So this week has been a little ruff with the shadow of car breaking, relational issues, and work being stressful. But this morning I saw exactly what I needed to see. A five day weather forecast. Friday - Sunny and 74; Saturday - Sunny and 73; Sunday - Sunny and 81; Monday - Sunny and 81; Tuesday - Sunny and 82; This five day forecast is my five day forecast. Not only for weather but also for experience and joy. Today will continue to be busy, hence why I am writing this on my lunch break but it doesn't matter. Being at peace does not mean there is no turmoil in your life. Truly being at peace is being able to be at peace when it the the most trying day of your life and you can maintain perspective. I am thankful for the hard week because it has tuned my perspective slightly better than it was before this week. That five day forecast is perfect leading up to my birthday. Add in: possibly going to the Classic, the season finally of 24, one more night of World of Warcraft, hanging out with a few of my best friends downtown, going to the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and going to the beach. That is a week worth living for.
Go to my Flickr page here to see a few pictures from last week. I haven't taken many pictures this week because I am not really in the mindset for it. That will change tonight. Always expect great things because then you might actually see that they happen all the time.
Showing posts with label 24. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 24. Show all posts
Friday, May 18, 2007
Monday, May 14, 2007
Bleh.
So, today was a weird day. Started with me ordering sweet tea from the drive through. I got to talk to my favourite person at the window and we had a great conversation. Half way to work I take my first sip and it was unsweet. It shocked my entire body so much because of the taste expectation I had that was given the exact opposite. I think I even swerved a bit on the road. I get to work and decide to make my own sweet tea. So I do. Put the tea bag in the cup with hot water and sugar. It was actually quite good.
Began to roll through a big list of little tasks I needed to complete for the day. Lunch comes and I have a great time with Dayna. That has an entire post of great conversations and stories by itself. I can not think of something much better than eating a burrito outside on a beautiful day like today with great conversation with a person like Dayna. Wish I had more time with her but we are in different places in life in many ways. The few that we are in the same place hold us together well though.
Work was uneventful but I was completing things. As the day nears its end, I begin to get excited about going to meet Blair for dinner. We try to go to Smokey Bones and apparently many of the locations near me are gone and it is honestly a big loss for me. I was/am a loyal patron because it hits my taste buds at this interesting angle that I enjoy. We end up going to California Pizza Kitchen. It was good because I knew Blair would enjoy it even though I really don't. I hope she reads my blog but not this post. We ate and made plans for the time she will be in town. Which includes a marathon of "The Office" because she loves it and I want to get into it. Then I will have another thing that I can talk about with 30 million more people. Including: Blair, Jamie, Daron, Mark, Kristi, Phillip, and on and on. Excited am I.
I started my car and begun to drive home in high spirits. As I am waiting at the light to turn onto the highway and go one exit down to my house, my check engine light comes on. I think, "hmm, why did that happen?" The light turns green and I turn left onto the highway... my car begins to fall apart. It felt like the car was misfiring out of sync and then it stalled out. I coasted to the side of the road and tried to restart it. At first, nothing. Then, by revving the engine as I started it I got it. The Red Baron and I limped our way home. She is a trooper. I think, "Autozone does free OBD (On-Board Diagnostic) checks. I'll just drive it there."
I go in and check the location and then run back out to limp her to Autozone. Well now she won't start at all. So I want someone to follow me over in the case she completely dies. On the other hand, I do not want someone to come over and me try to start her and not be able to get anywhere. I debate this for an 45 minutes. Among trying to figure out what the issue is myself and calling a few of my "car-buddies". After making noises over the phone to people and describing how the car feels, we come to a conclusion and that includes it being OK for me to limp it to Autozone.
I call Karen, which is just about the hardest thing I have done in my life. I pulled Karen away from 24 during the height of the season. If I had made the decision earlier she wouldn't have missed and we could have gone to 24 together after dropping off my car. Well, she gets there and I feel bad enough already. I try to start the car because Autozone now closes in 40 minutes. I try and try. The car will not start. Now I feel horrible. I pull her from 24 to drive over to my house to follow me to the Autozone and we don't even go anywhere. We end up sitting on the back of my car in silence. Actually it was the thing I needed most right then because I was about to show my anger more then than I have in years. Lets just say I was frustrated.
So, I start calling around for a way to get to and from work tomorrow. I call a friend to see if he can take me to work in the morning. He was the first one I called by the way. Well, because of a certain situation as of yesterday, he has an extra car on his hands for a bit. I could even come by tonight and drive it for a few days while I got mine fixed. How awesome eh? I tried to tear up because I felt like could. No dice. I could not and can not think him enough though. That one thing fixed so many issues in one swoop. Goodness.
So, my mother gives me a ride over to get the car. I get there and his wife gives me the keys and we talk for a bit. I can't stop hugging her and thanking her because they are incredible. Also, fascinating how they just "happened" to have an extra car. Well then my mother was following me back and she got pulled over by a police officer. My head instantly sunk. My head started racing again. I am pretty much flipping out at this point. I have a hard enough time asking people to help me and then when I do they either end up wasting their time or get pulled over by an officer of the law.
Thankfully she was doing nothing wrong and did not get a ticket.
So, look back; follow the waves: up (drive through), down (unsweet), up (sweet), down (work), up (lunch), down (work), up (dinner), down (smokey bones and car), up (think it isn't a big issue), down (take Karen from 24 only to waste her time), up (calm down and find a car), down (mother and cop), up (no ticket).
Roller coaster, I think not. Being the levy at a beach with tsunamis hitting and retreating, ya that's pretty much to how I feel.
Began to roll through a big list of little tasks I needed to complete for the day. Lunch comes and I have a great time with Dayna. That has an entire post of great conversations and stories by itself. I can not think of something much better than eating a burrito outside on a beautiful day like today with great conversation with a person like Dayna. Wish I had more time with her but we are in different places in life in many ways. The few that we are in the same place hold us together well though.
Work was uneventful but I was completing things. As the day nears its end, I begin to get excited about going to meet Blair for dinner. We try to go to Smokey Bones and apparently many of the locations near me are gone and it is honestly a big loss for me. I was/am a loyal patron because it hits my taste buds at this interesting angle that I enjoy. We end up going to California Pizza Kitchen. It was good because I knew Blair would enjoy it even though I really don't. I hope she reads my blog but not this post. We ate and made plans for the time she will be in town. Which includes a marathon of "The Office" because she loves it and I want to get into it. Then I will have another thing that I can talk about with 30 million more people. Including: Blair, Jamie, Daron, Mark, Kristi, Phillip, and on and on. Excited am I.
I started my car and begun to drive home in high spirits. As I am waiting at the light to turn onto the highway and go one exit down to my house, my check engine light comes on. I think, "hmm, why did that happen?" The light turns green and I turn left onto the highway... my car begins to fall apart. It felt like the car was misfiring out of sync and then it stalled out. I coasted to the side of the road and tried to restart it. At first, nothing. Then, by revving the engine as I started it I got it. The Red Baron and I limped our way home. She is a trooper. I think, "Autozone does free OBD (On-Board Diagnostic) checks. I'll just drive it there."
I go in and check the location and then run back out to limp her to Autozone. Well now she won't start at all. So I want someone to follow me over in the case she completely dies. On the other hand, I do not want someone to come over and me try to start her and not be able to get anywhere. I debate this for an 45 minutes. Among trying to figure out what the issue is myself and calling a few of my "car-buddies". After making noises over the phone to people and describing how the car feels, we come to a conclusion and that includes it being OK for me to limp it to Autozone.
I call Karen, which is just about the hardest thing I have done in my life. I pulled Karen away from 24 during the height of the season. If I had made the decision earlier she wouldn't have missed and we could have gone to 24 together after dropping off my car. Well, she gets there and I feel bad enough already. I try to start the car because Autozone now closes in 40 minutes. I try and try. The car will not start. Now I feel horrible. I pull her from 24 to drive over to my house to follow me to the Autozone and we don't even go anywhere. We end up sitting on the back of my car in silence. Actually it was the thing I needed most right then because I was about to show my anger more then than I have in years. Lets just say I was frustrated.
So, I start calling around for a way to get to and from work tomorrow. I call a friend to see if he can take me to work in the morning. He was the first one I called by the way. Well, because of a certain situation as of yesterday, he has an extra car on his hands for a bit. I could even come by tonight and drive it for a few days while I got mine fixed. How awesome eh? I tried to tear up because I felt like could. No dice. I could not and can not think him enough though. That one thing fixed so many issues in one swoop. Goodness.
So, my mother gives me a ride over to get the car. I get there and his wife gives me the keys and we talk for a bit. I can't stop hugging her and thanking her because they are incredible. Also, fascinating how they just "happened" to have an extra car. Well then my mother was following me back and she got pulled over by a police officer. My head instantly sunk. My head started racing again. I am pretty much flipping out at this point. I have a hard enough time asking people to help me and then when I do they either end up wasting their time or get pulled over by an officer of the law.
Thankfully she was doing nothing wrong and did not get a ticket.
So, look back; follow the waves: up (drive through), down (unsweet), up (sweet), down (work), up (lunch), down (work), up (dinner), down (smokey bones and car), up (think it isn't a big issue), down (take Karen from 24 only to waste her time), up (calm down and find a car), down (mother and cop), up (no ticket).
Roller coaster, I think not. Being the levy at a beach with tsunamis hitting and retreating, ya that's pretty much to how I feel.
Unexpected
Sometimes things are unexpected. Sometimes it is good and sometimes not so good. Like for instance: As I approach a light that is green and I am going fast I like to watch the crossing signal on the right. Even more so if a giant truck is in front of me and I can not see the street light. If the crossing signal is a "walking guy"/"cross now" signal, then I know that it is a fresh green light and I do not have to worry about it turning on me. If it is flashing the hand, it is normally good but I slow down a little bit because if the hand turns solid the the light turns yellow one second after that; normally. So I was driving home last night and using my "trick" and the hand is flashing. So I slow a small bit but keep truckin'. Then I see someone in the corner of my eye change. It was the light changing to yellow. Time slows down and I look back at the hand it is still flashing. I honestly thought that I was dreaming and that if I got in a wreck I'd just wake up. By this time I have not begun to slow yet and I getting close to the light. Slamming on my brakes and hearing horrible sounds from my car, the kind dying animals make, I come to a stop with the smell of burnt rubber entering my atmosphere. I was and am still in disbelief. What if some person was crossing with the same expectation and the light turned green as the hand was still flashing?
So let me give the person who works for the state and who is also reading this an idea. Make all street lights with just a red and a green light. With the red on top and the green on bottom like normal. Then in the place where the yellow light is now, put an LED strip of white lights. On EVERY light like this, 10 seconds before the light turns red, light the first two rows of LEDs. Then every half second after that, add another row to the amount that is lit. From bottom to top the light builds until it turns red. Then, everyone will know exactly how stale a green is and those horrible yellow lights will be gone forever. will it work, maybe?
The past four days have been incredible and the streak will continue today. Taking Dayna to lunch, Blair for dinner, and then 24. How much better could it get? Maybe a lot but I am more than happy with what I have. I also have amazing pictures from the past few days but my photoshop version at home was not have the red eye tool remover like my version, CS2, at the office does. I will edit them and post them soon so that you can see another small glimpse into who these people are that I talk about.
So let me give the person who works for the state and who is also reading this an idea. Make all street lights with just a red and a green light. With the red on top and the green on bottom like normal. Then in the place where the yellow light is now, put an LED strip of white lights. On EVERY light like this, 10 seconds before the light turns red, light the first two rows of LEDs. Then every half second after that, add another row to the amount that is lit. From bottom to top the light builds until it turns red. Then, everyone will know exactly how stale a green is and those horrible yellow lights will be gone forever. will it work, maybe?
The past four days have been incredible and the streak will continue today. Taking Dayna to lunch, Blair for dinner, and then 24. How much better could it get? Maybe a lot but I am more than happy with what I have. I also have amazing pictures from the past few days but my photoshop version at home was not have the red eye tool remover like my version, CS2, at the office does. I will edit them and post them soon so that you can see another small glimpse into who these people are that I talk about.
Monday, May 7, 2007
Wha?
Wow. So I just watched last week's episode of 24. It was like the Evander Holyfield vs George Foreman fight. There were a few peaks of excitement where you stand up because you think something is about to go down. Then, nothing. The minutes/rounds just keep ticking by slug after boring slug. This is the championship of TV/boxing for goodness sakes, we expect blood and fouls. Considering all this, tonight's new episode better be like the Muhammad Ali vs Joe Frazier fight + the George Foreman vs Joe Frazier fight. Where there were knockdowns and knock outs just to have people get back up to be knocked out again.
On a completely different note, I felt so ninja today. I have hit smacked bees and flies out of the air before but never flat out caught a fly in mid flight before. Today was that day. A fly was flying around in the office near my desk and I swiped at him a few times and then hit him and my hand was closed. I said out loud, "AH HA! I hit him!" Then, I felt something in my hand and I said, "Oh no way! I caught him!" The co-worker next to me said, "Prove it." So I walked over put my hand on his desk saying, "Watch closely." I slowly opened my hand to see the fly rocket off of my hand like a rocket to the stars. It was awesome and I just stunned at how much of a highlight that was today. It s great to feel like a ninja.
On a completely different note, I felt so ninja today. I have hit smacked bees and flies out of the air before but never flat out caught a fly in mid flight before. Today was that day. A fly was flying around in the office near my desk and I swiped at him a few times and then hit him and my hand was closed. I said out loud, "AH HA! I hit him!" Then, I felt something in my hand and I said, "Oh no way! I caught him!" The co-worker next to me said, "Prove it." So I walked over put my hand on his desk saying, "Watch closely." I slowly opened my hand to see the fly rocket off of my hand like a rocket to the stars. It was awesome and I just stunned at how much of a highlight that was today. It s great to feel like a ninja.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Decisions
Isn't it awesome when you are in a place in your life where the decisions you have to make are important but not critical? Like for instance, tonight I had to choose whether to go to the Braves game or to watch 24. It was a hard choice and it was an important choice because every minute you are alive, that is where you are. You impact your surroundings and change the experience of everyone you come in contact with. Time is not only money but a gift and a powerful one at that. Part of me feels like I might be wasting my time here, typing this blog, but I also think that it is important to spend a few minutes with myself. An interesting thing was said the other day by Daron. "To some of you I did not exist until today, but guess what, I have always existed to myself." I get so wrapped up in my own life that when I have a need that isn't filled by someone I say to myself, "I can't believe that they wouldn't do that." The funny thing is I still think that even if I don't say anything as if I expect them to know what I am thinking or feeling. Also, when I see someone with a need, I let it slide and justify it by thinking, "oh it is just a normal day and I don't feel comfortable reaching out." Even still making it about me, when in reality that moment is important to both of us. It is not just a normal day or a normal moment. It might possibly be the last time I ever see that person. Why let fear, discomfort, jealousy, or laziness ever keep you from interacting with someone when you realize that every moment is this important.
Well that was a tangent if I have ever read or typed one. Anyway, I had a busy day at work the drove straight from work to the MARTA station to go to the Braves game with Amy, Lindsay, and Dustin. (Pictures will come linked on my flickr soon) We were hanging out in the stands with our $6 tickets just having a good time. Eating peanuts and enjoying the sights, sounds, and emotions of the afternoon. Then it is tied 2 points each in the top of the 9th with the Phillies at bat... our new pitcher is throwing heat. (honestly in the 93mph range [150kmph for the metric people out there]) The strongest part of the Philly lineup is at bat. He gets two to line out to first base and then, with a full count, strikes out the last batter. So the Braves are up to bat with Kelly Johnson, Edger Renteria, and Chipper Jones in the lineup. Johnson line drives to left for a single. Renteria hits a slow blooper to third and they get Johnson at second but don't get the double play. Chipper comes up to bat and defends the plate with skill. Fighting off two foul balls and working from behind in the count to make it full. The pitch comes, Renteria bolts for second... He is safe because the hit and run play never happened, Chipper was walked. So we have Braves on 1st and 2nd with only 1 out. Andruw Jones comes to the plate. [sidetrack]: At the 9 and a half inning mark as the Braves were getting ready for thier last at bat, the screen plays a movie of a game in 2000 when the Braves rallied in the bottom of the 9th to tie and then Andruw Jones hit a walk off homer to win it. Then it ended with, "He was the hero then, can he do it again?" Andruw comes to the plate. The crowd is screaming already... 1st pitch was a fastball strike... the fans soften a bit. Then we all hear the sound we are hoping for: crack. That sound a wooden bat makes when the core of the ball is compressed and jetisons off the bat like a rocketship to the stars. I looked up and lost the ball in the lights but I knew by the sound alone that it was gone. Andruw did do it again.
3 run walk off homerun to end a great game and a great night out with some friends.
Well that was a tangent if I have ever read or typed one. Anyway, I had a busy day at work the drove straight from work to the MARTA station to go to the Braves game with Amy, Lindsay, and Dustin. (Pictures will come linked on my flickr soon) We were hanging out in the stands with our $6 tickets just having a good time. Eating peanuts and enjoying the sights, sounds, and emotions of the afternoon. Then it is tied 2 points each in the top of the 9th with the Phillies at bat... our new pitcher is throwing heat. (honestly in the 93mph range [150kmph for the metric people out there]) The strongest part of the Philly lineup is at bat. He gets two to line out to first base and then, with a full count, strikes out the last batter. So the Braves are up to bat with Kelly Johnson, Edger Renteria, and Chipper Jones in the lineup. Johnson line drives to left for a single. Renteria hits a slow blooper to third and they get Johnson at second but don't get the double play. Chipper comes up to bat and defends the plate with skill. Fighting off two foul balls and working from behind in the count to make it full. The pitch comes, Renteria bolts for second... He is safe because the hit and run play never happened, Chipper was walked. So we have Braves on 1st and 2nd with only 1 out. Andruw Jones comes to the plate. [sidetrack]: At the 9 and a half inning mark as the Braves were getting ready for thier last at bat, the screen plays a movie of a game in 2000 when the Braves rallied in the bottom of the 9th to tie and then Andruw Jones hit a walk off homer to win it. Then it ended with, "He was the hero then, can he do it again?" Andruw comes to the plate. The crowd is screaming already... 1st pitch was a fastball strike... the fans soften a bit. Then we all hear the sound we are hoping for: crack. That sound a wooden bat makes when the core of the ball is compressed and jetisons off the bat like a rocketship to the stars. I looked up and lost the ball in the lights but I knew by the sound alone that it was gone. Andruw did do it again.
3 run walk off homerun to end a great game and a great night out with some friends.
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