A few years ago, Taylor and I went to Zupan's, a high end grocery store in the high rent part of Portland. As we headed in, we saw a woman come out of the store with her groceries. Just before she got to her giant SUV, she pulled her hand from her pocket and threw a handful of coins on the ground. It was not as if she was giving them to a begger, she was just discarding them for some reason I can't fathom. Taylor and I watched in amazement, waited until she drove away, and then scrambled around the parking lot picking up all the coins.
Conclusion: Some people just can't stand change.
har har har
Wednesday, March 30, 2005
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
No Place for me in Paradise
Preface: My "family of origin" includes one Mother named "Mom", one father named "The Dick", one sister named Becky, one brother named Mark and one me named Xtine.
Last weekend, Taylor and I got together with my mom, Mom, for brunch. Mom told me this: "Your father bought four spots in Paradise."
Mental calculation: Mom, him, Becky, Mark. No spot for me?
Ok, this is no surprise. The Dick has written me off for having the nerve to not be a right wing republican, among a few other, minor (heh heh) infractions. But you didn't know he could ace me out of Paradise, did you?
Well, it turns out that Paradise is in Pennsylvania. Really! In the Alabama section, according to James Carville, who says that PA is just Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in between. My father grew up in Paradise (this defies explanation), where his father was a preacher at a presbyterian church. His parents are buried in the cemetary there. That's the point, to spend eternity in Paradise. The Dick and the rest of the clan (the GOOD ones) will spend eternity there too. I said to Mom: "Don't worry about me. I have more friends in that other place anyway." Mom just looked exasperated.
Last weekend, Taylor and I got together with my mom, Mom, for brunch. Mom told me this: "Your father bought four spots in Paradise."
Mental calculation: Mom, him, Becky, Mark. No spot for me?
Ok, this is no surprise. The Dick has written me off for having the nerve to not be a right wing republican, among a few other, minor (heh heh) infractions. But you didn't know he could ace me out of Paradise, did you?
Well, it turns out that Paradise is in Pennsylvania. Really! In the Alabama section, according to James Carville, who says that PA is just Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in between. My father grew up in Paradise (this defies explanation), where his father was a preacher at a presbyterian church. His parents are buried in the cemetary there. That's the point, to spend eternity in Paradise. The Dick and the rest of the clan (the GOOD ones) will spend eternity there too. I said to Mom: "Don't worry about me. I have more friends in that other place anyway." Mom just looked exasperated.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
February Recap
I noticed I've been falling off on my bloggerizing. I hope I haven't lost all my fans. Anybody who's given up on reading this, raise your hand now..... har har
Warning: If you don't know me, you may find what follows almost as boring as those who do know me find it.
Ok, here's the news:
In February, the weather was cold and scroungey. Not much playing outside going on. Taylor has to get up really early for work and walk in the scroungey weather a mile to work.
We had a flurry of activity over President's day weekend. On Saturday, we got together with long time friend and former camp counselor (yes, summer camp counselor from WAY back in the 70's or 80's or some such) Rodney. I made shake & bake and we had a nice evening catching up. On Sunday morning, Taylor & I left early and headed on a three day road trip. First, we met my mom for breakfast. Only, it turned out there was a small problem with the nice restaurant my mom picked: it opens at 5pm. Well, that's ok. It's at a hotel, and it turns out that the hotel has a nicer-than-average free buffet for the guests. Problem solved! We had breakfast and a good visit, although the food wasn't exceptional. But the price was right! Oh, and for the record, Mom DID ask at the front desk and they said we should feel free. har har
After that, we went and visited another summer camp friend, Andra. Had fun with her, and her cute little pip squeeks. Carly ran me ragged in the mall. Ryan tried to kill himself tumbling down a cliff. I scared the kids by pretending that a ground hog was attacking me and dragging me into its hole. And Andra was glad to have conversation above the 5 year old level. It was a normal day in suburbia. Andra's husband, Chris, is a drug pusher (pharmaceutical rep). He kindly supplied me with some cool paraphernalia. My favorite is the (large, fat) ball point pen that says VIAGRA on it. There's a wireless mouse that says Xanax and a Detrol clock, presumably reminding us that we'll have more time for life if we take Detrol to reduce our over active bladder problems.
We went from Andra's in Delaware to my sister's place in Philadelphia. Becky has fixed the place all up, I am please to say. She bought a townhouse about 4 years ago in a sketchy area of Philly for $40k. She's fixed it all up, and when the city removed the end unit that was falling off, that helped significantly. On Tuesday, I went to a database seminar while Becky toured Taylor around the historical and cultural sights of our country's first capital. So much fun.
Had dinner on Tuesday with college friend Lloyd and his partner Doug. They are both IT geeks. We had scintillating conversation about due-dilligence in information security and fried grilled cheese sandwiches.
Then we came home and rescued the bored kitties. We were glad the apartment staff had fed the cats and not noticed that I've pulled the fire alarm off the wall and suffocated it in a plastic bag. Taylor was SURE we'd come back to find our stuff and the cats piled on the curb with a note saying: "You agreed not to tamper with the fire alarm." Being of calmer disposition (ha!), I was never worried about eviction. I figure: They don't want to get rid of us. They'll just fine us a few thousand dollars and let us stay.
Well, if the stupid smoke detector didn't go off every time I make shake-n-bake, then this wouldn't be an issue.
Ok. Then we were home and back to work. There was snow. I worked from home Thursday & Friday. Very nice.
Last weekend, Feb 26 & 27, we went on a walk through Georgetown. I love the old architecture and the tobacco shop that sells hookahs and bongs. They have one hookah that is about 6 feet tall and has eight hoses or tubes, or snorkels, or whatever they're called. I really need to bring my camera on these excursions.
On Sunday, I cannot remember what, if anything, we did. And that has NOTHING to do with the Hookah Hut in Georgetown.
This coming weekend, we are going to help marshal the Alexandria St Patricks Day parade with some friends from my work, unless the weather is crappy and I bail. I'll report on that in a month if I remember.
And that's all the news from Capital City. Well, all the news that won't depress the shit out of you.
Warning: If you don't know me, you may find what follows almost as boring as those who do know me find it.
Ok, here's the news:
In February, the weather was cold and scroungey. Not much playing outside going on. Taylor has to get up really early for work and walk in the scroungey weather a mile to work.
We had a flurry of activity over President's day weekend. On Saturday, we got together with long time friend and former camp counselor (yes, summer camp counselor from WAY back in the 70's or 80's or some such) Rodney. I made shake & bake and we had a nice evening catching up. On Sunday morning, Taylor & I left early and headed on a three day road trip. First, we met my mom for breakfast. Only, it turned out there was a small problem with the nice restaurant my mom picked: it opens at 5pm. Well, that's ok. It's at a hotel, and it turns out that the hotel has a nicer-than-average free buffet for the guests. Problem solved! We had breakfast and a good visit, although the food wasn't exceptional. But the price was right! Oh, and for the record, Mom DID ask at the front desk and they said we should feel free. har har
After that, we went and visited another summer camp friend, Andra. Had fun with her, and her cute little pip squeeks. Carly ran me ragged in the mall. Ryan tried to kill himself tumbling down a cliff. I scared the kids by pretending that a ground hog was attacking me and dragging me into its hole. And Andra was glad to have conversation above the 5 year old level. It was a normal day in suburbia. Andra's husband, Chris, is a drug pusher (pharmaceutical rep). He kindly supplied me with some cool paraphernalia. My favorite is the (large, fat) ball point pen that says VIAGRA on it. There's a wireless mouse that says Xanax and a Detrol clock, presumably reminding us that we'll have more time for life if we take Detrol to reduce our over active bladder problems.
We went from Andra's in Delaware to my sister's place in Philadelphia. Becky has fixed the place all up, I am please to say. She bought a townhouse about 4 years ago in a sketchy area of Philly for $40k. She's fixed it all up, and when the city removed the end unit that was falling off, that helped significantly. On Tuesday, I went to a database seminar while Becky toured Taylor around the historical and cultural sights of our country's first capital. So much fun.
Had dinner on Tuesday with college friend Lloyd and his partner Doug. They are both IT geeks. We had scintillating conversation about due-dilligence in information security and fried grilled cheese sandwiches.
Then we came home and rescued the bored kitties. We were glad the apartment staff had fed the cats and not noticed that I've pulled the fire alarm off the wall and suffocated it in a plastic bag. Taylor was SURE we'd come back to find our stuff and the cats piled on the curb with a note saying: "You agreed not to tamper with the fire alarm." Being of calmer disposition (ha!), I was never worried about eviction. I figure: They don't want to get rid of us. They'll just fine us a few thousand dollars and let us stay.
Well, if the stupid smoke detector didn't go off every time I make shake-n-bake, then this wouldn't be an issue.
Ok. Then we were home and back to work. There was snow. I worked from home Thursday & Friday. Very nice.
Last weekend, Feb 26 & 27, we went on a walk through Georgetown. I love the old architecture and the tobacco shop that sells hookahs and bongs. They have one hookah that is about 6 feet tall and has eight hoses or tubes, or snorkels, or whatever they're called. I really need to bring my camera on these excursions.
On Sunday, I cannot remember what, if anything, we did. And that has NOTHING to do with the Hookah Hut in Georgetown.
This coming weekend, we are going to help marshal the Alexandria St Patricks Day parade with some friends from my work, unless the weather is crappy and I bail. I'll report on that in a month if I remember.
And that's all the news from Capital City. Well, all the news that won't depress the shit out of you.
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