Number one Son and I repaired to the Transit Drive in the other night and it is such a throwback. The minivan crowd is forced to tie their hoods down not to obstruct vision. The staff hands you a flyer with where on your radio to pick up the movie sound. We got to see a double feature for $11.00. I brought our drinks at the Co-op, but I did snag a bucket of popcorn at the show for 4? Can you imagine the Regal only charging 4 for a bucket? Me, neither. Two lounge chairs and a boombox. That is the way to see Underdog (which wasn't bad actually).
Other blockbusters were on the other screens.
Gonna see the Underdog/Ratatouille selection. Not my choice, but number one son is with me for the week and he got to pick. His sibilings and their mom are en route to the Michigan Women's Festival, so we have some guy time this week. So, culture isn't quite to hibrow this week
I read the current Harry Potter book this week. It was a really good book. The thing is huge, but written in a way that you can lose yourself in the narrative. Only secret that I'll spill is that Col. Mustard did it in the conservatory with the lead pipe.
Got the week off and already life feels a little brighter. My direct supervisor changed and who she "Is" varies from day to day. It's a little surreal watching somebody else deal with being overwhelmed. The downside is the answer to a question can change depending on when you ask it. I do pretty well on commissions and was expecting a nice pile to come with the check that is arriving this week, but somebody (her) forgot something and now we have to wait another two weeks to see the $ for July. Argh.
Stole out of work early to see Lucinda Williams at Artpark and it was well worth it. Aside from having a 'thing" for her, it dawned on me that both Artpark and the Canal Concerts have better lineups then the Square does this year. Although, I do plan on showing up for Dropkick Murphys when they get here in September -- certain freedoms to staghood I guess.
I'm spending the bulk of my time at the Time Warner office in Amherst and I'm trying to find the comedy in the inherent insanity. For example, three separate incidents yesterday: a couple comes to the counter and without fail, the male steps up and shows his knowledge by "asking about our DSL." Without missing a beat, the woman gently informs him that that is the phone company, we're at the cable store." Funny, sometimes, I don't even have to be here.
I had to stop downtown to apply for another position and stepped into see my current supervisor and I wound up getting dressed down for a few errors in the billing system. Makes you wish you don't show up sometimes. I was on my own time, and quietly hpoing to sneak out, instead I wound up refreshing my mind over what happened to one customer abour 10 days ago. No problem except that I talk to over 100 people typically on a variety of issues.
Feh, two days from vacation. Boy do I need it. The folks out here are spoiled, lazy and whiny but I do what I do what I do.
94 in Amherst at the moment -- Tell me there is nothing to global warming, go ahead, go ahead.
Not going anyplace on this vacation, just going to be nice to get some time away from the work to relax and hang with number one son while his sisters and Mom head off to the Women's Music Fest in Michigan. Tis' our time for guy stuff, rainy day at Dave and Buster's, sunny day golfin or going to a Bisons game and stuff like that.
I was mesmorized at the coverage of the Bridge disaster in Minneapolis last night. Given the vicisstudes of rush hour there, I'm amazed the death tally isn't higher. We've got CNN on in the office at the moment and they are on the edge of not having much new to say. The Minneapolis paper had a headline of "Down, Down, Down." It's a Rupert Murdoch world and we're just living in it.
Did win a Weggies gift card the other day, so the beer will be quality this evening.
Knew Monday was going to live up to its name as I was leaving for work. I entered Gates Circle to catch the 33 by Elmwood.. Apparently, coming from the other direction on Delaware the notion of stopping a little and then entering the circle (Basically, waiting your fucking turn) was applying as a oblivious fuck in an SUV decided to go faster right in, anybody else be damned. Jerkass scared the shit out of me. Wasn't driving angry till then.
I get to my current office and had to seperate two customers who were actually grumbling out their place in line. One of my colleagues screwed her wrist up and couldn't lift anything. She was trying and doing the best she could, downside was all that stuff came to me and that spoiled rotten overprivileged middle aged fucksticks don't know how to behave.
I actually yelled "Do I have to pull this store over?" I guess with enough elan that no one said a word. I love my job.
Going home, I felt like I had a finished a 15 round fight. Cruising back via the 290, I watched as two separate SUVs (Must be something about them that cause brain damage) slip right in front of a Semi to make their lane change with about half a car length to spare.
Very grateful that there was some Labatt's in the fridge.
Didn't sleep very well last night, which there is nothing unusual about that, but I had a big interview this morning. Trotted out a nice light grey suit. Ipod cooperated and played some nice upbeat stuff through traffic. The interview went well and was free of the bullshit questions and actually talked about the job instead of my greatest weakness (blue eyes and a killer smile). Makes you want the job just because of the freedom from the nonsense. Interview finishes with me getting enough time to get home to change before the actual work day gets going. I hit the road and the Allentown Trading Company is stocking Aero Bars. Rapture! I know you can get em elsewhere, but seeing them (an awesome candy bar) on the shelf was a sign.
Got back in the car and the IPOD cranks up my u2 Buffalo Bootleg for the jaunt down the 290.
For the past six years or so, the ex and I have been splitting the cost of a membership at the Holiday Inn on Delaware. They have a pool club that for a flat rate you get unlimited swimming pool access from 10am to 10pm, Memorial Day through Labor Day. It's not a bad deal and we can get cooled off with the hassle of the border or packing cars like you're temporarily moving. Basically, throw your suit on and go. The fact that the hotel bar delivers out to you helps too. Previous summers had us ordering LaNova for dinner and getting drinks from the bar.
I do wonder about the buffoons who own the place. They had a watermain break near the pool that put a serious crimp on operations out there. Shit happens, I understand that. They are getting ready to open the pool for what is left of the summer. Since two thirds of their usual swimming season is shot, the Hotel isn't going to run a pool club since the fucksticks in management couldn't come to any kind of consensus on how to price it. Two thirds of the season is gone. Deduct two thirds from the price, doesn't seem that hard to me. That sort of logic made me the befuddled male I am today. It's that sort of muddleheaded thinking that just pisses me off. You'd think they want to cultivate previous pool club so we all come back in 08.
Jerkasses.
In other news, here's a sign that I spent too much time fixing computers of the weekend. Simpsonized myself
My sisters are both long time manhattan residents and probably wouldn't be happy in any other city, each resenting that the other is on their turf. That said, whenever stuff happens they've got a story about it. The Steam eruption happened right outside my elder sister's design firm. She got shooed off her balcony by an air quality guy this am.
They saw the "Big fun" start, but nobody in her place could be cool to run a camera. Can't say I blame em. Boss got her a car service home tonight though.
Took a tour of the Italian and Canal Fests today. The Italian fest is so trapped in time I'm pretty sure they are serving cannoli from two years ago. I had to work it for Adelphia a few years ago and hadn't been back since so after finishing all my domestic responsibilities I took a stroll. And it might have been 2005. It's all in the exact same place. The only going achieved was a little badly needed sun on me and a reinstatement of my waryness of any carnival ride still attached to its delivery truck.
Canal fest is another matter. Maybe it's being down on the water, maybe it was the entire bag of sugar inside my lemonade (it was really good), maybe it was hitting two baskets and coming home with a three foot tall Homer Simpson, but I liked it. I hung out on the one bridge between the goings on, watching the boats, quietly appreciating the women in same and felt very peaceful. Proper funnel cake has that effect.
The aforementioned tasty lemonade
Seagulls in search of fried dough nuggets
An unenthused Walgreen's, at the rate the new stores have been opening, this one should have had a sidewalk sale taking place
Curb your duck ( I think that is me and my shadow taking their picture from the bridge)
The view from the river bridge (essentially neutral turf between the Tonawandas)
Oh to have a water bike. What a good thing
In spite of the fact that the band was playing Pink Floyd songs (Nothing wrong with that, just didn't seem uptempo for carnival fun). It was worth checking out.
Since it is close to where work is these days, I may make a mid week return jaunt. It's a parade of mullets to be sure, but it's a hoot to people watch.
I have new found respect for the Philadelphia Phillies. While playing at Colorado, an impressive rain storm blew in and the flying tarp made the news. The grounds crew was getting bitchslapped everywhere and all the Phillies players (the away team!) joined into help anchor the tarp and help the crew get things out of control. I thought this was insanely greatl considering they were the away team, they were winning, and the game could have stopped there. They were just folks helping other folks. It's what we need to see more of in pro sports. The home team with one exception was in the club house. Colorado fans were cool by applauding the effort. Check out the video if you haven't seen it already
