Life is a Balance

Posted on June 5, 2009 by Frog

We got home on Tuesday afternoon. We had a fantastic time in Chicago. Friday the 29th we ate deep-dish pizza and drank local beer and then stumbled upon a polish extravaganza at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. Technically we have partied with Lech Walesa. The closest I will ever actually come to a former head of state to be sure. While we were standing there listening to Lezek Mozdzer, I leaned over to the better-half and told him I was a little in love with Chicago.

The better-half took this picture while walking around the city during one of my class days. I like it for all the curves:

This Thursday morning the better-half called me before 9am from his cell. Calls like that are never good news in our little family. He called to tell me that one of his favorite uncles took his life the night before. I’ve only ever felt like crying at work one other time. After we talked for a bit, I hung up the phone and quietly said, fuck. The funeral is Monday.

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Good Advice

Posted on May 31, 2009 by Frog

We saw this yesterday at the Museum of Science and Industry…good advice:
Think

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Good Food

Posted on May 29, 2009 by Frog

Class is over now and the fun can begin! Actually, we’ve been having a good time eating well. Last night we went to the Saloon Steakhouse and that was some awesome beef. We went up into the John Hancock Tower Observatory after dinner and it seemed the view went on forever. It made you feel like a small fish in a really large pond.

The night before we went to Topolobampo. The food and service was some of the best I’ve experienced. Every step of the way the food was outstanding, from the guacamole at the start to the small candies at the end. We even got to see the man himself–it’s nice to know he still stays active in the kitchen.

Tonight, it’s time for some deep-dish pizza.

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Richmond, lame as usual

Posted on May 26, 2009 by Frog

We were supposed to have an easy flight from Richmond to Chicago. Instead we sat on the ground in Richmond longer than the flight was supposed to last. A cascade of fail occurred including the coupler doo-hickey that fuels the plane automagically broke and a guy had to sit on the wing and pump the fuel in…it was like a long trip to Wawa. Then, we were overweight and couldn’t use the long runaway because in typical Richmond fashion the runway was closed for road maintenance. When we finally rode past that section of runway the f*ckers were standing there doing no work. I’m sorry, but if I sit on the tarmac for 2+ hours then I’d better see someone lifting a shovel as I go past. Richmond and their inability to do anything correctly when it comes to road maintenance—road, runway, whatever the FAIL is high in Richmond.

Dinner in Chicago was delicious and we finally go to try Fat Tire Ale. Not spectacular, but something I’d buy to have on hand for hot summer days. Also, finally, tried Grappa. The ale and the grappa are things we never see on the menu in the RIC.

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Minor Annoyance

Posted on May 22, 2009 by Frog

I was just down in our business center* picking up something off the high-speed copier and noticed someone had stuck a post-it to a box. The post-it ended with “Thanx”. I realize there are bigger things to worry about but the author of that note couldn’t spare a K and an S? To spell it correctly would have taken one more letter but she** was too busy for that? Afraid she’d use up all her allotted S’s for the day?

*This is the room we now have to leave locked because people here for training helped themselves to our supplies and misused our equipment. Some folks even took to meeting at the work table in the room. Yeah, some people have lost their minds.

**The author has to be female because we don’t have any men who work at this location. Scary, but true.

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Camera, Pictures, Gah

Posted on May 21, 2009 by Frog

On Saturday after the graduation ceremony the better-half told me he didn’t take any pictures as the batteries in the camera were dead and because we read the rules of the ceremony he didn’t have his cell phone with him. Yeah, they said not to bring cell phones because the security folks would take them away from you. I saw dozens of cell phones among the graduates and lots of people were using their phones to take pictures. I hate being the one who follows the rules only to have the rules tell me to bend over.

Faced with the fact that we knew there were none of our own pictures, I decided to go look at the pictures the official photography group posted to their website. I made screen shots for the better-half and sent them with the following titles: “my three chins”, “drunk again” and “ready for my prison jumpsuit”. As you can guess, we will not be spending money on any official photos.

I emailed him and told him I was not photogenic and these pictures proved that. I suggested that I put the frock back on and have him take pictures of me with the camera that now has brand new rechargeable batteries (we’ve had the original set of batteries way longer than is recommended). He said it would be like the moonwalk–all done on a sound stage.

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OMG, for reals

Posted on May 20, 2009 by Frog

This was in my chair when I got back from lunch (sorry about the crappy picture–taken with cell phone and quickly so I wouldn’t be seen taking a picture of it): omg1

The secret pal has struck again. I realize that the sentiment is what’s important and that the giver was being nice. BUT HOLY COW I WANT TO PLUCK OUT MY EYES!

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That didn’t take long

Posted on May 19, 2009 by Frog

So, I’m a newly minted M.Ed. and I’ve already interviewed for a new job and been asked for advice on how to do what I do for a living. I think the interview went well, but I’m not sure that I’m a fit for them…my fit may run more towards having drinks after work but I’m not sure about the 9-5 aspect.

A student who is about half-way through the program emailed me yesterday and is coming to my office tomorrow to discuss instructional design. I’ve asked if others in the office would like to join us–the response has been positive so far. Hopefully this student will get some advice she can use.

This time next week the better-half and I will be on our way to Chicago. I can’t wait. For all the learning I’ll be doing in my training workshop, of course.

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Today’s the day

Posted on May 16, 2009 by Frog

Watching the video feed now…heading over to the School’s ceremony in a little bit.

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Freak Magnet

Posted on May 15, 2009 by Frog

I took my lunch time today to get the oil changed in the car. I’d much rather go to the oil change place near work than the ghetto one that’s in my town. The folks who work at the place I like take care of customers (they helped an elderly woman today with her walker and then let a mentally-challenged young man hang out and watch what they were doing) and they don’t leave grease prints all over the car like the ghettoville one.

While I was waiting, I picked up the local paper and read for most of the time I was there. A woman and her 2 year old were watching Dragon Tales but then left. The older woman came in about the time I did and then the spaz couple walked in. The whole time they were bursting onto the scene like a couple of kittens I kept reading the paper. It was obvious I could care less about them or Dragon Tales. Still they asked me if I was watching TV. Instead of saying if I had Superman vision and could see through solid objects I’d finally be the ruler of the planet and I wouldn’t be wasting my time on a minion task, I just said no feel free to change the channel. Then they went back to their spastic ways. The woman finally said something about what a deal it was that this oil changing chain was going to wash the windows and vacuum the car. I just gave the vague smile of “you are an idiot”.

Then she scampered around when they called out about who had the Honda (lucky day we both have one). Yeah, I was there before you they are probably talking to me. When I turned around to sit back down, she was in my seat and asked me if it was my newspaper. I told her it was provided by the establishment and then I sat in another chair. She leaped into the air and then moved back to her original seat. Seriously, WTF? There’s no excuse for being that hyper. Quit taking the drugs.

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