go there please... thanks.
hankb
Friday, March 11, 2011
Guilty Pleasures
The Road to Somewhere is filled with potholes and detours as we have all learned. Today, after another sleepless night caused by a failing, screaming cat, I attempt to gain clarity. First up, I have been following the old cat all over the house and waking her up. Occassionally I scream in her ear before forcibly removing her from whatever bed she has chosen. The highlight of last night was her knocking over some wire hangars. At 1am the loud crash to our hard wood floors sounded like cars crashing into buildings, not unlike what is happening on the Japanese coast right now. Add to that her shrill, bellowing sound of her death cries... my God!! That reminds me... be right back.
Ok, I am back. Took her from my bed (screaming and clawing) and put her outside. It stopped raining so she can deter the squirrels from tearing up the yard. She has claws, it will be fine. But really? All the shit going and I have to worry about an aged cat keeping me up??? Sound like a perfect time to get a puppy.
It will not stop me from guilty pleasures. Taking free tix for tonight's Big East semi's is first and foremost. The excitement coming from an 8 year old girl has been amazing. The fact that she watched the end of Rutgers/St John's the other day, and was outraged the refs blew RU's chances, warms my heart. I will hope for another 6 OT thriller from Syracuse/UConn tonight. I would never expect her to hang for the late game. And ND should run over Louisville anyway. Aside from that, lots of new stuff this year the Cialis crowd should be into.
Music:
After nearly 15 years with Directv, I switched to Fios yesterday. Mainly done to save some money, I discovered a revelation: MTVU (http://www.mtvu.com/.) When I first bought Directv(http://www.directv.com/,) in 1998 my revelation was MTV2. Now, that channel is the wasteland of bad tv. I see old Cribs episodes and pimping of one's ride. If I am up at 3am I might see a video or two. Typically it would be bad rap or bad emo. Yesterday I found MTVU on the dial and as unable to change the station. I was digging video's by Chiddy Bang (my daughter and her friend could nto look away), Matt and Kim, Sleigh Bells, and Arcade Fire, to name a few. It should be well established that I am pretty dense. I grew up on videos. I remember a half hour show on Philadelphia's local channel called Video Rock. 11pm every night they gave me Thomas Dolby, or Rockwell, Bow Wow Wow, Eddy Grant. Truly awful stuff. It was spoon-fed, low brow craziness. And if it were on tonight I would watch, smiling ear to ear. Now, I can appreciate the music by itself. I love a nice care ride with the radio playing. Live concerts are most rewarding. But, when I see a great video married to music. I am into it. I hated Black Keys' "Tighten Up" upon first dozen listens. But when I saw the brilliant and funny video it changed my mind. Same thing has happened in the past. Eels "Last Stop: This Town" did that same thing to me. It helps to see the band. It gives me a greater idea of how they think. OK GO made the great treadmill video a few years back. It was campy and innovative. Now, they keep trying to recapture that lightning and it comes off as desperate. I have tuned their music out as a result. I would never say the video transcends the music. But it certainly can enhance. I will turn off "Born this Way" from Lady Gaga on the radio. Damn it if I did not watch the whole effin thing last week!!! And the whole theme/concept of the video is a mess. I know I am not the first to say it, but does Madonna get a co-writing credit for that song? Maybe some royalties?
Needless to say thank you Verizon. If I go back to Directv you will really have to do something poorly. Music videos, 24-7, has won me over.
A couple of songs have my attention these days. The first, is The Raconteurs "Old Enough" Featuring Ricky Skaggs & Ashley Monroe. Duh, winning. Ashley Monroe has a voice reminiscent of Emmylou Harris and Nicolette Larson. Skaggs and White riff nicely on mandolin/guitar respectively. Vocals and tempo are incredible. I wonder sometimes how I fell into these bluegrass traps, but I welcome it. And Jack White is without question a major and influential talent. Check it out here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4QbEcVVBHM. Like the transition into "Wake up Little Susie" in particular.
The other, naturally, is Avril Levigne's "What the Hell?" Maybe because it is so juvenile and airy? Maybe because she is adorable, and maybe a little off? Or maybe cause it's got a good beat and you can dance to it? Whatever, I am into it. Take a look should you dare: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQmEd_UeeIk.
Other bands waking me from a slumber include Fitz and the Tantrums, Two Door Cinema Club and Decemberists. Looking forward to seeing The Decemberists again in Brooklyn later this Spring. Remember being amazed how much of a shoman Colin Melloy was. Sorry, check this out too... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5C2WVCruPM Incredible!! Why cant they play near here, and soon??? The National featuring Sufjan Stevens on Letterman. Please but their album "High Voilet."
Television:
The Onion News on TV (http://www.ifc.com/.) I always look forward to reading their paper on the Subway. It is the perfect 6 train companion from Astor to 28th St. With the addition of Brooke Alvarez and her fake news staff, The Onion has reached new heights. Should you get IFC take a look. They parody everything cable news holds high. I really enjoyed the piece about Obama being kidnapped on inauguration day and replaced with an imposter. Malia was quoted as being "Relieved they found my dad. I was mad my dad was so weak and cowardly."
I am not crazy for Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's "Funny or Die Show" on HBO. I do however like the one called "Juggalo News." In fact anything Insane Clown Posse entertains me.
Bib Huggins, head coach Wes Virginia, is also must see tv. His intensity and glare, not to mention his tracksuit, tell me it is March Madness. He is exactly the coach I would send my son to play for. He will smother you with critiscm, but be the first one helping you get rid of the evidence after you killed someone. In these days we need that kind of loyalty, don't we?
Food:
Sugar. You never know how much depression can affect your day to day. Eating and sleeping have become less important. I have lost weight, great. Questioning my choices though. It seems it has been a non-stop orgy of Whole Foods chocolate covered cherries, Nutter Butters, Cadbury Cream eggs and all sorts of sugary cereals. Protein and vegetables have taken a back seat. And I mean the back of "The Sweet Hereafter" bus. They were already the misfits relegated to the back, now they are off a cliff drowning in frozen waters. Hmm, gotta do a better job. I know the remedy... food at the Garden tonight. Maybe some $10 Bud lights too. Maybe sugar should not be on the guilty pleasures list. Sounding more like necessary evils.
Wow, that was more than 10 minutes. Guess I should see if the cat is still alive. I am unsure which answer I prefer.
Ok, I am back. Took her from my bed (screaming and clawing) and put her outside. It stopped raining so she can deter the squirrels from tearing up the yard. She has claws, it will be fine. But really? All the shit going and I have to worry about an aged cat keeping me up??? Sound like a perfect time to get a puppy.
It will not stop me from guilty pleasures. Taking free tix for tonight's Big East semi's is first and foremost. The excitement coming from an 8 year old girl has been amazing. The fact that she watched the end of Rutgers/St John's the other day, and was outraged the refs blew RU's chances, warms my heart. I will hope for another 6 OT thriller from Syracuse/UConn tonight. I would never expect her to hang for the late game. And ND should run over Louisville anyway. Aside from that, lots of new stuff this year the Cialis crowd should be into.
Music:
After nearly 15 years with Directv, I switched to Fios yesterday. Mainly done to save some money, I discovered a revelation: MTVU (http://www.mtvu.com/.) When I first bought Directv(http://www.directv.com/,) in 1998 my revelation was MTV2. Now, that channel is the wasteland of bad tv. I see old Cribs episodes and pimping of one's ride. If I am up at 3am I might see a video or two. Typically it would be bad rap or bad emo. Yesterday I found MTVU on the dial and as unable to change the station. I was digging video's by Chiddy Bang (my daughter and her friend could nto look away), Matt and Kim, Sleigh Bells, and Arcade Fire, to name a few. It should be well established that I am pretty dense. I grew up on videos. I remember a half hour show on Philadelphia's local channel called Video Rock. 11pm every night they gave me Thomas Dolby, or Rockwell, Bow Wow Wow, Eddy Grant. Truly awful stuff. It was spoon-fed, low brow craziness. And if it were on tonight I would watch, smiling ear to ear. Now, I can appreciate the music by itself. I love a nice care ride with the radio playing. Live concerts are most rewarding. But, when I see a great video married to music. I am into it. I hated Black Keys' "Tighten Up" upon first dozen listens. But when I saw the brilliant and funny video it changed my mind. Same thing has happened in the past. Eels "Last Stop: This Town" did that same thing to me. It helps to see the band. It gives me a greater idea of how they think. OK GO made the great treadmill video a few years back. It was campy and innovative. Now, they keep trying to recapture that lightning and it comes off as desperate. I have tuned their music out as a result. I would never say the video transcends the music. But it certainly can enhance. I will turn off "Born this Way" from Lady Gaga on the radio. Damn it if I did not watch the whole effin thing last week!!! And the whole theme/concept of the video is a mess. I know I am not the first to say it, but does Madonna get a co-writing credit for that song? Maybe some royalties?
Needless to say thank you Verizon. If I go back to Directv you will really have to do something poorly. Music videos, 24-7, has won me over.
A couple of songs have my attention these days. The first, is The Raconteurs "Old Enough" Featuring Ricky Skaggs & Ashley Monroe. Duh, winning. Ashley Monroe has a voice reminiscent of Emmylou Harris and Nicolette Larson. Skaggs and White riff nicely on mandolin/guitar respectively. Vocals and tempo are incredible. I wonder sometimes how I fell into these bluegrass traps, but I welcome it. And Jack White is without question a major and influential talent. Check it out here, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v4QbEcVVBHM. Like the transition into "Wake up Little Susie" in particular.
The other, naturally, is Avril Levigne's "What the Hell?" Maybe because it is so juvenile and airy? Maybe because she is adorable, and maybe a little off? Or maybe cause it's got a good beat and you can dance to it? Whatever, I am into it. Take a look should you dare: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQmEd_UeeIk.
Other bands waking me from a slumber include Fitz and the Tantrums, Two Door Cinema Club and Decemberists. Looking forward to seeing The Decemberists again in Brooklyn later this Spring. Remember being amazed how much of a shoman Colin Melloy was. Sorry, check this out too... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5C2WVCruPM Incredible!! Why cant they play near here, and soon??? The National featuring Sufjan Stevens on Letterman. Please but their album "High Voilet."
Television:
The Onion News on TV (http://www.ifc.com/.) I always look forward to reading their paper on the Subway. It is the perfect 6 train companion from Astor to 28th St. With the addition of Brooke Alvarez and her fake news staff, The Onion has reached new heights. Should you get IFC take a look. They parody everything cable news holds high. I really enjoyed the piece about Obama being kidnapped on inauguration day and replaced with an imposter. Malia was quoted as being "Relieved they found my dad. I was mad my dad was so weak and cowardly."
I am not crazy for Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's "Funny or Die Show" on HBO. I do however like the one called "Juggalo News." In fact anything Insane Clown Posse entertains me.
Bib Huggins, head coach Wes Virginia, is also must see tv. His intensity and glare, not to mention his tracksuit, tell me it is March Madness. He is exactly the coach I would send my son to play for. He will smother you with critiscm, but be the first one helping you get rid of the evidence after you killed someone. In these days we need that kind of loyalty, don't we?
Food:
Sugar. You never know how much depression can affect your day to day. Eating and sleeping have become less important. I have lost weight, great. Questioning my choices though. It seems it has been a non-stop orgy of Whole Foods chocolate covered cherries, Nutter Butters, Cadbury Cream eggs and all sorts of sugary cereals. Protein and vegetables have taken a back seat. And I mean the back of "The Sweet Hereafter" bus. They were already the misfits relegated to the back, now they are off a cliff drowning in frozen waters. Hmm, gotta do a better job. I know the remedy... food at the Garden tonight. Maybe some $10 Bud lights too. Maybe sugar should not be on the guilty pleasures list. Sounding more like necessary evils.
Wow, that was more than 10 minutes. Guess I should see if the cat is still alive. I am unsure which answer I prefer.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
I don't want To Just Go With It...
Ever since I became a father I realized the importance of time killers. Maybe it was because when T gave birth we were living in a tiny apartment, still way above what we could afford. When the little ones start to walk, and most of all talk, they require constant attention. The only child deserves ALL of your attention. In fact they demand it. So, with some success there were the mind numbing Little Einstein videos. A nice day might bring us to the park. Maybe Liberty Science... or storytime (or worse sing-along time) at the library. I did some circle times at the Y. Starbucks was always good for a half hour here and there. When we bought our house I would take her for a donut and milk every day. She would sit on their awful mobile booster seat and make a bloody mess of their floors. I would be able to read the Star-Ledger. Rather, I would skim the headlines and dissect the box scores. Time killers, the lot of em. The idle child will wreak havoc. And I hustled. Morris Museum: check. MoMa: check. Coney Island, Sandy Hook, Camden Aquarium, Union Sq Park (Shake Shack), Hoboken, high school sporting events, Christmas tree shows, Bronz Zoo: Check already.
Ideally, I try to pinch the pennies. Life's great moments are free, right? Not tonight. Since T is in the City for an event and I promised to get her early from school... long night ahead. Time killer please. I had thought of an impromptu trip to the RAC to watch the Prep B Boys Hoops final. St Anthony's v St Pat's. 1 v 2 in the nation. Glory Days for sure. Had to rethink though. Am I making my adorable little girl a boyish thug. We are going to the Garden Friday night. Ok, aborted selfishness and decided we could do a movie. Naturally, she will pick Rango or another animated feature. No interest. Off to the Adam Sandler vehicle Just Go With It. These are the time killers that hurt. The expenditure is bad enough. I loved the bargain we got at the concession stand. "Medium popcorn and a bottled water please."
"You know you could get the Combo and it would be like $2 less." Pierced attendant says.
"Um, Ok." I muttered.
"That will be $10.75."
"Oh, that's all it will be???" I gasped. All at once I am acting like my father. Missing only the "In my day" speech.
And I root for Adam Sandler. And his goofy face makes me laugh sometimes. And the goofy voices. And the just plain goofy movies. And although my 8 year old daughter laughed a bit, I need a bit more.
Jennifer Aniston and Brooklyn Decker love traingle??? To have that self esteem must be magical. Now, how about taking the cast and crew to Hawaii??? Can you make me hate my life anymore??? The premise is beyond absurd so I find it wasteful to acknowledge it. And where hath the editors of Hollywood gone? After the requisite 15 minutes of trailers this movie dragged for just a touch under 2 hours. Thought the 715 showing would get my girl into bed right around 9. Not quite. We left the theatre around 920. She was drifting off to sleep moments after I heard her seatbelt click. She got home with that delirious giggle brewed from sugar and tired.
And I felt dirty. Dirty for paying the money/ Dirty for paying for bad art. Dirty for hoping. I think it was Charlie Sheen who said "hope is for suckers." Wise Mr Sheen where were you when I needed you?? Wasted ensemble pieces from Nicole Kidman and Dave Matthews. Worse than anything the children in the movie were awful. I am not going to IMDB or Wikipedia to get their names. I do not want to know who they are. Tonight or ever. Does anyone see a young actress play an annoying girl trying to be an actress, in a British accent!!! Oh my god I am getting angry just thinking about her role.
Sorry, I can't do this. Please do not see this movie. Did we learn nothing from Punch Drunk Love? Or Funny People? Or Grown Ups??? It's over. We will also have Canteen Boy. And Remote Control. Make a nice quilt out of $1000 bills and leave me alone. Scram. Get outta here.
Now who is Prep B champs??? Ah, congrats Bob Hurley Sr. and the Friars. Can't say that surprises me.
Ideally, I try to pinch the pennies. Life's great moments are free, right? Not tonight. Since T is in the City for an event and I promised to get her early from school... long night ahead. Time killer please. I had thought of an impromptu trip to the RAC to watch the Prep B Boys Hoops final. St Anthony's v St Pat's. 1 v 2 in the nation. Glory Days for sure. Had to rethink though. Am I making my adorable little girl a boyish thug. We are going to the Garden Friday night. Ok, aborted selfishness and decided we could do a movie. Naturally, she will pick Rango or another animated feature. No interest. Off to the Adam Sandler vehicle Just Go With It. These are the time killers that hurt. The expenditure is bad enough. I loved the bargain we got at the concession stand. "Medium popcorn and a bottled water please."
"You know you could get the Combo and it would be like $2 less." Pierced attendant says.
"Um, Ok." I muttered.
"That will be $10.75."
"Oh, that's all it will be???" I gasped. All at once I am acting like my father. Missing only the "In my day" speech.
And I root for Adam Sandler. And his goofy face makes me laugh sometimes. And the goofy voices. And the just plain goofy movies. And although my 8 year old daughter laughed a bit, I need a bit more.
Jennifer Aniston and Brooklyn Decker love traingle??? To have that self esteem must be magical. Now, how about taking the cast and crew to Hawaii??? Can you make me hate my life anymore??? The premise is beyond absurd so I find it wasteful to acknowledge it. And where hath the editors of Hollywood gone? After the requisite 15 minutes of trailers this movie dragged for just a touch under 2 hours. Thought the 715 showing would get my girl into bed right around 9. Not quite. We left the theatre around 920. She was drifting off to sleep moments after I heard her seatbelt click. She got home with that delirious giggle brewed from sugar and tired.
And I felt dirty. Dirty for paying the money/ Dirty for paying for bad art. Dirty for hoping. I think it was Charlie Sheen who said "hope is for suckers." Wise Mr Sheen where were you when I needed you?? Wasted ensemble pieces from Nicole Kidman and Dave Matthews. Worse than anything the children in the movie were awful. I am not going to IMDB or Wikipedia to get their names. I do not want to know who they are. Tonight or ever. Does anyone see a young actress play an annoying girl trying to be an actress, in a British accent!!! Oh my god I am getting angry just thinking about her role.
Sorry, I can't do this. Please do not see this movie. Did we learn nothing from Punch Drunk Love? Or Funny People? Or Grown Ups??? It's over. We will also have Canteen Boy. And Remote Control. Make a nice quilt out of $1000 bills and leave me alone. Scram. Get outta here.
Now who is Prep B champs??? Ah, congrats Bob Hurley Sr. and the Friars. Can't say that surprises me.
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
My Dog Skip... the little prick
My Dog Skip was a movie that had never been on my radar. Wishing very hard that it had remained that way. And curse you too iPad, and Netflix on iPad. Give an 8 year old some freedom and wireless streaming entertainment and next thing you know I am in the midst of tear fest. Here I thought it was a great idea to let the magical Wii broadcast the dramatic conclusion. Let's all have some family time. Soon, war hero Kevin Bacon and his son Malcolm from Malcolm in the Middle, are fighting civil rights, emotional scarring, moonshining bandits and the love of a dog in 50s Mississippi. And damn it if the Skip the dog doesn't take a spade to the head. Great, I get to see the tearful bedside vigil. Quickly I have to google if the little prick makes it. Thank god he does, but we fast forward to Malcolm going off to college. He is an only child. He waxes poetic about the joys of having his dog as his lifelong companion. The narration is so sugary sweet it makes my resistance to a canine in this house all he more selfish and ugly.
But I argue the opposite... Can we really invest all this love and attention to something that will die and break our hearts??? Skip ended up all alone on Malcolm's bed. Life moved on and left poor Skip to die. The good times were but memories clouded by the grim hand of death. Is that what I want to get into right now? I guess. But let the record show I have my reservations.
Odds and ends:
Can meterologists please give me the 5 day forecast for my area and end it? I need not know the barometric system building in East Texas. No concern at all about Midwest lake effect. Tell me what to expect at 8am, noon, 5pm, and nightime in greater NYC area. I understand the weather elsewhere causes weather here. That is assumed. Just give me the numbers monkey and move on. I would propose getting rid of the forecast altogether, but I don't want to eliminate jobs. But, in reality, newscasts could flash a 10 second graphic before commercial breaks detailing what to expect. Shit, they do it for the Dow and NASDAQ. Last I checked hose things were as important as what bad sweater or shirt I decide to wear.
And what is the deal with the Charmin adds with the bears?? First, I have to suspend disbelief and accept there are pink bears. And as far as I can tell these are not the pink bears you might find on Christopher St. Clearly they are in the wild. They have a nice pad in an idyllic countryside. Naturally, after they sit their fat asses on what can only be the biggest toilet ever, toilet paper sticks to their nasty, pink fur. I think back to an old Seinfeld special... "Who are the add wizards that came up with that???". I just don't understand how that gets me to buy their product. I may have thrown up a bit in my mouth thinking about it. The bears I know shit in the woods with reckless abandon. And then they go to chat roulette for hours at a time. As for Seton Hall... Thugs and underachievers at the very best. I like Coach Willard and the direction the team is headed. But after a week that saw them beat St Johns and Marquette I needed to see a better effort today. Bright side though... my Hall friend gave up his tix for Friday's semifinals. Love when someone's loss is my gain. Oops, didn't mean to write that. On a therapy night too... Scandalous.
But I argue the opposite... Can we really invest all this love and attention to something that will die and break our hearts??? Skip ended up all alone on Malcolm's bed. Life moved on and left poor Skip to die. The good times were but memories clouded by the grim hand of death. Is that what I want to get into right now? I guess. But let the record show I have my reservations.
Odds and ends:
Can meterologists please give me the 5 day forecast for my area and end it? I need not know the barometric system building in East Texas. No concern at all about Midwest lake effect. Tell me what to expect at 8am, noon, 5pm, and nightime in greater NYC area. I understand the weather elsewhere causes weather here. That is assumed. Just give me the numbers monkey and move on. I would propose getting rid of the forecast altogether, but I don't want to eliminate jobs. But, in reality, newscasts could flash a 10 second graphic before commercial breaks detailing what to expect. Shit, they do it for the Dow and NASDAQ. Last I checked hose things were as important as what bad sweater or shirt I decide to wear.
And what is the deal with the Charmin adds with the bears?? First, I have to suspend disbelief and accept there are pink bears. And as far as I can tell these are not the pink bears you might find on Christopher St. Clearly they are in the wild. They have a nice pad in an idyllic countryside. Naturally, after they sit their fat asses on what can only be the biggest toilet ever, toilet paper sticks to their nasty, pink fur. I think back to an old Seinfeld special... "Who are the add wizards that came up with that???". I just don't understand how that gets me to buy their product. I may have thrown up a bit in my mouth thinking about it. The bears I know shit in the woods with reckless abandon. And then they go to chat roulette for hours at a time. As for Seton Hall... Thugs and underachievers at the very best. I like Coach Willard and the direction the team is headed. But after a week that saw them beat St Johns and Marquette I needed to see a better effort today. Bright side though... my Hall friend gave up his tix for Friday's semifinals. Love when someone's loss is my gain. Oops, didn't mean to write that. On a therapy night too... Scandalous.
Must change blog name...
Any ideas??? Too many suburban dads on the web. Kindly submit ideas should you have them.
And no I will not accept self absorbed asshole... or variations there of...
And no I will not accept self absorbed asshole... or variations there of...
Monday, March 7, 2011
Feeling like Ziggy
Monday's can be bad enough. Today was no exception. It began with the frantic rush to get out the door by 7:45am. Today we were responsible for taking our neighbor to school too. She arrived around 7:20. After they were settled and eating breakfast I made sure the trash and recycling were curbside. A quick dash to Starbucks to get the morning caffeine. Back in time to rally the troops and be on our way. School drop-off was uneventful. We race to the commuter lot to make the 8am. Hair still wet and underdressed I curse myself for not checking the weather. Elfin cold and windy out. PA rings out on the New Jersey Transit platform... Train is late 10 minutes naturally.
The work day is a big question mark. We have a job installing that has my fingerprints all over it. You guessed it. Big problems. First, our end user gave us the wrong number so my men are wandering around an NYC hospital aimlessly. Then, turns out I had the custom Corian countertop made incorrectly. The sink cut out was supposed to be in the center, not the left. Now I have to deal with contractors and end-users to make sure we can move on. We can, for a price. I eat shit for it and try to make the best out of an awful situation.
Quick walk to another job site is fruitless as the space is not ready to be measured. Back to the office, but wait, gotta stop off at furniture dealer to pick up sample. Diverted there a while with job updates, project questions, and other assorted conversations. No food yet as it nears 2pm.
The office is a blur. Must put out several emails detailing the issues at the hospital. Print them and file them away so I can be covered for future fuck ups. I do get around to some new business. 4 quotes pounded out in the span of 20 minutes. That makes me feel somewhat productive. Miss the 2:13 train though. Why the rush?? Dentist appointments at 4pm for myself and daughter. I get the last quote done and race out the door in an effort to get the 2:35. Gotta get train tickets too. Ouch, $99 for 9 tickets. And we will have to buy more before weeks end.
There is one major detriment to the early train: local stops. Great I can get out early, I guess. But over an hour later I am in my town. I race to pick up my daughter. I apologize for not getting her sooner. She complains she is hungry. She doesn't want to go to the dentist. I apologize again and explain no one EVER wants to go to the dentist. We arrive exactly at 4 and spend the next hour getting cleaned and overall good marks. No cavities, but $400 lighter.
Her patience deserves a happy meal. By now she is starving. 12 chicken nuggets later we are home. I leave her home for 10 minutes so I can pick up T from the train. I shovel some leftover macaroni and cheese as I leave. Finally some food. Back home there is some quick studying and then a half assed attempt to make dinner. Fail. Hot dogs and frozen vegetables does not a dinner make. Have no real food though so it will have to do.
But as the dust settles a vibe is felt. And I know that feeling. It is one sentence that puts it all in perspective: "I look at your face and I feel disgusted.". I get that. Just hurts hearing it.
I hate Mondays.
The work day is a big question mark. We have a job installing that has my fingerprints all over it. You guessed it. Big problems. First, our end user gave us the wrong number so my men are wandering around an NYC hospital aimlessly. Then, turns out I had the custom Corian countertop made incorrectly. The sink cut out was supposed to be in the center, not the left. Now I have to deal with contractors and end-users to make sure we can move on. We can, for a price. I eat shit for it and try to make the best out of an awful situation.
Quick walk to another job site is fruitless as the space is not ready to be measured. Back to the office, but wait, gotta stop off at furniture dealer to pick up sample. Diverted there a while with job updates, project questions, and other assorted conversations. No food yet as it nears 2pm.
The office is a blur. Must put out several emails detailing the issues at the hospital. Print them and file them away so I can be covered for future fuck ups. I do get around to some new business. 4 quotes pounded out in the span of 20 minutes. That makes me feel somewhat productive. Miss the 2:13 train though. Why the rush?? Dentist appointments at 4pm for myself and daughter. I get the last quote done and race out the door in an effort to get the 2:35. Gotta get train tickets too. Ouch, $99 for 9 tickets. And we will have to buy more before weeks end.
There is one major detriment to the early train: local stops. Great I can get out early, I guess. But over an hour later I am in my town. I race to pick up my daughter. I apologize for not getting her sooner. She complains she is hungry. She doesn't want to go to the dentist. I apologize again and explain no one EVER wants to go to the dentist. We arrive exactly at 4 and spend the next hour getting cleaned and overall good marks. No cavities, but $400 lighter.
Her patience deserves a happy meal. By now she is starving. 12 chicken nuggets later we are home. I leave her home for 10 minutes so I can pick up T from the train. I shovel some leftover macaroni and cheese as I leave. Finally some food. Back home there is some quick studying and then a half assed attempt to make dinner. Fail. Hot dogs and frozen vegetables does not a dinner make. Have no real food though so it will have to do.
But as the dust settles a vibe is felt. And I know that feeling. It is one sentence that puts it all in perspective: "I look at your face and I feel disgusted.". I get that. Just hurts hearing it.
I hate Mondays.
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