Love your hair

...hope it wins!

Crush du Jour: Max Ryan

Tues

As you read this I am driving to Richmond to waste a bunch of time.


My team is allegedly having a meeting this afternoon, although my boss wouldn't respond to my email inquiring about what time the meeting was to start. He knows it takes me 5 hours to get there so knowing what time the meeting starts will determine how much earlier than usual I will need to get up and get on the road. This just further validates my opinion of him as an @sshole.


Then both of the sales teams and account managers (which includes me) are supposed to go to a cook-out at one of the manager's house. Its supposed to be 94 degrees and humid there so that should be a hot mess. I'm tempted to skip it and eat dinner in a nice, air conditioned restaurant but that probably wouldn't be a great career move.


Then on Wed the sales teams and account managers are attending an all-day meeting with a woman from one of those personality test companies. We were required to waste another hour last month answering a bunch of questions online so they could develop a personality scorecard of each of us. For the life of me I don't know how she is going to spend the whole day talking about our combined scorecard as a team. And all of this time wasting comes when I have real work to do.


Afterward the teams are supposed to attend a baseball game together that evening. I really resent having to spend my non 9-5 time with my co-workers. Again, I could be in air conditioned comfort enjoying a Cosmo and a meal, rather than a beer and a hot dog.


But wait! That's not all. Then there will be 5 more hours of wasted time as I drive back home from Richmond on Thurs, when I could be doing actual work for my clients.


Don't get me wrong; I don't mind going to Richmond for real, productive reasons. Meetings with a known start time and agenda, that kind of thing. But bullsh*t like this is just a waste of time.


Crush du Jour: Danny Smith

Weekend highlights

Sat morning Spouse went to his work out and I enjoyed my coffee and several back-to-back episodes of "Sell This House" before tidying up the kitchen and starting some laundry. Then we met Steven for lunch (Thad was out of town visiting his mother) and wound up talking for 2 1/2 hours! It was nice because neither he nor we were on a schedule. It was about 86 degrees so we decided to skip the beach. Instead Spouse & I went to Homo Depot to finalize our selections for the condo. We ran into Sean, a very nice (homo) guy who helped us with our tile selections when we were doing our bathroom. Sean helped us pick out the best items for the best prices and we made a list of the product numbers so we can email them to the contractor.

Later I got a text from my old friend David who was enjoying blood orange margaritas at Dos Locos, so I picked up Jason (Spouse didn't want to go) and we joined David and a few friends for drinks. It was fun! Then Jason & I went back to Jason's house and Spouse came over so we could all go to dinner at Serendipity. Afterward Spouse went home but I went to the 'Mandance' with Bryan & Jason and Vince. Steven and The Bobs were there, as were lots of other friends. I danced and talked and had a good time.

Sun it was really hot so Spouse didn't want to go to the beach again. I almost didn't go, but Steven called me and said it was nice. Although it was in the 90s in town, there was a cool breeze coming off the ocean so it was comfortable on the beach. So I joined Steven, The Bobs, and a few other friends' camp on the beach.

Later Spouse & I had dinner at Pig+Fish for Dining Out for Life at the Beach. The restaurant's name comes from the expressions "Eat like a pig" and "Drink like a fish", which I support wholeheartedly. Spouse & I started with the hummus/red pepper/feta dip which was amazing. Then I had the tabasco smoked pork tenderloin over warm scallion bacon potato salad with sage honey glaze. OMG, it was delicious! Spouse had pan crispy chicken breasts with homestyle mashed potatoes and sherry pan jus which he liked. For dessert I had a warm peanut butter brownie with vanilla ice cream and caramel and chocolate drizzled over it. Spouse had the bourbon bread & butter pudding made from brioche with maple sugar and vanilla ice cream on top. Both were incredible! Since 20% of the bill was going to an AIDS charity we kinda 'went all out' on the appetizer, entrees and desserts, which was kinda fun. It was also nice to have a dinner out just the 2 of us.

Crush du Jour: Andy Whitfield

Friday fragments

Welcome to Friday fragments, my weekly recap of topics too big to forget, yet too small to be their own post.

Yesterday's condo settlement and meet-ups went according to plan and turned out to be a long day. Up at 6:30 AM, on the road by 7:30 AM, back home at 10:30 PM. I had absolutely no trouble falling asleep last night.

Have you ever noticed how "compelling" always precedes "documentary"? I guess that means there aren't any "romantic", "hilarious", or "fun" documentaries - just "compelling" ones.

My friend Jared strikes again with this one:

Have you ever noticed how the ice maker seems to go on vacation when you're having a party, but when there's no one home but you the ice practically overflows the container? Why is that?

I found this story to be very interesting. John Edward is a well-respected medium and I totally believe that Farrah Fawcett 'came through' to her former neighbor Tori Spelling in order to get a message across. I would love to have a reading with John Edward and see if anyone 'came through'.

I discovered from a friend who went to the same detail shop that the detail shop has closed. The guys were so nice, did a great job, and were very conveniently located so I am really bummed. Washing and waxing Big Ella is too big a job for me and the local car wash won't let me run her through the automatic car wash, so the detail shop was a great find. Looks like I'll have to look for some place new.

We had some unseasonably hot weather here this week. Typical June weather is temperatures in the low to mid 80s, but it has been in the mid 90s this week. After a long dry spell we finally got some rain in the form of 2 thunderstorms with lightening and torrential downpours at night. I hope this is not a sign that July and Aug are going to be even hotter.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

Crush du Jour: Dirk Jager

Settlement day

I prepared today's post a few days ago, knowing I wouldn't have time to write it today.

Today we are going to settlement on the investment condo, back in VA. So we got up at the crack of dawn this morning in order to be on the road by 7:30 am. We're dropping off Jordan (the dog) at Spouse's mom's, then heading to the settlement.

After the settlement we are meeting our leasing/property management contact Cindy at the condo to show it to her. She will be responsible for advertising and leasing it, screening the applicants, collecting the rent and managing the unit for us. She currently manages our other property near the new one.

Next the handyman Chevan should arrive. We'll walk through the unit with him and talk about the details of the fix-ups that are needed. We already emailed him a list but want to go over it with him to ensure we are all on the same page.

Then the locksmith should be our last 'visitor' of the day. He will be re-keying the lock, which is recommended when you purchase a foreclosure.

By the time we finish with him the DC rush hour will have started so there will be no point in trying to return to DE yet. So we'll hang out with Spouse's mom, perhaps take her to dinner if she doesn't have plans, pick up Jordan and then head home at about 7:00 pm, arriving at about 9:30 pm. It will be a long day, but hopefully a very productive one.

Crush du Jour: Jaime Alguersuari

Wednesday

No time to post today but here's the beef.

Crush du Jour: Trey Brewer

Stoopid lyrics

Here's another installment of my newest blog feature 'Stoopid lyrics'. A song's appearance here does NOT mean I think the song is stupid or that I don't like the song. Very often I DO like the song, but find the lyrics don't make sense. Judge for yourself.

MacArthur Park
performed by Donna Summer

Spring was never waiting for us, boy
It ran one step ahead
As we followed in the dance

Between the parted pages and were pressed
In love's hot, fevered iron
Like a striped pair of pants

MacArthur Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh, no!

I recall the yellow cotton dress
Foaming like a wave
On the ground around your knees

The birds, like tender babies in your hands
And the old men playing checkers
by the trees

MacArthur Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh, no!

There will be another song for me
For I will sing it
There will be another dream for me
Someone will bring it

I will drink the wine while it is warm
And never let you catch me looking at the sun
And after all the loves of my life
After all the loves of my life
You'll still be the one

I will take my life into my hands and I will use it
I will win the worship in their eyes and I will lose it
I will have the things that I desire
And my passion flow like rivers through the sky
And after all the loves of my life
After all the loves of my life
I'll be thinking of you

And wondering whyMacArthur Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don't think that I can take it
'Cause it took so long to bake it
And I'll never have that recipe again
Oh, no!

Crush du Jour: Andrew Bowen

Weekend highlights

Sat morning Spouse & I enjoyed our separate Sat morning rituals. He goes for a work out with the personal trainer and I enjoy coffee while watching back-to-back episodes of "Sell This House". The ironic part about this is that our personal trainer looks very much like Roger Hazard on "Sell This House". Here's Roger:Here's Rick:
A little later I went to the beach (without Spouse) and met up with Jason and Vince. It was a picture-perfect day, with blue skies, warm temperature but not humid, and cool breezes off the ocean. It was glorious! Spouse enjoyed some time watching TV, surfing the internet, and napping. Later that evening we met up with Steven & Thad, The Bobs, and Joe P for dinner. Afterward all of them went to see "Toy Story 3" in 3D, which I had no interest in seeing or paying $13. So I met up with Jason and Vince and Doug and Tim at the Double L bar. We talked and danced and had a good time.

Sun Spouse & I slept in late, then had brunch at the Long Neck Diner. Our new friends Ken & Don saw us waiting for a table and said hi. When we got a table it sat 4 so we invited them to join us. Don is a collectible car enthusiast like me so we have lots to chat about. On our way home we stopped at an antique/used furniture store to browse, then headed home. We decided against going to the beach because it was very hot and humid. Spouse took a nap and I watched "Muriel's Wedding" on TV. Toni Collette is such a great actress, and it had been awhile since I'd seen this fun movie. After waking Spouse the 2 of us went to the grocery store, then tidied up the kitchen and had dinner at home. I was feeling sinus pain and pressure so we had a quiet night of TV watching.

Crush du Jour: Jonathan Barnes

Friday fragments

Welcome to Friday fragments, my weekly recap of topics too big to forget, yet too small to be their own post.

We finally heard back yesterday that our contract on the investment condo is finalized, and our settlement is scheduled for next Thurs, June 24 at noon. Immediately after the settlement we're going to meet our handyman and our rental manager at the unit to go over the remodeling and leasing plans. We're excited about turning this place around and generating some income!

Last night was the final game of our 6-week team trivia mini-tournament. (Our team consists of me & Spouse, Steven & Thad, and The Bobs.) We won 2nd place, with a cash prize of $75. We are donating the winnings to a charity.

Not much to report on the progress of our screened porch extension. Last Fri they dug the footers and poured the concrete base into the footers. On Mon of this week they laid the cinder blocks on the footers and back-filled the soil. Nothing else this week.

I had a dreadfully busy/hectic/frustrating work week. There were times when I felt like I was going to have a nervous breakdown. 10-hour days; working through lunch; too much stress. There is so much going on and so many changes that I literally don't know how long this will last. I was told in confidence that more changes are coming and that I will get some relief, but there was no date attached to that conversation. I've never appreciated the weekends as much as I do now.

This weekend's forecast looks great so I am planning to relax and enjoy some time on the beach! Here's wishing all of you a terrific weekend too.

Crush du Jour: Robert Merrill

Stoopid lyrics

Here's another installment of my newest blog feature 'Stoopid lyrics'. A song's appearance here does NOT mean I think the song is stupid or that I don't like the song. Often I do like the song, but find the lyrics don't make sense. Judge for yourself.

Time (Clock of the Heart)

Culture Club

Don't put your head on my shoulder

Sink me in a river of tears

This could be the best place yet

But you must overcome your fears

In time it could have been so much more

The time is precious I know

In time it could have been so much more

The time has nothing to show

Because time won't give me time

And time makes lovers feel

Like they've got something real

But you and me we know

They've got nothing but time

And time won't give me time

Won't give me time

Don't make me feel any colder

Time is like a clock in my heart

Touch we touch was the heat too much

I felt I lost you from the start

In time it could have been so much more
The time is precious I know
In time it could have been so much more
The time has nothing to show

Because time won't give me time
And time makes lovers feel
Like they've got something real
But you and me we know
They've got nothing but time
And time won't give me time
Won't give me time

Crush du Jour: Adam Coussins

Flip flops

My world of summertime footwear has just opened up. I taught myself to wear flip flops.

Yes, I say 'taught' myself to wear flip flops because I haven't been able to wear them in the past. I just couldn't be comfortable with that piece between my toes. It hurt!

But all the cool kids wear flip flops, leaving me feeling slightly less than cool.

Don't you think guys in flip flops are sexy?
I know I do!

So, for years I have worn sandals, like this pair of Sketchers I've had for years:

They're super comfy but I try not to get them wet since they're made with a leather-like top. I wear them when I know I'm going to be doing a good bit of walking.

And I've also worn slides, like these that disappeared at the beach one day.

Then a year or 2 ago I also found a pair of (imitation) Crocs to be oh-so-comfortable and versatile.

They're great for the beach because they can be wet or dry, and they don't throw sand up the back of your legs like flip flops do. And before you go hatin' on Crocs because their 'ugly', take a look at this sexy guy in Crocs:

I'm just sayin'.

But a few weeks ago Old Navy was having a big sale. Their solid color flip flops (normally $3.50) were just $1.00. I figured I'd give them a try, since they were only a buck, so I got a pair in red.

The 1st few times I wore them the piece between my toes was hurting that sensitive area. But I found that wearing them around the house (as opposed to going on a long walk) helped me get used to them. Now I can wear them all day long with no discomfort.

I'm SO GLAD I taught myself to wear flip flops! Not only can I flip with the cool kids and sexy guys now, but my world of summer footwear has opened up dramatically.

Crush du Jour: Jordi Molla

Tuesday chuckles

Enjoy a few chuckles.

Crush du Jour: Andro Deluca