungry and there was a lot of water on hand, then yes, I would eat them again. Otherwise, I’ll leave my grasshopper portions for others to enjoy.
After the tasty little vittles, we went to the portraiture museum and looked at a few exhibits from the Lincoln inauguration ball, as well as the Steven Colbert painting that graces the entrance to the bathrooms. We then met up with Cammie’s friends Rachel and Carrie. I knew Carrie from my last trip to Mexico (ole! ), but I hadn’t yet had the pleasure of meeting Rachel. All of us went shopping for my adorable oldest nephew’s birthday present, and while in China Town, some very nice firefighters invited us to come in and climb around in and on the firetrucks. We got some fun pictures there.
We then headed off to pick up Melanie to go to our next interesting meal of the day…Ethiopian food. Now, I did not think that the Ethiopians have food and I believe I have discovered why that is—it’s all here in America at Ethiopian restaurants. They seemed to be everywhere in DC. There wasn’t too much on the platter that wasn’t spicy (Kade + Spice = Misery and Sweat) and I must say, the foods that weren’t spicy weren’t entirely enjoyable for me. Yes, I’m a picky eater, but I am willing to try new things. This was one of those that I’ll probably not have again. I also didn’t care for not using silverware…not my cup of tea.
Anyway, after dinner, we headed back to Darin’s and though he and Melanie chickened out, Cammie Jan, Rachel, and I headed off to the District to go dancing at Black Cat. It was most enjoyable! We danced for almost two hours—it was ‘80’s night—and my knees are definitely still feeling it. But, it was a blast!
On Sunday morning, we headed up to Gettysburg, PA, to do a little site seeing. We had a great lunch at a home-cooking style diner, followed by lots of site seeing, and then we had ice cream at a fun little malt shop there in town. Darin and I headed back to DC, so that I could get on the road to Raleigh, while Cammie Jan, Rachel, and Carrie stayed behind to do more exploration.
Other than the snarled traffic for 20 miles, it wasn’t too bad of a drive back until I had to stop at a gas station to use the restroom. It was one of the most disgusting bathrooms I’ve ever been in. I would’ve been better off peeing in the woods. There was scum caked to the urinals, writing everywhere (including etched in the mirror), and the kicker was that instead of a soap dispenser, they had a bar of hand soap! It had hair stuck to it. I almost vomited. Anyway, back on the road, I caught up on a bunch of phone calls and learned that it’s not necessarily a bad thing that I missed my nephew’s birthday party as not everyone (i.e., an adult figure of step parentage) played nice.
I picked up Matza at Beth’s last night, after learning that Matza had been a complete and total terror while I was gone. Poor Beth had to deal with Matza messing all over the house, biting her own dog, attacking her cat, and keeping her up at night with a lot of movement and barking. So, I picked up the brat and took her home, where she was her usual little self and thankfully didn’t try to pull any of that with me. I think she was just reacting to being out of her usual environment, with different people and a different routine. It’s still very embarrassing.
The one good thing Matza did this weekend was she got along fine with some of Beth’s guests who are black. It sounds crazy, but I have a racist dog. She seriously wigs on me anytime she sees a black person. It’s beyond mortifying and I have worked at breaking this habit of hers. Well, my work seems to have paid off, as Beth said she did just fine. I could just see it going down horribly and Beth’s guests coping with this ridiculous, barking mutt. However, I’m grateful it wasn’t the case. :)
So, today I’m back at work while Darin is flying to Florida for vacation and Cammie Jan is still in DC playing for a few days. How I would heart that. Instead, it’s a Monday at work and I have a FULL week of work for my business and a big party to prepare for as well. Yeehaw. However, I am grateful I finally had a fun, relaxing weekend and was able to spend time with my wonderful friends as well as to spend time making some new friends. They’re good people and I’m very blessed to have them as friends.
As a side note, if you texted me this weekend, I most likely didn’t get it. My phone is having issues, apparently. I’ll have that looked in to.
Well, back to work I go…have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
~me
To give the Cliff’s Notes version, the business opened (www.SecondCoats.com) and I decided to take a well-deserved short vacation.
For the non-Cliff’s Notes version: I went to DC for my short vacation, leaving Raleigh on Friday evening and getting back late last night. Darin, of course, lives there, and Cammie Jan flew in from Tucson on Saturday, so the Fearsome Threesome…The Rat Pack…CaJaDarKad…whatever the three of us are called (this is more inside joke for Darin, Cammie Jan, and myself than anything)…had a bit of time to hang out.
The drive up wasn’t too shabby, other than having to call a potential drunk driver in to the state police. It was a bit on the crazy side. Upon my arrival, we went to dinner at a good Italian place that was very tasty, though I was hungry enough at that point it wouldn’t really have mattered if it had been bland and horrible. Well…maybe not. It probably would have. Regardless, it was me, Darin, Darin’s gf Melanie, roommate Adam, and Adam’s gf Emmy. After dinner, we went to a birthday party for one of Darin’s friends, which of course was just a load of fun for me, only somewhat knowing one person who was there. Thank heavens Melanie is very nice and talkative…we had fun chatting.
After that, we headed back to Darin’s, where he and I both fell asleep watching this horrible, awful, scary show that gave me nightmares. Saturday, we got up and went shopping for a swimsuit for Darin (he had some fun in one store, as it turns out they have a very odd communal changing room) and I, meanwhile, bought me some more shoes. Because I need them. Badly. We went to a couple of stores and then headed over to the airport to pick up Cammie Jan, after which we headed into the District for a delicious appetizer meal of grasshopper tacos and guacamole. Well, I say delicious, but by delicious, I mean the guacamole was quite tasty. The tacos were very spicy and very crunchy and I can’t say I’d necessarily have them again. If I was really hungry and there was a lot of water on hand, then yes, I would eat them again. Otherwise, I’ll leave my grasshopper portions for others to enjoy.
After the tasty little vittles, we went to the portraiture museum and looked at a few exhibits from the Lincoln inauguration ball, as well as the Steven Colbert painting that graces the entrance to the bathrooms. We then met up with Cammie’s friends Rachel and Carrie. I knew Carrie from my last trip to Mexico (ole!
We then headed off to pick up Melanie to go to our next interesting meal of the day…Ethiopian food. Now, I did not think that the Ethiopians have food and I believe I have discovered why that is—it’s all here in America at Ethiopian restaurants. They seemed to be everywhere in DC. There wasn’t too much on the platter that wasn’t spicy (Kade + Spice = Misery and Sweat) and I must say, the foods that weren’t spicy weren’t entirely enjoyable for me. Yes, I’m a picky eater, but I am willing to try new things. This was one of those that I’ll probably not have again. I also didn’t care for not using silverware…not my cup of tea.
Anyway, after dinner, we headed back to Darin’s and though he and Melanie chickened out, Cammie Jan, Rachel, and I headed off to the District to go dancing at Black Cat. It was most enjoyable! We danced for almost two hours—it was ‘80’s night—and my knees are definitely still feeling it. But, it was a blast!
On Sunday morning, we headed up to Gettysburg, PA, to do a little site seeing. We had a great lunch at a home-cooking style diner, followed by lots of site seeing, and then we had ice cream at a fun little malt shop there in town. Darin and I headed back to DC, so that I could get on the road to Raleigh, while Cammie Jan, Rachel, and Carrie stayed behind to do more exploration.
Other than the snarled traffic for 20 miles, it wasn’t too bad of a drive back until I had to stop at a gas station to use the restroom. It was one of the most disgusting bathrooms I’ve ever been in. I would’ve been better off peeing in the woods. There was scum caked to the urinals, writing everywhere (including etched in the mirror), and the kicker was that instead of a soap dispenser, they had a bar of hand soap! It had hair stuck to it. I almost vomited. Anyway, back on the road, I caught up on a bunch of phone calls and learned that it’s not necessarily a bad thing that I missed my nephew’s birthday party as not everyone (i.e., an adult figure of step parentage) played nice.
I picked up Matza at Beth’s last night, after learning that Matza had been a complete and total terror while I was gone. Poor Beth had to deal with Matza messing all over the house, biting her own dog, attacking her cat, and keeping her up at night with a lot of movement and barking. So, I picked up the brat and took her home, where she was her usual little self and thankfully didn’t try to pull any of that with me. I think she was just reacting to being out of her usual environment, with different people and a different routine. It’s still very embarrassing.
The one good thing Matza did this weekend was she got along fine with some of Beth’s guests who are black. It sounds crazy, but I have a racist dog. She seriously wigs on me anytime she sees a black person. It’s beyond mortifying and I have worked at breaking this habit of hers. Well, my work seems to have paid off, as Beth said she did just fine. I could just see it going down horribly and Beth’s guests coping with this ridiculous, barking mutt. However, I’m grateful it wasn’t the case. :)
So, today I’m back at work while Darin is flying to Florida for vacation and Cammie Jan is still in DC playing for a few days. How I would heart that. Instead, it’s a Monday at work and I have a FULL week of work for my business and a big party to prepare for as well. Yeehaw. However, I am grateful I finally had a fun, relaxing weekend and was able to spend time with my wonderful friends as well as to spend time making some new friends. They’re good people and I’m very blessed to have them as friends.
As a side note, if you texted me this weekend, I most likely didn’t get it. My phone is having issues, apparently. I’ll have that looked in to.
Well, back to work I go…have a Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
~me
Sunday, March 9, 2008
The "Express" Lane
So, while I'm on here editing my blog, I figured I'd take a moment to post a blog...more of a complaint and gripe, really, but in blog format. Well, last night at about 9:30, I realized that I was out of laundry detergent. As I don't like to shop on Sunday, but knew I had to keep doing laundry today if there is any hope of getting through the piles and piles and piles of dirty clothes (about 10-15 loads in all). So, off to the store I went.
I quickly grabbed my detergent and headed to check out in the express lane...you know the one--12 items or less, right? Well, the two ladies in front of me (and I use the term "ladies" loosely here--more to describe their age than their maturity and couth), had a cart FULL of crap...and then they wanted cigarettes too. I was about ready to ask them which 12 items they would be purchasing, when the woman behind me said, "Lord, help me." This made me chuckle and calm down for just a moment--long enough for them to fluster the cashier and get him all screwed up with the type of cancer sticks they wanted. I was livid. I was knee-deep in laundry (literally) and work on my site, so it wasn't as if I had all night to stand there waiting for them to get through their monstrous cart load.
What I don't get is how people can be so inconsiderate. I'm a very busy person, so every minute counts with me. This is why I go to the express lane...I expect it to be express. If I had wanted to stay in line for an hour, I'd go to a regular line. So, my thoughts at this hour are that there needs to be a magic button at the express lanes for cashiers and fellow customers alike that once pushed, will cause the person and their over-limit cart to fall into a big, black hole...never to be seen or heard from again. The world would be a much better place without these hooligans amongst those of us who follow the rules at the checkout stand.
I quickly grabbed my detergent and headed to check out in the express lane...you know the one--12 items or less, right? Well, the two ladies in front of me (and I use the term "ladies" loosely here--more to describe their age than their maturity and couth), had a cart FULL of crap...and then they wanted cigarettes too. I was about ready to ask them which 12 items they would be purchasing, when the woman behind me said, "Lord, help me." This made me chuckle and calm down for just a moment--long enough for them to fluster the cashier and get him all screwed up with the type of cancer sticks they wanted. I was livid. I was knee-deep in laundry (literally) and work on my site, so it wasn't as if I had all night to stand there waiting for them to get through their monstrous cart load.
What I don't get is how people can be so inconsiderate. I'm a very busy person, so every minute counts with me. This is why I go to the express lane...I expect it to be express. If I had wanted to stay in line for an hour, I'd go to a regular line. So, my thoughts at this hour are that there needs to be a magic button at the express lanes for cashiers and fellow customers alike that once pushed, will cause the person and their over-limit cart to fall into a big, black hole...never to be seen or heard from again. The world would be a much better place without these hooligans amongst those of us who follow the rules at the checkout stand.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
My dog...what a little bitch!
OK, so I love my dog dearly and all, but that little wretch is lucky she's not at the pound tonight given her actions this morning. I called her to come into the kitchen to eat her drug-laced treat (the only way I can get her to take her Prozac without shoving it down her throat) and she didn't come running like she usually does. So, I went in to my bedroom to see what the deal was, when I found her hunkering down on a pillow on my bed like she was in trouble. I knew then that she'd gone to the bathroom somewhere in the house.
Well, as she'd been in the living room, I went in there first to check. Sure enough, she'd left a lovely pile on the carpet. So, back in to my bedroom I went to spank the little beast. However, this backfired on me as the second I spanked her, she peed on my pillow! Seriously. Oh, I was mad. It's a good thing it was on one of my old pillows, rather than on one of the $30 pillows I just got and hadn't had the time to put in a pillow case yet. Anyway, she is not on my good list and my thought is that it's a good thing she's so cute as otherwise, that mutt would be on the street.
Well, as she'd been in the living room, I went in there first to check. Sure enough, she'd left a lovely pile on the carpet. So, back in to my bedroom I went to spank the little beast. However, this backfired on me as the second I spanked her, she peed on my pillow! Seriously. Oh, I was mad. It's a good thing it was on one of my old pillows, rather than on one of the $30 pillows I just got and hadn't had the time to put in a pillow case yet. Anyway, she is not on my good list and my thought is that it's a good thing she's so cute as otherwise, that mutt would be on the street.
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Karma
Well, I am just hoping that dear ol' karma doesn't come and bite me in the butt for making fun, but I do have to share today's fun tidbit.
I was heading back to Raleigh from Hillsborough this afternoon, when a car got right on my bumper...and I mean the grill of that car was a nibblin' away at my poor Don Pedro's heiny. So, I did what any sane person would do...I tapped on my brakes. Well, this pissed the guy off and he threw his hands up in the air, like I have some control over speeding up or getting out of his way. You see, there was a slower-moving car in front of me and a huge truck and horse trailer to my right. So, I wasn't able to go anywhere. I threw my hands up in the air back at him. Well, I guess the car in front of me thought that I was motioning at them, which I wasn't as they were driving the speed limit--but in the fast lane, so they got over. This allowed me to speed up and get over.
I was most excited to see that there was a police SUV three lanes over from where I was with the nimrod right behind me. So, as soon as I could, I got over in front of the huge truck and let the jerk fly on by. Apparently, he didn't realize that the large white Suburban with giant black letters that said "POLICE" on it was an actual cop, as he flew right by the cop going about 20-25 mph over the speed limit. I said to my friend, Justin, who was in the passenger seat watching this all go down, "I so hope they pull him over." Justin said, "I doubt they will." But, right then, the cop sped up and was clearly pacing the speeding car.
Well, we were coming up on our exit, so I was a bit disappointed that we wouldn't know the outcome and Justin didn't think we would either, but I was most elated to see the reds and blues start flashing behind the creep, right as we were turning off. Take that Mr. Ford Focus. So, though I'm hoping karma doesn't come and get me, I am most happy that for once a driver who deserved to get caught was actually caught indeed. Good job officer, whoever you are!!
I was heading back to Raleigh from Hillsborough this afternoon, when a car got right on my bumper...and I mean the grill of that car was a nibblin' away at my poor Don Pedro's heiny. So, I did what any sane person would do...I tapped on my brakes. Well, this pissed the guy off and he threw his hands up in the air, like I have some control over speeding up or getting out of his way. You see, there was a slower-moving car in front of me and a huge truck and horse trailer to my right. So, I wasn't able to go anywhere. I threw my hands up in the air back at him. Well, I guess the car in front of me thought that I was motioning at them, which I wasn't as they were driving the speed limit--but in the fast lane, so they got over. This allowed me to speed up and get over.
I was most excited to see that there was a police SUV three lanes over from where I was with the nimrod right behind me. So, as soon as I could, I got over in front of the huge truck and let the jerk fly on by. Apparently, he didn't realize that the large white Suburban with giant black letters that said "POLICE" on it was an actual cop, as he flew right by the cop going about 20-25 mph over the speed limit. I said to my friend, Justin, who was in the passenger seat watching this all go down, "I so hope they pull him over." Justin said, "I doubt they will." But, right then, the cop sped up and was clearly pacing the speeding car.
Well, we were coming up on our exit, so I was a bit disappointed that we wouldn't know the outcome and Justin didn't think we would either, but I was most elated to see the reds and blues start flashing behind the creep, right as we were turning off. Take that Mr. Ford Focus. So, though I'm hoping karma doesn't come and get me, I am most happy that for once a driver who deserved to get caught was actually caught indeed. Good job officer, whoever you are!!
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