Posts from — March 2003

Tra-la, it’s spring. I confirmed it this morning when, on my way to work with the windows down, I saw the blooming magnolias and dogwoods, heard the birds singing, and smelled the brewery. (Mmmm, nothing like the pungent aroma of hops and barley malt to make me nostalgic.)

Work was frantic, but I was fueled by coffee and chocolate espresso cookies (baked by a co-worker who’s moving and wants to use up her baking supplies), so I mostly kept up.

In the weight room, I’ve been making leaps and bounds. Today I upped the weight on a couple exercises, and it was barely a challenge. It’s almost like I’m 17 again, only without the nagging identity issues or acne - and that’s a terrifying prospect.

Right now it’s pleasantly windy out. I think I’ll go read on the porch or something, before it gets stormy and cold.

Today was nondescript. I can’t think of another way to describe it. No workout, typical workload, gorgeous weather that I didn’t get to experience because I was stuck inside, etc. Dinner was barbecued sausages - Andouille and kielbasa. Called the cable company (returning their call) and the cute neighbor (first contact). I really have nothing more to add.

Last night’s yoga class got cancelled - instructor had a sick kid and couldn’t find a last-minute replacement. So I came back home and we grilled the kebabs.

I managed to stay asleep last night and not wake up until the hail started at 7 this morning (at which time I bolted mostly upright and watched nervously out the window to see how my beloved car would fare). It’s made a difference in the way the day has gone, really, even though my users still blow goats.

My forearms are still a little sore from my workout even though it was 4 hours ago. Yeah, it was that rough. I don’t think I’ll be increasing the weight just yet.

For the record, I contacted the cable company today, and should be hearing back from them soon about an installation appointment. (because i know you were going to ask.)

I get to figure out how to destroy a bunch of old 8mm data tapes! Unfortunately, my two favorite suggestions (bonfire and steamroller) have been deemed “fun but very impractical”, so I’m brainstorming other reliable methods. Suggestions are welcome.

Tonight, no big plans. No barbecue tonight - it’s rainy out - so dinner will be an indoor pursuit. Perhaps I’ll get around to calling the cute neighbor.

Saturday we ‘cued again - this time, Ed had hit Soulard Market and scored some great corn on the cob, so we grilled that with some chicken. Good stuff.

After washing my car, I went out. It was a much better evening than the previous week. (For one, I was in a better mood.) I even got to meet the cute blond boy who washes his car in the alley between our two places; his was the one phone number I asked for, and the one number I got.

However, I would like to know who spilled the beans about a certain spot on the back of my head. I must have had about 3 different random strangers reach out and rub that exact spot. Finding that spot is my test for, uh, worthiness, so I know I haven’t made it public. Come on - fess up, whoever you are.

Sunday I slept in, and it felt good. My injured younger brother was heading back to school, and my parents were out of town, so the usual “let’s go eat our parents’ food” thing was out of the question. Instead, we went to Tandoori Hut, and I was pleasantly surprised by the job they did on the naan and the chicken biryani. I am SO THERE for the South Indian buffet one weekend.

After a chat with the proprietor (a very charming man), we went grocery shopping and made it back just in time to prepare drinks and turn on the Oscars. Y’know, it’s much more enjoyable when you’re lit - the jokes are actually funny, the sad or serious parts moderately funny, and you can mock the outfits mercilessly. (Sean Connery, what were you thinking? Nobody looks good in a frilly cravat.)

Today, on the whole, has kinda sucked. For some bizarre reason I was awake at 4:30 am with both “I Will Survive” and “Mamma Mia” (as performed in PQOTD) in my head. Once I got to work, I got to deal with users harping at me to fix their problem first, even though the Intranet server and a file server were both down, and an uncooperative document mangled one of my workflow projects. Then again, I had a productive departmental meeting and a challenging workout, so it isn’t all bad. (My workout kept pace with last Monday; if you’ll remember, I had to skip legs/midsection on Thursday because of my stint as ambulance driver.)

Tonight is yoga, kebabs on the barby, and I think I’ll call my cute neighbor.

Thank God for Fridays, eh?

Well, I finally got caught up with the stuff from last Friday, and managed to make headway on the stuff that had been accumulating over the past week. My users weren’t exactly helping, though - I had to deal with 2 problem calls in which the affected item was switched off, and another in which they had disconnected the network cable. Um, duh?

My workout was a little extra-challenging, but I made it through OK. After I got back to my desk I spent a little quality time stretching my forearms so I could type again.

Last night at home I started the fire, got the pork chops marinating (but for less time than the kabobs last weekend), cleaned the skillet, rented a couple movies, ate dinner a couple times over (i was STARVING), then sat down and checked my e-mail. Um, oops. Turns out my friend Jimmy had been emailing for a while, wondering what I was up to…

So I went over to Jimmy’s place and hung out, aided by beer for me and Zima (with a twist of Grenadine) for him. (Jimmy - yes, it’s a little frou. But you knew that.) Somehow I came away from the night with my very own copy of “Priscilla, Queen of the Desert”; maybe that’ll help me shake the nagging confusion of Hugo Weaving’s roles of Elrond and Agent Smith in my head. (by putting them both in brightly-colored feather headdresses? i don’t know.)

Today I don’t plan to do much at all. So there.