Swing down sweet chariot, stop and let me ride

On the heels of a productive day at work yesterday, I went in this morning almost, I say almost, with a spring in my step. I wasn't there an hour when Karen came in unexpectedly and things went awry.

Have you ever had an experience that felt scripted? That, no matter how hard you try to sway events a certain way, they remain frustratingly rigid on their preordained path? Well, today that happened to me. Everything seemed to work against me while Karen was in. Even my thoughts and actions actively betrayed my better judgment. If I screw up 5% of the time at work, that 5% represented itself fully during the small window of time Karen was there. I half expected her to fire me, and the way things were going, I probably wouldn't have blamed her.

And to make things more interesting, I was nursing a sore throat that became so painful I could barely talk. I was convinced I was coming down with something. Rich has been sick for a week and a couple of people at work have been, too. It's never a good time to get sick, but c'mon, did I have to start getting sick on a day like today?

Remarkably, though, I felt much better after lunch. My sore throat had dwindled to the point of non existence and things started going my way a bit more. I left work wondering what the fuck that day was all about.

My throat is a wee bit sore right now and I feel a tad fatigued. Maybe I do have something. I think it's probably allergies, though I don't know if I'm allergic to anything. Whatever it is, I'm glad it's leaving my body.

Well, that's all the boring stuff you're going to get out of me tonight. I am tired and need to relax (I almost wrote chill-ax, but I sensed you'd never forgive me if I did).

The Sons of the Silent Age make love only once, but dream and dream

Busy day at work today. Also frustrating--at least early on-- but I rebounded and the rest of the day went pretty well. Since it was one of the busiest days of the spring, Gio called out and I was stuck with Larry, who's not at the top of the list of drivers I'm confident in. He came to work this morning straight from his night job and though he was bragging to me about how he doesn't need much sleep and is able, due to his superior constitution, to subsist on only a few hours of it a week, by midday he was nearly catatonic and a real downer.

I accompanied him on the last few deliveries of the day and he was either completely silent or complaining about how tired he was the entire time. After repeatedly failing to strike up a conversation with him, I decided he wasn't worth the effort and sunk happily inward to attend to my extremely vivid and wondrous imagination.

One of our stops was at MIT and Larry parked the truck in front of the building at the bus stop. As we made our way towards the building, some kid started jawing at us about having to move the truck. If he hadn't come off as a pretentious weasel, I probably wouldn't have been as curt with him as I was. "Ok, where would you like us to park?", I asked him.

He looked around and when he didn't see any spots available, responded with, "Well, you can't park here."

Larry, still crabby, broke his silence and said "What the fuck does it matter to you where I park my truck?"

The kid, not wanting any part of Larry, clammed up and walked away. The kid had a point, though. I didn't want us to get towed, so once we found out where we were picking up, I had Larry drive around back and I found us a loading dock. I left him in the truck with his misery while I traversed the bowels of MIT looking for a way up to the room we needed to get to. On my way, I walked by a chalk board and solved a really difficult problem that was written on it. One of the professors came out of his classroom and, after seeing what I had done, called after me, but I told him to fuck off and went on my way. Yeah, I solved a problem none of his spazzy nerd students could solve. How do you like them apples?
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I had some terrible dreams this morning before my alarm saved my ass and woke me up. Alas, I can't remember what happened in them. They faded as quickly as breath on a mirror.
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Rick, our landlord's brother came by this evening and looked at our boiler with Rich. He said he's going to order a new one for us. I can't wait for this to happen. To once again have effective water pressure and options other than freezing and scalding as far as water temperature is concerned, will be a renaissance.
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I was watching the Office (UK) last night and my dvd started skipping and pixilating through one of the best scenes of the series. It happened during David Brent's motivational speech in front of a group of strangers. It was the worst thing that has ever happened to me. Besides punching the wall and crying, I didn't do much of anything after that.
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I'm beat, so you'll have to wait until another day to hear me riff on cream pie's. And in case you're wondering, I am absolutely not referring to the dessert. Stay tuned.

Though nothing will drive them away, we can be Heroes just for one day

Did my taxes and had lunch with my mother today. Going out to eat with her is often a wince-inducing experience. I love my mother---she's a sweet, caring woman---but when she steps into a restaurant, something demonic and terrible is unleashed in her.

Even at places she likes (there is only one---Luigi's in Bedford), there will be at least two aspects of the dining experience that she'll complain about, and usually to the unfortunate person waiting on us.

So, at The 99 today, we hadn't even sat down yet before she lodged two complaints. As the hostess led us to a table and set our menus atop it, my mother snapped, "I want a booth". The hostess obliged her and gathered the menus off the table and brought us to a booth. Once we were seated mother said with sardonic bite, "Of course we have to be sat all the way in the back. Wouldn't want to sit us at one of the empty tables up front". The hostess, who I'm sure couldn't wait to be done with my mother and tell her coworkers what a bitch she was, said, with as much politeness as she could muster, "I'm sorry, but we have a specific way we arrange seating".

When she left, I tried explaining to my mother what the hostess meant, but I knew it would have no effect. I silently hoped no one would spit in our food as I perused the menu. It was a good meal (I had the fish tacos) and my mother only complained a few more times about the service (When our waitress took our plates off the table well after we finished eating, my mother, in earshot of the waitress, said "She's trying to hurry us out of her so can seat more people. I looked around at all the empty tables and replied, "Uh, I'm not so sure about that. Her other complaints were about how drafty it was---one of her staples---and me getting the wrong drink, even though I didn't).

All in all, I enjoyed myself. Despite my less than flattering description of my mother's actions, I enjoy spending time with her. We've always had a special bond---even when we hated each other during my "difficult" years---and I love her a lot.
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After my morning run yesterday, I started cleaning our kitchen. Craig offered his help and the two of us spent the next few hours going to town. We were thorough in our work and it shows. Feels good having a clean kitchen.
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Our boiler has been leaking for well over a month and consequently, our water pressure and temperature has been off-kilter. We notified our landlord when we discovered the problem, but she said she couldn't afford to have the boiler fixed or replaced at that time.

Unfortunately, the boiler didn't heal from its injuries and the problem has persisted. We received our gas bill the other day and it was nearly double what we had paid last month, so Craig called our landlord and basically told her we weren't going to pay most of the bill. She told him not to pay it. From that, I gathered she was going to take steps to remedy the situation.

Rich spoke to our landlord's brother around the same time Craig spoke to the landlord. And today Rich informed me he called our landlord and explained to her the urgency of the situation. She told him her brother would be by in a day or two to assess the problem.

Rich told me if she doesn't move on this soon, he's going to tell her we're all moving out. I understand his need for action---the situation requires it---I'm just not sure I want him speaking for the household concerning matters we haven't discussed. He may have spoken with Craig about moving out and they may have both agreed that they would, but I wasn't part of that discussion.

As I stated, I understand the situation calls for urgency, which means staying on top of our landlord and making sure something is done about the boiler,which if unserviced will most likely go on us. However, I'm of a mind to consider our landlord's point of view. She's elderly and lives alone . According to her, she depends greatly on our rent checks every month to get by, and even then it's just barely. Whether that's true, I have no way of knowing, but from my experience with her, it would seem to be.

For where we live, our rent is considerably low, a fact all of us appreciate. If she was inclined, she could raise the rent substantially. She hasn't and says she wont. For that reason we've been patient with her about things in our house not getting fixed promptly . So, yes, the current situation requires urgency, but I don't believe it necessitates strong arm tactics. And I'm afraid, especially where Rich is concerned, that is the approach that will be put forth.

I spoke to him a little bit about my concerns and I could tell he didn't like what I was saying. All I told him was that I wanted to give her a chance, now that she was enlightened about the gas bill and the rapidly-declining boiler, to do something about it. I completely understand his anger and frustration---I feel it, too; just not as intensely.

Our landlord is probably going to need to buy a new boiler and they are not cheap. If she doesn't have the money to pay for it, she's going to have to figure something out. I'm willing to work with her on that, and I think the guys are too, as long as progress is being made. If I had the sense that she didn't give a shit about what was going on I would be more in Rich's camp, but I don't. Hopefully, things will work out to every one's satisfaction. If not, I see trouble on the wind.
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Ok, I've got to get back shopping for Suri Cruise pictures online. And I'm crossing my fingers that Amazon will have a signed copy of her biography, which I'm absolutely dying to read!

My seat over the wing, I'm the happiest hot potato on the plane

I worked late today and now I don't feel like doing much of anything. Maybe I'll get my second wind and I'll rage through the night like a sailor on shore leave. I doubt that will happen, if only because I don't have enough cake to pay for a hooker. That's what sailors do on shore leave, right? They also gamble, get piss drunk, and fight, too. Yeah, that's right---I'm well versed in the social pursuits of sea faring men. I also know a shitload about the French Foreign Legion, in case you're interested.
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I'm determined to begin meditating again on a daily basis. I've gone too long without practicing it and I think it's more essential now than ever before that I have it in my life. It's time to venture back to the void. It's either that or I start body building. Yeah, dude, I'm gonna get huge!
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Was talking to my dad about The Office yesterday and he was telling me about how he's been missing the repeats on cable. I told him not to worry because he can watch the dvds at his leisure. The ones I bought him. Oh, yeah, he said, I have the cd's (he's not ready yet to introduce the word dvd into his vocabulary). I don't think he'll watch them, though. I get the sense that he thinks putting the disc into the player and pressing play will be a lengthy, involved process and thus not worth the effort.
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Looks like I'll be playing a show with Leesa in June. I think Foley may be playing, too, but I'm not sure. Hopefully, a date will be set soon. I'm dying to showcase my new rapping ability. No more whiny singing for me, bitches.
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I've been trying to decide who, if forced to, I'd rather fight: a child, a person in a wheel chair, or a frail, old man. Now I'm no Carmine Ragusa, but there's no way I'm losing to any one of them. The question is who would I feel less lousy about beating to a pulp? Well, I'm going to rule out the frail, old man, because most likely I'll kill him if we fight, and there's no way I'm going back to the can. I wouldn't feel so bad about beating up the guy in the wheelchair, but I'm going to rule him out, too, because he'll have a lot of rage built up from not being able to walk and will probably spaz on me. No thanks. So, the child it is. I'm fine with that. Kids are usually deserving of a beating for one reason or another and since they're young, will heal quickly. Now I just have to find a kid to pick a fight with.

Here I lay waiting for the bubbles to settle, I'm going down low where your sleep meets your mental

Last night I had one of my flying dreams, but this time I wasn't freaked out by flying. It began with Luke Warm, a couple of other friends, and me on a plane headed to Florida. I thought to myself I should be anxious about flying but I had a great time. Everyone was mingling and laughing and I was excited to see Florida again.

At some point I fell asleep and when I awoke, the plane was landing. I looked out the window and saw that it was snowing and that we were back in Boston. I looked around and discovered most of the people who had been on the plane before my nap were gone. I asked the flight attendant what was happening and she told me I didn't get off the plane in time when it landed in Florida and consequently, I ended up on the return trip back to Logan. I spent the rest of the dream trying to buy a ticket back to Florida and wondering why none of my friends woke me up when we landed in Florida. One of these days, I'm going to have things work out for me in my dreams.
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I had a feeling today was going to be a difficult one and it was. We lost power for a few hours in the morning which put us behind schedule and I spent what seemed like hours trying to order parts for Bill. I had to wade through a turbulent sea of menu options at every place I called and the few times I was able to get an actual human on the phone, I received nothing in the way of help. There were a ton of other little things that added to the difficult day, but I'll spare us all the details.

A highlight of the day was when I rented some stuff to the father of one the best friends of my youth. The last time I saw him I was a freshman in high school. He filled me in on what my old friend was doing and it was strange hearing him described as an adult. As far as I'm concerned, he's forever etched in my memory as a fourteen year old boy.
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I've been watching season two of the Office (US) on dvd and I'm always impressed at how well the show was put together. So much of the humor is subtle and true to life. Amanda had it right, though, when she opined that the current season isn't as good as the previous ones. At first I didn't see it, but it's now pretty clear to me that, while the show is still really good, it's become exaggerated in almost every facet. The humor is broader, bordering on slapstick in some instances, and the show suffers for it.
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Ok, it's been a long day and I'm effing beat. I'm going to do my best to relax tonight and hopefully tomorrow will be a fun and sexy day. Hey, it could happen, you know.

Blue, blue, electrice blue, that's the color of my room

Pretty cool seeing Jesse Ventura risking public ridicule by speaking his mind about 9/11. He has stated for the record that he thinks 9/11 was an inside job and that he regrets not coming to his senses about it while he was still Governor, when he was in a better position to have done something about it. Not surprising that the major media hasn't covered this story. If you're interested in hearing more of what he had to say, check out his interview with Alex Jones. You can listen to it on 9/11 blogger.com. This guy is a brave bastard and a true patriot.
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When I came back to work after lunch today, Kim told me Gio had quit. What was it this time, I asked myself. Kim told me he had been arguing with his girlfriend all day and was about to blow his stack, so he quit. I wasn't too thrilled at the prospect of having to do the rest of the day's deliveries by myself and hoped Gio would change his mind and come back.

About an hour later he did. He had a gauze bandage on the side of his neck and I knew it was from taking a knife to it. This wasn't the first time he'd done that. I asked him if was alright and he said he wasn't. I asked him how bad his neck was and he said it was a pretty deep cut. He said he had to show his girlfriend that he was serious.

I didn't probe him any further. Throughout the rest of the day, he seemed to be in a much better mood than he was earlier in the day. The bandage, though, told the story of someone who is suffering. Karen has offered more than once to pay for counseling, but he's refused her help. Hopefully, he'll reconsider.
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It may not seem so, but I had a good day today. It was warm and sunny, work went pretty smoothly, I hit a lot of green lights on the road, and had a tasty sushi dinner. And I recalled something funny she had said to me one summer night in Davis Square that made me laugh harder than I had in a long time. All in all, not a bad day.

Just another diamond day

I just typed a bunch of stuff about my job, none of it really negative, and promptly deleted it . I'm leery of taking the job home with me. Of course, all the writing I'd done was accomplished at work, but never mind that. The point is, I don't feel like writing about work right now. Why can't you understand that?

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While eating lunch with my family the other day, my father explained to us the method in which he would like to die. It seems, that much like a wild animal, when the time comes for him to leave this mortal coil, he plans on venturing off into the woods by himself and die. He even has a spot picked out.

I recommended he bring some supplies in case he doesn't die right away. Maybe a canteen of water, some trail mix, a sleeping bag, that type of thing.

"I can't bring any of that stuff because the idea is for me to die out there, not survive", he replied.

"Well, you're going to have to time this out perfectly, then", I said. "If you don't give yourself enough of it, you'll die before you make it to your spot, provided you're even able to begin the trip. And if you are able to make it to your spot, it could be some time before you expire."

"That's precisely why I'm not going to bring any supplies", he said. "The elements will get me before I'm out there too long."

"Isn't the point, though, to die as a result of whatever brought you out there in the first place and not as a consequence of being out there?", I asked. "I mean, if the elements get you because of your unpreparedness, then that's suicide. And I'm told the man upstairs doesn't like suicide very much."

"The plan is to get to my spot and die. I'm not looking to be out there long at all---maybe twenty minutes, tops. If I'm going out there, it means I'm about to die. However, in the unlikely event that I don't die right away, nature will get me. And the man upstairs will know that I was dying anyway, so I'm not worried too much about inciting his anger."

The rest of the table joined the discussion and we tossed around the pros and cons of my father's plan. I'm all for the plan; I'm thinking of following suit when the time comes. But how will I know? I guess, as with my father and assorted wildlife, I just will.
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Is it possible to go wrong listening to Neu? No, but it's possible, probable even, to enjoy the fuck out of the experience. I suggest you commence to listening to some Neu like I am right now. They're almost as good as Fallout Boy.
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I've been nursing an aloe plant, the only plant I've had in the last ten years, but it looks like it's ready to call it a day. It's so tiny and frail (that's what she said) and I am going to give it my all attempting to restore it to health. I'm feel strongly that I will.

Speaking of dogs, I miss having one. They're not called man's best friend for nothing. My goal is to adopt one in the next two years. I'm thinking of naming it Man's Best Friend.