Two days in a row! My fingers are going to cramp or something...
Well, in the seemingly never ending stream of new guys around here (refer to this one for a refresher if you need it) we have a new remora and, while that's not exactly a literal use of the word, I found the imagery made me chuckle. And since, you know, I'm writing it, well I kinda get to choose my literary references.
Wes joined our happy little crew a little over a month ago, and for the most part, he's doing fine. As Shawn did before him, Wes has got all the new guy routines down pat. And let me just say, I really enjoy not having to deal with household drudgery around here. Definitely one of the bonuses to having new guys in on the regular. No vacuuming, mopping, laundry or any of the other daily duties unless I want to and even then only if the new guys are out running calls and unable to fulfill their new *made up word alert* guyly responsibilities.
This is my first day back post NC btw and the fact that it's a Sunday helps ease back in to the routine. On a holiday weekend, no less. Pretty sedate around here and that's ok with me.
One other thing about weekends/holidays around here, we tend to get family or friends stopping by to visit. Like today, when some family members of one of the guys stopped for a visit. A couple of cousins with a toddler and a baby and a grandma stopped in. I didn't realize grandma was here until I walked in to the kitchen and saw her sitting at the table, minding her own business. I said hello and asked her if we could get her something to drink. Meanwhile I was also muttering to myself about what the heck was wrong with these guys that they didn't ask her already.
"Glass of water, coffee what would you like?"
Her reply was something along the lines of "Well, I'll always take a cup of coffee"
The flurry of activity to my side proved to be Wes busily grabbing a cup from the cabinet and pouring Al's grandma a cup of coffee.
A cup of four hour old coffee.
I shot him one of my disapproving fatherly glances (hey, I've got to use what works) and told him to make a fresh pot.
I explained to Al's grandma there would be a slight delay while we made her a fresh pot. When it was finished, Wes poured her a cup and asked if she needed any cream or sugar and she told him she was 90 years old and still drank her coffee black.
As the coffee dilemma was settled, my focus turned back to Wes. This was, after all, a teaching moment, right? I asked what he was thinking when he gave old coffee to our guest. I asked him what was the factor he used to determine who should receive fresh coffee and who could safely be served four hour old coffee. After several minutes of questioning and Wes doing, frankly, a rather poor job of explaining himself, we (I) came to the logical(?) conclusion that apparently 91 is the threshold for fresh coffee.
90 or younger and you get the dregs at the bottom of the pot.
At least at Station #3 on a Gold Shift.
Peace
PS, because, well, you know, as it turns out Wes redeemed himself with a really lovely Oreo (I guess I need to talk to him about his choice of cookies) whipped cream and generally all-around chocolaty dessert.
Again,
Peace
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Saturday, May 28, 2016
Window shopping
I'm back! Did you miss me?
Not here, btw. My muse has been rather noncommittal visiting me lately (gotta blame something, right?) but when I say I'm back, I mean I've returned from my latest road trip.
I took a few days to scout out potential post-career landing spots in North Carolina. Why North Carolina you ask?
Go on, ask. I'll wait...
...
Thanks, it's like this.
If you know me IRL you know how much I loathe winter in northern Illinois. And if you've never heard me whine (yes, whine) about winter weather, count your blessings. Because it's not pretty. Like, at all.
So, several months ago, I started perusing various websites, looking for where I want to retire. And snow birding is out of the question, I don't want to have to deal with two separate properties. I ruled out going west fairly quickly since the offspring and their offspring are going to be here (despite random threats to come with me) for the foreseeable future and the thought of travel of that magnitude was daunting to say the least. Both by drive time and airfare cost, so... I started looking in the southeast. Savannah, GA has been one of my favorite cities for some time, but it's too pricey for my meager public-servant pension so that was out. Also, again, if you know me IRL, you know I tend to lean to the left on most issues. OK, that's a lie. I'm pretty liberal on pretty much every topic you can name. So, due to the overwhelming Red stateness of the south in general, I thought perhaps college towns might boost the odds of finding at least a small enclave of left wingery for me to nestle into. That eliminated a lot, btw. Pretty much tossed out Georgia and South Carolina right off the bat, in fact. Even though both states have many fine institutions of higher learning, they couldn't overcome what I perceived to be blatant right-wing crackerdom.
Is that a word? I don't know, but I like it.
So that led me to North Carolina. And, somehow, I drifted off of college towns. At least to this point. But I did find a few towns that I found... intriguing. I also learned the state has something called "Certified Retirement Communities" that meet certain criteria like access to healthcare, cost of living, climate and other things pleasing to old people. Frequent reruns of Matlock, perhaps. I decided the best way to learn more was to make a road trip.
Before I get in any deeper, let me just apologize to my NC guys, Chuck, Duane and Brad for not reaching out to any of you. I was kind of time limited and wasn't sure I'd have time for even a quick visit even though I was in your fine state. Next time out, I'll organize my time better.
Hopefully.
Don't hold your breath. #imstillmeafterall
That, my friends, is how I ended up in Lumberton, NC. A nice older town, it seems to be at least 90 minutes from anything. I met with a realtor there and she was a delight. Within minutes of sitting down with her, I trusted her completely, it was that clear that she "gets me". A self-described hippie, (at which point I high-fived her) she understood what I was looking for and delivered a really cool older home, that, quite frankly, didn't appeal to me from the curb, but inside was exactly what I was looking for. Including affordable. She had another listing that I had actually already viewed online that I liked even more in person. Another nice factor for the town was that, due to a coming influx of medical students, the rental market was going to take a bump up, which would dovetail into my plans nicely. Driving around the town with Natalie, listening to her stories and descriptions of the town and it's people, I must say I saw some charms to the town. To me, the negative to Lumberton is the distance to more of the things I find appealing. Don't get me wrong, I think the town has gone through some rough times in the past, but I also think it's got a lot of potential for a healthy recovery and could be quite vibrant. I'm not sure of the fit for me personally yet. But I will say one thing unhesitatingly. If you find yourself going to this town and in need of property, go no further than Natalie Lewis, an absolute gem of a human being.
From Lumberton, I moved on to Concord, NC which is suburban Charlotte. As in Lumberton, I had a really nice hotel which was *poor planning alert* about a mile down the road from the Charlotte Motor Speedway which, if you're a racing fan (hint-I'm not) you are aware is the site of a big race this weekend. Something I learned upon exiting the interstate to arrive at my hotel. And getting slapped in the face (figuratively) by homemade banners advertising tickets for sale. Hundreds (literally) of them. You're welcome for the impromptu grammar lesson btw. Quite frankly, I like the towns I checked out in this area more than Lumberton. They had more in common with the Chicago suburbs I've lived in or around most of my life in that their proximity to the city meant there was a lot to do in the area. I talked to two different real estate agents and really wasn't pleased with either of them. For a couple of reasons. I didn't feel a genuine sincerity from either of them and neither really seems to "get me" like Natalie did. (btw, if you read this, can you go up by Charlotte for me?) (Please?)
At this point you're probably thinking "dammit man, how was the FOOD down there?"
Let me explain...
No, there is too much. Let me sum up.
Apologies to Inigo Montoya, but I've been itching to throw that one out there for awhile.
The food was, by and large, ridiculous, and, while I didn't go out for a traditional old-school southern breakfast, I did take full advantage of Carolina barbecue and it was Ah. Mazing. Three different meals all of them killer. Also, special s/o to Havana Carolina Cafe for their spectacular Cuban food. Oh good lord it was good. Like, I kept thinking about the meal for days afterward. Long time eater here and I've never done that before. I seriously wanted them to adopt me.
Couple quick jabs and I think I'm done. I know, right? I've been nice THE WHOLE TIME...
At one of the southern buffets I dined in there was a guy with as deep of a drawl as I've ever heard. Like cartoonishly deep. And, as he was bitching to the hostess about the $13 cost, he uttered an actual "hoooooooeyyyy" I shit you not.
Lastly, one of the gas stations I stopped at, I went in for a bottle of water and found myself (I was easy to find, I know what I look like) fourth in line. As I waited for the line to proceed I overheard from the clerk no less than 15 "baybee" or "doorlin" (my phonetics are probably off but you get the idea) until my turn came.
And she called me "sir".
And I wondered how in the heck she knew I wasn't a local or even a semi-local?
Maybe it was the tie-dyed t-shirt with a peace sign emblazoned across the chest?
As always...
Peace
Not here, btw. My muse has been rather noncommittal visiting me lately (gotta blame something, right?) but when I say I'm back, I mean I've returned from my latest road trip.
I took a few days to scout out potential post-career landing spots in North Carolina. Why North Carolina you ask?
Go on, ask. I'll wait...
...
Thanks, it's like this.
If you know me IRL you know how much I loathe winter in northern Illinois. And if you've never heard me whine (yes, whine) about winter weather, count your blessings. Because it's not pretty. Like, at all.
So, several months ago, I started perusing various websites, looking for where I want to retire. And snow birding is out of the question, I don't want to have to deal with two separate properties. I ruled out going west fairly quickly since the offspring and their offspring are going to be here (despite random threats to come with me) for the foreseeable future and the thought of travel of that magnitude was daunting to say the least. Both by drive time and airfare cost, so... I started looking in the southeast. Savannah, GA has been one of my favorite cities for some time, but it's too pricey for my meager public-servant pension so that was out. Also, again, if you know me IRL, you know I tend to lean to the left on most issues. OK, that's a lie. I'm pretty liberal on pretty much every topic you can name. So, due to the overwhelming Red stateness of the south in general, I thought perhaps college towns might boost the odds of finding at least a small enclave of left wingery for me to nestle into. That eliminated a lot, btw. Pretty much tossed out Georgia and South Carolina right off the bat, in fact. Even though both states have many fine institutions of higher learning, they couldn't overcome what I perceived to be blatant right-wing crackerdom.
Is that a word? I don't know, but I like it.
So that led me to North Carolina. And, somehow, I drifted off of college towns. At least to this point. But I did find a few towns that I found... intriguing. I also learned the state has something called "Certified Retirement Communities" that meet certain criteria like access to healthcare, cost of living, climate and other things pleasing to old people. Frequent reruns of Matlock, perhaps. I decided the best way to learn more was to make a road trip.
Before I get in any deeper, let me just apologize to my NC guys, Chuck, Duane and Brad for not reaching out to any of you. I was kind of time limited and wasn't sure I'd have time for even a quick visit even though I was in your fine state. Next time out, I'll organize my time better.
Hopefully.
Don't hold your breath. #imstillmeafterall
That, my friends, is how I ended up in Lumberton, NC. A nice older town, it seems to be at least 90 minutes from anything. I met with a realtor there and she was a delight. Within minutes of sitting down with her, I trusted her completely, it was that clear that she "gets me". A self-described hippie, (at which point I high-fived her) she understood what I was looking for and delivered a really cool older home, that, quite frankly, didn't appeal to me from the curb, but inside was exactly what I was looking for. Including affordable. She had another listing that I had actually already viewed online that I liked even more in person. Another nice factor for the town was that, due to a coming influx of medical students, the rental market was going to take a bump up, which would dovetail into my plans nicely. Driving around the town with Natalie, listening to her stories and descriptions of the town and it's people, I must say I saw some charms to the town. To me, the negative to Lumberton is the distance to more of the things I find appealing. Don't get me wrong, I think the town has gone through some rough times in the past, but I also think it's got a lot of potential for a healthy recovery and could be quite vibrant. I'm not sure of the fit for me personally yet. But I will say one thing unhesitatingly. If you find yourself going to this town and in need of property, go no further than Natalie Lewis, an absolute gem of a human being.
From Lumberton, I moved on to Concord, NC which is suburban Charlotte. As in Lumberton, I had a really nice hotel which was *poor planning alert* about a mile down the road from the Charlotte Motor Speedway which, if you're a racing fan (hint-I'm not) you are aware is the site of a big race this weekend. Something I learned upon exiting the interstate to arrive at my hotel. And getting slapped in the face (figuratively) by homemade banners advertising tickets for sale. Hundreds (literally) of them. You're welcome for the impromptu grammar lesson btw. Quite frankly, I like the towns I checked out in this area more than Lumberton. They had more in common with the Chicago suburbs I've lived in or around most of my life in that their proximity to the city meant there was a lot to do in the area. I talked to two different real estate agents and really wasn't pleased with either of them. For a couple of reasons. I didn't feel a genuine sincerity from either of them and neither really seems to "get me" like Natalie did. (btw, if you read this, can you go up by Charlotte for me?) (Please?)
At this point you're probably thinking "dammit man, how was the FOOD down there?"
Let me explain...
No, there is too much. Let me sum up.
Apologies to Inigo Montoya, but I've been itching to throw that one out there for awhile.
The food was, by and large, ridiculous, and, while I didn't go out for a traditional old-school southern breakfast, I did take full advantage of Carolina barbecue and it was Ah. Mazing. Three different meals all of them killer. Also, special s/o to Havana Carolina Cafe for their spectacular Cuban food. Oh good lord it was good. Like, I kept thinking about the meal for days afterward. Long time eater here and I've never done that before. I seriously wanted them to adopt me.
Couple quick jabs and I think I'm done. I know, right? I've been nice THE WHOLE TIME...
At one of the southern buffets I dined in there was a guy with as deep of a drawl as I've ever heard. Like cartoonishly deep. And, as he was bitching to the hostess about the $13 cost, he uttered an actual "hoooooooeyyyy" I shit you not.
Lastly, one of the gas stations I stopped at, I went in for a bottle of water and found myself (I was easy to find, I know what I look like) fourth in line. As I waited for the line to proceed I overheard from the clerk no less than 15 "baybee" or "doorlin" (my phonetics are probably off but you get the idea) until my turn came.
And she called me "sir".
And I wondered how in the heck she knew I wasn't a local or even a semi-local?
Maybe it was the tie-dyed t-shirt with a peace sign emblazoned across the chest?
As always...
Peace
Friday, May 13, 2016
The Girls volume III
Well, technically I didn't promise anything, but at this point, I feel like I may as well have...
So here goes. Continuing the theme from this beauty it's time to pay props to another of Caitlin's besties.
Yay Meg!
She's the one that's responsible for the theme actually, since her "Save the Date" note was the trigger.
So blame her.
Kidding!
I haven't yet met Megs significant other, though I've heard a little bit about him, but there's another thing that's really got me jacked up... This is the first time I'll be able to hang with all of the girls in roughly 6,288 years.
Ok, that might be a little bit of an exaggeration. But the truth is it has been a long time. We've tried to get together a couple times over the years, but it's tough. Everyone has a life to lead. Myself included.
What? You thought I just sat around all day long trying to come up with blogworthy topics? Please.
But I digress.
I think, for the most part, we got everyone together for the W5kfC's over the years. There were a few times when one or the other of the girls was out of state, and the occasional college graduation ceremony, but I think for the most part they were all faithful attendees. Of course, those days were kind of hectic for all of us, the girls were all active participants in set up and running the event, so there wasn't a lot of time to catch up. In reality I don't think there'll be much time for catching up at the wedding either, but I suspect we'll be able to chat a little bit. And I'm telling you right now ladies, there better be a photo op for all of us.
Just sayin...
My recollections of Megan when they were kids is this. She wasn't usually the one that was around when mischief found it's way into their circle. Which leads me to believe one of two things...
A.) Megan was the voice of reason (possible) or
B.) Megan was smart enough to stay in the background when sh*t hit the fan (probable) or
C.) Megan was the bus tosser in the group. You know, "I told them this was a bad idea but..."
Ok, that's three things, you don't like it, write your own blog.
I intend to find this out, now that I've openly considered it, I need answers. Besides, the statute of limitations has expired on any of their shenanigans so...
Alright world, it's Laundry Day (Yaay!) so I'm ending this one quickly.
Megs, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I love you and I'm sooo happy for you, can't wait to see you on your wedding day!
Peace.
So here goes. Continuing the theme from this beauty it's time to pay props to another of Caitlin's besties.
Yay Meg!
She's the one that's responsible for the theme actually, since her "Save the Date" note was the trigger.
So blame her.
Kidding!
I haven't yet met Megs significant other, though I've heard a little bit about him, but there's another thing that's really got me jacked up... This is the first time I'll be able to hang with all of the girls in roughly 6,288 years.
Ok, that might be a little bit of an exaggeration. But the truth is it has been a long time. We've tried to get together a couple times over the years, but it's tough. Everyone has a life to lead. Myself included.
What? You thought I just sat around all day long trying to come up with blogworthy topics? Please.
But I digress.
I think, for the most part, we got everyone together for the W5kfC's over the years. There were a few times when one or the other of the girls was out of state, and the occasional college graduation ceremony, but I think for the most part they were all faithful attendees. Of course, those days were kind of hectic for all of us, the girls were all active participants in set up and running the event, so there wasn't a lot of time to catch up. In reality I don't think there'll be much time for catching up at the wedding either, but I suspect we'll be able to chat a little bit. And I'm telling you right now ladies, there better be a photo op for all of us.
Just sayin...
My recollections of Megan when they were kids is this. She wasn't usually the one that was around when mischief found it's way into their circle. Which leads me to believe one of two things...
A.) Megan was the voice of reason (possible) or
B.) Megan was smart enough to stay in the background when sh*t hit the fan (probable) or
C.) Megan was the bus tosser in the group. You know, "I told them this was a bad idea but..."
Ok, that's three things, you don't like it, write your own blog.
I intend to find this out, now that I've openly considered it, I need answers. Besides, the statute of limitations has expired on any of their shenanigans so...
Alright world, it's Laundry Day (Yaay!) so I'm ending this one quickly.
Megs, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I love you and I'm sooo happy for you, can't wait to see you on your wedding day!
Peace.
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