Hairspray is the gushiest, cheesiest, most effervescent, sugar-spun confection of movie that you could possibly imagine for a rainy Friday night. Feel-good slightly-non-family-rated entertainment? Copious amounts of better-than-decent singing and dancing? Adorable characters and an absurd storyline? Lines between good (Tracy et al.) and evil (Michelle Pfeiffer!) clearly drawn (for a dance-off)? Shiny, eye-popping costumes and pretty, pretty (for the 60s) hair? Guaranteed to make you giggle and shout? CHECK TO INFINITY. John Travolta, surprisingly enough, still has it, even while falsetto singing and dancing in drag in a fat suit. This movie would be a fantastic opening to any weekend and I highly recommend it!!!!
*****************
Michael Feinstein & Linda Eder are a couple of lounge singers. He is a tiny, tiny man, charismatically elfin, while she is a beautiful woman with an easy stage manner and smoky voice. They are both talented musicians and I can see why the older folks and the male couples (after all, she modeled her early years on the incomparable Bah-bwah) flock to see them do their shtick. I, however, couldn't quite shake the feeling that I should be wearing skanky bead and sequins, digging into an overpriced surf-n-turf platter, while my evening companion complains that dinner theater is for the "boyds" (birds).
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
At the mall
Currently: astonished (also, I need to get out more)
The composition of the late-night weekend mall crowd has certainly changed since my teenage heyday! Though I didn't spend much time at the mall during my tender teen years, I was there often enough to know that the old folks (i.e., not kids) pretty much cleared out by early evening on the weekends and we would be free to roam our undisputed territory.
Heading over to Tysons on a Friday night, however, it is apparent that the mall landscape is much changed. Teenagers galore, yes, haunting the movie theater and the food courts, and still idling in and around stores. But also a mishmash of families with young children (running around the toddler playground, eating family dinner at the food court), young to middle-aged adults (enjoying "outdoor-inside-the-mall" pavilion seating at dinner and extended happy hour, also browsing through the stores), and (my definition of this has changed a lot, as I gradually approach their demographic!) plenty of older people just hanging around (getting bites to eat, strolling, doing serious shopping, readying for a movie).
I didn't expect the mall to have become an entertainment center for all ages and types of groups. It was a surprising and almost surreal experience, to look all around and take in the community vibe. I wonder whether it's a function of where I live (super-suburban, where people are often going outside of the home to find "fun"), or if malls in general have trended towards becoming all-ages inclusive, indoor pedestrian commercial "parks."
The composition of the late-night weekend mall crowd has certainly changed since my teenage heyday! Though I didn't spend much time at the mall during my tender teen years, I was there often enough to know that the old folks (i.e., not kids) pretty much cleared out by early evening on the weekends and we would be free to roam our undisputed territory.
Heading over to Tysons on a Friday night, however, it is apparent that the mall landscape is much changed. Teenagers galore, yes, haunting the movie theater and the food courts, and still idling in and around stores. But also a mishmash of families with young children (running around the toddler playground, eating family dinner at the food court), young to middle-aged adults (enjoying "outdoor-inside-the-mall" pavilion seating at dinner and extended happy hour, also browsing through the stores), and (my definition of this has changed a lot, as I gradually approach their demographic!) plenty of older people just hanging around (getting bites to eat, strolling, doing serious shopping, readying for a movie).
I didn't expect the mall to have become an entertainment center for all ages and types of groups. It was a surprising and almost surreal experience, to look all around and take in the community vibe. I wonder whether it's a function of where I live (super-suburban, where people are often going outside of the home to find "fun"), or if malls in general have trended towards becoming all-ages inclusive, indoor pedestrian commercial "parks."
Friday, July 27, 2007
No longer my favorite
Currently: EW.
Coming home from travel often means a return to comfort food (once I can stomach restaurant food again), and in my area, that means Indian! Bangain bharta, smoked eggplant, is one of my favorite dishes and it has been reliably at good several of the local Indian restaurants. This particular homecoming, however, was less than...welcoming.
This is the grease I decanted off of a pint container of bangain bharta. Notice that the vessel it is in now is a quart container, which is twice as big.
(w/ pen for scale)
(for emPHasis)
Oh, snap, that's disgusting. The whole point of eating restaurant food is so the fats and sodium and other delicious ingredients are hidden or disguised. I don't think I'll have a craving for Minerva for awhile...
Thursday, July 26, 2007
IMA weenie
Scared of the dark!
How many almost 30-somethings still have to admit to that? I'm assuming, not very many, and I'm sad to say that I have to claim a spot among the few.
I've always been scared of the dark. When I was little, my mom encouraged this, because I had a tendency to wander/run/sneak away from my child-care person, and this fear ensured that I would stay close by at least part of the day. It also made for an effective threat (If you're not good, I'll send you downstairs! Where it is DARK!) and apparently, when I was young, a viable threat was more precious than jewels. Later on, I came to understand that my mother encouraged this fear partly because she is at least slightly afraid of the dark. In the dark, all sorts of bad things can happen, such as robbers and rapists or death by coyotes (grew up in the suburbs, go figure).
Anyway, the point is, I'm still more than vaguely uneasy when walking around at night. Which is unfortunate, because one of my favorite things to do, being an outdoorsy night owl, is to...walk around at night. It must, however, take place with a coterie (or at least one, male) attendants and only in well-lit, well-populated areas. I actually think this is silly, but the fact remains that I am noticeably uncomfortable when outside in the dark in a place/situation that I can imagine as unsafe. Which is pretty much everywhere.
The other night, I was walking with a friend in DC. The streets were decently lit and a few people were out and about, but I was still slightly agitated about the setting. Nothing in particular was making me nervous and the neighborhood was reasonably, er, middle-class, but I definitely felt reassured once we got "under cover" at a nice, safe, bar. This absurdity of this incident bothered me so much that a few days later, when planning to go to (my first!) a movie alone at the nearby theater, I resolved to walk. It's a short walk, less than mile, all on at-least-moderately well-lit sidewalks and through a mall parking lot. I felt that if I managed to make this solo trip through familiar surroundings, I might be able to at least break my nighttime fear of my own neighborhood.
It was a beautiful night for a stroll. I put on my sneakers and left in plenty of time to make it to the theater.
I made it to the end of my block. (Ahem, not my complex. My block.)
And then I fled back to my car and drove.
Ugh, maybe next time.
How many almost 30-somethings still have to admit to that? I'm assuming, not very many, and I'm sad to say that I have to claim a spot among the few.
I've always been scared of the dark. When I was little, my mom encouraged this, because I had a tendency to wander/run/sneak away from my child-care person, and this fear ensured that I would stay close by at least part of the day. It also made for an effective threat (If you're not good, I'll send you downstairs! Where it is DARK!) and apparently, when I was young, a viable threat was more precious than jewels. Later on, I came to understand that my mother encouraged this fear partly because she is at least slightly afraid of the dark. In the dark, all sorts of bad things can happen, such as robbers and rapists or death by coyotes (grew up in the suburbs, go figure).
Anyway, the point is, I'm still more than vaguely uneasy when walking around at night. Which is unfortunate, because one of my favorite things to do, being an outdoorsy night owl, is to...walk around at night. It must, however, take place with a coterie (or at least one, male) attendants and only in well-lit, well-populated areas. I actually think this is silly, but the fact remains that I am noticeably uncomfortable when outside in the dark in a place/situation that I can imagine as unsafe. Which is pretty much everywhere.
The other night, I was walking with a friend in DC. The streets were decently lit and a few people were out and about, but I was still slightly agitated about the setting. Nothing in particular was making me nervous and the neighborhood was reasonably, er, middle-class, but I definitely felt reassured once we got "under cover" at a nice, safe, bar. This absurdity of this incident bothered me so much that a few days later, when planning to go to (my first!) a movie alone at the nearby theater, I resolved to walk. It's a short walk, less than mile, all on at-least-moderately well-lit sidewalks and through a mall parking lot. I felt that if I managed to make this solo trip through familiar surroundings, I might be able to at least break my nighttime fear of my own neighborhood.
It was a beautiful night for a stroll. I put on my sneakers and left in plenty of time to make it to the theater.
I made it to the end of my block. (Ahem, not my complex. My block.)
And then I fled back to my car and drove.
Ugh, maybe next time.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Camelot
was surprisingly dull. I was disappointed. It felt like a musical for older folks in a way that energetic cheezefests in older settings like Oklahoma! and anything by Gilbert and Sullivan manage to avoid. It probably didn't help that I was not impressed by the marquee god that is MICHAEL YORK. Or at least that's how he was advertised. Eh, not really all that. I didn't really care for his voice, though he is an effective (and affective) actor.
Monday, July 23, 2007
Insurance pays off
Currently: warily proud
My AC unit can eat the neighbor's AC unit.
I love my new AC unit all the more for the old one having broken down just in time to save me from wondering:
a) if, with only one major appliance being over 5 years old, I should bother to renew my home owner's warranty insurance; and
b) if that policy was worth having in the first place
because, well, obviously. (So shiny!)
My AC unit can eat the neighbor's AC unit.
I love my new AC unit all the more for the old one having broken down just in time to save me from wondering:
a) if, with only one major appliance being over 5 years old, I should bother to renew my home owner's warranty insurance; and
b) if that policy was worth having in the first place
because, well, obviously. (So shiny!)
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Somewhat epic
United hates me, part X in a series of Y
When reading this, please keep in mind that I was originally scheduled to stay an extra night in my suite at the Hilton and fly out on Friday morning. When the meeting looked to run short, work made me change my ticket to "save time and money."
3:55 p.m. CDT (all times approximated), July 19, 2007 - I should probably head back to the hotel so I can make the shuttle to the airport. Wouldn't want to be late getting there! Too bad, I could've used another hour or so here at the Country Music Hall of Fame; it's much better than I expected it to be...
4:10:55 - Online check-in reveals that my flight is delayed 1.5 hours.
4:11 - Mother f$#%&*!!!!! Ugh, I guess 1.5 hours is better than 4. Guess I'll take a later shuttle.
4:45 - Take shuttle with other coworkers to airport. Ride uneventful.
5:10 - Waiting in line to check in my luggage, having already checked in online and printed my boarding pass. At the Nashville United counter, there is no separate line for those who have previously checked in.
5:20 - Still waiting. Line not moving.
5:24 - Find out that most of the people in line had been on a flight to Chicago that was cancelled, so all need to be rerouted.
5:31 - No line movement. Getting antsy.
5:35 - Walk over to the counter, catch a clerk's attention, and brandish my boarding pass, saying that I only need to check a bag for a flight that was definitely not cancelled, so obviously do not need to be standing in this ridiculous line for folks that need to be rerouted. Get a searing once-over from the rather attractive (male) attendant and a look that clearly says, honey, you are not cute enough to pull this sh*t. Concentrate (not like it’s difficult) on looking pissed off and righteous (and standing marginally shoulders back-er and chest out-er). He protests weakly but takes my boarding pass and checks me in. Attempt to smother triumphant grin.
5:41 - Go through security and notice that I’ve been flagged for super special security screening. Mentally flip check-in guy the bird.
5:50 - Check in with gate people. Confirm that flight (originally scheduled for 6:05) is delayed until 7:30.
5:55 - Join other airport-stranded coworkers at a bar.
6:55 - Head back to gate. See long line in the distance. Feel pit in stomach.
6:56 - See that flight was cancelled. Seriously??!!
6:56:35 - See that no other flights are bound to DC tonight. SH*T!!
6:58 - Call coworkers. Devise plan to fly into BWI and somehow get back to my car at Dulles. Swear a bit.
7:37 - Still waiting to be rerouted. Am last in line.
7:59 - Waiting.
8:11 - Ticket refunded. No alternative ticket guaranteed. Race to baggage claim to retrieve luggage.
8:14 - Buy new ticket on Southwest for the 8:10 flight, now delayed until 9:30. Yay, I have my SW rewards card on me! Might as well get something out of this! Check luggage.
8:22 - Security. Strangely enough, not SSSS this time, even though I purchased a one-way ticket minutes after the flight was supposed to take off. Am mildly concerned.
8:30 - Rejoin coworkers. Waiting.
8:45 - Check in at new gate. See that flight is delayed until 10:15. Hear about a large storm headed to Nashville that is due to hit around 10:00. Sinking feeling.
8:46 - “Reassured” by the SW agent that SW hardly even cancels flights. He adds, however, the flights are sometimes delayed, hour-by-hour, all night until the morning flights go out. Am not reassured.
9:14 - See on radar that the storm is breaking up over the mountains. Begin to feel marginally hopeful.
9:15 - Hash out options for getting back to my car. Get offer to stay at coworker’s house.
9:17 - Try Maryland shuttle to see when they can pick my up in the morning form my coworker’s house.
9:18 - Not until noon??!! Um, I’ll call you back.
9:20 - How about at 2 a.m. tonight? Too early? You’re supposed to be open 24 hours!!
9:20:23 - HATE YOU BACK, MARYLAND SHUTTLE!!
9:31 - Resigned to taking the metro (red line Rockville to Metro Center, orange line to Falls Church, shuttle to Dulles, Gold Lot shuttle to car) for getting back to car.
9:45 - Waiting. Getting really tired of hanging out with coworkers, whom I’ve been with all week.
10:00 - Texas-bound coworkers actually get on a plane!!! Blazing hope!!!
10:19 - Our plane arrives!!!
10:32 - Find the last aisle seat, the one opposite the bathroom. Ugh.
10:41 - Up in the air!! It actually happened!!!
11:15 - Bump. Lurch. Dip. Sway. Urgle.
1:07 a.m. EDT, July 20, 2007 - Deplane.
1:13 - Super Shuttle is still running! Joy!
1:17 - Oh, I have to get my luggage first? FINE.
1:22 - My luggage came, thank goodness!!
1:26 - Yep, $72 to Dulles, I know. Sadly enough, I’ve done this route before. The shuttle will leave soon? You close at 2? Good.
1:49 - Waiting.
1:59 - Depart BWI.
2:00 - No wait, stop to pick up one last passenger and her lap baby.
2:08 - We leave again.
2:22 - Figure out what is so strange about the woman and her baby. Have not seen a child in a vehicle out of a car seat in…ever! Perhaps since movies set in the ‘50s. Weirded out.
2:31 - Wafting of a…pungent scent from the baby.
2:32 - SMELLY!!!!!!
2:54 - Somewhere in Maryland, drop off passenger number 1.
3:17 - Somewhere else in Maryland, drop off passenger number 2.
3:41 - Drop off stinky baby and mom in Adelphi, MD. THANKS BE TO GOD.
4:25 - Approaching Dulles. Please, please, please take me directly to my car. I cannot sit around and wait for another shuttle!!!
4:30 - Hey beautiful car! I've missed you so!
4:33 - Give me a receipt, you wretched machine. Grrrr!!!!
4:51 - Wow, it's much easier to cut across six lanes in 0.4 miles when there's no traffic on the road.
4:56 - It's a good thing I always have Aerosmith in the car. It would be rather inglorious to fall asleep and crash a scant 15 minutes away from home.
5:14 - HOME!!!!!!!!!!!
5:17 - Shower.
5:20 - Towel-dry.
5:31 - Sleep.
1:59 p.m. EDT - Wake.
2:34 - Head to work.
7:15 - Back at home. Rearrange and repack travel gear.
8:01 - Begin drive to New York...
When reading this, please keep in mind that I was originally scheduled to stay an extra night in my suite at the Hilton and fly out on Friday morning. When the meeting looked to run short, work made me change my ticket to "save time and money."
3:55 p.m. CDT (all times approximated), July 19, 2007 - I should probably head back to the hotel so I can make the shuttle to the airport. Wouldn't want to be late getting there! Too bad, I could've used another hour or so here at the Country Music Hall of Fame; it's much better than I expected it to be...
4:10:55 - Online check-in reveals that my flight is delayed 1.5 hours.
4:11 - Mother f$#%&*!!!!! Ugh, I guess 1.5 hours is better than 4. Guess I'll take a later shuttle.
4:45 - Take shuttle with other coworkers to airport. Ride uneventful.
5:10 - Waiting in line to check in my luggage, having already checked in online and printed my boarding pass. At the Nashville United counter, there is no separate line for those who have previously checked in.
5:20 - Still waiting. Line not moving.
5:24 - Find out that most of the people in line had been on a flight to Chicago that was cancelled, so all need to be rerouted.
5:31 - No line movement. Getting antsy.
5:35 - Walk over to the counter, catch a clerk's attention, and brandish my boarding pass, saying that I only need to check a bag for a flight that was definitely not cancelled, so obviously do not need to be standing in this ridiculous line for folks that need to be rerouted. Get a searing once-over from the rather attractive (male) attendant and a look that clearly says, honey, you are not cute enough to pull this sh*t. Concentrate (not like it’s difficult) on looking pissed off and righteous (and standing marginally shoulders back-er and chest out-er). He protests weakly but takes my boarding pass and checks me in. Attempt to smother triumphant grin.
5:41 - Go through security and notice that I’ve been flagged for super special security screening. Mentally flip check-in guy the bird.
5:50 - Check in with gate people. Confirm that flight (originally scheduled for 6:05) is delayed until 7:30.
5:55 - Join other airport-stranded coworkers at a bar.
6:55 - Head back to gate. See long line in the distance. Feel pit in stomach.
6:56 - See that flight was cancelled. Seriously??!!
6:56:35 - See that no other flights are bound to DC tonight. SH*T!!
6:58 - Call coworkers. Devise plan to fly into BWI and somehow get back to my car at Dulles. Swear a bit.
7:37 - Still waiting to be rerouted. Am last in line.
7:59 - Waiting.
8:11 - Ticket refunded. No alternative ticket guaranteed. Race to baggage claim to retrieve luggage.
8:14 - Buy new ticket on Southwest for the 8:10 flight, now delayed until 9:30. Yay, I have my SW rewards card on me! Might as well get something out of this! Check luggage.
8:22 - Security. Strangely enough, not SSSS this time, even though I purchased a one-way ticket minutes after the flight was supposed to take off. Am mildly concerned.
8:30 - Rejoin coworkers. Waiting.
8:45 - Check in at new gate. See that flight is delayed until 10:15. Hear about a large storm headed to Nashville that is due to hit around 10:00. Sinking feeling.
8:46 - “Reassured” by the SW agent that SW hardly even cancels flights. He adds, however, the flights are sometimes delayed, hour-by-hour, all night until the morning flights go out. Am not reassured.
9:14 - See on radar that the storm is breaking up over the mountains. Begin to feel marginally hopeful.
9:15 - Hash out options for getting back to my car. Get offer to stay at coworker’s house.
9:17 - Try Maryland shuttle to see when they can pick my up in the morning form my coworker’s house.
9:18 - Not until noon??!! Um, I’ll call you back.
9:20 - How about at 2 a.m. tonight? Too early? You’re supposed to be open 24 hours!!
9:20:23 - HATE YOU BACK, MARYLAND SHUTTLE!!
9:31 - Resigned to taking the metro (red line Rockville to Metro Center, orange line to Falls Church, shuttle to Dulles, Gold Lot shuttle to car) for getting back to car.
9:45 - Waiting. Getting really tired of hanging out with coworkers, whom I’ve been with all week.
10:00 - Texas-bound coworkers actually get on a plane!!! Blazing hope!!!
10:19 - Our plane arrives!!!
10:32 - Find the last aisle seat, the one opposite the bathroom. Ugh.
10:41 - Up in the air!! It actually happened!!!
11:15 - Bump. Lurch. Dip. Sway. Urgle.
1:07 a.m. EDT, July 20, 2007 - Deplane.
1:13 - Super Shuttle is still running! Joy!
1:17 - Oh, I have to get my luggage first? FINE.
1:22 - My luggage came, thank goodness!!
1:26 - Yep, $72 to Dulles, I know. Sadly enough, I’ve done this route before. The shuttle will leave soon? You close at 2? Good.
1:49 - Waiting.
1:59 - Depart BWI.
2:00 - No wait, stop to pick up one last passenger and her lap baby.
2:08 - We leave again.
2:22 - Figure out what is so strange about the woman and her baby. Have not seen a child in a vehicle out of a car seat in…ever! Perhaps since movies set in the ‘50s. Weirded out.
2:31 - Wafting of a…pungent scent from the baby.
2:32 - SMELLY!!!!!!
2:54 - Somewhere in Maryland, drop off passenger number 1.
3:17 - Somewhere else in Maryland, drop off passenger number 2.
3:41 - Drop off stinky baby and mom in Adelphi, MD. THANKS BE TO GOD.
4:25 - Approaching Dulles. Please, please, please take me directly to my car. I cannot sit around and wait for another shuttle!!!
4:30 - Hey beautiful car! I've missed you so!
4:33 - Give me a receipt, you wretched machine. Grrrr!!!!
4:51 - Wow, it's much easier to cut across six lanes in 0.4 miles when there's no traffic on the road.
4:56 - It's a good thing I always have Aerosmith in the car. It would be rather inglorious to fall asleep and crash a scant 15 minutes away from home.
5:14 - HOME!!!!!!!!!!!
5:17 - Shower.
5:20 - Towel-dry.
5:31 - Sleep.
1:59 p.m. EDT - Wake.
2:34 - Head to work.
7:15 - Back at home. Rearrange and repack travel gear.
8:01 - Begin drive to New York...
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
United hates me
For a 1.5 hour flight:
Four hours late.
Two on the tarmac.
And they broke the zipper on my bag.
[wilts]
Four hours late.
Two on the tarmac.
And they broke the zipper on my bag.
[wilts]
Monday, July 16, 2007
Trump
Currently: seething
Can you think of any situation in everyday living that trumps a couple having a newly-birthed, ailing child? Any situation, a bitter marriage, fatigue bordering on coma, or ridiculously rambunctious children; even all of the above? Is there really any situation where you could even consider disregarding the wishes of the worried parents to push your own agenda?
Sometimes, a person's ability to be selfish astounds me. I truly think there are times where politeness may be discarded and you can widen astonished eyes, let your incredulity show, and hiss, "my stuff beats your stuff, so SHUT UP or GO AWAY."
Can you think of any situation in everyday living that trumps a couple having a newly-birthed, ailing child? Any situation, a bitter marriage, fatigue bordering on coma, or ridiculously rambunctious children; even all of the above? Is there really any situation where you could even consider disregarding the wishes of the worried parents to push your own agenda?
Sometimes, a person's ability to be selfish astounds me. I truly think there are times where politeness may be discarded and you can widen astonished eyes, let your incredulity show, and hiss, "my stuff beats your stuff, so SHUT UP or GO AWAY."
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Honey-skinned
Currently: my pride, but not my skin, says, "ouch"
Not bad for a single sunblock application, early in a sweat-drenched, 100-degree, summer day of standing out in the sun. Still, while I'm grateful that I didn't actually burn (came within a hair), and even after a week of hoping it would Just Go Away, this is pretty much the worst tan line ever.
Not bad for a single sunblock application, early in a sweat-drenched, 100-degree, summer day of standing out in the sun. Still, while I'm grateful that I didn't actually burn (came within a hair), and even after a week of hoping it would Just Go Away, this is pretty much the worst tan line ever.
Yay.
Thursday, July 12, 2007
I made it a week
Currently: Oh yeah, I was mad
before I called him (see this post). I'm kind of annoyed, because I meant to not call for several months to get my point across. I think it would have worked, too, if my silly nephew had decided to wait to be full term. Instead, a genuine family emergency was born (haha) and I made the call.
When I called, all I had in mind was conveying important and soothing information. I didn't think about being angry, because it didn't even occur to me until he brought it up (and then we fought, yada yada). I didn't feel weird about calling, because I had completely forgotten about the fight. Sometimes I'm afraid that I really am a fish (swimming around in its bowl, exclaiming every few minutes, "Look, a castle!"). I guess a nice person could spin it and say this action demonstrates that I am a good, kind human. Me, I choose to be chagrined because I couldn't summon up the will to hold a grudge long enough to be noticed.
before I called him (see this post). I'm kind of annoyed, because I meant to not call for several months to get my point across. I think it would have worked, too, if my silly nephew had decided to wait to be full term. Instead, a genuine family emergency was born (haha) and I made the call.
When I called, all I had in mind was conveying important and soothing information. I didn't think about being angry, because it didn't even occur to me until he brought it up (and then we fought, yada yada). I didn't feel weird about calling, because I had completely forgotten about the fight. Sometimes I'm afraid that I really am a fish (swimming around in its bowl, exclaiming every few minutes, "Look, a castle!"). I guess a nice person could spin it and say this action demonstrates that I am a good, kind human. Me, I choose to be chagrined because I couldn't summon up the will to hold a grudge long enough to be noticed.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
God vs. the President
Current mood: Seriously? Delayed again??!!
Queuing up for fun and waiting it out for something you have to do are...totally different. I must've spent over 10 hours standing in line on Monday and it was fun, because I got to ride roller coasters until I was sick. On Tuesday, I spent around 4.5 hours waiting around (mostly sitting, I might add) in airports and I was ready to hurt someone.
The president flew into the Cleveland airport when he came to town to hold his town meeting. The decision to land there cost the airport nearly two hours of operational time. Short flights bound for Cleveland were not allow to take off and all flights out of the airport were grounded right when I was scheduled to take off. My flight was delayed for about an hour and a half.
Just as I stepped off the plane at BWI (I actually saw this through the window), then heavens opened up and threw a tantrum. A wet (hail, sheets of rain), thundery (BIG BOOMS!), and lightning-ey tantrum. The airport shut down due to worker safety concerns and the power (briefly) went out. No planes, trains, or automobiles (including the baggage handling carts) were allowed to move. My luggage was delayed for nearly 2 hours.
(Who wins, the President or God? You decide!)
My travel karma really is kind of bad. I'm hoping that luck genuinely is zero-sum game, because I'm due for some smooth sailing.
Queuing up for fun and waiting it out for something you have to do are...totally different. I must've spent over 10 hours standing in line on Monday and it was fun, because I got to ride roller coasters until I was sick. On Tuesday, I spent around 4.5 hours waiting around (mostly sitting, I might add) in airports and I was ready to hurt someone.
The president flew into the Cleveland airport when he came to town to hold his town meeting. The decision to land there cost the airport nearly two hours of operational time. Short flights bound for Cleveland were not allow to take off and all flights out of the airport were grounded right when I was scheduled to take off. My flight was delayed for about an hour and a half.
Just as I stepped off the plane at BWI (I actually saw this through the window), then heavens opened up and threw a tantrum. A wet (hail, sheets of rain), thundery (BIG BOOMS!), and lightning-ey tantrum. The airport shut down due to worker safety concerns and the power (briefly) went out. No planes, trains, or automobiles (including the baggage handling carts) were allowed to move. My luggage was delayed for nearly 2 hours.
(Who wins, the President or God? You decide!)
My travel karma really is kind of bad. I'm hoping that luck genuinely is zero-sum game, because I'm due for some smooth sailing.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Pick your poison
Current mood: AAAIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!! (fist-pumpingly)
If you had to choose among the (pictures courtesy of the Interweb):
a) Millennium Force
b) Maverick
c) Top Thrill Dragster
What would you choose?
What if you could choose:
d) All of the above, twice
If you had to choose among the (pictures courtesy of the Interweb):
a) Millennium Force
- tallest point: 310 feet
- maximum speed: 93 mph
- steepest angle of descent: 80 degrees
- vertical drop: 300 feet
- vertical drop: 300 feet
(mutter OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG all the way up the hill, then scream)
b) Maverick
- tallest point: 105 feet
- maximum speed: 70 mph
- steepest angle of descent: 95 degrees
- 10 banked turns from 62 to 92 degrees
- midway through, the ride goes through a dark tunnel, then blasts to 70 mph before rising over a 74-foot hill
(described as a "bucking bronco" of a ride, the violent twists, turns, and the doubling back will literally knock you black and blue!)
c) Top Thrill Dragster
- tallest point: 420 feet
- maximum speed: 120 mph
- steepest angle of descent: 90 degrees
- maximum speed: 120 mph
- steepest angle of descent: 90 degrees
- vertical drop: 400 feet
- initial blast off reaching 120 mph in approximately four seconds
(Holy crap, we're really going up there??!! Actual stomach-churning, knuckle-whitening fear.)
What would you choose?
What if you could choose:
d) All of the above, twice
Eat that, roller coaster fans! It was...[squeals]...so, so, so awesome!!!!!
Of all three, here's the scariest part (other than waiting for the Dragster to just start, already):
This picture could be titled: "Why I am afraid of the Millennium Force." The climb takes a long time (and 45 degrees is steep, yo) and all you can see from the left side of the car is the water (Cedar Point is on the beach) beneath you and from the right side of the car, the park ground looks both very far away and very...ouchy.
Saturday, July 7, 2007
Turning it on
Today I went as a date to a wedding where I did not cheat on my date (new experiences are enriching, yes?) and I met beel-yuns upon beel-yuns of somewhat to very nice people. I chatted up a storm, was witty and vivacious (and possibly, very loud), danced well past the point of feet-hurt (the Blacktoe is still with us and enjoys making its presence known), and now I am TIRED.
(Which may also have something to do with the getting up at 4 AM to fly here to attend said wedding, but then again, maybe not. Charming people is WORK.)
(Which may also have something to do with the getting up at 4 AM to fly here to attend said wedding, but then again, maybe not. Charming people is WORK.)
Friday, July 6, 2007
Anger management, for reals
I wrote this several weeks ago:
I prefer to live a life in which I can assume that I will not interact with violently unreasonable people, that I am both objectively and subjectively safe, and that folks, on the whole, are pleasant and helpful, or at least, represent neutral encounters. I enjoy living this dream. It makes me a calmer, better, and more optimistic person. I am a more productive and social friend, worker, and citizen. I bitterly resent this intrusion in my vision of life.
I hope I can move past this unfortunate experience and retain my worldview and sense of self. A lesson was learned, but it doesn't have to be a lesson in which I change. (Also, if this is the worst thing that nearly happens to me in ~30 years, I'll take those odds.)
Now that he's gone, or, at least, his truck has been gone for a couple of weeks (I hope that girl smartened up and dumped his jackass HARD), I kinda miss him. Despite the uneasiness that glimpses of the Truck of Doom caused, I was able to indulge a lot of my random anger in the intervening weeks in fantasies of Perfectly Justified Truck Demolition. Or sneaky truck attacks! Or, daydreams of look! What's my "new" bike doing in the back of that stanky truck? I must rescue it! The possibility of maybe, perhaps, someday doing something mean and potentially costly to BADMAN was very soothing. His truck was always here, so there was a reliable sitting duck just waiting for me to vent some steam, and that was kind of...nice.
Eh, nah. So glad he's gone.
**************************************
As I drive pass BADMAN's truck, 4, maybe 5 nights a week, I begin to feel slightly queasy and anxious. The feeling is mostly gone by the time I arrive at my own door, so really only lasts for a minute or two, but it is there. It makes me angry to acknowledge this and I'm more than little annoyed that that I now feel vaguely furtive and unsafe at my own home base. I'm piqued at the unfairness that he's more than likely forgotten all about The Incident of the Hammer (heh, until he pulls that crap again and someone reports him, to find that lo! there is an existing report of the CRAZY), while it looms large in my own mind.
His existence genuinely makes me question the goodness (and fundamental stability) of the people in the world and his completely unreasoning anger makes me doubt the safety of the unarmed populace. I know objectively that bullies often win, sometimes by default (the polices' advice was to "stay away from people like that!"), and terrible things happen to ordinary, innocent people every day, but this is as close as I've come to (stranger/unpredictable) violence (for which I am deeply grateful) and I really don't appreciate the wake up call.I prefer to live a life in which I can assume that I will not interact with violently unreasonable people, that I am both objectively and subjectively safe, and that folks, on the whole, are pleasant and helpful, or at least, represent neutral encounters. I enjoy living this dream. It makes me a calmer, better, and more optimistic person. I am a more productive and social friend, worker, and citizen. I bitterly resent this intrusion in my vision of life.
I hope I can move past this unfortunate experience and retain my worldview and sense of self. A lesson was learned, but it doesn't have to be a lesson in which I change. (Also, if this is the worst thing that nearly happens to me in ~30 years, I'll take those odds.)
****************************************
and today:Now that he's gone, or, at least, his truck has been gone for a couple of weeks (I hope that girl smartened up and dumped his jackass HARD), I kinda miss him. Despite the uneasiness that glimpses of the Truck of Doom caused, I was able to indulge a lot of my random anger in the intervening weeks in fantasies of Perfectly Justified Truck Demolition. Or sneaky truck attacks! Or, daydreams of look! What's my "new" bike doing in the back of that stanky truck? I must rescue it! The possibility of maybe, perhaps, someday doing something mean and potentially costly to BADMAN was very soothing. His truck was always here, so there was a reliable sitting duck just waiting for me to vent some steam, and that was kind of...nice.
*************************************
updated today:Eh, nah. So glad he's gone.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Unpacking
...and finally, I begin unpacking by my very own self (as opposed to someone else frogmarching me up to the pile and forcing me to chip away at the boxy mountain)...a mere 1.86 years later! I think I've chopped my bedroom pile 'o stuff (that I obviously don't need very often) in about half by going through the old (and sentimentally kept) clothes boxes. I came up with this many clothings:
that could be sent Away. All but the little brown Safeway bag (trash) were designated for Goodwill (and not just designated, but actually brought to Goodwill. That very same day. I was on a roll!). Very soon, in a mere blink of an eye (or several months - I'm aiming right for the 2-year mark), I'll have unpacked all of my things. Wow.
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Happy 4th?
Nothing to see here, move along. Only general soggyness and skin going slightly green from sitting in front of the computer so long. Also, a clawhand from mouse abuse. STUPID project.
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Whose job?
Currently: dilemma-fied
Once there is a hanging up situation, necessitated by angry phone rantings and shrill accusations, whose job is it to reconnect? The hanger-upper or the hanged-up upon?
In my family, we usually let it go for a few weeks and then pretend like nothing happened the next time there is a call. Sometimes, the caller is the hanged-up upon; other times, it's the hanger-upper - there is no set re-calling etiquette for us. The only requirement is that enough time has passed so that all aggrieved parties can carry on without referencing the previous fight (because, realistically, there will be brand-new fight to go with the brand-new conversation!). How do we know enough time has passed? Caller ID, naturally. The other party only picks up the phone once (s)he is ready to talk. I honestly don't remember what we did before caller ID became so ubiquitous. I think there were a lot of extra-long "just to make sure" silent periods.
So, now that I've decided to wait out an apology for being called nasty, untrue (this is the part that really gets me. Sure, call me out and do it angrily, but your accusations should at least be TRUE!) things that required a decisive hanging-up, what should I do? I think it will take several months for the others to notice I'm playing the waiting game, but I have no desire to explain what I think should be patently obvious - you don't get to lie and call people terrible names if you want to continue speaking with them. Um, duh, right? On the other hand, since the usual procedure is to eventually pretend that all is well, how do I convey (without calling) that the insults will simply not be allowed to pass this time?
A vexing puzzle :(
Once there is a hanging up situation, necessitated by angry phone rantings and shrill accusations, whose job is it to reconnect? The hanger-upper or the hanged-up upon?
In my family, we usually let it go for a few weeks and then pretend like nothing happened the next time there is a call. Sometimes, the caller is the hanged-up upon; other times, it's the hanger-upper - there is no set re-calling etiquette for us. The only requirement is that enough time has passed so that all aggrieved parties can carry on without referencing the previous fight (because, realistically, there will be brand-new fight to go with the brand-new conversation!). How do we know enough time has passed? Caller ID, naturally. The other party only picks up the phone once (s)he is ready to talk. I honestly don't remember what we did before caller ID became so ubiquitous. I think there were a lot of extra-long "just to make sure" silent periods.
So, now that I've decided to wait out an apology for being called nasty, untrue (this is the part that really gets me. Sure, call me out and do it angrily, but your accusations should at least be TRUE!) things that required a decisive hanging-up, what should I do? I think it will take several months for the others to notice I'm playing the waiting game, but I have no desire to explain what I think should be patently obvious - you don't get to lie and call people terrible names if you want to continue speaking with them. Um, duh, right? On the other hand, since the usual procedure is to eventually pretend that all is well, how do I convey (without calling) that the insults will simply not be allowed to pass this time?
A vexing puzzle :(
Monday, July 2, 2007
Try reading the schedule
Last night I went to Wolf Trap to try and usher the teeming masses that were...not there, as there was no show scheduled.
Doof!
Doof!
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