All things must balance

As I get older, I start believing more in karma. All things must remain in balance. For everything bad, there will be something good. And vice versa.

This morning, I find that the bad of being sick has resulted in the good of 4lbs weight loss. I'm officially the lightest I've been in the last six years. Hurrah for me.

I woke up feeling the best in 5 days, throat not as sore, things are looking up. Get in the car and the dash won't even light up. See? Balance.

Spend 20 mins in the heat and dripping humidity cleaning the nasty positive terminal (yes, I'm ashamed of my car maintenance now), still nothing. Put the charger on later today and see if the battery can be salvaged.

Rode the VFR in, thankfully have the perf jacket now, and my shirt has finally dried. Ewww. Nothing like a sweaty shirt first thing in the day.

To close, and without elaboration, Comcast sucks.

Hey! I'm coherent!

Feeling pretty good this morning - first in the last 4. Heading to work soon, but thought I'd post while the traffic thins out.

Weekend plans are still open (on purpose). Weather should be good if I want to take off and explore/relax/ride/veg. Though, I'll probably still be weak from being sick. I've got at least 6 different friends with good ideas and possibilities. We'll just have to see.

Tonight is a movie (Batman? Star Wars? Mr. & Mrs. Smith? choose when we get there), tomorrow night is my good friend Ray's going away party, Friday is - something I think, but my ginko biloba ran out and I don't rememeber right now. Maybe it's open.

Dinner with Erin & Trevor last night. Mmmmm, tasty steaks off the grill, cold coucous salad with tomatoes, delicious grilled vegetables. Too bad I could only wash it down with water, but at least no one risked a hangover this time.

Being true to myself, I sent Becky a sweet, hand-written card for our Anniversary. None of that committment reminder stuff - that's not me (though maybe I said it once in the beginning). Just nice stuff. Enough about that.

Time to head off to work. I have my ibuprofen and a bag of throat drops. Must be careful, don't want to swallow 3 throat drops at once and suck on an ibuprofen :P

Monday of sleep

Well, feeling somewhat better today. Made it to work for 20 minutes to bring some stuff home. Probably shouldn't have been driving, but I'm ok if I'm sitting and concentrate. Mosty sleep and medication today.

Forgot to post this earlier. Simpsons quote of the night from Friday. The family's putting together a jigsaw puzzle and Flanders looks at it over the fence.

Ned Flanders: Oooh... that's quite a thing-a-ma-jigsaw! But it looks like you're missing a piece...
Homer: Looks like YOU'RE missing a wife!
Ned Flanders: Heheheh... I walked right into that one...

All in good humor. Heck, if I think it's funny, everyone should.

Now for more water, some soup, and sleep. Too bad I finished my last DVD of Buffy this morning.

So sick

Weekend update later. In short, 200 miles motorcycling in 90+F weather. Lot's of sleep.

Today, headache, dizzy, fever, sleep. Oy. Four hour nap so far and going back to sleep now.

Anniversaries

Some dear people have wedding anniversaries this month. I love these people and congratulate them, but their anniversaries make me a little melancholy.

Today is the 14th anniversary of my first wedding. It's been long enough that I don't see that date approaching like I used to and only noticed yesterday that it was coming up.

A week from Saturday is the 2nd anniversary of my second wedding. I haven't decided how to mark the occasion. Any advice? I haven't even decided what to do with that holiday weekend as a holiday.

I'm going to leave it open and see what I feel like doing when I wake up on July 1. Tentative plans are to visit DC and do some tourism on Saturday/Sunday, catch Jeff's gig in Delaware Sunday night, and be back in Philly for fireworks on Monday. Who knows, though, maybe I'll take off Friday night on my bike, leave the cell phone behind and just ride for 3 days.

Heck, let's even dream a little. Maybe I'll be invited to California for an anniversary dinner. I doubt it, though. That would be expecting too much

too much Tuesday

Erin, Trevor, and Sylvia came over for dinner last night. Sylvia helped me make chicken tiki marsala and rice (about 24 servings worth). Delicious dinner. Washed down with too many drinks. Oy, Matt doesn't feel so good this morning. Should have been a Friday night party, not a Tuesday night.

Booked a hotel in London for the upcoming trip. Close to the British Museum, so I'll have no excuse not to see the Rosetta Stone (thanks for Mike for that tip). I need to start my list of things to see!

shopping, words, camping

Last night was refill the closet night. Went to Lord & Taylor for their big sale (pants, 3 shirts) and then Nordstrom's Rack for 4 more shirts, pants, belt. Good haul of work and fun clothes for cheap. My favorite. Brittingham's for nachos and beer and where I tried a shandy for the first time. Yummy. (shandy - half beer, half lemonade, 7Up, etc.).

Everyone knows I'm a big Modest Mouse fan. I keep listening to a compilation I built - the music's fun and the lyrics catch me. These ones keep going through my mind:

You don't know where and you don't know when.
But you still got your words and you got your friends.
Walk along to another day.
Work a little harder, work another way.

Tonight it's off to Montgomeryville Cycle for a perf jacket (I hope they have one I want) and then some hot tub action. Tomorrow morning gather stuff for camping, hit the gym (to keep fitting into my new clothes) and then off to Locust Lake for camping, kayaking, and biking. Unless it rains, then heavy napping and zen with the rain.

I get by with a little help from my friends

Thanks to all for your good wishes during a bad day. Special thanks to Molly for sending me some beautiful flowers to cheer me up and to Sylvia for coming over to talk and give me a hug. Thanks to Ann and Anonymous for words of encouragement and to Jeff for giving me a new angle from which to view my life.

what a difference a day makes

Do things go badly because I think they are too good to be true and influence the outcome? Or am I just a really good predictor?

Yesterday was great. Erin & Trevor came over and ate, drank, watched House. Lots of chatting and a fun time.

Went to bed with a feeling of unease which worsened through the morning. The uncertainty of the future changed flavor from "chock full o' wonderful possibilities" to "oh, my god, what's going to happen? what's happening now? what am I even feeling?"

The proverbial icing on the cake was a phone call which came at one of the worst possible times in the last 2 weeks. Another tease of what I want and cannot have. Or is it what I want? I can't tell anymore.

Time to immerse myself in work for today and in myself for the near future. Im going to concentrate on motorcycling for awhile. A perforated jacket for this outrageously hot weather, a valve job on the VFR, a Sargent seat for butt comfort.

I think this weekend will be a good one to get away by myself, maybe camping in the rain. Reading, a campfire, introspection. Maybe I can wrestle a bear and get rid of some nervous energy.

Anonymous, you can stay anonymous as long as you like.

my Xmas list starting already

http://perfectsideburns.com/howprolookworks.html
Oh, my gosh.

On another note, I've said before that I think I have a cartoon voice. Last weekend, it was not only confirmed, but identified as Ned Flanders. I'll get no end of grief from my friend John now.

life keeps getting better

My quality of life (QoL) keeps improving. Fun with friends, making new friends, motorcycling, cable TV, one trip to Europe planned and another in thoughts for the fall. And this morning, an unexpected monetary influx. I'll need it for the surgery to remove the smile from my face.

I'm thinking celebration party at my place Friday night. Who's in? I'll inflate the pool and get it filled tonight.

weekend of fun; hot riding

Friday evening I did the quintessential "let's see if I can remember what to take on motorcycle trips and where I put it all last fall". Got everything in shape for my weekend in Baltimore.

Headed out Saturday morning and slabbed it to Bob's BMW to meet up with Molly and see Jeff. The temperature varied all the way from 88-91F on the way there. Yuck. Saw Jeff, looked at moto gear and met Molly who I'd been chatting with online for about a week. After a quick bite of lunch, Molly and I hit the road on the VFR. About 95 miles, one or two close calls and some advice to the passenger and we were back to Bob's. I went off to find a room and Molly to a family dinner.

I checked into the Holiday Inn (surprising they'd let someone looking like me in leather check in) and cleaned up. Jeff came by and we went out for steaks. And beer. and a couple of shots of tequila. Molly dropped in just in time for dessert and coffee. Then the 3 of us went to see Jeff's new house. He's going to do a lot of good work on it (he's a determined guy with good ideas) and I look forward to being at the house warming barbecue.

Sunday morning slept in a little, packed up and rode to Jeff's old place. We hit the diner for an 11:30 breakfast and then back on the road to Philly. Again 90-91F for 3 hours including stop-and-go on I-95. Yuck. A well-deserved shower was had as soon as I rolled in to home. And then a nap. And then mowing :p It's hard to catch up after you take the weekend off, but the weekend escape makes it worthwhile.

Total for the weekend, 395 miles, about 95 with Molly. High speed 90mph. Time to look for perforated gear and perhaps new leathers. My 5 year old originals are way big now.

Rainy riding, anniversaries, birthdays

I'm off to Baltimore in the morning for some riding with Molly. We're meeting Jeff at his work, maybe get her some little rain gear and then off to explore the roads. Hook up with Jeff after work and see his new house.

June is the month for celebrating. Congratulations to Erin & Trevor, celebrating their first anniversary Sunday, Mike & Rachel also celebrating Sunday, and Kelli & Chad having there ELEVENTH! anniversary on Monday. Amazing peoples.

Also Happy Birthday to my Dad on Sunday and to Mike on Tuesday (he's a Flag Day baby). Someday I'll actually get to Long Island to visit him.

More red wine and chatting with Erin & Trevor last night. It's amazing where the conversation can turn when the wine is flowing. A bunch of silly fun coupled with introspection and philosophy. In vino veritas.

Where *is* Rancho Relaxo?

I'm adding this to my "maps of the world" collection. http://www.mapofspringfield.com/
Not to be confused with my "cheeses of the world" plate collection (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108174/).

It's a full-pot-o-coffee morning for me. Racquetball 5-6, dinner/movie 6-8, latin dancing 9-12:30. Finally asleep by 1:30am. Sleepy & tired (know the difference?) this morning. Everyone find a club with latin dance instruction night and go. I've been more amenable to dancing the last year or two (see Becky's Graduation photos) and I had a great time. And for the guys, the ratio is about two women to each guy. Cha cha cha!

My new digital camera (Canon SD400) is even better than I hoped. Starts fast, easier menus, lighter, larger LCD. It'll be great for London next month.

Tonight I visit Trevor & Erin, this weekend is motorcycling with Molly and Jeff in Maryland. That means Friday night IS DEFINITELY clean the house time. The laundry's finally clean, but it's folded all over the couch.

Wednesday - 10am

Couldn't think of a catchy title, so there it is.

Where'd all my spare time go? Last night I went to the gym, made dinner, watched House. Tonight I'm going to North By Northwest. Saturday I'm going motorcycling with Molly and (probably) Jeff. Sunday I'd better get back to all the stuff I've been putting off.

I've finally buckled under and am getting cable Monday. It'll be nice to have the local channels clear and they are running one of their frequent specials where I get a digital supreme package (including Speed TV!) for $30/mo for 6 mos. Probably cancel when the price shoots up, but, what the heck.

With my couple of spare evenings this week I need to get over to Erin and Trevor's. Since I don't seem to run into them at the gym anymore.

omens and portents

I believe somewhat in omens - when it suits me. Like dropping my digital camera in the water yesterday was an omen that I should get the SD400 I'd talked myself out of.

And the fact that my S110 started working again tonight is an omen that I should have 2 digital cameras :) See how nicely that works?

Scrubbed the bathtub tonight (yuck) and had a big salad for dinner. I should go to the gym, but I don't feel like it so I'll have use scrubbing and some pushups/situps for exercise tonight. I'm at all sore from kayaking yesterday, so I guess I'll have to work harder next time.

I got lucky at work today. No, not like that. I left at 5:30 and it was dark - very dark. Uh, oh, house windows open, car windows down an inch. The rain had been pouring for some time. Lucky part was, the seats wiped draw and none had soaked in. The rain had been heavy, but straight down so no water into the house. I see it as an omen that . . I don't know. I deserve a beer or something like that :)

I just had a Doogie Howser flash as I sat here typing about my day. Now I really need a beer. All you older people explain that reference to the young'uns.

A full weekend - a little of everything

Last week I'd been looking forward (well, at least "towards) a weekend of getting stuff done around the house. Then, it took off :)

Friday, saw Monster-in-Law with a new friend. I was going to plant more flowers and tomatoes Saturday, so she came over to help. And by "help", I mean she planted the flowers, tomatoes, mulched and trimmed the rose bush while I mowed. In exchange for helping me, I let her make dinner, too. I'm nice like that.

So, Sunday was then going to be the day to do the filing, etc. Sunday morning, my friend calls and says "it's too nice out to work inside, let's go kayaking". So, off to Lake Galena (about 10 miles from me), rented a kayak, and I embarrassed myself by wandering in one direction then the other while she tried to explain to me how it's done. Eventually, we made it back to shore and I have the stiff shoulders and tan to show for my efforts. I'll be doing *that* again.

Anyway, now that I bought some groceries, it's time to turn the AC on in the bedroom (it's warm/humid here) and do a few things before an early-to-bed night. Maybe search for digital cameras again since mine got wet enough int he kayak to stop working :(

*yawn* good morning

And it is a happy Friday, though I'm tired this morning. Yech. Slept poorly, woke up too early, etc. Still, it is Friday :)

A very nice person e-mailed me out of the blue yesterday to compliment by blog. Molly, a friend of Daddy Jeff's, is a sweetie and I look forward to meeting her sometime soon. Being in DC, that's not easy, but, "nothing is impossible" as Professor Farnsworth says. Between chatting with her and knowing she's Jeff's friend, she has to be a cool chick.

I also got an e-mail reply yesterday from the bartender who recognized me last time I was at Ludwig's. (Scot, Steve, Melanie, and Chad should all remember Vanessa). She and I may have a running date set for Sunday morning. Between that, the cat appointment, mowing the yard, etc., my weekend is filling up. I had intended to go camping Saturday night, but threats of rain changed my mind. Now it looks like rain in the morning only, so camping may still be on. Flexibility is key.

The next few weekends are filling with travel plans, nothing solid yet, but so many ideas! Baltimore to visit Jeff for boobs-and-beer (and hopefully, maybe a sidetrip to meet Molly), a trip to Pittsburgh to visit Janine, Wilmington to see Linda and Leroy (and help them move furniture if their painting ever gets done). I think a pub crawl with Chad and Mel is never bad, either.

And, of course, the big trip in July to see Cheryl in London. I love researching trips, so I'm having a blast with maps, the internet, and noting all the stuff to take and see. The best part will be visiting Cheryl who we haven't seen much of in the last year and a half.

Whew! All those plans and I used to complain there was nothing to do. How things have changed. Now, to concentrate on getting some work done, hit the gym tonight, and start a fun, fun weekend.

crappy night

Why does it still have to hurt so much?