So, how's this for complete randomness?
Last Thursday, I was late getting to work as usual. I was waiting on the subway platform and saw a cute guy standing nearby. [For those of you who know where I live, I would never call it the "subway" in real life. But for anonymity's sake, it's the subway. :P] The first train that showed up was packed to the gills. Normally I would have just jumped on and dealt with it since I was running late, but there was another train about a minute away, so I waited. Sadly, cute guy did not and squished himself onto this train. I was sad. :(
Turns out this was actually in my favor. I jump on the next train, which was blissfully empty, and get off at my stop for work. I start walking to the other side of the platform's stairs to avoid the crush of people disembarking. To my amazement, Facebook guy is RIGHT THERE, waiting for the opposite train. Whaaaaa!
(Okay. Facebook guy is officially "Josh," because "FB guy" could be misconstrued as Fuck Buddy Guy or Ferret Boy Guy or something.)
Yeah. Very random. He stopped and recognized me, so we had a 30 second conversation, because his train was pulling up and he was leaving for the airport. Anyway, as he was getting on the train, he said, "We have to ride together soon," or something to that effect.
Gerhh. That means I have to actually start riding my bike so I don't die on a simple 25 mile ride – that is, if he follows up. I'm also the world's slowest uphill biker, even when I'm in shape, because my knees are shot and I ride with a triple chainring (meaning, itty bitty front gear so my poor knees don't explode). That triple is the reason I have a "no two person bike rides" policy – because most guy road bikers are total spokejocks/triathletes-in-training who treat every ride as if it's a competition, and also have no road manners (aka, not staying on the shoulder, etc.).
On the flip side, guys who bicycle recreationally on hybrid/mountain bikes are scared by my road bike, because I usually go faster/farther than they do, even when I'm riding at my normal, slowish pace. Sounds dumb, but it's happened. So, as silly as it sounds, my policy has some merit. ;) The only person who's an exception to the rule is my dad, and that's only because he's 30+ years older than me and I'm able to keep up with him.
Anyway, it's funny to think that skipping the first train and missing out on the cute guy from my station (who I probably wouldn't have even talked to... or better yet, is married) would time perfectly when I walked off the second train. AND I was wearing my hair down, so I didn't look like my normal, disheveled self with a lopsided ponytail! Strange how these things happen.
Post title song reference: "Take the 'A' Train" - Billy Strayhorn/Duke Ellington orchestra
Monday, February 25, 2013
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
I hope ya don't mind, let me clear my throat
So, the Valentine's party was interesting, to say the least. First off, the open bar was a complete shitshow. I literally stood at the front for 25 minutes before I got my drinks. It was like I was in this black hole of the bar, because the people on both sides of me couldn't get the bartenders' attention, either. I think the problem was that the open bar was a true open bar – for example, you could get a specialty martini with your drink tickets, which meant they were busy making drinks rather than just pouring standard rail drinks and beer.
Secondly, it was at a bar that hosts a bocce league, so the poor bocce ball teams were trying to just get their pitchers of beer in between event folks ordering ridiculously complicated drinks. I was standing next to a really cute bocce ball player for most of my wait time, and unfortunately couldn't even start a conversation, because it would have meant taking eye contact away from the oblivious bartenders. He ended up walking away after 20 minutes, saying, "Sorry... hopefully I'll see you later!" Unfortunately he disappeared by the end of the night. Sad face.
Thirdly, there were more women than men, which doesn't entirely surprise me, but it tended to make other girls unfriendly. I think I got the hairy eyeball from several girls simply for saying, "Excuse me," to walk past their conversation partners. Also, I think the problem with these branded "singles" events is that everyone knows everyone else is available, and therefore everyone has an agenda. That, combined with the male-to-female ratio, meant it was in favor of the dudes, most of whom just wanted to get some booty.
And finally, my #%^@ cold/post-nasal-drip induced cough came roaring back by the end of the night. I had nearly kicked the thing by using a nasal decongestant spray the night before – I made it through Wednesday night without waking up coughing, which was a welcome relief. However, I didn't do the spray before I left the house Thursday, and one tickle-y cough turned into a couple more, and before you know it, I was coughing literally every 30 seconds. It was not attractive.
I guess on paper it looks like the party was a bust, but it actually has me interested in joining a bocce league. Granted, I don't have the slightest clue on how to play bocce, but it doesn't look super hardcore. (Unlike last year's kickball league, which had this one asshole team that played it as a serious competitive sport and ruined it for everyone.)
As far as my cough? Much better after a weekend off, but at this point it's just an annoying post-nasal drip cough -- the cold seems to have finally left my body. Finally!
Post title song reference: "Let Me Clear My Throat" - DJ Kool
Secondly, it was at a bar that hosts a bocce league, so the poor bocce ball teams were trying to just get their pitchers of beer in between event folks ordering ridiculously complicated drinks. I was standing next to a really cute bocce ball player for most of my wait time, and unfortunately couldn't even start a conversation, because it would have meant taking eye contact away from the oblivious bartenders. He ended up walking away after 20 minutes, saying, "Sorry... hopefully I'll see you later!" Unfortunately he disappeared by the end of the night. Sad face.
Thirdly, there were more women than men, which doesn't entirely surprise me, but it tended to make other girls unfriendly. I think I got the hairy eyeball from several girls simply for saying, "Excuse me," to walk past their conversation partners. Also, I think the problem with these branded "singles" events is that everyone knows everyone else is available, and therefore everyone has an agenda. That, combined with the male-to-female ratio, meant it was in favor of the dudes, most of whom just wanted to get some booty.
And finally, my #%^@ cold/post-nasal-drip induced cough came roaring back by the end of the night. I had nearly kicked the thing by using a nasal decongestant spray the night before – I made it through Wednesday night without waking up coughing, which was a welcome relief. However, I didn't do the spray before I left the house Thursday, and one tickle-y cough turned into a couple more, and before you know it, I was coughing literally every 30 seconds. It was not attractive.
I guess on paper it looks like the party was a bust, but it actually has me interested in joining a bocce league. Granted, I don't have the slightest clue on how to play bocce, but it doesn't look super hardcore. (Unlike last year's kickball league, which had this one asshole team that played it as a serious competitive sport and ruined it for everyone.)
As far as my cough? Much better after a weekend off, but at this point it's just an annoying post-nasal drip cough -- the cold seems to have finally left my body. Finally!
Post title song reference: "Let Me Clear My Throat" - DJ Kool
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Another tragic case
Arrrgghh.
Remember Blake from Christmas? Well, he's engaged to the mean girlfriend.
I mean, it's not a huge shock, but at the same time, I get the feeling like he did it in an effort to fix his problems. Sorry dude, but getting married is not going to fix the fact that you hate your job, you hate the city you live in (and she still won't consider relocating so he can get a better job), and you have very few friends as a result of moving across the country to be with said girl who wasn't that into you from the get-go. Also, from the stories I've heard, she's manipulative, greedy, and controlling, and I have a feeling the ensuing Bridezilla is going to be of massive proportions. Poor guy... I really don't think he *really* knows what he's getting himself into.
The other thing that's bothering me is that there's something very unbalanced about all of it. I think nearly all of my FB friends changed their profile photos of themselves with their fiancés (that, or their ring) within a day of being proposed to – and for good reason! You're getting married, you should be sweet and cheesy and romantic about it on FB (much to us grumpy singletons' chagrin). Yet her photo is still of her and her friend in a "biyatch, I'm fabulous" pose.
Then, there's the tweeted Instagram pic of her perfectly manicured left hand (good timing?) with the hashtags "#diamonds #love." I can also thank Twitter for her tweeting, "Finally!" with the announcement. I guess we know what her priorities are... diamonds and a wedding. [Insert McKayla Maroney "Not Impressed" meme here.]
I'm not going to hide the fact that I'm disappointed that I missed out. But at the same time, it sucks just a bit more because she's just not a nice person, and I think I'm generally a nice person. So where's my prince? ;-)
Anyway, I'm headed to an "Anti-Valentine's Day" singles party on Thursday. I actually like Valentine's Day, even though I'm always single on it, because I lurrvve chocolate, and I used to make all my friends little bags of candy and cards every year. Now all my friends are in relationships or married, so I'm going to get off my butt and go have some fun. And then maybe buy some candy at CVS on the way home. ;)
Post title song reference: "Head on Collision" - New Found Glory
Remember Blake from Christmas? Well, he's engaged to the mean girlfriend.
I mean, it's not a huge shock, but at the same time, I get the feeling like he did it in an effort to fix his problems. Sorry dude, but getting married is not going to fix the fact that you hate your job, you hate the city you live in (and she still won't consider relocating so he can get a better job), and you have very few friends as a result of moving across the country to be with said girl who wasn't that into you from the get-go. Also, from the stories I've heard, she's manipulative, greedy, and controlling, and I have a feeling the ensuing Bridezilla is going to be of massive proportions. Poor guy... I really don't think he *really* knows what he's getting himself into.
The other thing that's bothering me is that there's something very unbalanced about all of it. I think nearly all of my FB friends changed their profile photos of themselves with their fiancés (that, or their ring) within a day of being proposed to – and for good reason! You're getting married, you should be sweet and cheesy and romantic about it on FB (much to us grumpy singletons' chagrin). Yet her photo is still of her and her friend in a "biyatch, I'm fabulous" pose.
Then, there's the tweeted Instagram pic of her perfectly manicured left hand (good timing?) with the hashtags "#diamonds #love." I can also thank Twitter for her tweeting, "Finally!" with the announcement. I guess we know what her priorities are... diamonds and a wedding. [Insert McKayla Maroney "Not Impressed" meme here.]
I'm not going to hide the fact that I'm disappointed that I missed out. But at the same time, it sucks just a bit more because she's just not a nice person, and I think I'm generally a nice person. So where's my prince? ;-)
Anyway, I'm headed to an "Anti-Valentine's Day" singles party on Thursday. I actually like Valentine's Day, even though I'm always single on it, because I lurrvve chocolate, and I used to make all my friends little bags of candy and cards every year. Now all my friends are in relationships or married, so I'm going to get off my butt and go have some fun. And then maybe buy some candy at CVS on the way home. ;)
Post title song reference: "Head on Collision" - New Found Glory
Friday, February 8, 2013
I'm waiting for this cough syrup to come down
After last weekend's incredibly bad decision, I am more than content to stay in and veg out on the couch for the next two nights. It's probably a good thing, since I am currently battling some sort of cold/bronchitis brought on by -- get this -- accidentally inhaling a chunk of salsa on Monday. Somehow it managed to bring on a spat of coughing that wouldn't quit, which somehow formed into a cold/bronchitis.
Under orders from my medical genius sister, I went to the doctor and came home with an Advair inhaler and prescription for Albuterol to prevent this thing from evolving into chronic asthmatic bronchitis, which is precisely what happened to me several years ago... not fun.
Anyway, I'm sitting here watching Tron: Legacy on TV, which is actually fascinating to me as I've never seen the original one. And as a computer nerd, I'm catching all these funny computer references in the movie -- such as, the program opponents in the game arena had names like "Cray" (a 1970s supercomputer), the Unix commands Sam (who is DAMN HOT!) types into the basement computer, and Rinzler/Tron makes this funny clicking noise that's supposed to indicate his corrupted data -- much like how a hard drive starts to clunk/click when it fails. Also, as a former orchestra dork, the score is pretty damn good with Daft Punk added.
Annnnd that's about it. Not much else to report. Anyone watch The Americans?
Post title song reference: "Cough Syrup" - Young the Giant
Under orders from my medical genius sister, I went to the doctor and came home with an Advair inhaler and prescription for Albuterol to prevent this thing from evolving into chronic asthmatic bronchitis, which is precisely what happened to me several years ago... not fun.
Anyway, I'm sitting here watching Tron: Legacy on TV, which is actually fascinating to me as I've never seen the original one. And as a computer nerd, I'm catching all these funny computer references in the movie -- such as, the program opponents in the game arena had names like "Cray" (a 1970s supercomputer), the Unix commands Sam (who is DAMN HOT!) types into the basement computer, and Rinzler/Tron makes this funny clicking noise that's supposed to indicate his corrupted data -- much like how a hard drive starts to clunk/click when it fails. Also, as a former orchestra dork, the score is pretty damn good with Daft Punk added.
Annnnd that's about it. Not much else to report. Anyone watch The Americans?
Post title song reference: "Cough Syrup" - Young the Giant
Monday, February 4, 2013
My head feels like I musta' had some fun
Ever have such a bad hangover that you literally spent the entire day in some sort of horizontal position?
Yeah, that was me yesterday. I haven't had one of these horrifically bad mornings-after in a long time, and it sucked.
One of my friends and I went to this fancy black-tie fundraiser party on Saturday night. I've been to this event in years past, so I was excited to go again because they have a great band, open bar, and MINI CUPCAKES. NOMMM. However, I made the huge, huge mistake of drinking too much, too fast (damn you, open bar), because I wasn't feeling the effects right away. I think I had at least four or five mixed drinks (oof), and even worse, I took a shot at the after-party. (Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.) So, by the time I stumbled home, it was 3 AM, and I was so obnoxiously drunk that I went to bed still wearing my long coat and scarf. That's embarrassing. Normally I at least have the coherence to change clothes and take the clean unfolded laundry off my bed.
Needless to say, Sunday was awful. The sinus headache, the nausea, the shakiness just about killed me. I feel like someone ran over me with a truck, backed up, and then ran me over three more times just to make sure I was sufficiently dead. I didn't have any Gatorade (that's usually what helps the most), and I was too nauseous to eat, so I couldn't take any ibuprofen for the headache.
I finally felt about 75% by 11 PM. Unfortunately, I wasn't very tired (thanks to sleeping on and off all day), so I didn't fall asleep until around 2, and today I'm still feeling tired and a little headache-y.
So! Lesson learned, hopefully for the last time. If you don't feel buzzed after a couple of drinks, don't keep drinking. Slow the fuck down when doing open bar, unless you want to waste a full 24 hours of a weekend day recovering. The 'fun' isn't worth it. Gahhh.
Post title song reference: "What Happened?" - Sublime
Yeah, that was me yesterday. I haven't had one of these horrifically bad mornings-after in a long time, and it sucked.
One of my friends and I went to this fancy black-tie fundraiser party on Saturday night. I've been to this event in years past, so I was excited to go again because they have a great band, open bar, and MINI CUPCAKES. NOMMM. However, I made the huge, huge mistake of drinking too much, too fast (damn you, open bar), because I wasn't feeling the effects right away. I think I had at least four or five mixed drinks (oof), and even worse, I took a shot at the after-party. (Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.) So, by the time I stumbled home, it was 3 AM, and I was so obnoxiously drunk that I went to bed still wearing my long coat and scarf. That's embarrassing. Normally I at least have the coherence to change clothes and take the clean unfolded laundry off my bed.
Needless to say, Sunday was awful. The sinus headache, the nausea, the shakiness just about killed me. I feel like someone ran over me with a truck, backed up, and then ran me over three more times just to make sure I was sufficiently dead. I didn't have any Gatorade (that's usually what helps the most), and I was too nauseous to eat, so I couldn't take any ibuprofen for the headache.
I finally felt about 75% by 11 PM. Unfortunately, I wasn't very tired (thanks to sleeping on and off all day), so I didn't fall asleep until around 2, and today I'm still feeling tired and a little headache-y.
So! Lesson learned, hopefully for the last time. If you don't feel buzzed after a couple of drinks, don't keep drinking. Slow the fuck down when doing open bar, unless you want to waste a full 24 hours of a weekend day recovering. The 'fun' isn't worth it. Gahhh.
Post title song reference: "What Happened?" - Sublime
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
No matter who calls, I gotta screen my phone calls
Welp, I did it. I finally managed to fuck up my phone.
It started acting funny two nights ago -- none of the hard press buttons on the front (like "home" and "back" -- essential for navigating an Android) worked, but the slide keyboard was working. I was able to hobble around that way until last night, until the touchscreen stopped working. Okay, I thought. It's one of two things: hardware or software.
I'm about to get really nerdy here. I flashed my phone and reinstalled the ROM (basically wiped the internal memory and reinstalled the OS, in PC terms). That didn't work, so I knew it was hardware-related.
I've already had to disassemble and reassemble this phone at least five times in the six months I've owned it. 1) Replace the flex ribbon cable that connects the keyboard and other buttons to the phone, as it was worn out and every time I'd open the phone's keyboard, the screen would get all weird. 2) Took apart to let dry after I spilled soda all over it. 3) Replace the volume cable when I accidentally snapped it doing #2. 4) Replace the volume cable AGAIN after I snapped the replacement volume cable trying to put it back in. 5) Last night to see what the hell was going wrong.
Anyway, I found out the issue. Somehow the same flex ribbon cable that I replaced barely four months ago managed to tear on the side -- I'm guessing it got misaligned somehow and opening/closing the keyboard wore down the side. ARRRGGGHHH. As a last resort, I put the old flex cable back on (I'd rather have the touchscreen work than just the keyboard) to see if that fixed the issue. It didn't. In fact, the screen wouldn't even turn on.
I seriously considered doing this:
The good news is that I backed up everything yesterday when my hard press keys stopped working, because I knew it might try to self destruct. The bad news is that my new phone won't be here for another couple of days, so I'm back to using my old Nokia that no longer reads the SD card... which means no updated address book, no GPS, no Twitter client, no Solitaire games to play on the bus. #firstworldproblems, ha.
As much as it sucks to spend another $100+ on a new phone, I'm kind of glad to get rid of it. It's had a host of other problems that have required repair, and I think there are only so many times a cell phone can be taken apart before it says, "Dude. No more." (Especially when 5 of those times have been by a clumsy novice like me.)
Moral of the story: don't casually play surgeon on a piece of electronic equipment. :)
Post title song reference: "Spiderwebs" - No Doubt
It started acting funny two nights ago -- none of the hard press buttons on the front (like "home" and "back" -- essential for navigating an Android) worked, but the slide keyboard was working. I was able to hobble around that way until last night, until the touchscreen stopped working. Okay, I thought. It's one of two things: hardware or software.
I'm about to get really nerdy here. I flashed my phone and reinstalled the ROM (basically wiped the internal memory and reinstalled the OS, in PC terms). That didn't work, so I knew it was hardware-related.
I've already had to disassemble and reassemble this phone at least five times in the six months I've owned it. 1) Replace the flex ribbon cable that connects the keyboard and other buttons to the phone, as it was worn out and every time I'd open the phone's keyboard, the screen would get all weird. 2) Took apart to let dry after I spilled soda all over it. 3) Replace the volume cable when I accidentally snapped it doing #2. 4) Replace the volume cable AGAIN after I snapped the replacement volume cable trying to put it back in. 5) Last night to see what the hell was going wrong.
Anyway, I found out the issue. Somehow the same flex ribbon cable that I replaced barely four months ago managed to tear on the side -- I'm guessing it got misaligned somehow and opening/closing the keyboard wore down the side. ARRRGGGHHH. As a last resort, I put the old flex cable back on (I'd rather have the touchscreen work than just the keyboard) to see if that fixed the issue. It didn't. In fact, the screen wouldn't even turn on.
I seriously considered doing this:
The good news is that I backed up everything yesterday when my hard press keys stopped working, because I knew it might try to self destruct. The bad news is that my new phone won't be here for another couple of days, so I'm back to using my old Nokia that no longer reads the SD card... which means no updated address book, no GPS, no Twitter client, no Solitaire games to play on the bus. #firstworldproblems, ha.
As much as it sucks to spend another $100+ on a new phone, I'm kind of glad to get rid of it. It's had a host of other problems that have required repair, and I think there are only so many times a cell phone can be taken apart before it says, "Dude. No more." (Especially when 5 of those times have been by a clumsy novice like me.)
Moral of the story: don't casually play surgeon on a piece of electronic equipment. :)
Post title song reference: "Spiderwebs" - No Doubt
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Growing pains
I'm not sure if this is a sign of aging, or me just being klutzy and forgetful, but I've been randomly finding aches/pain that's cropped out of nowhere. For example, I was getting ready for my walk last night, and I realized my upper arm hurt... like someone had punched me yesterday and I was only just feeling it. It's slightly better today, but I'm wondering what could have caused it.
Today I woke up and noticed my chin had a swollen spot on it, maybe the size of a dime. I've been anxiously applying benzoyl peroxide to it in the event it's a major cyst brewing up to spoil my weekend, because underneath it feels like one. Either that, or I bumped my chin on something and haven't figured out what. (That's happened before... I've hit my forehead on something, found a bump the next day, and immediately applied topical medication to it before I realized it was the aftermath of whacking my head.)
I have noticed that the way I sleep is probably not the best for preventing said aches and pains. Lately I've found myself curling up my hands and arms in weird positions, possibly to keep them warm (bad circulation?), and then I manage to pretzel myself to try and get comfortable. If that's not a sign that I need a new mattress, I don't know what is... but mattresses are mad expensive! Like hundreds of dollars! And apparently you have to haggle with the showroom guys to try and get a good deal. Of all the family traits I inherited from my parents, I didn't get the haggling ability from my father. I did get the cheapness gene from him, though. ;)
Anyway. Back to nervously checking my chin for any signs of possible zit formations...
Today I woke up and noticed my chin had a swollen spot on it, maybe the size of a dime. I've been anxiously applying benzoyl peroxide to it in the event it's a major cyst brewing up to spoil my weekend, because underneath it feels like one. Either that, or I bumped my chin on something and haven't figured out what. (That's happened before... I've hit my forehead on something, found a bump the next day, and immediately applied topical medication to it before I realized it was the aftermath of whacking my head.)
I have noticed that the way I sleep is probably not the best for preventing said aches and pains. Lately I've found myself curling up my hands and arms in weird positions, possibly to keep them warm (bad circulation?), and then I manage to pretzel myself to try and get comfortable. If that's not a sign that I need a new mattress, I don't know what is... but mattresses are mad expensive! Like hundreds of dollars! And apparently you have to haggle with the showroom guys to try and get a good deal. Of all the family traits I inherited from my parents, I didn't get the haggling ability from my father. I did get the cheapness gene from him, though. ;)
Anyway. Back to nervously checking my chin for any signs of possible zit formations...
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