"Only tears can bring a dreamer back to earth."

A day of ups and downs.

Mom had cataract surgery on her other eye but she feels good and it turned out as expected. I had 6.5 hours blocked off for meetings and appointments. That gave me three 30 minute breaks here and there. And it was a busy day. McD's cheeseburgers for lunch. Blech. Cut out early to take Honey Badger to the airport. Made a run to Sam's to load up on tea drank (1 for me, 3 for dad).

Had a very interesting visit with my doctor. Copious amounts of blood were drawn. What's a gill? Possibly but probably not thyroid issues. Possibly but probably not heavy metal poisoning. Probably something else. Possibly one other thing. Laughable phone call afterward but it put me in a rotten mood.

Headed home and started texting Sexy Back about sillines. Her little grrrl with the fake mustache was hilarious. Hilarious!!! And she realized something funny... such a small world! I wonder if a punch from Sexy Back would even hurt. (I kinda doubt it)

Counted down the moments before Chick Pea showed up. I knew she was bringing me dinner and I was excited to see what she made. What I didn't realize is that she was bringing dinner for SIX! Omg, it was so nommy and I'ven't even *tasted* everything yet. We chilled, watched a show, told stories. She's really such an incredible person. She does so much and considers it just part of her day. I strive to be as productive in my daily life. Hated to let her go tonight.

After she left I started sorting my memory bins further. I was trying to split them by age for the longest time but kept having trouble. I think I've got it down though. Childhood. Middle School. High School. College. 20s. Marriage #1. 30s. Marriage #2. 40s. Legal & Taxes. Efforts stalled out very close to the end. I have to further sort my 20s bin and then go through a humongous pile of pictures strewn across the ages. At least the mess is off of the kitchen floor.

Wound down by watching UofL annihilate USF and nomming on rice crispy treats.

Thinking back on a full day and smiling. I have very good friends surrounding me and supporting me with their love. Cracked open my fortune cookie from last night's Great Wall: "Only tears can bring a dreamer back to earth."

Smiles abound here! :)

UPDATE: Chick Pea's ciabatta  kicks all kinds of ass!

What a relaxing day!

I haven't had such a relaxing day in a long time. The ice storm kept me in for most of the day. It was a good, albeit hectic, day "at" the office (I worked from home in my pjs). My Tuesday Archer Lunch didn't happen due to the weather but that's okay. Sweet Pea came over for an afternoon visit and that was lovely. We talked about lighting and bedroom arrangements and all of the things that match the color turquoise. And of course we teased each other. That grrrl is so much like me... it's like a female clone that ended up with a few better qualities than I did. Haha! Time with her seems to just fly by. She left and I gobbled up some Great Wall... Singapore Chow Mei Fun and Curry Chicken (STAY AWAY FROM CURRY CHICKEN BECAUSE IT IS BOILED TO DEATH AND GROSS). Then I got an invite to go to Chick Pea's house to watch Firefly. I never got into that show but I had always heard great things about it. Hung out with Chick Pea until it got late. Came home, wound down, and went to bed early. Mmm, good day. :)

2014 New Year Resolutions - Day 20

Pop Quiz! We (the royal "we") are going to check in on the 2014 New Year Resolutions progress, 20 days into 2014 with a 7 question TRUE/FALSE quiz.

And without further ado:

"Social And Media"

1. Be social! Go out once a week.  TRUE/FALSE:

KINDA. I have been social. Pizza and brownies with Sexy Back. Pizza-less inaugural Archer lunch with the boys. Pan's Labyrinth and Funny Face with Sweet Pea. Curtain Epiphany 2014! Honey Badger's 35-minute power nap. Catching up and conversation over the UofL game that we didn't even watch! Sharing drinks and saying goodbye to Einstein at Against the Grain.

I've done all of these things since the beginning of the year. So the answer should simply be TRUE, right? The problem is that, other than the last one on the list, all of these fantastic things have happened at my place. So while I feel like a butterfly (as in social butterfly... don't know how else one would take that but that's neither here nor there - I felt like clarifying... perhaps like how Muhammad Ali in that I am...) I am not exactly getting out much. Still have 12% unpacking and arranging to do. And then I have to clean. Thank you, Dyson! The weather has been crap and that's been keeping me in. Oh, I am certain the Weather Bomb had something to do with it too as thousands perished in the blistery vortex the scientists warned us about - IF ONLY WE HAD LISTENED!*

* The sentence immediately preceding this asterisk is completely false although not too far from how I felt the news was attempting to portray it 

2. Make media! Create a work of art every other week.

TRUE. I have really gone ape shit in the studio. SIX PIECES! Six. I've been posting everything. And people say the sweetest things! It's so uplifting. But yeah, six pieces... that sets me out until the Spring but I have no intention of slowing down.

3. Social media. Raising the self-imposed Internet ban!  TRUE/FALSE:

TRUE: I have been very busy with work and painting. I am back on Facebook and it's a lot of fun. I need to at least get my LinkedIn page/profile/whatever updated. I don't want to gussy it up too much though, lest my employer think I'm looking to walk. Ha! I just take pictures with my phone so Flickr may be overkill. We'll see.

4. Social exercise. Run 300 miles.  TRUE/FALSE:

EHHH. It's COLD. I can't run in this cold. So I'm waiting. I still have some days before I have to start with the Hal Higdon Half Marathon Training Guide - Novice 1 Program.  The problem is that I'm out of soccer shape and haven't played since before Christmas. It sure has felt good though. :| 

5. Read media. Finish reading a book every other month. TRUE/FALSE:

EHHH. I have demoted The Hobbit from the first book to be read and will instead bestow that honor to The Art of War. It's a loaner from... well, I can't call her Runner Grrrl anymore because she had surgery... a good friend.

6. Thrifty weekly spending. Spend less than "the magic number" per week on average weekly expenses.  TRUE/FALSE:

MOSTLY? Dude, I killed it the first two weeks of January. This week, eh...I'm over by $10.92. I can live the rest of the week with either food here or pocket change and folding money in the car. It's only ten dollars! Plus a little bit of that helped make miracle Curtain Epiphany 2014 (tees available soon). Besides, on average, I am still well under my magic number by $111/week. Mark it 8, Dude.

7. Do not touch the froggy.  TRUE/FALSE:

WELLLLLLL. According to the parameters of this resolution when I first put it out there in my head, then answer is TRUE. But the parameters were ambiguously clear whilst concurrently clearly ambiguous. In fact, a number of things I had never considered could now be considered contenders for addendums to the resolution. Since the resolution itself has nothing to do with either "touching" or "froggies" it would be hard to explain using those terms. Perhaps another time. Suffice to say, TRUE.

Sunday in a nutshell

Reports in the morning. Sweet Pea came over for a visit. Power cord at work. Lunch at Ramiro's. Good conversations. Target run. Checked out Sweet Pea's house. Curtain situation: Resolved. Funny Face. Big smiles. More hanging. Always good times. Finished reports. Pigged out on homemade pretzels and fudge. Watched late-night movies. Woke up on the couch at 6:54am.

It Was A Good Day

Just waking up in the morning gotta thank God
I don't know but today seems kinda odd
No barking from the dogs, no smog
And momma cooked a breakfast with no hog
I got my grub on, but didn't pig out
Finally got a call from a girl want to dig out
Hooked it up on later as I hit the do'
Thinking will i live another twenty fo'
I gotta go cause I got me a drop top
And if I hit the switch, I can make the ass drop
Had to stop at a red light
Looking in my mirror not a jacker in sight
And everything is alright
I got a beep from Kim and she can fuck all night
Called up the homies and I'm askin' y'all
Which park, are y'all playin' basketball?
Get me on the court and I'm trouble
Last week fucked around and got a triple double
Freaking brothers every way like M.J.
I can't believe, today was a good day

-- Ice Cube

Just waking up in the morning gotta thank Gawd
I don't know but today seems kinda odd
No barking from the dogs, quick blog
And momma cooked a breakfast with fried hog
I dropped the goods off, got my payoff
(gotta side thing if I ever get laid off)
Forgot my list as I hit the do'
Thinking what to buy for the next twenty fo'
I gotta spend 'cause I got me a cute date
And if we hit it off, she may even stay late
Had to stop at a red light
Looking to my left, and turned a red on right
And everything is alright
I got some stuff from stores and I'm set for all night
Facebooked my buddy and askin' ya'll
Still coming, for UofL basketball?
Crack open bourbon and I'm trouble
Last week fucked around and drank a triple double
Having fun everyday 'til my last day I can't believe, today was a good day

-- DeadBrinley

I just read in the news recently (even though I've mostly cut myself off from the news... you guys realize it's about a bunch of stuff we have no control over like weather, politics, religion that rarely affect our day-to-day lives and yet we feel compelled to read/watch everyday?!) that Ice Cube wanted to get the Goodyear blimp to light up "ICE CUBE'S A PIMP" to benefit some charity. I don't think the old white guys who run the gnomes and gremlins that crank the cranks that make 'merica move forward will allow it, but that would AWESOME!

Running on empty

I'm out of gas. Emotionally, mentally, physically, interdimensionally, and literally. That latter one is easily remedied with a trip to the gas station. The others will take time and rest. The problem is that I do not have time to take, which disallows the aforementioned rest.

My work week ended but my work did not. I have 6 reports to complete tomorrow. I have done a ton of research and will have great stories to tell for each product in my decks. But I have to compile and compute and tell the story with the data. I like doing this part of my job. It's just tedious.

I have 3 paintings due to be dropped off at the client's house tomorrow at 9am. I am not going to even admit how much I still have left to go. Suffice to say, it's gonna be a late night. I'm going to eat some cold pizza, crack an energy drank, and get the fuck to it!

I have to run errands. I'm out of tea drank. I'm out of food. I'm nearly out of toilet paper. I need to go to Target, Kroger, and probably Sam's. I have a good grocery list (remember the perfect answer?) and I'm hoping my friend appreciates all the snack options that will be available. :) I know they will!

A friend is coming over Saturday to watch some basketball and catch up. Another friend is coming over Sunday to watch a flick. And, wouldn't you know it, I have Monday off. Thank you for being born, Martin Luther (the) King! :)

I will be wrecked in the morning after this last push to get all of the paintings done. But perhaps, just maybe, I might be able to catch up a bit over the weekend. Get myself recharged. Get the rest that I need. Eat the food that I'm missing. Still feeling the manic, crazy, sweaty feeling and I'm going to the doctor on Wednesday to talk about that.

A day of rage and tears

Made a phone call today with the intent of severing ties. The "victim" was on another call. Can't really "break up" in a voice message so I left a message with a secretary. I told her that I was thinking about leaving and that I had been unhappy with the service for quite some time. She assured me that I would get a call back ASAP.

That's part of the problem. She always says that. And they never call back - ASAP or otherwise. I don't want to be the kid who takes his ball home when he doesn't get his way but I am PAYING for the service. It's not a courtesy, it's part of the service that I expect. So I've heard all of this before. Perhaps this time was different.

Turns out it was. But I started hearing the same excuses and my blood began to boil. I shot up from my desk and frantically searched for an office with a door I could close. I fell about 12 paces short. Right in the hallway, in front of cubes and offices alike, I *kinda* lost my shit. Temper flared. Voice raised. Effectiveness was questions. Expletives were utilized.

It takes a lot to get me worked up. Even more so these days than just a few years ago. And I cannot tell you when I have been that upset. I was given assurances. I was given promises. I don't care about all of that. I want results. And I think I've paid quite enough to have "earned" the right to get them.

I think my outburst, embarrassing as it was, actually may get things rolling. I hate squeaky wheel syndrome. I don't like to be the complainer. But the time had long passed for me to give this person a piece of my mind. I like where things are going, at least preliminarily. We'll see in the coming months if I made the right choice in sticking with them. I hope so. I'm just tired of the fighting.

Well, a few hours later, I guess things just caught up with me and I began sobbing at my desk. I went into a dark office and got my shit back together. I returned to my desk, cracked open a special bottle of Woodford, poured a triple, and gulped it in one motion.

Thankfully the night was not full of further acts of self-destruction. In fact, quite the opposite. A friend came over late and brought me hugs, hope, and some PB M&Ms. It was kinda fucking awesome and they are kind of my hero right now. <3