Frog and Goat

I have a group project at school. With those seven words, you can pretty much tell the story of what’s going on with the group project. We’re in hell. We have one tiny dictator and the remaining three are just tired, worn-out and just want to be finished.

Group school projects aren’t always bad and I’ve worked on one that was a joy. I’ve worked on others that were pleasant. I can’t say that I’ve worked on one like this current one. Hell. Hell. Hell. Actually, hell is a funny word since that’s the word that kicked off the rage of the tiny dictator. If you’ve ever seen the Hitler parodies on youtube, you know what I mean about tiny dictators and rage over stupid stuff. In fact, I think I may go watch one of those right now to put everything back into perspective.

My other class is nearing completion too. I had a presentation last week in which I was less than stellar. Really, I thought I sucked and that’s not one of those false modesty things. I really just phoned it in. My grade came back this week–95%. Heck, I work hard and I get strife. I phone it in and I get an A. Go figure.

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*My sister once emailed me about a drama-trauma situation and she spelled it trama. It’s my preferred way to talk about the fake drama that wells up in situations that really don’t deserve it.

For the last couple of days, something hasn’t felt right with one of my shoes. I didn’t really pay attention until today when I thought something was stuck to the side and towards the bottom. I was in a training class, observing, all day and only glanced at my shoe once. I figured I’d look at it later.

Yeah, there’s a problem and I’m not talking about the horrible state of the camera phone picture:

Sadly, these shoes aren’t sold on Zappos anymore. I know they aren’t the most stylish, but, damn, they’ve been comfortable. I got them in 2005 so I figure they’ve had a good long run. My next pair of Clarks is already on the way.

My sister and the Nieces arrived mid-Friday afternoon at the apartment in the college town. The better-half had arrived the night before. Thankfully he happened to hit town as I was leaving class so he picked me up. I got massive blisters the night before walking to class. I was thrilled not to have to walk back to the bus stop Thursday night.

Anyway, we took a quick tour of the apartment and the Nieces and the better-half left us for about a half hour so they could go find a cave the better-half remembered from his undergraduate days. They found it but no one went in. I think it’s small or there was some doubt about losing two small girls down a hole, something. I don’t know. It was neato by all accounts.

Then we were commanded by Nut2 to get her to the park, STAT! The better-half and I found a playground not far from the apartment a month or so ago and mentioned it to the Nieces. It was the highlight of the trip, I think. The playground was pretty spectacular I have to admit. Several different zones of equipment and an actual caboose. Sweet. We actually went to the playground twice it was so much fun.

We toured the campus a bit and I showed them my School and we saw a bunch of kids playing ultimate frisbee. Then it was time to hit the t-shirt/sweat shirt shops. We tried the one nearby but it was a)packed to the gills and b)lame in child-size clothing. I knew of another spot for that sort of thing and off we went. We had success.

After shopping, Nut1 and I were waiting to get let back into my sister’s van. As we were standing there, I noticed a dirty diaper wrapped haphazardly in a piece of newspaper. We giggled like eight-year-olds (at least one of us has an excuse) and then had to tell our gross story in the car.

The car was the scene for quite a few gross things. Including–farting, burping the alphabet, taunting one Niece to throw up (alas she didn’t) and calling each other stinky or some variation on body part names.

All in all a good weekend. My sister managed to get the kids to the apartment, we did some fun things and then they hauled butt home (she said butt) in order to make it to a girl scout event late Saturday afternoon. And, after the event they went to see my brother-in-law perform with his band. She rocks. She’s also probably exhausted.