Oh, the Humanity, Part XXXII: The Airport
I hate air travel, but I love going to the airport. It's tailor-made for people watching: Comfy seating with a good view of the playing field, lots of people coming and going, and an unparalleled cross-section of humanity. And it's especially good for people watching when you think the person you're picking up is getting in at 8:15, but they're actually getting in at 8:50. And moreso when said flight is further delayed until 9:10.
Some painful human experiences I observed:
Having said that, though, there were also tons and tons of cute little kids, made all the more cute by them not being mine. I could just smile big at them as they walked by being cute, and I didn't have to strap them into their car seats or comfort them while they cried. But Mom is in the house now, literally, and I got reminded why it is I live in the Bay Area. Rock on.
That's just my baby daddy!
You need a license to drive a car, but anyone can have a kid. Case in point: Our very own Jason Shellen and his lovely bride have a little somethin' in the oven. So a hearty blawg congrats to them. Oh, and be sure you click on the Simpsons pic: You will be treated to a special li'l sumthin' sumthin'.
Strange things happen ...
... in 15-3 ballgames. The Giants' starting pitcher, Jason Schmidt, hit his second home run of the year, and went 2 for 2 with a sacrifice and two RBIs on the night. But the strangest sight of all was when Arizona manager Bob Brenly had outfielder Steve Finley come in to pitch in the top of the 9th. With a spent bullpen and a doubleheader today, it seemed like a good idea. And it was. Finley walked one batter and hit another, but got Calvin Murray to fly out and got an inning-ending double play. And fun was had by all.
I'll be at the game tonight if you need me. Look for me on TV: I'll be behind home plate, beating the hell out of the guy talking on his cell phone and waving to his buddies back home. Back Monday. Or Tuesday. Or something. ßßß
Ahhh, the joys of working from home.
I know I've waxed poetical about the beauty of working from home before, but I have not been able to leverage this particular fringe benefit of late. What a beautiful thing. No alarm clock, no public transit, no clothes ... well, OK, some clothes, but not work clothes. An entire pot of coffee for breakfast and Winamp on 11. All the makings of a brilliant day. ...
Other things that could be wedged into the rapidly filling-up good news column: The Rival Schools record is officially out. It's entitled "United by Fate," and although Island Records appears to have spared every expense in the packaging of this particular release, it may just be the best new release I've heard this year. So buy it.
My new post-hardcore band thing is chugging right along. Another practice last night, and things are coming together. Potential name: The Hills Have Eyes. Yay or nay? I think it's pretty cool. Not as short and catchy as, say, Cher, but certainly shorter and catchier than And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead.
And then there is an semi-unexpected but pleasantly surprising visit from my Mom, beginning tonight. She's been charged with coming out here and buying a house by Monday. Don't laugh. That's not polite.
Oh, and then there's getting a
birthday present you didn't know you were getting, a full week after your actual birthday has passed. That doesn't suck at all. Thanks, baby!!
Add to that the fact that my boss gave me his amazing Box Club tickets to Giants game tomorrow night, plus I still have my regular seats to Tuesday night's game, and Tracy comes back on Tuesday, and things are shaping up nicely. Yep.
You'll get no bitterness and cynicism from me today. But check back tomorrow. I'm sure things will have returned to normal. ßßß
Little-known (and even lesser-cared-about) facts about me.
Following is a list of things you might not know about me if you only ever read the front page of my weblog.
Say it ain't so ...
Is it really only Tuesday? This is some kind of cruel joke, isn't it? Isn't it?
I feel like I've already had several days worth of trials, tribulations, travails, and other words that sound like that. Plus, it seems that I went to sleep in Oakland but woke up in Southern California. It's like 400 degrees already here in San Francisco, where it seldom cracks the 60-degree mark. Too freaking hot.
OK, enough bitching. As if there were such a thing.
So I'm staring down the barrel of another week of pseudo-bachelorhood, as wife Tracy is putting her layoff and severance package to good use. Wednesday morning she leaves for Texas to visit more family members, leaving me to my own questionable devices. Lucky for me, I've got lotsa stuff planned in her absence, meeting friends, baseball games, band practices, etc. Me + unstructured free time = bad news.
I haven't gotten around to posting any of my super-emo photos yet, partially because they suck, and partially because I'm too lazy to set up a page to host them. For now you'll have to be content with my nonrotating glam shamcam photo of myself. But trust me, you're not missing a thing. ... ßßß
The best laid plans ...
Well, so much for my low-key weekend. It ended up filled with fun-type activities, which is just fine by me.
I get overwhelmed if, on Friday morning, the entire weekend is already scripted full of engagements. I get all stressed, fearing that there will be no time for rest and relaxation, and that I'll be just as wiped out on Monday morning as I feel on Friday night. So I'd much rather just have stuff happen organically, like it did this weekend.
Friday was meeting friends at Golden Lotus, a brief stop at DeLauer's, the best newsstand in the world, then moving the party to Radio for a while. Bomb.
Saturday: the absurdly early matinee showing of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (again, bomb), watching baseball, then get take out and go to a friend's place and meet their new dog. Sunday was band rehearsal, laundry, DVD viewing, and babysitting Kai. Not bad. No sir, not bad at all.
DVD viewing this weekend was unparalleled: Pollock and Dancer in the Dark both ruled. I'm bummed I put off seeing "Dancer" for so long. The musical moments didn't always work (in fact, they usually failed), but when they did, it was intense. Bjork was amazing, and Lars von Trier is an extraordinary director. If you haven't seen Breaking the Waves, you're missing out. "Pollock" was good too, see it. Ed Harris is a stud.
I believe that is all I have to say for now. Except that I got an ICQ account, so there's one more way for me to while away my workday. Now if I can only figure out how to work it. ... ßßß
Don't miss last week's brilliant insight.
