This week I thought it best to stay at my day scoring project until 4:30, at which time I would spend upwards of an hour to get to my night scoring project which starts at 5:30. An hour seems to be right; I get there with minutes to spare, yet I build in plenty of time to navigate the back-ups and twists and turns to get to my destination as quickly as possible.
Ever since I began my double-shift, I have used Waze to get from home to my day job, then from my day to my night job. I have heard great things about it. I have heard, though I cannot confirm, that it is better at up-to-date information than Google Maps, and therefore you can trust it more to find a quicker route on the fly than Google Maps. I don't know if this is true, and it has its problems with what I call "flying" -- where the cursor on my phone is tracking my route but suddenly loses where I am, puts me in another spot, and tells me to, for example, turn right when I'm on the highway (this is probably due to a bad combination of slow 3G and an old phone), especially when I was trying to use it December when getting around Kansas City. But it worked well enough for the past two weeks.
Until yesterday/Thursday. For the past week-and-a-half, Waze (which I like to pronounce "Whaaa-zay") has given me slightly varied routes between jobs. There is a chunk in the middle where I get sent to-and-fro through side streets, and it's those side streets that have differed day-to-day. It gets weird sometimes, especially if I need to change lanes, stop abruptly, and take a left through a neighborhood. Nevertheless, I get to work on time, so no worries. Plus I feel as though Waze's routes help me not just in terms of time but also in terms of pace; I don't mind wending my way through side streets as long as I am going somewhere.
But something happened yesterday/Thursday. I was just minding my own business, driving wherever Waze told me, when it told me to take a route I've never taken before. I usually (and this is information only locals know) from 169N to Crosstown West, and then I spill onto a side street and find my way to 494N. I was about to reach a side street when Waze suddenly told me to do a U-turn. I did it; sometimes I have missed Waze finding a new route, and I am relying on it, so I trust it.
This route, however, told me to continue on through 169N. The problem: At one point, 169N is closed due to construction. Extensive construction. And construction which began weeks ago. But I looked down at Waze and it told me to continue north on 169.
Im-fucking-possible. And from there I was going in circles, hemmed in by a Waze machine that insisted I take 169N even though it was closed. Finally it froze on me and I resorted to Google Maps. But by then I think I was on the road an extra 10 or 15 minutes more than I should have, and I was going on an extremely congested Crosstown East, a dedicated detour for 169N. Google Maps told me to take go the other way, and that involved me getting off and taking two lefts, and of course lefts are a killer during rush-hour traffic because you have to wait for both ways to be free of traffic.
When all was said and done, I got to work at 5:45. I was on the road for over a goddamn hour. And not only was I late, but that put me under the 16 hours of work I need to get the bonus for the week. That means I have to come in an extra 15 minutes today/Friday if I want to get that bonus, and that means I have to leave early from the day job, which takes money away from that job. You see the cascade of consequences and lost money I now suffer as a result of getting fucked over by Waze?
However this has taught me a lesson: Never be too reliant on technology. I don't like it that the best way that I learn is by making mistakes, because I unfortunately remember bad things that happen to me way more vividly than good things. But now I know that I should check Google Maps on my laptop and familiarize myself with the area where the side streets I have taken are to make sure that, if Waze goes to shit on me again, I know in what general direction I should go. That way I won't go on a wild goose chase trying to find the right way to a place when the applications are crapping out on me.
And so I will check Google Maps right now. By the way, I complained to Waze about my experience on their Twitter. Maybe they'll reply -- right? (Probably won't.)
Friday, June 2, 2017
Thursday, June 1, 2017
Things At Around 4:30 In The Morning
So I'm up now. And awake. This after I decided not to take chances and, seeing that Kimmel was in a rerun the day after a new episode (what gives?), went to bed early in case my body was tired. And it was ... only to wake up upon hearing my sister WhatsApp me at 12:45, then just waking up at ... uh, 3:15 or so, maybe?
All this coffee that I need to stay awake is now keeping me up at odd times of the night. I think. Actually I'm not to angry. But that may be because right now, as I type this, I feel refreshed. I reserve the right to totally change my mind at 5:45, the time I scheduled my alarm clock. I also may change my tune any time during the day when I'm tired as fuck.
---
At this point I kind of wish I had just one job, the day job. The night job is great because of the people I work with and for, but that comes at the end of a long day, and maybe I'm too old for this shit.
I was looking forward to this project actually being done early. The drop-dead date was Monday, but coming in one day to start the week makes no sense. There was talk that we could get done Friday, which would be perfect. Actually, I thought we were moving so fast that we would be done Saturday. I don't know what the complication is. We're not reading essays, we're reading short answers that many people (not me) can whip through. But the big problem that made my prediction that we'd be done by Saturday totally wrong is that the estimates for how many answers we'd go through a day has tailed off drastically. We could be -- ugh! -- on time with a project. That usually never happens!
That's throwing everything off. For one thing, I had to tell my parents that I wouldn't be coming home for dinner for a third week. I don't know if saying I'll be gone Monday as well will fly, especially since I am seeing a free movie next Thursday. For another, the day project, which is sticking to its drop-dead date despite starting well behind schedule, has extended its days to 11 hours per week. Part of that overlaps with the start of the night project, so I have left "early" in order to fulfill my hours with the night shift. I don't mind that, but juggling between the two to get the most money between them -- the day project has more hours and thus the chance for overtime, but the night project pays at a better rate -- makes me scared that I'm not maximizing the money I could be making. Plus, the hours are taking a toll, as I complained about above.
And on top of that, if the day project goes to extremes and we could work, say, from 7 in the morning till 9 at night (and I think we did that a couple nights last year), I still won't be coming home to eat dinner. Mother insisted that I cross off all dates I'm not eating at home on a calendar on the wall of the kitchen. I looked the other night that I crossed off nearly every single day in May. I have never seen or done that before in my life. I took the night project partly because My Fucking Father pissed me off about him not liking what I'm doing with my life, but even I thought that was excessive. But all those crossed-off dates might extend into June, and I don't know if I'm too sanguine about that.
---
As awake as I am, I need to try and go to bed.
All this coffee that I need to stay awake is now keeping me up at odd times of the night. I think. Actually I'm not to angry. But that may be because right now, as I type this, I feel refreshed. I reserve the right to totally change my mind at 5:45, the time I scheduled my alarm clock. I also may change my tune any time during the day when I'm tired as fuck.
---
At this point I kind of wish I had just one job, the day job. The night job is great because of the people I work with and for, but that comes at the end of a long day, and maybe I'm too old for this shit.
I was looking forward to this project actually being done early. The drop-dead date was Monday, but coming in one day to start the week makes no sense. There was talk that we could get done Friday, which would be perfect. Actually, I thought we were moving so fast that we would be done Saturday. I don't know what the complication is. We're not reading essays, we're reading short answers that many people (not me) can whip through. But the big problem that made my prediction that we'd be done by Saturday totally wrong is that the estimates for how many answers we'd go through a day has tailed off drastically. We could be -- ugh! -- on time with a project. That usually never happens!
That's throwing everything off. For one thing, I had to tell my parents that I wouldn't be coming home for dinner for a third week. I don't know if saying I'll be gone Monday as well will fly, especially since I am seeing a free movie next Thursday. For another, the day project, which is sticking to its drop-dead date despite starting well behind schedule, has extended its days to 11 hours per week. Part of that overlaps with the start of the night project, so I have left "early" in order to fulfill my hours with the night shift. I don't mind that, but juggling between the two to get the most money between them -- the day project has more hours and thus the chance for overtime, but the night project pays at a better rate -- makes me scared that I'm not maximizing the money I could be making. Plus, the hours are taking a toll, as I complained about above.
And on top of that, if the day project goes to extremes and we could work, say, from 7 in the morning till 9 at night (and I think we did that a couple nights last year), I still won't be coming home to eat dinner. Mother insisted that I cross off all dates I'm not eating at home on a calendar on the wall of the kitchen. I looked the other night that I crossed off nearly every single day in May. I have never seen or done that before in my life. I took the night project partly because My Fucking Father pissed me off about him not liking what I'm doing with my life, but even I thought that was excessive. But all those crossed-off dates might extend into June, and I don't know if I'm too sanguine about that.
---
As awake as I am, I need to try and go to bed.
Wednesday, May 31, 2017
13-Hour Days? Sure, Why Not?
Knew this was coming, partially because the scanning got so backed up, partially because this happened last season. Yesterday (Tuesday) our room boss said that she was extending hours we could work. Starting from Friday it was 7:30-5. Now it's 7-6. And assuming that they're still hellbent on sticking to their drop-dead date, those are going to be the maximum hours for a while, if not all the way till the end. Actually, come to think of it, we had even more extended hours a couple days last year.
Working 10 1/2 hours is already a grind. Hell, looking at papers for 10 1/2 minutes has been a struggle for me. And I've been dragging ever since I started the night project. Man, the 45-60 I drive from Bloomington to Plymouth, replete with afternoon rush traffic and relying on Waze to keep up my pace by cutting through side streets on the way to the other test scoring project -- it takes my soul. And I'm not sleeping well nor enough at night, either. I've been really tirangry the past few workdays, especially Tuesday, and that has been reflected by my really bad attitude. Oof, I must be a handful to deal with at work!
So I react to this by decided that I will go to work at 7 this morning and, because I need to get to my night project in time, leave at 4:30, like I have been doing. A nine-hour day, followed by an hour on the road, followed by another four hours at night? Yeah, I think I can do it. Hey, YOLO, right? This should be over this week, when the night project should -- should -- finish up. Hope I make it till then without harming myself or other people.
I should expound on this further, but let's just say that I have to make hay while the sun shines. Meaning, I should go to bed now.
Working 10 1/2 hours is already a grind. Hell, looking at papers for 10 1/2 minutes has been a struggle for me. And I've been dragging ever since I started the night project. Man, the 45-60 I drive from Bloomington to Plymouth, replete with afternoon rush traffic and relying on Waze to keep up my pace by cutting through side streets on the way to the other test scoring project -- it takes my soul. And I'm not sleeping well nor enough at night, either. I've been really tirangry the past few workdays, especially Tuesday, and that has been reflected by my really bad attitude. Oof, I must be a handful to deal with at work!
So I react to this by decided that I will go to work at 7 this morning and, because I need to get to my night project in time, leave at 4:30, like I have been doing. A nine-hour day, followed by an hour on the road, followed by another four hours at night? Yeah, I think I can do it. Hey, YOLO, right? This should be over this week, when the night project should -- should -- finish up. Hope I make it till then without harming myself or other people.
I should expound on this further, but let's just say that I have to make hay while the sun shines. Meaning, I should go to bed now.
Tuesday, May 30, 2017
My Fucking Father Is Back To Acting Passive-Aggressively Again
So yesterday (Monday/Memorial) morning I went out in the morning. I actually wanted to go downtown to see the English Championship Playoff Final/Promo Game, where Huddersfield Town (and longtime fan Sir Patrick Stewart himself) beat Reading on contrived Penalty Kicks. But when I saw Mother on my way out, I told her I wanted to exercise and then I was spending some time with a friend over lunch.
She said OK, then she told me to wait and she ran into the master bedroom. That's where My Fucking Father was, and I overheard her asking, "Do you want him to drop you off? I'll pick you up later," to which he refused. Apparently Mother had plans too; she was going shopping, as is one's want on a day as solemn as Memorial Day.
See, these are the times I regret just leaving out the door every morning, including weekends. I know that these days my parents are spending their time going around their properties cleaning up garbage in order to sell them. It's a long process to unwind, and I figure that I could help with something during weekends. Although I really wanted to watch this Promo Game, I easily could have spent the day with my folks cleaning up one of their houses. Really, I would have, gladly -- provided they tell me this ahead of time. Last weekend, during the week, even the night before? That's enough of a head's-up. But not the morning of, not when I was bolting out the door. Now, if My Fucking Father did say yes, I would have no choice but to help him. But he didn't.
Yet I knew my old man, and I think that all was an excuse so he could be passive-aggressive. He confirmed that, passive-aggressively, when he barked, "Eat!" for dinner while I was in my room. I gave him the Powerball tickets he wanted me to buy for him anyway.
I got done eating, and this time I didn't bother to ask if they needed help washing the table. I scurried for my room, and after lolling around in my bed checking my smart, I felt this wave of unconsciousness attack me. Getting only 5 1/2 hours of sleep on a day where I could have slept in (or helped my parents out with real estate stuff) took its toll, even if I did sleep two hours Sunday evening.
I know that My Fucking Father knew that I retreated into bed and fell asleep. He hates that. Hates it. For some unknown goddamn reason he hates it. So, just as I was falling asleep I hear foot stomps just outside my door. And then I hear this ungodly clanging of pots and pans, all the while the water from the kitchen sink was as loud as I ever heard it. And My Fucking Father was just scouring and scrubbing and pouring out and clanging whatever the fuck he was cleaning either onto the drying rack or putting them away. He was trying to wake me up, that's for damn sure. Just for some perceived slight he's had against me since the day I was born. And that motherfucker succeeded, unfortunately.
The night project is extending through this week, much to my surprise. As tired as I am working 12-4 hours, that may be a blessing in disguise, at least for now. I know some fucking talk about finding a job or going back to school is in order very soon, so maybe avoiding getting into a situation enough days will make him forget. Oh, who am I kidding -- he'll start yelling at me about that bullshit the next time I have dinner at home no matter how many times I don't have dinner with them.
Why did I have to be born with a goddamn prick for a father?
She said OK, then she told me to wait and she ran into the master bedroom. That's where My Fucking Father was, and I overheard her asking, "Do you want him to drop you off? I'll pick you up later," to which he refused. Apparently Mother had plans too; she was going shopping, as is one's want on a day as solemn as Memorial Day.
See, these are the times I regret just leaving out the door every morning, including weekends. I know that these days my parents are spending their time going around their properties cleaning up garbage in order to sell them. It's a long process to unwind, and I figure that I could help with something during weekends. Although I really wanted to watch this Promo Game, I easily could have spent the day with my folks cleaning up one of their houses. Really, I would have, gladly -- provided they tell me this ahead of time. Last weekend, during the week, even the night before? That's enough of a head's-up. But not the morning of, not when I was bolting out the door. Now, if My Fucking Father did say yes, I would have no choice but to help him. But he didn't.
Yet I knew my old man, and I think that all was an excuse so he could be passive-aggressive. He confirmed that, passive-aggressively, when he barked, "Eat!" for dinner while I was in my room. I gave him the Powerball tickets he wanted me to buy for him anyway.
I got done eating, and this time I didn't bother to ask if they needed help washing the table. I scurried for my room, and after lolling around in my bed checking my smart, I felt this wave of unconsciousness attack me. Getting only 5 1/2 hours of sleep on a day where I could have slept in (or helped my parents out with real estate stuff) took its toll, even if I did sleep two hours Sunday evening.
I know that My Fucking Father knew that I retreated into bed and fell asleep. He hates that. Hates it. For some unknown goddamn reason he hates it. So, just as I was falling asleep I hear foot stomps just outside my door. And then I hear this ungodly clanging of pots and pans, all the while the water from the kitchen sink was as loud as I ever heard it. And My Fucking Father was just scouring and scrubbing and pouring out and clanging whatever the fuck he was cleaning either onto the drying rack or putting them away. He was trying to wake me up, that's for damn sure. Just for some perceived slight he's had against me since the day I was born. And that motherfucker succeeded, unfortunately.
The night project is extending through this week, much to my surprise. As tired as I am working 12-4 hours, that may be a blessing in disguise, at least for now. I know some fucking talk about finding a job or going back to school is in order very soon, so maybe avoiding getting into a situation enough days will make him forget. Oh, who am I kidding -- he'll start yelling at me about that bullshit the next time I have dinner at home no matter how many times I don't have dinner with them.
Why did I have to be born with a goddamn prick for a father?
Monday, May 29, 2017
Sunday Was Rudeness Day, Apparently
I don't know, man, but yesterday (Sunday) people were just pissy all over. There was the owner at Caffetto, who threw down my change in front of me instead of handing it to me. There was My Asshole Brother who, after I texted him advice on what to expect when getting Comcast, just replied, "No" (not even a period, brother?). And then there was the Comcast bitch, Rhonda, who, after throwing me a card with the installation appointment day and time and asking, "Is there anything else?" to which I stammered out a no because I wasn't quite sure if I had no more questions, she blew me off by saying "Thank you, bye-bye," while not making eye contact with me at all. Something on her computer was totally transfixing her, like maybe Candy Crush. Oh, that good ol' Comcast customer service.
You know, I really am not big on manners. But with all the bullshit I got yesterday, I am big on manners right now. Was it just that it's a holiday weekend and people just didn't want to be nice and instead wanted to be real? Is that it? The worst is Comcast, partly because I was and am still afraid of their notoriously shitty customer service, partly because I knew all of that shit and still decided to sign up for them anyway. At this point they've got me by the shorthairs. Rhonda, by fucking God, I hope to need to deal with your bitch-ass face ever again.
Went to Wendy's for a late lunch, and even though the service was better -- the manager was actually nice to me, and the two other people who helped with my order at least weren't rude -- the service wasn't really that competent. It took me five minutes to get my "fast" food order. This day I'll take slow and not rude over fast and rude. But shit, can I at least get someone who's both professional and competent, please?
So thank Buddha for the young woman who helped me get tickets at the gas station close to my house before I came home. You don't need years of experience; just a good attitude and the understanding you're there to help someone. That's not too much to ask.
You know, I really am not big on manners. But with all the bullshit I got yesterday, I am big on manners right now. Was it just that it's a holiday weekend and people just didn't want to be nice and instead wanted to be real? Is that it? The worst is Comcast, partly because I was and am still afraid of their notoriously shitty customer service, partly because I knew all of that shit and still decided to sign up for them anyway. At this point they've got me by the shorthairs. Rhonda, by fucking God, I hope to need to deal with your bitch-ass face ever again.
Went to Wendy's for a late lunch, and even though the service was better -- the manager was actually nice to me, and the two other people who helped with my order at least weren't rude -- the service wasn't really that competent. It took me five minutes to get my "fast" food order. This day I'll take slow and not rude over fast and rude. But shit, can I at least get someone who's both professional and competent, please?
So thank Buddha for the young woman who helped me get tickets at the gas station close to my house before I came home. You don't need years of experience; just a good attitude and the understanding you're there to help someone. That's not too much to ask.
Sunday, May 28, 2017
The Weekly Minnesota Sports Survey
#-1: Lynx (Last Week: -1). The Jynx is the last team that's undefeated in the Women's National Basketball Association, but I don't know if I've had more doubts of a team that has started off 5-0. The squad claimed both ends of a home-and-home with the Connecticut Sun, but the game at home (well, the X instead of Target) Tuesday finished 80-78. I don't know if their 82-68 win at Mohegan Sun is indicative that they've turned a corner or something. Point Guard play remains suspect, and the rebounding could be better. And the team isn't getting any younger.
Hmmm, interesting ... the team plays only two games, both on weekends. Tonight they host San Antonio, and they play at Seattle Saturday.
#-2: Twins (Last Week: -2). Hey, hey, hey ... a 5-2 screening week keeps the Twinks atop the American League Central! Pitching remains solid, led by an unheard-of (and hopefully natural) start of the year by Ervin Santana, who, if he and the team keep succeeding like this, definitely should not be traded. The lineup is hitting too, even though Miguel Sano has slumped to the point where he sat out yesterday's (Saturday's) and today's (Sunday's) games. And Byron Buxton still can't hit, but the rest of the bats appear to have taken up some of the slack so that the organization has accepted his limitations. Hey, things could be better, but it could be worse, and if they can keep this up and improve on their weaknesses, these guys are going to stick around.
They finish up the series against the Bay Rays of Tampa at Target today/Sunday, then The Best Team In Major League Baseball, the Houston Astros, come to town for three games starting tomorrow (Monday). They then embark on a three-series road trip starting in Anaheim against the legendary Mike Trout and the Angels for four games beginning on Thursday.
#-3: United FC (Re-Entry!). Did someone say that Christian Ramirez couldn't play in Major League Soccer? The way he's been playing the last two matches I wonder how he hadn't gotten picked up by another team before this year.
The man they call Superman scored three Goals in Sunday's match against Los Angeles and last (Saturday's) match vs. Orlando. One of them was an athletic, slow-bounding side kick to tie the Galaxy at 1. Another of them came off a fantastic backheel flick from the mercurial Johan Venegas that sprung into an open area in front of Ramirez; he eluded the OCSC Goalkeeper and another defender before tapping it in. That resulted in that match's only score and broke a two-game losing streak (and extended to six a streak where the Lions have not won a game). The third, unfortunately, extended that losing streak to two; off of a Corner Kick, the ball found Ramirez's foot and skittered past Bobby Shuttleworth to give L.A. a 2-1 win.
One other thing I want to point out is that I saw a lot of individual prowess in last night's win. Ismaila Jome headed a 50/50 ball into open space, which continued a forward run. I mentioned the Venegas flick. Francisco Calvo took the ball out of the defensive half using a spin-o-rama. And Ibson (who was on the cover of last night's roster card) kept possession of the ball with this weird spinning move where he had one knee on the pitch. It was a sight to behold, but the almost 19,000 at TCF Bank Stadium was able to say "Whoa!" several times last/Saturday night.
Saturday they go to Kansas City.
#-Infinity: Gopher baseball and Gopher softball (Last Week, respectively: -3 and -4). OK, let's get the baseball Nine out of the way first. They fought, and they fought hard. The greatest moment probably was their second match-up with Big Ten Tournament host Indiana in an elim game. The U. was down 6-0 before crawling back with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Hoosiers scratched in single runs in the top of the seventh and eighth innings to make their lead 8-4. But they came back to lead and, it turns out, win the game with five runs in the bottom of the eighth, the last three of which came on a Home Run from pinch-hitting Eduardo Estrada, Jr. Wow. That was fucking thrilling.
That put them into a contest with Iowa, which they won by tripling the Hawkeyes, 9-3. (Oh, they started off the tourney by beating Indiana, 5-4 and losing to Northwestern, 11-7.) But their luck ran out last (Saturday) night, 7-5 in 13 innings. Again, a hell of a run. But they needed to win this whole shebang to make a repeat appearance in the NCAAs, and due to a late-season swoon including dropping series to Long Beach St. and Purdue, their season is officially done.
But let's talk about the failure that is the University of Minnesota softball team. Yeah, yeah, they lost to a very tough Alabama team by a pair of 1-0 scores, blah-blah-blah. You guys had the balls to play the disrespect card and wear t-shirts that said "Win Anyway." Well, you didn't fucking win, did you? DID YOU?!?!?!
They needed to win the Regional. I don't care that it was on the road. If you're as lofty as you say you are, and if the polls say you are (the coaches gave the U. a bone by ranking them #1 after getting snubbed), then you march into Tuscaloosa and win. Period. And they didn't. Which -- and I said this last week -- means that the NCAA was totally right in saying that Minnesota was not one of the 16-best teams in top-flight softball, despite having the best record and the most wins in Div. I. They were seeded appropriately. They did not deserve a host. And those fucking goddamn losses are the reasons why.
What a humiliating end to the college career of Pitcher Sara Groenewegen. Made the NCAA Tournament all four years, but the program only won one Regional during her tenure. Yeah, she is The Greatest Gopher Softball Player In History, but after this, so fucking what?
You know, I'll bet that the NCAA will give Minnesota a host next year even though Head Coach Jessica Allister will have nowhere near the club she (supposedly at least) had this year. What fucking trolls.
Hmmm, interesting ... the team plays only two games, both on weekends. Tonight they host San Antonio, and they play at Seattle Saturday.
#-2: Twins (Last Week: -2). Hey, hey, hey ... a 5-2 screening week keeps the Twinks atop the American League Central! Pitching remains solid, led by an unheard-of (and hopefully natural) start of the year by Ervin Santana, who, if he and the team keep succeeding like this, definitely should not be traded. The lineup is hitting too, even though Miguel Sano has slumped to the point where he sat out yesterday's (Saturday's) and today's (Sunday's) games. And Byron Buxton still can't hit, but the rest of the bats appear to have taken up some of the slack so that the organization has accepted his limitations. Hey, things could be better, but it could be worse, and if they can keep this up and improve on their weaknesses, these guys are going to stick around.
They finish up the series against the Bay Rays of Tampa at Target today/Sunday, then The Best Team In Major League Baseball, the Houston Astros, come to town for three games starting tomorrow (Monday). They then embark on a three-series road trip starting in Anaheim against the legendary Mike Trout and the Angels for four games beginning on Thursday.
#-3: United FC (Re-Entry!). Did someone say that Christian Ramirez couldn't play in Major League Soccer? The way he's been playing the last two matches I wonder how he hadn't gotten picked up by another team before this year.
The man they call Superman scored three Goals in Sunday's match against Los Angeles and last (Saturday's) match vs. Orlando. One of them was an athletic, slow-bounding side kick to tie the Galaxy at 1. Another of them came off a fantastic backheel flick from the mercurial Johan Venegas that sprung into an open area in front of Ramirez; he eluded the OCSC Goalkeeper and another defender before tapping it in. That resulted in that match's only score and broke a two-game losing streak (and extended to six a streak where the Lions have not won a game). The third, unfortunately, extended that losing streak to two; off of a Corner Kick, the ball found Ramirez's foot and skittered past Bobby Shuttleworth to give L.A. a 2-1 win.
One other thing I want to point out is that I saw a lot of individual prowess in last night's win. Ismaila Jome headed a 50/50 ball into open space, which continued a forward run. I mentioned the Venegas flick. Francisco Calvo took the ball out of the defensive half using a spin-o-rama. And Ibson (who was on the cover of last night's roster card) kept possession of the ball with this weird spinning move where he had one knee on the pitch. It was a sight to behold, but the almost 19,000 at TCF Bank Stadium was able to say "Whoa!" several times last/Saturday night.
Saturday they go to Kansas City.
#-Infinity: Gopher baseball and Gopher softball (Last Week, respectively: -3 and -4). OK, let's get the baseball Nine out of the way first. They fought, and they fought hard. The greatest moment probably was their second match-up with Big Ten Tournament host Indiana in an elim game. The U. was down 6-0 before crawling back with four runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Hoosiers scratched in single runs in the top of the seventh and eighth innings to make their lead 8-4. But they came back to lead and, it turns out, win the game with five runs in the bottom of the eighth, the last three of which came on a Home Run from pinch-hitting Eduardo Estrada, Jr. Wow. That was fucking thrilling.
That put them into a contest with Iowa, which they won by tripling the Hawkeyes, 9-3. (Oh, they started off the tourney by beating Indiana, 5-4 and losing to Northwestern, 11-7.) But their luck ran out last (Saturday) night, 7-5 in 13 innings. Again, a hell of a run. But they needed to win this whole shebang to make a repeat appearance in the NCAAs, and due to a late-season swoon including dropping series to Long Beach St. and Purdue, their season is officially done.
But let's talk about the failure that is the University of Minnesota softball team. Yeah, yeah, they lost to a very tough Alabama team by a pair of 1-0 scores, blah-blah-blah. You guys had the balls to play the disrespect card and wear t-shirts that said "Win Anyway." Well, you didn't fucking win, did you? DID YOU?!?!?!
They needed to win the Regional. I don't care that it was on the road. If you're as lofty as you say you are, and if the polls say you are (the coaches gave the U. a bone by ranking them #1 after getting snubbed), then you march into Tuscaloosa and win. Period. And they didn't. Which -- and I said this last week -- means that the NCAA was totally right in saying that Minnesota was not one of the 16-best teams in top-flight softball, despite having the best record and the most wins in Div. I. They were seeded appropriately. They did not deserve a host. And those fucking goddamn losses are the reasons why.
What a humiliating end to the college career of Pitcher Sara Groenewegen. Made the NCAA Tournament all four years, but the program only won one Regional during her tenure. Yeah, she is The Greatest Gopher Softball Player In History, but after this, so fucking what?
You know, I'll bet that the NCAA will give Minnesota a host next year even though Head Coach Jessica Allister will have nowhere near the club she (supposedly at least) had this year. What fucking trolls.
Saturday, May 27, 2017
RIP, Chris Cornell
I hate it that you never really appreciate your heroes until they're gone.
I got hooked on Soundgarden after getting turned onto Superunknown after my friends started listening to it. Soundgarden set themselves apart from Nirvana and Pearl Jam in that they understood and, if not embraced, accepted the commercial and marketing aspects of promoting their music. I remember back when the Internet was breaking, going on my brother's Prodigy account (remember Prodigy?) and seeing Cornell answer some fan's message or e-mail about how he makes a song. Seeing that has just stuck with me. In a sense, that's how I got hooked on Soundgarden. And Superunknown is, in my estimation, The Best Record I Have Ever Heard.
I don't have too many people I revere. Shit, I guess I don't really revere anyone who hasn't sucked my dick. (I don't mean to be glib, but that's the truth.) But when it comes to music, I don't know if there is any band and/or artist I love more than Soundgarden. John Mellencamp, maybe (and this reminds me that he's going to be in concert at the State Fair this summer -- mental note: See him before he's gone). But yeah, it's Soundgarden. Cornell's one-of-a-kind caterwauling, the band's obsession and mastery of fucked-up time signatures, and the ability to coax hits and killer riffs out of oblique and morbid lyrics is something I don't think anybody else can match. I should give King Animal another try; "By Crooked Steps" is getting to be a song that stands alongside the band's best.
I remember my Resident Advisor telling me at my dorm room door that Soundgarden broke up. That was my senior year at USC, 1998. If Nirvana's Nevermind reaching #1 on the Billboard album chart was The Birth Of Grunge, the first break-up of Soundgarden was The Death Of Grunge. As depressing as that genre of music is, it felt as though nothing good could ever last. I'm still bummed about it.
But after a quick solo record (a song of which I'll end this blog post with), he hooked up with Rage Against The Machine sans Zach de la Rocha to form Audioslave. And in the wake of the post-grunge, pre-emo rock era, that band's eponymous debut album probably saved rock from getting permanently castrated. I'm serious about that. Anchoring it all was Cornell again -- his voice, his songwriting, his ability to make songs that are both great and can top the charts. To be able to do that with two bands? Fucking genius.
---
I had heard he had a history with drugs, but that may only be because I believe every person in a grunge band had a history with drugs. I really had no idea Chris Cornell dealt with depression. And I had no belief that he would take himself out like he did last week, hanging himself in a haze of anti-anxiety medication ... although, if TMZ is correct, he may have shot himself up with drugs that day. Soundgarden was a grunge band, but because of its commitment to promote their albums, they seemed to be the most professional band in The Grunge Era. You can't really be fucked up if you do that.
I don't really do concerts. But as a testament to my loyalty to him, I saw him on his solo tour at the Fitzgerald in St. Paul Easter Sunday of 2011, and I saw Soundgarden when I was vacationing in Kansas City in 2013. I got the full-blown Chris Cornell Experience: His chops and charisma (and voice) fronting Soundgarden, and his more contemplative, tender work as, in his maturing days, a true singer-songwriter. (Euphoria Morning doesn't get enough love, and his last single from his latest solo album, "Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart" from Higher Truth, is another song that should stand the test of time.) I won't say those concerts were life-altering; sorry, I just don't see concerts that way. But those concerts were fucking fantastic.
Finally, I have to say that his first single from his first solo record, EM's "Can't Change Me," is My Favorite Song Of All-Time. It replaces, actually, Soundgarden's "4th of July," which I will still play every Independence Day. "Can't Change Me" strikes me on a very personal level. I have heard Cornell say that it is just a song where he tried to change his personality and behavior but realized that he didn't give a shit about what people thought of him. They say that once someone releases a song to the world, it's not really that person's song anymore, and so I would rather love it for the reasons I want to think of "Can't Change Me": I know I should change, I know I can be a better person, but I have realized that at the end of it all, I have to be me, for better and for worse, because I am all that I have. So, I will remain the deeply flawed and imperfect person that I am now. And if you don't like it -- well, it's not "Go fuck yourself," which may be what Mr. Cornell would say, it's "I'm sorry." That's how I want to take Mr. Cornell's song.
A couple guys who attended the show at the Fitz surreptitiously videotaped it. "Can't Change Me" was, if I recall correctly, the third song he did. It was on YouTube, and I would love to embed it here, but some time ago it was pulled down for some reason. Alright; I will post an acoustic performance of the song he did in conjunction with a promotional push by, of all companies, Wal-Mart. You know, none of his fans felt he sold out. That's a testament to his character, maturity, and talent. This is the way I want to remember him.
Rest In Peace, Mr. Cornell.
I got hooked on Soundgarden after getting turned onto Superunknown after my friends started listening to it. Soundgarden set themselves apart from Nirvana and Pearl Jam in that they understood and, if not embraced, accepted the commercial and marketing aspects of promoting their music. I remember back when the Internet was breaking, going on my brother's Prodigy account (remember Prodigy?) and seeing Cornell answer some fan's message or e-mail about how he makes a song. Seeing that has just stuck with me. In a sense, that's how I got hooked on Soundgarden. And Superunknown is, in my estimation, The Best Record I Have Ever Heard.
I don't have too many people I revere. Shit, I guess I don't really revere anyone who hasn't sucked my dick. (I don't mean to be glib, but that's the truth.) But when it comes to music, I don't know if there is any band and/or artist I love more than Soundgarden. John Mellencamp, maybe (and this reminds me that he's going to be in concert at the State Fair this summer -- mental note: See him before he's gone). But yeah, it's Soundgarden. Cornell's one-of-a-kind caterwauling, the band's obsession and mastery of fucked-up time signatures, and the ability to coax hits and killer riffs out of oblique and morbid lyrics is something I don't think anybody else can match. I should give King Animal another try; "By Crooked Steps" is getting to be a song that stands alongside the band's best.
I remember my Resident Advisor telling me at my dorm room door that Soundgarden broke up. That was my senior year at USC, 1998. If Nirvana's Nevermind reaching #1 on the Billboard album chart was The Birth Of Grunge, the first break-up of Soundgarden was The Death Of Grunge. As depressing as that genre of music is, it felt as though nothing good could ever last. I'm still bummed about it.
But after a quick solo record (a song of which I'll end this blog post with), he hooked up with Rage Against The Machine sans Zach de la Rocha to form Audioslave. And in the wake of the post-grunge, pre-emo rock era, that band's eponymous debut album probably saved rock from getting permanently castrated. I'm serious about that. Anchoring it all was Cornell again -- his voice, his songwriting, his ability to make songs that are both great and can top the charts. To be able to do that with two bands? Fucking genius.
---
I had heard he had a history with drugs, but that may only be because I believe every person in a grunge band had a history with drugs. I really had no idea Chris Cornell dealt with depression. And I had no belief that he would take himself out like he did last week, hanging himself in a haze of anti-anxiety medication ... although, if TMZ is correct, he may have shot himself up with drugs that day. Soundgarden was a grunge band, but because of its commitment to promote their albums, they seemed to be the most professional band in The Grunge Era. You can't really be fucked up if you do that.
I don't really do concerts. But as a testament to my loyalty to him, I saw him on his solo tour at the Fitzgerald in St. Paul Easter Sunday of 2011, and I saw Soundgarden when I was vacationing in Kansas City in 2013. I got the full-blown Chris Cornell Experience: His chops and charisma (and voice) fronting Soundgarden, and his more contemplative, tender work as, in his maturing days, a true singer-songwriter. (Euphoria Morning doesn't get enough love, and his last single from his latest solo album, "Nearly Forgot My Broken Heart" from Higher Truth, is another song that should stand the test of time.) I won't say those concerts were life-altering; sorry, I just don't see concerts that way. But those concerts were fucking fantastic.
Finally, I have to say that his first single from his first solo record, EM's "Can't Change Me," is My Favorite Song Of All-Time. It replaces, actually, Soundgarden's "4th of July," which I will still play every Independence Day. "Can't Change Me" strikes me on a very personal level. I have heard Cornell say that it is just a song where he tried to change his personality and behavior but realized that he didn't give a shit about what people thought of him. They say that once someone releases a song to the world, it's not really that person's song anymore, and so I would rather love it for the reasons I want to think of "Can't Change Me": I know I should change, I know I can be a better person, but I have realized that at the end of it all, I have to be me, for better and for worse, because I am all that I have. So, I will remain the deeply flawed and imperfect person that I am now. And if you don't like it -- well, it's not "Go fuck yourself," which may be what Mr. Cornell would say, it's "I'm sorry." That's how I want to take Mr. Cornell's song.
A couple guys who attended the show at the Fitz surreptitiously videotaped it. "Can't Change Me" was, if I recall correctly, the third song he did. It was on YouTube, and I would love to embed it here, but some time ago it was pulled down for some reason. Alright; I will post an acoustic performance of the song he did in conjunction with a promotional push by, of all companies, Wal-Mart. You know, none of his fans felt he sold out. That's a testament to his character, maturity, and talent. This is the way I want to remember him.
Rest In Peace, Mr. Cornell.
Friday, May 26, 2017
Two Jobs, One Goal ... Moving Target
OK, it's time that I switch wi-fi providers. My 60-month promotional period where I got a deal on my slow, 3-meg wi-fi finally is up, but the billing cycle begins on the 3rd.
Meanwhile, I have confirmed that ... might as well say it, Comcast still has a deal on their introductory price for the year. I went to their store to ask some questions, and I think I'm ready to pull the trigger on this deal. Now I just need to do this do-see-do: Cancel my 3 Meg service and get the 55 Meg service installed. I kind of think I can't have both of them at the same time, though, so I am trying to disconnect my old wi-fi while being able to pick up the new wi-fi the next day, if not immediately. Is there a way to do that? There isn't some law, is there? Man, maybe I'm overthinking this; maybe I just need to do it.
However, finding the time to cancel and to call a guy over to start my new Internet is predicated on having time during the day to do it. I have some time right now, as in I have about a week to schedule the cancel date and an appointment from the Comcast guy to come in and upgrade our wi-fi. But the constant shifting of work for both of my projects has me flummoxed.
I've talked about the day project before. I have never experienced a project where the work just wasn't there. We were cut loose early a couple days last week, told to go home somewhat early Monday, then told to go home after about 2 1/2 hours Tuesday. At the time we were told to come back at 10 Wednesday ... but stay by the phone just in case. And that's when we were told not to come at Wednesday after all, and stay by the horn Thursday.
Well, Thursday (yesterday) morning I was settling into Caribou/Einstein where, after about three bites of my bagel, a bit past 8, I got a call from my immediate supervisor, who sounded more overjoyed than she should have that we had work. "When should I come in?" I asked. "Oh, whenever," she said, and I was fucking lost at that point. I didn't want to drop everything and rush on over there. I knew I basically was on-call for this job, at least for the day, but I wanted to catch up on my receipts, and, if possible, I would have taken the time to schedule the installer appointment. But instead I went to work.
And things are still touch-and-go. There was work Thursday, but it seemed to have slowly petered out. We were then told to be on-call Friday/today, but before we left we were told that there was work and that we in fact could come in early. However, the room boss said that could change. We might be behind schedule, so a part of me thinks that, even though it hasn't been even seriously considered, we'd be coming in Saturday (assuming, of course, there are papers to grade). Hell, we were told a week or so ago that we'd be able to fucking work Memorial Day. All they seem to know is that we will work Tuesday because school officials will be there and we have to work then. I don't get that; I would think that they would rather know that the work is being done, the earlier the better.
While I could use the work, I appreciated the fact that, at least, I had the time during the day to get this wi-fi switch done. I could use another day to get all my questions answered and to iron out all the details in order to finally commit to this. I wished/thought it was Thursday, but now it's not, and the worry is is that I don't know when I would have a day free to finally do this.
However, all of that would be relieved if I had my nights free. Which takes me to my night project. It was slated for three days, but the questions are so easy that it probably will get done in two. However, earlier this week I felt like we were cruising along, to the point where we might -- with the help of Saturday, at which would be able to work -- we would get done this week. That would give me all of next week to set up all the times and appointments. It would be the best of both worlds: I would maximize the promo price for my old wi-fi and delay for as long as possible getting the new wi-fi, and I would have the time to go seamlessly from one to the other.
Now that might be up in the air. With the knowledge that we are speeding along, my room boss for this project switched a half-dozen people last (Thursday) night into another room. That will slow us down, possibly to the point where we will go back to our original target date of completion, which is Monday, June 5 -- two days into the new cycle. If I'm stuck in nights working as well days, I won't get this done. And so I'm in the weird position of actually hoping that this job gets done sooner so I have time to switch Internets.
(sigh) This is so freakin' complicated.
Meanwhile, I have confirmed that ... might as well say it, Comcast still has a deal on their introductory price for the year. I went to their store to ask some questions, and I think I'm ready to pull the trigger on this deal. Now I just need to do this do-see-do: Cancel my 3 Meg service and get the 55 Meg service installed. I kind of think I can't have both of them at the same time, though, so I am trying to disconnect my old wi-fi while being able to pick up the new wi-fi the next day, if not immediately. Is there a way to do that? There isn't some law, is there? Man, maybe I'm overthinking this; maybe I just need to do it.
However, finding the time to cancel and to call a guy over to start my new Internet is predicated on having time during the day to do it. I have some time right now, as in I have about a week to schedule the cancel date and an appointment from the Comcast guy to come in and upgrade our wi-fi. But the constant shifting of work for both of my projects has me flummoxed.
I've talked about the day project before. I have never experienced a project where the work just wasn't there. We were cut loose early a couple days last week, told to go home somewhat early Monday, then told to go home after about 2 1/2 hours Tuesday. At the time we were told to come back at 10 Wednesday ... but stay by the phone just in case. And that's when we were told not to come at Wednesday after all, and stay by the horn Thursday.
Well, Thursday (yesterday) morning I was settling into Caribou/Einstein where, after about three bites of my bagel, a bit past 8, I got a call from my immediate supervisor, who sounded more overjoyed than she should have that we had work. "When should I come in?" I asked. "Oh, whenever," she said, and I was fucking lost at that point. I didn't want to drop everything and rush on over there. I knew I basically was on-call for this job, at least for the day, but I wanted to catch up on my receipts, and, if possible, I would have taken the time to schedule the installer appointment. But instead I went to work.
And things are still touch-and-go. There was work Thursday, but it seemed to have slowly petered out. We were then told to be on-call Friday/today, but before we left we were told that there was work and that we in fact could come in early. However, the room boss said that could change. We might be behind schedule, so a part of me thinks that, even though it hasn't been even seriously considered, we'd be coming in Saturday (assuming, of course, there are papers to grade). Hell, we were told a week or so ago that we'd be able to fucking work Memorial Day. All they seem to know is that we will work Tuesday because school officials will be there and we have to work then. I don't get that; I would think that they would rather know that the work is being done, the earlier the better.
While I could use the work, I appreciated the fact that, at least, I had the time during the day to get this wi-fi switch done. I could use another day to get all my questions answered and to iron out all the details in order to finally commit to this. I wished/thought it was Thursday, but now it's not, and the worry is is that I don't know when I would have a day free to finally do this.
However, all of that would be relieved if I had my nights free. Which takes me to my night project. It was slated for three days, but the questions are so easy that it probably will get done in two. However, earlier this week I felt like we were cruising along, to the point where we might -- with the help of Saturday, at which would be able to work -- we would get done this week. That would give me all of next week to set up all the times and appointments. It would be the best of both worlds: I would maximize the promo price for my old wi-fi and delay for as long as possible getting the new wi-fi, and I would have the time to go seamlessly from one to the other.
Now that might be up in the air. With the knowledge that we are speeding along, my room boss for this project switched a half-dozen people last (Thursday) night into another room. That will slow us down, possibly to the point where we will go back to our original target date of completion, which is Monday, June 5 -- two days into the new cycle. If I'm stuck in nights working as well days, I won't get this done. And so I'm in the weird position of actually hoping that this job gets done sooner so I have time to switch Internets.
(sigh) This is so freakin' complicated.
Thursday, May 25, 2017
Am I Flirting With The Donut Guy?
OK, so at the donut place I go to often there is usually this guy there. Cool guy -- young, tall, glasses, a mustache pretty thick and advanced for someone his age. I'm guessing he's gay, not that there's anything wrong with that. We've seen each other so often that we give each other this "Hey, it's you!" look whenever I walk through the door. It's good to have familiarity with people at a place, and it is the reason I try to go there on a regular basis, even though I haven't done so in the past two weeks.
What I usually do when I'm there is to get one donut, called the Night Moves (it's a fantastic donut; I love the jam and the graham cracker crumble, but what's best about it is the cake donut itself) and pour-over coffee. It takes some time to make, the coffee, mostly because someone has to, uh, pour it, but I like the taste of it, and I appreciate the barista taking a few minutes away from a line that oftentimes gets extremely busy to do it (oftentimes it is him, although he usually works with at least one other front-of-the-house person).
What I usually do after I get my donut and coffee is sit down and immediately scarf down the donut. That's before I get the pour-over, so I have nothing for the coffee to wash down. Plus, I'm still hungry usually, plus I want another of their tasty donuts. So I get up and get another donut. Well, I've gone there so often that when I go there, he and a couple of the other people who regularly work there give me that second donut for free, assuming that it's not one of the really premium donuts they offer. It happens more times than not. As I said, it's good to have familiarity. And I am honored to have bought/earned that privilege. And I signal that thanks by throwing in a buck for a tip anyway.
But then something happened a few weeks ago that kind of threw me off. I went down there, he was working there, I got my usual ... and he said it's on the house. Not the second donut, but the first donut. What?! And the pour-over coffee too, which is $3.50?!?! The whole thing?!?!?!
And I'm like ... wow. I stammered out a thanks. And then I opened up my wallet. Not pulling out a $10 or $20 to pay for the whole thing threw me off. And honestly, the first thing I thought of was, "Well, if I'm getting this for free, I'm not going to give so much in tip because that would defeat the purpose of getting something for free!" And I swear my fingers were trembling as my mind was trying to figure out how much money to give. I finally put into the tip jar three singles: One buck each for the donut and coffee, and another dollar just in case. That's how my mind works: As soon as I get something free, I become a miser and look out for spending as little as possible.
I really enjoyed getting that for free, and I truly enjoy getting a second donut for free. But the reason I got those second donuts for free is that I bought that first donut and coffee. That is the relationship I have established with the business for whom this really cool dude works for. Honestly, I am kind of weirded out by this change. Is this going to happen from now on? If so, I think I'm going to rob this business blind. What's worse, though, is if he doesn't do it the next time. I'll probably think that he doesn't like me anymore. I mean, what else am I supposed to take from yanking away the privilege of getting a donut and a pour-over coffee for free?
And there's one other thing, and I hope to God you guys don't take this the wrong way. I wonder if this guy likes me. I mean, likes likes me. I'm pretty sure I give out a straight vibe, but maybe I don't, or maybe he doesn't care. I feel so dumb for thinking this, but I don't know for sure: Is it possible I have been given all this food for free because ... OK, I'm not saying that he wants to date me or anything like that ... I'm saying that he ... is he just ... fond of me in a way? You know? Huh?
If that's the case, I'm in a bind. If I do anything to break that, by not tipping, or not tipping enough, or not showing up (which I may have been doing since I haven't been there in two weeks), will he get upset, and would that then spur him to take back the free food he offers me? But if I continue to accept his free food, will that mean that he thinks I, you know, like like him too, and that'll mean that we'll spend more time together? I like the guy, but not in that way, so I don't want to give him the wrong impression. And yet I wonder if accepting this free food, which got real serious the last time I saw him, is giving that wrong impression.
But I am going to go to this place this weekend, just in case my absence ends any chance of getting any more free food. Then again, I run the risk of ... uh, rekindling the ardor of the donut guy. Or maybe not; maybe I'm both overestimating my skills as a lothario and insulting a guy just because he's gay. Oh, fuck, I don't know what to do. I just want to eat a donut for as cheaply as possible, OK?
What I usually do when I'm there is to get one donut, called the Night Moves (it's a fantastic donut; I love the jam and the graham cracker crumble, but what's best about it is the cake donut itself) and pour-over coffee. It takes some time to make, the coffee, mostly because someone has to, uh, pour it, but I like the taste of it, and I appreciate the barista taking a few minutes away from a line that oftentimes gets extremely busy to do it (oftentimes it is him, although he usually works with at least one other front-of-the-house person).
What I usually do after I get my donut and coffee is sit down and immediately scarf down the donut. That's before I get the pour-over, so I have nothing for the coffee to wash down. Plus, I'm still hungry usually, plus I want another of their tasty donuts. So I get up and get another donut. Well, I've gone there so often that when I go there, he and a couple of the other people who regularly work there give me that second donut for free, assuming that it's not one of the really premium donuts they offer. It happens more times than not. As I said, it's good to have familiarity. And I am honored to have bought/earned that privilege. And I signal that thanks by throwing in a buck for a tip anyway.
But then something happened a few weeks ago that kind of threw me off. I went down there, he was working there, I got my usual ... and he said it's on the house. Not the second donut, but the first donut. What?! And the pour-over coffee too, which is $3.50?!?! The whole thing?!?!?!
And I'm like ... wow. I stammered out a thanks. And then I opened up my wallet. Not pulling out a $10 or $20 to pay for the whole thing threw me off. And honestly, the first thing I thought of was, "Well, if I'm getting this for free, I'm not going to give so much in tip because that would defeat the purpose of getting something for free!" And I swear my fingers were trembling as my mind was trying to figure out how much money to give. I finally put into the tip jar three singles: One buck each for the donut and coffee, and another dollar just in case. That's how my mind works: As soon as I get something free, I become a miser and look out for spending as little as possible.
I really enjoyed getting that for free, and I truly enjoy getting a second donut for free. But the reason I got those second donuts for free is that I bought that first donut and coffee. That is the relationship I have established with the business for whom this really cool dude works for. Honestly, I am kind of weirded out by this change. Is this going to happen from now on? If so, I think I'm going to rob this business blind. What's worse, though, is if he doesn't do it the next time. I'll probably think that he doesn't like me anymore. I mean, what else am I supposed to take from yanking away the privilege of getting a donut and a pour-over coffee for free?
And there's one other thing, and I hope to God you guys don't take this the wrong way. I wonder if this guy likes me. I mean, likes likes me. I'm pretty sure I give out a straight vibe, but maybe I don't, or maybe he doesn't care. I feel so dumb for thinking this, but I don't know for sure: Is it possible I have been given all this food for free because ... OK, I'm not saying that he wants to date me or anything like that ... I'm saying that he ... is he just ... fond of me in a way? You know? Huh?
If that's the case, I'm in a bind. If I do anything to break that, by not tipping, or not tipping enough, or not showing up (which I may have been doing since I haven't been there in two weeks), will he get upset, and would that then spur him to take back the free food he offers me? But if I continue to accept his free food, will that mean that he thinks I, you know, like like him too, and that'll mean that we'll spend more time together? I like the guy, but not in that way, so I don't want to give him the wrong impression. And yet I wonder if accepting this free food, which got real serious the last time I saw him, is giving that wrong impression.
But I am going to go to this place this weekend, just in case my absence ends any chance of getting any more free food. Then again, I run the risk of ... uh, rekindling the ardor of the donut guy. Or maybe not; maybe I'm both overestimating my skills as a lothario and insulting a guy just because he's gay. Oh, fuck, I don't know what to do. I just want to eat a donut for as cheaply as possible, OK?
Wednesday, May 24, 2017
OK, Now This Is Both Messed Up And Presents A Perfect Opportunity
OK, I said last blog post that we're going to start on a brand-new test scoring project today at 10. I didn't mention that there was a possibility that we would not, and if so, we would receive a call in the morning. Well, I did get a call this morning saying, uh, don't come in at 10, and then we'll call you later today. Coming in later than 10 doesn't really make any sense, so I'm guessing (and he thought this as well) that we're just not coming in today.
This project, like the one at the Mall Of America, has now officially become a clusterfuck. I have never been told not to show up for work I thought we had. Is this a sign of the "gig" economy the entire world will now be forced to live under? But at least we'll get paid for the day. Sweet.
So now I have the day all to myself. What to do? Well, I'm spending the morning blogging about this at a coffeeshop, so my morning's not totally wasted. But I saw something on my way out of the house this morn. I went downstairs to Father's computer room to see if he wanted any Powerball tickets. (The jackpot stands at a quarter-billion, so get your tix now.) And he was on the Internet, looking at an article in Chinese, but the goddamn wi-fi modem was blinking red again.
I had thought about getting back on working on changing networks last night, but now that I should have my afternoon free, I think I need to start working on looking at other places. I have CenturyLink for right now, but their 60-month period ends soon, and I am planning on just ending Internet service with them and just going with a landline. Simultaneously, I would find someone else (probably Comcast -- ugh) and start the process of going with them. And so I will probably visit a store after I'm done blogging this and get more information. And if this 60-month promo price ends soon -- I thought it ended around Independence Day, but I got my bill saying I'm at month 60 of 60, so who knows -- I should switch providers now.
See, I wouldn't be able to do all this if I were at work. So that's a silver lining. Right?
Oh yeah, I might fuck a girl this afternoon if she's free. And if not, I might watch a soccer game.
Anyway, I should go.
This project, like the one at the Mall Of America, has now officially become a clusterfuck. I have never been told not to show up for work I thought we had. Is this a sign of the "gig" economy the entire world will now be forced to live under? But at least we'll get paid for the day. Sweet.
So now I have the day all to myself. What to do? Well, I'm spending the morning blogging about this at a coffeeshop, so my morning's not totally wasted. But I saw something on my way out of the house this morn. I went downstairs to Father's computer room to see if he wanted any Powerball tickets. (The jackpot stands at a quarter-billion, so get your tix now.) And he was on the Internet, looking at an article in Chinese, but the goddamn wi-fi modem was blinking red again.
I had thought about getting back on working on changing networks last night, but now that I should have my afternoon free, I think I need to start working on looking at other places. I have CenturyLink for right now, but their 60-month period ends soon, and I am planning on just ending Internet service with them and just going with a landline. Simultaneously, I would find someone else (probably Comcast -- ugh) and start the process of going with them. And so I will probably visit a store after I'm done blogging this and get more information. And if this 60-month promo price ends soon -- I thought it ended around Independence Day, but I got my bill saying I'm at month 60 of 60, so who knows -- I should switch providers now.
See, I wouldn't be able to do all this if I were at work. So that's a silver lining. Right?
Oh yeah, I might fuck a girl this afternoon if she's free. And if not, I might watch a soccer game.
Anyway, I should go.
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