Punted Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday on my way home from work I got kicked in the rear, ok, more like my car did. Nothing major, no cops called, no real excitement over the whole thing. Just an orderly exchanging of information and then we were both on our ways. Minor damage to the bumper, which is not visible until you are up on it and only the tiniest bit of my tail light knocked out.Fortunately, the whole insurance process thus far has been entirely reasonable and easy. Accident was at 4:30pm and by 7:30 I had an appointment with his insurance agent to have them cut me a check for the repairs (next week).
A wholly boring affair, frankly when it comes to car accidents there isn't anything better.
Eternal question though, repair the damage or take the money and run? The civic is 11 years old and the damage so minor.
Snooze button Tuesday, April 21, 2009
I'm beginning to think there is something very wrong with me, African Sleeping Sickness perhaps? Except I believe one must have either been in Africa recently (not I) or slept with someone who has (and that is an absolute impossibility since the drought continues unabated).For the last month or so I've been unbelievably tired, falling asleep at positively early hours (last night I was completely conked out at 7:45pm) then sleeping straight through till morning. My house in shambles because I cannot muster the energy to keep it in anything other than a semi-tidy state. And almost forget going to the gym, I've managed to keep my appointments with my trainer but beyond that you'll not find me there. Which means that I'm absolutely not going to be ready for tri season.
Rather than languish on I've made an appointment with a doctor to make sure it isn't something else less exotic than my delusions of it being African Sleeping Sickness.
I did, however, manage to watch the entire series of Lost in Austin tonight on DVD. It made my little Jane Austen loving heart beat rapidly and was a most excellent expansion on the book. And Elliot Cowen does a bang up job as Mr. Darcy, so much so that (all over again for the millionth time) I found myself wholly in love with him. And for the first time a touch in love with Mr. Wickham. Oh my. I should qualify that only applies in this adaptation.
Really though, Elliot Cowen does a bang up job of casting a smoldering looks at the heroine. And now I covet the shiny red locks of Amanda Price (said heroine).
Labels: cleaning, gym, lazy, triathlon, TV
Flat rate. Saturday, April 11, 2009
A little bit ago I instituted a new budget, and while I'm valiantly trying to stick to it sometimes is massively hard. I swear, I am a bit shocked at how much money I can easily blow on a Saturday morning just doing the normal weekly shopping.It does not help that lately I've had one of those runs where all the expensive crap I need all runs out at the same time. In one week I ran out of propane for the grill, olive oil, toilet paper, plus I needed to gas up the car and on and on. So of course that is adding extra to my weekly bills. Another $20-30 depending on the week.
But what really put me under was shopping for my brother. Little bro is in Afghanistan and stationed on a super remote mountain top without out some of the most basic neccessities. Like a shower, depending on the week he may or may not get a shower. Ok, so a bunch of people shoot at you daily is definitely higher on the list of shitty things about where he is. There is absolutely no way in hell I could do his job.
Mail can be sketchy, and take weeks upon weeks so shelf stable food that can hold up to be dropped from a helicopter and various other rough delivery treatment is a must. When he was home in February he was so damn skinny, probably the thinnest I've ever seen him in a long time. He is having trouble getting enough protein in order to keep on muscle so he specifically asked for high protein items.
The packages were loaded up with beans, beans, tuna, laughing cow cheese (did you know this stuff is shelf stable? Isn't that awesome?!), rice, coconut milk, 6 boxes of triscuits (his favorite) and various other canned food stuff. The thing that blew my mind, besides the Laughing Cow cheese, is that those things are so freaking expensive. I rarely, if ever, buy those things (except the beans and laughing cow) that I spent more on his groceries that I do on myself in two weeks.
Luckily the post office has flat rate shipping boxes to APO addresses. I just hope he gets it all, sometimes things get lost or damaged and like I said- stuff happens and mail delivery can be postponed for months.
Dan Rather recently did a show about where my brother is stationed, it's entirely too surreal to hear Dan Rather say my last name over and over again. My brother sounds so smart and diplomatic, the camera really loves him too. It was more than a bit hard to see how he is living (shanty-like bunkers) and the sort of thing he deals with on a daily basis but important none the less. The show is called A Border Runs Through It (available on iTunes) and if you'd liked to know which one is my brother email me (address at the top right column of this page) and I'll tell you my last name so you'll know which guy he is.
Labels: food
Artist Statement Monday, April 06, 2009
Lets not discuss my non-training for that half-marathon or those triathlons I've scheduled for this summer. Or my bastard shoulder which I may have sort of dislocated a couple of weeks ago and is still sort of sore. Should make swimming awesome.Instead I want to share with you all my 12 year old nephew's artist statement from a recent art show he was chosen for. Please keep in mind that a good portion of the time he acts like octogenarian:
For me, drawing and painting are nothing new. I have, for years, kept journal of art work and some page-long descriptions of them. Having three sisters in the same house can get hectic, so I often find myself locked in my room drawing, looking for inspiration or simply reading a book. Most of inspiration comes from family members, books, clouds, just about everywhere. This art work came to me from my bedroom window. There are three trees. At night when the light and horizon are just right, this is how it looks from my perspective. The tree in the middle is the tallest, and the other two are like children. When they are no in silhouette, they are abundant in cardinals, bluebirds and hummingbirds.
-James
Isn't he totally awesome?
Labels: Awesomeness, lazy, running, triathlon
