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02 February
I got cultured
One of my friends at work is performing in a local production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. You might be surprised to know I'm not a regular supporter of the arts. The arts, they just don't entertain me. However, since this performance is free, I'm giving a hundred percent support.
That said, it's a good thing A didn't tell me in advance there was singing invovled in this play. I don't like the singing, unless it's a cd, video or concert. Luckily for me most of the singing numbers were short and somewhat funny. I sent myself to a happy place for the long, boring, sentimental numbers. Thankfully those were limited to a few songs. BTW, my happy place invovled beer.
The audience was filled with "theatre people." Since it was a free show, meant to give the cast time to work out kinks before the opening night, a lot of the attendees were friends of the performers, the director or just big fans of the theatre. Theatre people are not like normal people. They like to overact everything they do, especailly their laughter. They laugh louder & longer than anyone else. Most of the time they were laughing at moments/scenes that weren't meant to be funny or during scenes the normal crowd didn't find funny. Also theatre people travel and sit in flocks. It makes them easy to spot.
Besides the singing, the theatre people and the piano... did I mention the piano yet? The piano accompanied all songs, which makes the singing even better. Anyway, those 3 factors aside, the play was entertaining. I did manage to laugh, where appropriate.
Another interesting, little known fact about this performance was its location. The play was held in a Chi-Chi's restaurant. Ok, it was the former location of Chi-Chi's, which went out of business back in the early 80's. After which, the building housed several unsuccessful dance/drug clubs. Still the place has a lingering smell of fajitas.
Interested in a night filled with theatre people, singing, pianos and fajitas? Then this is the play for you.
ramblings by Whitey on 10:59 PM110805670793084370 Whatcha talkin' bout?
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05 February
Paradin'
I ventured out to the Spanish Town parade this weekend. Being the largest Mardi Gras parade in BR, hordes of people flock to it. Ha I said flock. Pinky invited all of her old drinking buddies/ex-bowling buddies to come party with her at a friend's house who lives on the parade route.
In an effort not to repeat last year's parade parking nightmare, I bagged a spot on the Interstate median. This proved to be a choice spot for other paraders as well. Some parade goers actually parked under the overpass with one tire on the Interstate, one tire on the sidewalk. Since I don't own an icechest, I brought two bottles of water with me to Pinky's Party. I know how to live it up.
The best part about parading, besides the free stuff and mass quantities of beer, is the people watching. Mardi Gras brings out the weird in people or maybe the really weird people come out for Mardi Gras.
M & A eventually showed up to the festivities, so did Snadam and the burner. I took a walk with M&A to visit some of her theatre friends. Upon meeting more of those theatre folk, M informs me they really like to talk about sex, a lot. While M and I commented on the overgrown lawn, far away from the theatre folks, A discussed medieval sex and it's impact on theatre. Turns out while the all the sex and lawn talk was going on, we missed the beginning of the parade.
After weaving our way through several backyards, back street alleys, and flower gardens, we finally returned to Pinky's. We were surrounded by a group of picky paraders. The guy in front of me actually avoided catching beads, cups or frisbees. He looked annoyed that someone was throwing things his way.
We watched creepy man in the window across the street. Creepy man sat in a chair, watching the parade thru a window on the second floor of a commercial building. What fun is it to watch other people catch things?
Before the parade was over, I spotted several celebrities like Paul Newman and a Lutey look-a-like. Since A was busy looking miserable and tired, I figured spotting Mr. Newman would cheer her up, since she's a thespian and all. She has no love for the greatness of Paul Newman.
After the parade, my knee was swollen like a melon, so I headed home after a brief visit to Wal-Mart. I planted myself on the couch with pillows and advil to reduce the swelling. Later that night, Mr. O'Dell threw a party of sorts for the Tiger basketball game. Does 3 people count as a party? We had pizza and beer - is it a party now? This paragraph just reinforces the fact that I'm lame.
ramblings by Whitey on 4:06 PM110842041983424463 Whatcha talkin' bout?
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06 February
Hey you, loser...
Although I suffered from melon knee yesterday from the standing and walking, I was determined to go parading in N.O. today. Bacchus is one of the biggest parades in the city and if you arrive early enough, you can catch the 3 day parades which run on the same route.
For weeks I've tried to organize a group trip or even a small gathering to hit the parades today. There were several nos and a lot of maybes. Today, all those maybes turned into nos. And for the Mardi Gras neophytes, you can not go to New Orleans alone. Besides the safety issue, how much fun would it be there by yourself? The lameness continues.
So what did I do instead? Not a damn thing.
ramblings by Whitey on 10:20 PM110848593805115058 Whatcha talkin' bout?
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07 February
Manic Lundi
The entire state likes to shut down for Mardi Gras. In fact, it's even a state holiday. Today, however, is not. And since I've got vacation to burn, why not make it a four day weekend? A four day weekend of absolutly nothing, but at least I'm not at work.
initially I intended to take this entire week off, just cause, but THE WOMAN won't hear of it. I've maxed out on the amount of a vacation I can earn. If I don't take at least 2 days this month, I lose vacation.
About two weeks ago I mentioned my vacation intentions. It went like this-
Me: Oh, by the way, I'm going to take the entire week off during Mardi Gras.
TW: But I haven't seen your request yet.
Me: Well, I was making sure I got the big stuff tackled before I made the request. It's all done.
TW: This is not the time for you to take a week off.
Me: Why?
TW: You need to fix your program first, then we'll see about a vacation.
Me: But I'll lose hours if I don't take off.
TW: Fix your program first, then a vacation.
Me: I'm going to start a keeping track of all the vacation I lose because you won't let me take off. TW: I had my first vacation in 7 years this past Christmas.
Me: But you don't lose vacation time. I need a mental break from this place.
TW: Seven years.
Me: But I'm not the one who tells you when can't take a vacation.
TW: FINE! You're an adult, you can take off whenever you want. BUT just know, if something happens when your gone, YOU have to fix it when you get back!
Based on this conversation you might think I'm the president of a fortune 500 company, or maybe the dictator of a third world country primed for a coupe, but I'm not. And the same problems at my program have been around for years. It's like expecting a fix for the federal deficit over the weekend.
So I get one day...today.
ramblings by Whitey on 10:45 PM110848761451786499 Whatcha talkin' bout?
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08 February
The hunt continues
Since November of last year, I've been on the hunt for a pair of brown corduroys. It seems this species of pant is very allusive to the single, white female. I've visited the mall on several occasions on my quest, only to be disappointed. It's not that there's a limited selection of corduroys, it that there's no selection of corduroys, at all. I've even ventured to stores outside the mall genre with no luck. There are no corduroys to be found.
However, I did manage to a very snazzy looking turtleneck and a cream colored v-neck sweater. I also picked up an all weather light-weight jacket to use instead of my funky & frumpy looking fleece pullover.
Since I only made on karate class last week, I forced myself to class this evening. I knew it would be a sparse class because of the holiday, but when only 6 students show up, class blows. And as I expected, my instructor took the day off and had a minion teach class. Tonight's minion was KJ. The next class proved to be even worse with a total of 2 students...glad I skipped that one. This Thursday is promotion night. Since I've haven't been told not to show up, it must mean I'll become a 1st gup. (red belt, two blue stripes)
ramblings by Whitey on 11:13 PM110848969126381727 Whatcha talkin' bout?
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10 February
1st Gup
With little fanfare, I got promoted to 1st Gup. For the layman this translates into a red belt with 2 blue stripes, which translates into a brown belt for those non-TSD folk. After acquiring two more blue stripes I'll test for blackbelt. Sounds much closer than it really is, sometime in the summer of '06.
Most of class time was used in the promotion ceremony and I use the term ceremony loosely. In the past, we would meet on a Friday night and make a big deal of our promotion. Now the promotion has been merged into class time. In my opinion, it trivializes our accomplishments.
We practiced 10 minute basics tonight working up a serious sweat with minutes. After class I had another discussion with my instructor about his request to tweak the school's website. However his ideas for tweaking require a major structural redesign...I just haven't told him yet. I'm not cheating myself out of good money this time.
ramblings by Whitey on 8:40 PM110875673744229457 Whatcha talkin' bout?
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12 February
Whack that bush back
My plan of less is more does not seem to be working with the knee. So today, instead of wasting the day on the couch with ice and advil, I tackled the yard. Bending my knee is the goal of the day, yardwork is a means to an end.
Although I mulch the yard on a regular basis, there are some areas where the mower won't reach, so I raked 3 bags of leaves and pine straw. Then I used the loppers to tame my neighbors bushes that push thru my fence line. I like using the word loppers.
After a long day of knee bending, I treated myself to a grilled steak and rented two movies: King Author and AVP. Go watch both movies, now.
ramblings by Whitey on 11:30 PM110875728608441747 Whatcha talkin' bout?
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14 February
Hearts Day
Fritter gave everyone at the office a Finding Nemo valentine card and a chocolate heart. Isn't she a sweet dog? And who knew she could write?
We had various goodies today in the office: sugar heart cookies, little bags 'o candy, and conversation hearts. Nothing beats a tiny piece of chalky candy with stupid love phrases on them. Fax me - yes, it's a very romantic phrase for lovers, frequently muttered in passionate moments.
Turns out I make great hiring decisions because all the guys in my department bought all the girls flowers. We all got a vase with 3 peach roses and a cute v-day card. I have noted this day in my boss diary and will remember when it's time for raises.
We decided to have an impromptu poole of how many deliveries would be made today. The day proved to be seriously disappointing with only 3 deliveries made, one of which went to a guy. One of my friends informed my his girlfriend gave him a stuffed animal. WTF? Do men actually like stuffed animals? do they like them as presents? I posed these questions to him, in which he responded, we've reached that point in our relationship. There's a stuffed animal point in a relationship!?!
I don't know what's worse, reaching this point or acknowledging there is such a point.
ramblings by Whitey on 9:09 PM110875861944627652 Whatcha talkin' bout?
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17 February
The winker
The winker didn't show up for class tonight so I'm unable to determine if he
a) has a twitch
b) has juice in his eye or
c) was flirting.
Perhaps it's time to recruit a minion for assistance, ie Guam.
ramblings by Whitey on 10:27 PM110978104822043855 Whatcha talkin' bout?
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18 February
Beer & lingerie
The Group met up with Pinky and Gaylene for beer this evening at the Chimes. I always have a great time drinking with those two. Pinky used to work with us but now has another job on campus and has this strange positive outlook on life. And Gaylene, well he cracks my shit up. In addition to being another positive person, not the norm for this circle, he drinks THE WINE. What kind of crazy non-sense is this? What is this yellow liquid in a glass? He had at least 8 glass of it, then he spills some in my lap. No officer, I wasn't drinking tonight although I smell like a bottle of Kendall Jackson.
Midway thru the evening, one of my staff members, I'll call Eunice, shows up with this girlfriend, who I'll call Eunice's girl. Eunice and EG were hitting a concert next door and stopped by to say hello. EG was all Sex in the City with her peach lingerie top over jeans. OK, it wasn't really lingerie, but it's specifically made to look like it. Some at the table called her top boob-a-lious. Gaylene made Eunice feel uncomfortable barrage of questions about his parents. Gaylene was sure he could guess who Eunice's parents were because they're from the same small town. Shortly after Eunice and his girl left for the concert.
Then the table erupted into the boob shirt conversation. EG, her shirt and her boobs were the topic of conversation for the next hour and half. This is what happens when you drink for 5 hours.
This makes two posts in one week about boobs - this should make Captain Jeremy excited.
ramblings by Whitey on 11:31 PM110978231062105110 Whatcha talkin' bout?
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15 February
Blink stare
Is it the sassy hair? Is it the second blue stripe? What characteristic do I posses that attracts the karate man? The karate men, they love me. Maybe because I'm one of the few single women in class? It's hard to be picky when the pickens are slim.
It started with a wink. As I walked into the dojang, RBB winked a me. It's not the first time I've been winked at during class, but it's the first from him. And considering I don't really know RBB, I find it strange.
About a month ago I was partnered up with him to practice those damn knee injuring scissor kicks. We took turns assisting each other with our jump by holding the other up by our do bok tops. Perhaps he grazed my boobs with his hand during this technique and became instantly mesmerized. You see, RBB is basically new at our school, six months or less I'd say. He's a black belt in another discipline and joined to take class with his brother, RBJ.
Anyway, back to the winking. I was tasked with warming up the class while our instructor did office things. As I gave out the commands, RBB winked at me again. A little later, another wink.
Then another. The winks are coming so fast and furious, I consider RBB has a twitch or a tic or a sharp metallic object in his eye causing uncontrollable winking.
This was a Seinfield episode - George gets grapefruit juice in his eye and winks, unknowingly, all day long. Did RBB have a grapefruit for breakfast today? Does he continue to wink at me because I refuse to acknowledge his hard work?
After warmup, I've moved into the line with other students and can't see RBB or his eye. In fact, I don't make eye contact with him until the red belt meeting after class. Guess what, no winks. I sit across from him and now he won't even look at me.
In the middle of our meeting, our instructor inquires as to who doesn't have an e-mail address. Turns out RBB is anti-e-mail, which causes me to launch into a verbal interrogation concerning this strange choice. Mob mentally takes over and he is berated by his fellow students as to his life choice.
After class, RBB slides up next to me, puts his arm around me and asks, "why'd you have to give me such a hard time?" I waited for my wink, but no, no wink. Was the irritating juice now gone from eye? Before my response can be given, RBB is called by my instructor to assist in a school chore.
Was his wink an attempt to flirt or was it juice induced?
ramblings by Whitey on 2:30 PM110876202760420919 Whatcha talkin' bout?
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16 February
Rex stays the night
Rex is staying with the Whitey household for a few days while O'Dell & the Mr are out of town. Rex is a cuddler and a bed hog, or so I'm told. There will be no cuddling on my watch little dog. Last night Fritter & Rex ran around the house until about 4am. No they literally ran around the house, thru the kitchen, into the living room, down the hall, thru the office; rinse and repeat.
He's only been here one night and I'm tired of the white hair scattered throughout the house. Fritter's black hair seems to disappear into the fabric and floor. Damn Rex and his white hair.
I tried to make a comfy bed/nest for Rex on the sofa using an old t-shirt and towel, but he preferred to sleep on the clean clothes.
I'm hoping their play time will wind down any minute now so I can get some sleep tonight.
ramblings by Whitey on 9:57 PM110978080463797722 Whatcha talkin' bout?
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19 February
More tree
When last we spoke about the tree, it had fallen from yard into my neighbor's yard. It was a rotten pine tree that fell sometime in the summer into her yard, snapping at the chain link fence. Yes, it was so rotten a warped chain link fence snapped the base of
the tree.
 
My last conversation with her went like this:
Her: I'd like to get that tree out of my yard.
Me: Ok, let me know when you're ready.
Her: Why don't you let me know when you're ready.
Me: I'm available anytime.
Her: I've got to spray some weed killer back there and kill the poison ivy.
Me: OK, I'm ready whenever, you just let me know.
Her: Ok, let me know when you're ready.
Nothing was accomplished with this conversation. So today, I see my neighbor and her son cleaning up the tree remains. Since she didn't bother to come get me and it is my tree in her yard, I walked over an offered to help.
We were able to move out the loose branches and the top of the tree, but the remaining trunk isn't as rotten as we thought. The tree core is still solid, and since my axe broke on the first swing, a chain saw is needed to finish the job.
We managed to fill 5 garbage cans with tree remnants and scatter tree part over 20 feet of my yard. We've actually scheduled a tree removal day in two weeks.
I managed to finish out the day with yard work of my own. I cut the grass, did some weed-eating, rake/bag leaves and pine straw and hauled tree parts to the curb.
ramblings by Whitey on 9:53 PM110978592031781072 Whatcha talkin' bout?
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