The Daily Slacker

Will Travel Cure the Blues?

2009-02-24T10:58:00.002-06:00

So Orieentation Girl has been harassing me since I haven't posted much lately. That got me thinking about why, and ultimately realizing it probably would do me good.

Really since last summer, there's been a lot of stuff bringing me down. That horrible relationship with The Trucker has some lasting effects you just don't get over. Blogging though was always something fun, and kept me focused on the good things. So here I am, and back at it I go!

I'm Leaving, on a jet plane... or van or bus...

Time to get the hell out of dodge. What better way to kick off having some fun then 3 weekend getaways in 4 weeks?

Trip 1 - Keystone, Colorado.

This trip is an Orientation Girl creation. She and her sister have a ski weekend every year and invited a bunch of people this year. I head out on a Friday night and come back on Monday. There's a totally sweet Condo already rented and I'm sure there will be lots of Skiing, and likely alcohol. Defintiely a good way to kick things off.

Trip 2 - Philadelphia.
After one weekend off I'll be flying toward the other coast and visiting Philly to see the Minnesota Swarm play. Last year I won a trip for 2 to any road game and as scheuling would have it, the only game I can make it to is Philly. Not complaining though, I've never been to philly so I'm looking forward to grabbing a cheesesteak and getting to see the city and what should be an excellent game!

Sounds like it could be an interesting time since the Philly fans can be, well, interesting. Here's hoping the people around me at the game are the good type, and not the condiment and/or hamburger throwing type.

My partner in crime for the trip will be Fern's Girl. She and i have been doing a lot of weekend hanging out. I don't think either of us is looking for anything serious, but we fit well for right now. Busy during the week, looking to enjoy the weekend. Should definitely be a fun trip though!

Trip 3 - Denver, Colorado.

Heading back to Colo, though this time via ground transport and yet again for a Swarm game! Every year a grroup of fans gets together and road trips to a game or two. Since Chicago's team folded up shop, the closest place now is Denver, so off we go!

There will be anywhere from 12-40 of us piling in some sort of vehicle and heading out to CO. Luckily we planned an extra day in there so we don't have to worry too much about the long drive. This game should definitely be fun since Colorado always has a large turnout for their games.

So yeah, a fun bunch of travel for the month! I think i'll have to save some money from the tax return and plan aa big, long trip for later in the year, but the weekend trips are fine and fun for now!

Keep on slackin!

New year, New....?

2009-01-13T17:24:00.002-06:00

So Hi!

It's a new year and stuff eh? *Looks around*

This 2009 stuff looks a lot like 2008. Except, different? it's not really taht new, except it is...?

Hmm, interesting.

So, I basically fell off the planet. Mentally at least. But I'm back. Hopefully here to stay. Hopefully with some hard lessons learned from last year.

Lesson 1:

Stop ignoring the brain and the gut when it comes to those pesky women. I tend to do that hoping things will be better then I know they can be. Yeah the book is not only the cover, but if it still sucks a chapter or two in find a new one. Such was the case with Cute Paramedic, far too many chapters ended badly there. Or in the case of a book being abssolutely terrible by the cover, don't even pick it up. The Trucker was one of those and it truly cost a little peice of myself I won't ever get back.

That said, new year, new girls!

1. One's not totally new: Cute Chiropractor. We went on a couple dates over the summer, but kinda lost track of each other in our general busy-ness. I definitely have a thing for this girl, so I'm trying not to let myself get carried away. She came out with me to a Swarm game saturday and it seemed to go pretty well, chatted a bunch, seemed to feel a decent vibe. I'm the king of reading too far into things, but it seemed like the whole "lean-in" was there during convo's and such.

2. Ferns Girl. I went out with some buddies about two weeks ago and had a couple beers. On the walk home I decided to stop in at a Fabulous Ferns for one last one before calling it a night. I plop down at the bar, grab my one drink and maybe about a third of the way through it this girl sits down next to me. She states taht her friends were having their own convo and i looked bored so she came to say hi. Rock on girly! So we get chatting and she talked about a movie called The Wrestler she wants to see. Since any girl who has the guts to walk up to a guy and deserves at elast a date, I say we should go next weekend. Turns out she's a nice and fun as she seemed the first go round. And it turned out the date that started Friday at 8pm ended Saturday at 3pm. heh. She's not really interested in dating though, so looks like it'll be limited to friends which is ok by me.

3. ER Girl. This one's a bit more of a longshot, but still valid. Unfortunately she's long distance, but she is very pretty, very cool, and a readhead. We're currently talking about getting together some weekend, hopefully it'll work out.

So yeah, more lessons tomorrow.. off to a Wild game!

Stupid Politics.

2008-10-04T14:23:00.002-05:00

So I hate election years. It makes slacking off in from of the TV so painful. So and So will RAISE Taxes and KILL AMERICA. My Opponent HATES PUPPIES!

Seriously people.

Anyway, I did watch the VP debate the other day just to see how it would go for Sarah Palin. She's cute and all but I really don't know much so i wanted to see about the debate. Turns out she really said almost nothing in the debate either. Well, except for the word "Maverick" about 8-bazillion times. Seriously, someone buy her a thesaurus.

I found this floatin' about the interwebs and thought it was quite true and funny:

MSN is ctaching on...

2008-09-22T10:03:00.003-05:00

See, I knew after some promoting, the slacking lifestyel would ctach on. Even such fine news sources as MSN and Career builder and even promoting and giving how-to's on the slacking lifestyle:

The Right Way to Slack Off at Work

I however am having a hard time slacking off. There's work, and school and I've manage to let a cold catch me. It started as the annoying sniffles and is slowly progressing toward "killer cold from hell" mode. Joy.

I expect you all to increase your slacking in my stead. yes yes. Laters all!

Thank You Amazon.

2008-09-10T14:59:00.002-05:00

I'm sure this has been around for a while, but it's new to me. Still, I have to say that you Amazon.com for letting me wave a nice high middle finger at the scam that is College textbooks. No more buying a $150 text book to use for 3 months, then sell back for the bargain price of $15.

No more.

Now, there's this lovely tool called "Look inside." Search for the chapter, find the page with the homework problems, print them out and voila! Textbooks for free!

Ahh, yes, the slacking is good.

Last Blast?

2008-09-08T16:17:00.002-05:00

So yeah, you know it's a crazy weekend when you're looking forward to a busy week of Work and School so you can actually get some rest.

How' this for a weekend:
Puerto Rican Paulie came in to town unexpectedly so Thursday night I ended up going out far too late. Friday was a full day and worked till 9. I opted to not go find the Party Bus Paul and his friends were on and instead attempt to sleep. Unfortunatley I had to get up early on saturday to go to class. Class ended up barely being worth the trip. Went to the Renasiance Festival till it started storming. Went home, changed and went out to a friend's birthday party till 4am. Got up and ten and went out to brunch with Crossword Girl. After taht i went and saw The Twins choke against the Tigers with Hockey Lover (a female friends I forgot to mention. Fun and nice, but not seeing a ton of future). Then met back up with Paulie at Stub and herbs. Apparently Puerto Rico is a tough place to find good, quality, tap beers.

Yeah, get the hardcore slacking in while I can.... heh.

Day 1: Back to School, Free Stuff, New Girl!

2008-09-03T18:00:00.003-05:00

So, today was the first day of class after a 4 year hiatus. Well since I totally bombed that last year we can probably say 5...

Anyway, I forgot how cool being a student at the U is. On one hand you have the co-ed ogling. Such a nice eye pleasing collection of hotness. Too bad winter always comes too fast and they go from the tank tops and short shorts to resembling Michelin Men. Still, enjoyable for now.

On the other there's all the free stuff! Go around one corner: "Here! Have some FREE Skinny Water!" Round another corner: "Hey! Want free beer? Have a coupon for a free round at The Library!" Yes, that's a bar not a book reading institution. Out on the Mall area: "FREE soul saving! Jesus saves!" And of course at Stub and Herbs "You sure you gotta go to work? The next round was going to be on me." Do these people know me or what?

And on a good note from the previous post, Big Mike left some funds on my desk last night. Either he realized how he was screwing me or caught word that I was annoyed. Either way I'm happy that situation has gotten better.

And in Girl-news. Met a new one at Stub and Herb's. I shall dub her Crossword Girl. She's a very good looking brunette server there and just moved to a new place in my old downtown Minneapolis stomping grounds. She made the whole "is she single?" thing easy for me by talking about some dude's letter in "Dr. Date," a section of the campus newspaper. She commented about not having a relationship. Score. The plan is to introduce her to the joy that is Joe's Garage Sunday brunch. Please, Please don't be gay. Anyone taking odds?

Ok, back to slackin. Hope you all are doing well.

Busy Bee / Disappointing "Friends"

2008-09-02T19:35:00.002-05:00

So I had been an insanely busy bee for the last couple weeks. In addition to working a little bit of overtime at the normal job, I also managed to work nights every night of the Minnesota State Fair. So basically it was all work all day from about 9am to 2am. Believe me it was WAY nice to sleep in past noon this weekend.

Turns out I definitely will be needing the extra money from the State Fair. Well, the money that didn't already go to eating tons of fair food.

Big Mike decided to move out. While it was probably inevitable he'd fall into the clutches of his woman, I was hoping it would happen a little more nicely for me. Initially he told me two weeks ago he was looking to move in October. Then, a week ago he kindly informed me he was actually going to move out this weekend. Since the friendly lease I wrote him way back when didn't specify a move-out notice he basically told me he wasn't going to pay for sept. Now the weekend has come and gone, but he still has some stuff at my place and hasn't given back the keys. I don't doubt when I kindly remind him he said he'd be out Sunday and it's now the new month he'll refuse to pay anything. I rented him the place as a friend and now he's taking advantage of it. Disappointing.

On the possible upside, I have a bite for a new roommate on Roommates.com: A very pretty albeit non-single girl. But, where there's one good looker, there's usually friends. She seems friendly as far as one can read into a brief initial email.

On another disappointing note, I think I've completely given up on the idea of being friends with The Trucker. While there are definitely personal also small "co-friend" reasons that I'd like to be a friend to her, it's just not worth it. The more I get to know her the more it seems everything she says tends to be either a lie, or at the least partial BS. That and current actions combined with what she's done in the past are basically insulting. Another highly disappointing situation. I had hope there was a lot more of a good person deep inside her, but quite obviously there's very little.

And now this week marks the first week I'll be going to school again. I'm going back to the U of M to finish my degree in Aerospace Engineering. So yeah, full time work and part time school. Still definitely going to be a busy bee! Wish me luck!

The Art of Milking the Birthday.

2008-08-20T15:21:00.003-05:00

So, in case you hadn't heard, your good Chief here turned a grand old 30 yesterday. Cheers to that! I remember thinking as a kid 30 was old, but now that I'm here I certainly don't feel like thought I would. I did have a hard time getting up this morning, but I think that had a lot more to do with The Ewok (The Roommate's girlfriend's puppy) barking its fluffy little head off.

Anyway, the best part about turning "Old" (Yes Porq, that makes you "ancient") Yes, I say parties because any good slacker knows how to milk a birthday.

I was talking to Cute Chiropractor the other night and she noted in her house you get a two week window for Birthday shenanigans. One week before, the day of, and one week after. I'm liking that guideline. So far, I've taken pretty good advantage of it.

The Birthday stuffs started last Wednesday. That's when I rolled in to Madison to crash at The Parents' before heading out with The Dad to hit up the NASCAR races in Michigan. We got in and chatted a bit and the The Mom handed out the presents for The Dad (His birthday was Saturday). I made off with a bunch of funny boxers and a new golf bag and nice putter as well as getting to go to the races.

Thursday we headed out to Michigan and set up camp. After that we wandered around to say "Hi" to the annual neighbors and meet any new ones. Usually once the impending birthday was mentioned it often turned into free beer or other alcohol.

Friday started as relaxing around the campfire with The Canucks, but quickly turned into and interesting adventure. Some girls from a couple campsites away came over and invited The Canucks and I on and adventure to Boob Town. Our camping area has some limits set up so people can have a lot of fun, but at the same time keeps it fairly family friendly and decent. Not so much for the camp area on the other side of the fence. Just a few things that could be found there: A tent with a dance floor with lights in it, an Octabong (8-person beer bong), a Dong Bong (A, um, phallic shot drinking device) and of course boobs for beads. Interesting it certainly was.

Saturday night was a "surprise" party for me from my dad. He "smuggled" a cake up there and also had a little award ribbon thing that said "30 and still partying" and suckers that said "30 sucks" on the wrapper. I say "surprise" and "smuggled" because he's really not good at either of those and all this was figured out by Thursday night! I found out when we got home Monday there were balloons that were supposed to be part of this too. Oh well, I got a party out of it!

Sunday got some more free beer and birthday greetings amongst the neighbors and Monday was filled with all the driving back from Michigan, but did get a free dinner out of the deal.

Last night (Tuesday), was finally the actual day of my Birthday. I planned to just hang out at the good ol' haunt of Stub and Herb's and invite friends to hang out. Unfortunately of the dozen or so invited only three showed (The Arty Neighbor, Conservative Girl and a long time bar-friend). But we still had fun. Had some shots, got some fun presents from CG. She gave me an "Old Whiner Wine Glass" which is a plastic wine glass with a sippy cup lid, a "Portable Restroom", and a "Shoe Wedge" which is like the face of a golf club you attach to your shoe. hehe. Good times.

Tonight two people who couldn't make it last night (G-Spot and Chef Timmy) are going to take me out for a couple drinks. And I have a date sometime next week with the Cute Chiropractor since she couldn't make it either and is out of town the rest of the week. So yeah, the party keeps rolling! Come on up and celebrate with me already!

Got my vote!

2008-08-06T10:12:00.005-05:00

I'm postponing my review of dating services to being you this special message.

You know, I hate Paris Hilton. Really. However, one thing I hate MUCH more are all the stupid political ads we have to deal with on TV. Previously the only time I've ever liked Paris Hilton is the scene in House of Wax where she gets impaled and dies. This rebuttal to McCain using her as an example in one of his ads, however, gives her one more semi-redeeming appearance.

Paris Hilton Responds to McCain Adfunny videosFunnyOrDie.com

See more funny videos at Funny or Die

The New Girls

2008-08-04T10:31:00.004-05:00

So yeah, I know what you're all REALLY dying to hear about: My crazily screwed up dating life. Right? Oh don't lie.

Well, here they are, the new girls you may here mentioned in the Daily:

Arty Neighbor - We met soon after the improsion of the thing with Miss Intrigue. Medium height, brunette, and quirky yet fun. Went on a few dates and it came fairly apparent we weren't on the same page for dating. She can be a tiny bit clingy, but is a pretty fun person. She lives like 4 blocks away though so we've stayed pretty good friends and I'm sure she'll be around.

The Trucker - She's a fellow Swarm fan, medium height, highlighted dark blonde, and pretty in a somewhat tomboy way. We met through a group of fans and seemed to hit it off pretty well. Like it seems most of the girls I meet do, there was the odd complication of the fact she was still in the process of getting divorced. I'm not sure how, but we went from not wanting anything serious to hanging out every other day. That is until she realized she really never was attracted to me and was lying herself into dating me. It remains to be seen how the friends thing will work out, but for certain reasons I'd definitely like to be.

The CSI - I met her on my first every foray into Speed Dating. She's very pretty, tall and fun. We talked up a storm after meeting at the speed dating thing and seemed to hit it off quite well. Unfortuantely the first date came probably far too soon after a huge personal event. Turns out said event is probably really really bad first date material. I haven't heard much from her since, but I'm not counting this as dead yet.

The Cute Chiropractor - This is a fairly recent addition. Met via Facebook, she's very cute, blonde with gorgeous eyes and quite fun. She's a farm girl studying to be a Chiropractor. We've gone on two dates so far and hopefully more.

There have been several other girls, but either they only made it one date or just really aren't likely to appear in here again. But there's some fodder for you fiends.

In all this I have gotten some good experience with "dating services" for lack of a better term. I think taht will have to be next post... stay tuned!

Ok, Ok. I'm Back.

2008-07-30T16:39:00.004-05:00

So I've thought time and time again over the last few month about how i really need to restart the blog. Problem is thre's been SO much stuff that's happened I had no idea where to start.

Truth is I'm a slacker and instead fo finding the right place to start and giving some epic post. You get the short, short, slackerized version:

Lost a friend, started a new year, got a new 2nd turtle, made a bunch of new Swarm friends, lost my job again, discovered the fun of geocaching, got a new much better job at a company I used to work for, won a trip to any Minnesota Swarm road game, started dating a girl, had a dog for a day and a half, almost had a kid, relationship imloded as per usual, got back on the dating train, have been working a ton.

So yeah, there ya go. You're up to date. Questions? Too bad!

Time to get back to living. And blogging about it of course!

See ya round!

Need a Hug, or Three.

2007-12-18T14:25:00.000-06:00

So, The Chief could really use a hug right about now.

It's supposed to be a time of holiday cheer, but right now that seems a long way off from happening. The stuff with Miss I is ongoing, and likely will be for quite a while. Army Boy broke it off with Conservative Girl, and to top it off, this morning I had to put one of the Slacker Mascots to sleep. Holiday what?

Sometimes I really hate being able to read people. I've always been able to figure people out. Definitely from meeting them, and often just from talking to them or hearing about thier actions. Usually it's a good thing, I can spot the bad apples and befriend the good ones. Sometimes though it really sucks to be right, especially when I'm really hoping I'm not.

Such is the case with both Spott and Army Boy.

When I remet Miss Intrigue at the wedding, I knew about Spott. As our relationship developed and Evolved I was under the impression Spott was accepting of it. MI herself was convinced Spott would be ok. When I visited them though I got a much different read on her. My feelings were that Spott was extremely competitive. Sharing, would be hard if not impossible. Though, the fact that weekend went quite well, and that Miss I reported that Spott trusted me made me hopeful I was wrong. After their visit here though that all came crashing down.

I'm quite sure that my own mistakes only added fuel to the fire, it seems those feelings I got the first time were rather right. It turns out in the wake of the weekend here, Spott made an ultimatum of sorts. "Him or Me" is likely an over simplification of what happened, but going on the sparse information I've gleaned, it's the best summary I can give. Obviously this whole thing came down hard on MI. I've talked with her a little more, but very little about what's happened. Miss I is the only real question mark left. It remains to be seen if i've gotten a good read on her or not. So far she hasn't really ceased to amaze me and I'm hoping that continues...

As for Army Boy: he almost had me convinced I was wrong as well. Sunday he left Conservative Girl heartbroken. As with most break-ups, the reason he left her with didn't make much sense. He wanted someone who was athletic and extremely competitive. She spoke too quietly. They didn't go to church together (even though he's the one who failed to show up to the one they were supposed to try out together). None of it really pointed to any problem, the only explanation is just that he wasn't interested in her.

She was convinced it was something special and had tried so hard with everything. She was always sending him stuff in Iraq, making sure she was always around when he could actually talk with her, doing everything he liked when he came back and more. He promised her a lot, but really just ended up leaving her with none of it. I wanted to be wrong since she was so happy.

Those two were enough to alreayd bring me down, but then this morning I got more bad news. Curly, the smaller of the two Slacker Mascots had to be put to sleep. He had a bad sroe spot on the back of his neck and I had been treating it with a sulfa block reccomended by the Reptile shop. It seemed to be working well and looked like it was healing, then overnight it looked much, much worse. The Vet guessed that the healing area got picked at by the other turtle. He ended up taking the skin and muscle this time too though. There wasn't really anythign they could do except be humane. I'm sure the cute little guy is slackin' away on a fun little rock in some pond out there somewhere. He will be missed.

The whole lot of this just ends up giving me one question. This one can go to Mother Nature and/or doctors. Why, oh why, does your nose have to run when people cry? It's not like having excess fluids running from your eyes is bad enough. Do they really have to run from your nose as well?

Anyway yeah, I'm certianly glad CG and I are still friends. We've gotten to trade shoulders to lean on the past few days. Beyond anything else, that's definitely one thing to be happy about this season.

Hugs all around.

Slack on!

The Not-So-Great Second Date

2007-12-13T13:50:00.000-06:00

So this past weekend, Miss Intrigue and Spott came to the Twin Cities for a visit. I considered tossing an announcement up on the blog, but didn't want to jinx the weekend in hopes it would be as fun a time as my visit out there was!

Unfortunately this was not to be the case.

The ladies rolled into the Twin Cities on Saturday around 2. Due to the fact Miss I works nights and Spott was behind on homework and packing, neither had slept. Miss I was tired yet happy, though Spott had an intensely negative vibe going on.

I gave them a really brief tour of the Twin Cities on the way back to Slacker HQ. We saw the Mall of America, the University of MN campus and a few other things on the way back from the airport. When we arrived home the girls promptly settled in for a nap. I got a hint of my own negative vibe there simply because this girl I totally adore was napping on my futon and all I could do was play Warcraft. Boo to that! I got over it though. Ms. I was here!!

The post nap plan was to find food, and then head out to see a friend of mine, Pandora's, cabaret and burlesque troupe perform. Unfortunately she wouldn't be performing, but we thought it would be fun anyway. MI and I grabbed some quick grub while Spott declined even though she hadn't eaten for most of the day. We watched a good chunk of Superbad then loaded up for the bar the show would be at! We got there early on advice from Pandora, got a nice table and relaxed.

Unfortunately the show didn't get going on time and eventually was about 40 minutes late. This turned out to be a good and a bad thing since Conservative girl and her boyfriend Army Boy were joining us and would be late. On the downside the girls were still tired and sitting around with nothing going on didn't help.

Miss Intrigue and I had some good convo, but most conversation with Spott was met with fairly chilly short responses. When CG and the man arrived the conversation livened up some more, though still mostly with Ms. I and myself. Spott was clearly agitate most of the night and only got talking with AB asked her some direct question that were hard to answer yes or no. Luckily the show was pretty entertaining to keep us all going!

When intermission came however the energy left with the performers. Army Boy had been playing soccer all day and was dead tired, as were the girls so we all headed out. Some of Spott's mood may have been due to the fact her stomach finally wanted attention so we stopped off so she could get a cheese pizza on the way home. The negativity in the air was getting to me so while they were grabbing pizza, I stopped in next door at Stub and Herb's for a quick Whiskey Diet.

When we got home I retreated to the office for a bit to clear my head while while Spott ate pizza and Miss I hung out. At one point MI came in to check on me and was quickly followed by Spott wanting to know where she had gone and why she left the living room. This did not help the negativity. I was determined not to let it get to me though so we all went out and watched the end of Superbad. Miss I said she enjoyed it, Spott thought it lived up to it's name. After that sleep was in order.

I unfortunately slept incredibly poorly and was up by about 6am. Once everyone got up we decided the goals for the day would be to stop by the Spoon Bridge with Cherry at the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden and also visit the Mall of America.

We stopped by the Spoon and Cherry so Miss Intrigue could get a picture. Spott didn't get the concept of taking a picture of something you've seen tons of pictures fo, but it was fun anyway albeit very cold.

Next was the MoA, which upon entering we found out we could be part of "The World's Largest Christmas Carol" by joining in a promotion for the Alvin and the Chipmunks movie. We wandered the Mall and eventually met up for the event. We joined in a huge group of people in singing the Chipmunks Carol and supposedly broke the world record for largest carol. So, Miss I, Spott and yours truly are supposedly now in the record books! The only downside to this may have been that it delayed lunch, and other plans for the day and may have inadvertently added to lingering negativity. We hit up the Rainforest Cafe and then did some shopping to round out the MoA trip.

The ride home was very quiet. The lingering negativity and probably some of the tired in the car seemed to keep everyone's mouths glued shut. Since the girls were tired it was decided to be nap time again so they crashed on the futon. My own negativity had started to get the better of me at that point too due to the weekend seemingly having a cloud over it the whole time, so I went and played some WoW to distract myself. By the time it was time to wake up my head had cleared a good bit.

Miss I had asked me to wake her up at 7:30 so I did. Since I know I had some negative vibes here and there I wanted to chat with her and apologize and hopefully get the weekend finished on a good note. Unfortunately, this is where Date Dos imploded.

Miss Intrigue and I went into my room and shut the door. We sat down on the bed and started talking. By talking I mean just that, good conversation, not this "talking" some of you silly kids call your shenanigans. A couple minutes later MI gets a text message from Spott, wanting to know why we shut the door. MI replied so we could talk. Spott didn't get why we had to shut the door. MI asked if Spott didn't trust her and the reply was that she didn't trust me. The messages spiraled downward from there to the point where Spott said she was leaving, grabbed her coat and headed out my back door. The next couple hours would definitely not hit the highlight reel.

MI got Spott to come back inside after some conversing. I let them talk and stayed out of the way in my room. It turns out the trust Spott had in me after The First Date had completely disappeared. Her reasoning is because of two pretty nasty screw ups on my part: Telling MI's Ma about and incident her MI and S had, leading to a week of garbage, and the Thursday night of the Packers-Cowboys game where I apparently had a drink or three to many and was, in short, a jackass and acted exceptionally uncharacteristically. There was also talk of hating bars and thinking anyone who went to them was a waste of time, and how she was upset MI didn't hold her hand whenever Spott offered it the previous night. There was much other talk, not a lot of it all that great.

Once things calmed down. Miss I put on a movie for Spott and her and I headed to the office to partake in illicit, err umm totally legal in every way, file transferring. These files may or may not have been of a musical nature. It was good to get a little alone time even if it was platonic. We did talk a bit and I was able to say some of the things I had hoped to say before the blow-up, but not nearly enough. After MI got all the mu, err, legal files, she wanted. We talked a bit and then she convinced me to come out and join in the movie watching. We tossed in The Avengers which MI managed to see about a total of 40 minutes of when she wasn't visiting sleepville.

The next morning came far to fast and I had to take them to the airport far to early. The flights were decent and they made it home safe.

Definitely not a superb weekend. I was most definitely happy to see Miss I, but the weekend went far far far from planned. Our feelings and chemistry definitely were there, but it seemed like a cloud was just determined to rain on the entire weekend.

The rain didn't stop there either. The next day I checked my email. It contained a message from Spott. She stated if I went out to NY again I should plan on a hotel because I was no longer welcome in her home, and that I should never talk to her again. Obviously this concerned and saddened me.

One, I've always done my best to go out of my way to be kind and inclusive of Spott. I've gone to the extent of totally reigning in my typical self around her to be sure not to offend. I know I made mistakes with MI, but made sure not to do anything offensive directly to Spott. Even to the fact that I let it go after she completely blew away any respect for my privacy in my own home.

I know the whole situation has upset Miss Intrigue as well. We've only talked in short spurts since they got back. We seem to be able to touch each other's feelings and what was stress, is now just stuck in numb. This pains me because it's someone i deeply care about, but I can't do much to help. My normal reaction would be to push and try my best to cheer her up but I'm not sure that can work in this situation. Another typical reaction would be to email Spott back and try to iron things out, but I'm afraid of that backfiring and not helping the situation either. I think all I can do is give some space and hope things work out. We all know my brain is not a happy camper doing that. I'm a fixer, and I hope this whole thing can be fixed, but i guess only time will tell.

So yeah, the second date was definitely not great. Though, I guess at the least, it was one for the record books.

Yeah, it Sucked...

2007-12-06T09:49:00.000-06:00

So yeah, that drive home was all sorts of horrible. Here's a shot of outside just before I left:

What you can't see very clearly is the snow falling sideways. And not small flakes either.

So, I hopped in the car, fired up my fun little GPS thing and kindly asked the nice Australian women inside it to find me a route home that avoids traffic. He kind, lightly accented voice replied back: "Eh, you're screwed." And then showed me this picture:

If you hadn't guessed, red is bad. The pink line is the route Nuvi plotted for me. It ended up completely avoiding highways all together. Every time I crossed one I was quite glad for this because the traffic wasn't moving... at. all.

In all, it took me about two and a half hours to make it the 26 miles home from work. Not a fun drive in any way shape or form other than I actually MADE it home. I sent a text message to a friends when I got home as well: "Thank every god that will listen and maybe even Tom Cruise, I'm home."

The great part is we're expected to get another 3 inches of snow this after noon. I'm so packing a meal for this one...

**EDIT - So, just in case my tale doesn't give you a big enough picture as to how insane that ratffic and snow fall made people, how about an Attempted Plowjacking. heh.**

This is Gonna Suck...

2007-12-04T15:15:00.000-06:00

So, you know your drive home is going to be incredibly bad when you look outside and see heavy snow coming down basically sideways.

Then, logically you check the weather online to find out how long it's going to last and see this:

Oh look! The pretty darker blue stuff is still heading toward us! Pretty Dark blue is good right? What? Oh crap. Wait. That's bad. *cry*

If you don't hear from me again soon, send out search parties to the snow filled ditches around the cities.

Around the Earth 8 Times!

2007-11-27T13:54:00.000-06:00

A big congratulations to Ally for reaching a pretty big milestone!

Who's Ally you ask? Well, she's none other than my trusty little 1995 Nissan Altima! She's definitely showing some signs of age, a few rusty spots, certainly has her fair share of squeaks and rattles and various lights that shouldn't come on do from time to time, while ones that should don't anymore. Yet, she still keeps on chugging, still gets about 30mpg and can still even top out the speedo if asked. Err.. Umm... Hypothetically, on a closed course and definitely not ever on the interstate, EVER! Yeah!!

What was that? What makes Ally a she? Well, SINCE you ask... Well, she's got a nice cute roundish shape, can be pretty sassy, she gets really grumpy in hot or cold, and well, she does wear a bra! I mean no guy would be caught dead with a "bro," ya know?

So yeah, the important milestone? Ally hit the big 200k!

I realized I was coming close to hitting the big rollover a little while before Thanksgiving. Since the first owner of Ally was none other than The Mom, I decided I needed to budget my miles for the week so hopefully I could roll the big 200k while visiting the parental units in Madison. The budgeting was a great success and I rolled into Mad town at 199993 miles.

After much turkey eating The Mom and I set out on a 7 mile drive. (Anybody else get the Gilligan's theme song shoot through their head there? Anyway...) We headed off down one of the major streets in the area, hit the end and started a loop back when the Odometer got all niney...

Once we hit the main road again, we started back home and just about when Ally was getting set to turn a lot of nines into a lot of zeroes, we passed a local pub and grill. Deciding it had to be fate to have a celebratory drink, I took the next turn, did a Uey, (I'd never actually thought of the spelling of that word until now...) and just as we pulled into the purveyor of adult beverages:

Bam! Two Hundred THOUSAND big fatty miles. And still going strong! Assuming they ever pave the equator, that's far enough to circle the globe 8 times! Go Ally go!

Now, here's hoping she survives till I'm done digging out of the unemployment induced debt!

Congrats Ally! Carry on...

Gobble Gobble

2007-11-22T07:24:00.000-06:00

Happy Turkey Day All!

Go ahead and take a break from avoiding the zombies to have some fun with your family! Have a good one!

The End is Near!!!

2007-11-20T15:10:00.000-06:00

So, today it was announced there's been a new discovery in genetic research in regards to Stem Cells.

You can here about it here on CNN.

According to this discovery, instead of making stem cells by taking an egg and injecting it with the guts of another cell, they use a virus to screw with the DNA of a standard cell. The virus injects the cell with gene segments that then cause it to start acting almost identically to a stem cell: being able to divide and make new cells of different types.

Hold the presses! I've heard this before!!! Could it be? Could so many of those stories, movies, and video games be right? About what you ask? ZOMBIES!!!

There are many to choose from, but I'll stick to Resident Evil for the sake of, wait no, no reason, I'm just a slacker. Duh!

Anyway, the Resident Evil series may not be at the top end of the spectrum when it comes to Zombie flicks, but they are decent. The reason I'm using them is simply due to the science they present in the storyline.

In Resident Evil, the root cause of the zombie epidemic stems from the "T-Virus." In living humans it could cause rapid cellular growth and also possibly restore damaged cells. Some results of that could be regenerating the damaged nerve cells of a paralyzed person enabling them to walk again or to correct damage to an injured organ. This is the same type of thing they hope to be able to solve using stem cell research.

The problem in Resident Evil is that outside of a lab setting, the effects of the virus could not be controlled. In living people and animals, the virus could cause mutations that turned them into monsters. The "T-Virus" worked so well that it was even able to reanimate dead cells turning dead people into zombies. As well all know, all zombies want to do is kill regular people and are thusly BAD.

According to that article, scientists have just created what could be the predecessor to a real life "T-Virus." What's worse is that it actually worked, and they even admit that outside of a lab setting, at the very least, it would likely cause cancer.

So yeah, pardon me while I go stock up on supplies and weapons for the impending apocalypse. On second thought, I suddenly have craving... for... BRAAAAAAAAAAAAAINSSSSS!!!!!!!!!!

Not Santa Too!!

2007-11-15T16:44:00.000-06:00

First it was hugs... now SANTA???

Honestly, if women walk by a sign during the holidays and think they're being called out... They have a lot worse issues than just being slutty.

I'm telling ya, thought-crimes are right around the corner...

Down With Policies! Hugs For ALL!

2007-11-14T13:07:00.000-06:00

Policy making has run amok, plain and simple.

Today, while looking through my company’s Policies and Procedures area I came across this:

Company Policies:
-0001 Policy for Policies

I’m going to take a wild guess and say that policy was developed after someone made a meeting to set a meeting to discuss a meeting. Just maybe.

Later I found this article on Time.com via CNN.

Banning hugs???? What the heck has this world come to?

Now, I’m a firm believer that wars could be averted if people could just learn to hug more. We need MORE hugging, not less. This is the most ridiculous school policy I’ve heard of since that one school in Iowa banned mystery meat.

This isn’t an isolated thing either! According to the article it’s spreading. Some schools have even gone to the extreme and disallowed all contact between students! No hugs, no high fives, no nurples, no grundies, not even a pinky shake to seal a deal.

It’s just plain wrong. We want to train our children that affection is wrong and should be punished? Where is the basis in this? Oh, wait, it’s for “traffic control.” Like anyone really wants to get to third period ancient world history anyway! And if they do, they probably need a hug worse than anyone.

Really what comes next after that? Suspending kids for thought-crimes? All hail Big Brother! 2+2=5!

This out of control policy making must be stopped. Let the kids show their friendship. Let them learn to express affection! Let them have their rights of passage! There are enough parents that screw up kids to the point they don’t know how to love. Let’s not train them to be that way in school too!

I say we stage mass Hug-Ins across the country! Who’s with me? HUGS FOR ALL!

Fun With Facial Hair

2007-11-01T16:49:00.001-05:00

Warm Fuzzies

2007-10-30T14:56:00.000-05:00

I'm feeling a little of the happy today and feel like sharing. So yeah. Deal with it.

First off, tell me this picture isn't adorable albeit tiny:

Also, a great quote:

"I love you. Like a child loves rainbows."

Makes you think a little, but smile while you're thinking doesn't it?

Anyway, I have the "Fun with Facial Hair" Post FINALLY done. I'll post it tomorrow.

The First Date

2007-10-24T14:19:00.000-05:00

So, I know I've been talking about the "Fun with Facial Hair" post for like two weeks now, but right now I have a much more fun post to bring you slackers.

What could be more fun? Well, me getting to spend a weekend with Miss Intrigue!

First off, The Mom, if you're reading. The ticket was cheap, I'll save you the obligatory motherly lecture and agree with any and all consternation now. /hug

So yeah, the weekend!

As I mentioned in her intro, I met Miss Intrigue at a mutual friend's wedding just over a month ago. Since then, I'm not sure there's been a day since we exchanged at minimum one email, text message or phone call. The communication has been great! Especially if you ask our cell phone companies.

We decided that chit chat was great, but we wanted to hang out. So, we did! I searched around, used a few Flyer Miles and got together some plane tickets to get me out to visit her and her girlfriend. I flew out to Buffalo, NY and then we headed to Niagara Falls this past Friday. We spent about half the day strolling about the Falls on Saturday then worked our way back to the Rochester area visiting a few friends and places on the way. We hung around various parts of the Rochester Area until Monday afternoon when I came back home.

The flight over went as well as can be expected when travelling through Chicago. By that I mean any less than an hour delay in your flight is awesome. I managed to get on a slightly earlier flight in to Buffalo and met up with Ms. I and her girlfriend Spott about 11pm. We found some food at a place called Ming's where they apparently think a whiskey diet means adding water to the whiskey. After that we found the hotel and settled in. We chit chatted for a while and at one point Ms I and I had a little adventure finding ice. During the trip, while innocent, we definitely found the chemistry we thought we'd have was most definitely there.

On Saturday, we got up and found some breakfast then headed out to see Niagara Falls. I have to say I was most definitely amazed. Nature can do some phenomenal things and that's most certainly one of them. I did take a bunch of pictures and will toss them up on the AV Edition. Even with the amazing energy of the falls, there were other major vibes in the air: The chemistry of Intrigue and me, and also the odd feelings in the air with Spott and Me. I don't think there's much denying it'll always be a strange situation when a guy and girl who have an absurdly good connection and a high amount of mutual interest are in the presence of even the most accepting of significant others. Luckily we fared very well for the weekend!

After strolling around the Falls for a while we headed out and started to make our way toward the Rochester area. We stopped off so the girls could meet up for a rescheduled chiropractor appointment and then had some lunch. At Fuddruckers it was decided we'd have to sit in a booth so, in the words of Ms. I, she could "molest my leg at will..." Yeah, it's that kind of chemistry. :O)

After lunch we did a little shopping and then met up with MI's friend Genessa. MI may have found a prospective new computer and I got to meet the girl who has apparently dubbed me "Man Candy." For this I shall have to find some sort of retribution. Though that tends to take too much effort, so... meh. ;O)

The rest of the weekend kind of blurs together due to lack of sleep, doing lots of stuff in little time, and well, hormonal type chemicals clouding the brain. This being the case I'll hit the highlights!

Spott and I got to chat quite a good bit and got to know each other better. We're both fans of World of Warcraft so we had fun showing off our characters and chatting about that. In all it was a pretty big relief that we got along quite well.

At one point we went bowling, Miss I kicked my butt the first two games, but I managed to come back and even the score with the last two games :O)We did a little more shopping, picked up some Eddie Izzard on DVD and headed back home.

One of the major highlights to the weekend we'll call the non-nap. Miss I and I fully intended for it to be a nap... but yeah, that really didn't happen... at all. It ended up being rather amazing, and not just due to it being privy to our first kiss. While not going as far as you pervs are probably thinking, it definitely showed our chemistry was most certainly not imagined.

While watching Eddie Izzard we dug into some super tasty pizza from Taste of Napa, a tiny little pizza joint that puts out some great woodfire pizza. Gotta love Eddie Izzard "Cake or Death? 'uhh cake please' Sorry, we're fresh out, we only had three bits and didn't expect such a rush!" After Eddie we tossed in The Fifth Element, but that was eventually cut short by Miss I when she decided it was time to cut out the nervous tension with Spott and I.

The resulting agreement ended up with Miss Intrigue and I getting some time to ourselves. The chemistry went off the charts and I'm sure if there had been thermometers around they would have died explosive deaths. That time, I think I can only describe as fantastically ferally fun. I'll leave the rest to your imaginations ;O) Monday morning proved said chemistry was not a one time deal though...

In all the weekend was very much fun. I was very glad to have met Spott and gotten to know her. The best part of the weekend may have come at the end when I found out Spott not only liked me, but trusted me with Miss Intrigue which is a pretty huge deal. You will most definitely be hearing more about Miss Intrigue in the future...

As for Miss I herself, I was plainly amazed by us together over the weekend. You may not know this about the Chief, but I'm a big believer in energies of nature. Miss I and not only have an incredible chemistry down to the most basic, but we seem to connect levels well beyond just mentally. Getting to spend some time together was simply amazing. I can't think back to a time looked forward to seeing where things would go more.

Anyway, here's what I'm sure you're all waiting for! Pictures!

Miss Intrigue and I:

Spott, Miss Intrigue and I:

The next plan of action is to start finding a time that her and Spott can come visit the Cities, and that hopefully comes soon!

Good to Know...

2007-10-24T11:13:00.000-05:00

So, this is a good thing to know... now hopefully it can keep paying off :O)

The post on The First Date is almost done. I'll toss it up later today!

You Have Fantastic Karma

You are a kind, sensitive, and giving person.
And all your good deeds will pay off - if they haven't already.
But you're not so concerned with what you get in return anyway.
You have an innate caring nature - and nothing can change that!

How's Your Karma?

Teaser: The First Date

2007-10-23T16:41:00.000-05:00

So, you know incredible girl I've been telling you about? Yes, I mean Miss Intrigue. Well, we got together this past weekend!

We spent the better part of three days together doing various things like visting Niagara Falls, bowling, watching Eddie Izzard, and meeting her girlfriend.

Interested? Well good, I have a post coming soon about it so be sure to check back. I jsut couldn't wait till it was finished to post about it. So yeah. You have been teased ;o)

101 BABY!

2007-10-16T13:31:00.000-05:00

So as reported last week, Orientation Girl and I met up last week. On Friday we completed something momentous!

Yes, that's right, we completed Stub and Herb's 101 Shots and Shooters list!

It may have taken us a few years, but we did. All the good ones, all the bad ones, everything! From the Prairie Fire, to the Rocket Fuel, to the ever tasty Undercurrent. We started Thursday night with the tab shown before. On Friday, we had two left.

To hopefully get the worst out of the way first, we did the last named shot: Three Wise Men. Luckily this was made right with Jim Beam, Jack Daniels and Johnny Walker. All that left was the "Blind Date" which basically meant we do whatever the bartender makes us.

We gathered the troops and ordered up 11 Blind Dates. It was indeed epic. So epic even, we had our picture taken by the City Pages. We might make it in the paper! Unfortunately for us however, the bartenders switched over. Why unfortuante you may ask? Well, the bartender who served up the Blind Dates had no idea we had jsut done Three Wise Men and poured us all another one. OG made the rule we could not influence the shot in any way and take what we got so we did. Here's the epicness in action.

And of course we had to celebrate with the traditional Undercurrent done in the traditional way...

---Picture Coming Soon---

Congrats to us! Proving yet again how big of slackers we are. You rule OG!

And with that I leave you with some other pictures from the EPIC completion of the shot list!

The whole crew on Thursday night. This should be somewhere in the middle of that fat little tab I posted last week.

Orientation Girl and me.

OG and The List!

Me and OG jointly marking off EPIC number 101!!

History in the Making

2007-10-12T15:28:00.000-05:00

So tonight Orientation Girl and I will make some Stub and Herb's history! She's back in town and after last night's debauchery, we're down to TWO measly shots. Yes, only two!

As you can see from the tab last night, She, some cohorts from her company and I took some good advantage of her companies recruiting funds. And we were actually taking it easy! :O)

If you look closely on the tab, you'll see we took out the Black Widow (Jag, Vodka), The Godfather (Scotch, Amaretto), Sassy Pants (Limon, S&S, Sprite, grenadine) and Packin punch (Malibu, melon, 151, sprit, Pineapple) and then the traditional Undercurrent as well.

That leaves us with ONLY Three Wise Men and the Blind Date. The latter is actually "Bartender's Suprise" so who knows what it will really be. Since it's in celebration of doing 101 shots, it better not be nasty!

OG managed to fanagle a t-shirt out of the owner and he also have us Club seats to the Icebreaker Hockey Tournament hosted by the Minnesota Gophers. Go Go rich people seats! Yeah!

Anyway, I'm off to the game, and then off to finish the shot list after. I'll post pictures of our history making feat later this weekend!

Later all!

Travesty!

2007-10-10T15:38:00.000-05:00

So Ms. Intrigue and I were talking the other day decided sometimes mankind goes wholy awry and creaty something that just shouldn't be.

Yeah, there are lots of things that come to mind after that comment. So many things that might have seemed good at the time but really, really, never should have been made. No, I'm not talking about Britney Spears. Nor am I talking about the four cylinder Ford Mustangs of the 80's. Coming close might be Non-Alcoholic Beer, but yet this is worse.

Really, the one inexplicable creation has to be Decaffinated Coffee.

Why?

Really the only good use I can possibly see is sabotage. Switch out the high test stuff and watch Corporate America fall asleep. Hell, if we ever went to war with India we could probably crush their outsourcing economy in one fell swoop. It's no secret us tech-nerd cubicle dwellers and caffeine are neigh inseperable.

When I perfect my time machines I shall have to find the creator of this travesty of nature and smack him silly.

Yes, yes I shall.

Now i'm off to do something with this facial hair of mine... stay tuned for "Fun with Facial Hair!" and possibly vote on my new face! ;O)

Out of Time... in a Good Way!

2007-10-05T14:48:00.000-05:00

So, the wonderful Miss Intrigue and I have run outselves into a dilemma: Not enough time. Finding time amongst our differing schedules is one thing, but the actual problem we've cause is talk time. Yes, that talk time. Somewhere some cell phone exec is giggling in glee at the prospect of what our bills will be come the end of the cycle. Obviously things have still bee interesting with Ms. I and me. I'm not sure I've actually had any friendship or any relationship for taht matter where we've talked so much. It's definitely been fun!

Our habit of spending a decent chunk of the time we're both actually awake in communication has begun to add up. Since she works nights and I work days our typical routine had been to have phone calls at night and in the morning with a hefty serving of text messaging in the off times. At night she'd be on her way to work and in the morning I was going to and she was coming from. Car rides make for a good time to have a call since they're effectively dead time in the day. Texting was perfect for the rest since we'd usually have other things going on: Work for me and usually her spending some QT with her girlfriend. TMs are perfect for leaving a quick, fun or flirty or interesting message you can respond to anytime. Unfortunately they add up far too quick, especially when they're as enjoyable as they seem to be with us.

At last check I had exceeded my plan's alotted text messages by a measly 437. I added on 400 more text messages to my plan, but not before the overage so that will suck. Ms. I had surpassed hers by somewhere in the 300's. Luckily we've been a bit more proactive on the actual talk time minutes and I think we both have enough of those left to make it through the rest of each of our billing cycles... barely. hehe.

Lately we've been doing a lot more emailing when possible, usually after she gets home from work in the morning and I'm jsut starting work. If we're both home we can pop online and IM, possibly firing up the webcams to make silly face at each other.

Tomorrow morning we're planning a little online date. Right now the plan is for me to trounce her in a game of Literati and then who knows.

So yeah, I'll ask you slackers out there for a few ideas. First, and this goes out to those of you who've been in any type of relationship, what are good ways you've kept in toch with that friend or significant other that were fun, but didn't crimp the pocketbook? Also, what are some fun things you've done with someone over a distance beyond the typical chatting or playing games?

"Premium" Lies

2007-10-02T13:28:00.000-05:00

As per most mornings, today when I got to work, I wandered my groggy, morning hating self to the break room here at The Job and poured some coffee. Now, black coffee is good on of those mornings when I need a liquid slap to the face, but my normal coffe contains a mixture of about 1/4 Coffemate French Vanilla Creamer (Or sometimes Hazelnut, they spoil us on creamers here), 1/8 Sugar and 5/8 Coffee. Now before you damn coffee nazi's get on my case, we have good creamers, but the coffee is, well, not. Like cheap vodka, mixers are a must.

Anyway, this concotion requires mixing since the chief is not a fan of reaching the last sip and getting a slurry of creamer-like sludge. So, I grab one of the cheap flimsy little coffee straws. Today though I took the time to read the box. "Brew Rite Plastic Stirrers: Premium Quality Coffee Stirrers." Premium? The damn thing nearly melted in my fresh coffee! Seriously, it was like stirring with a wet noodle.

So first, like any good nerd, I had to double check the relevant definitions of the word "premium:"

-Above the nominal or par value of a thing.
-Of exceptional quality or greater value than others of its kind; superior.

So, by definition then, this stirrer is supposed to be above par and greater value for its type. Really? What are "standard" stirrers like? Dental floss? Or maybe in the package of standard stirrers there really isn't anything except instructions: 1. Insert finger 2. Stir. I pity the people going to coffee shops that purchace the low end ones that are bringing this "par" down.

There needs to be some regulation here. I mean, in the food industry in order for a food to be able to have the words "light" or "lower fat" it must have at least 1/3 less calories or fat than a stardard version. How can the anal retentive person who made that law let this pass? Clearly they're not a coffee drinker or Starbucks would have been pummeled to death long ago. Then again, they would just make up words to skate this law. Large? No that's actually small, Vente, my friend, VENTE!

I would petition my legislature, but that would actually take real effort. No, instead I shall just sit here, mixing my coffee with a wet noodle, and claim everything I do or make is premium regardless of actual quality. That's the Premium Quality Slacker way.

Help: Cube Warfare

2007-09-27T13:08:00.000-05:00

I, Chief Slacker, am in need of your help. Here at work I am soon going to be moved out of my team's neat little project room, and smack into the middle of a cubicle farm. Yes, it's a horrible tragedy I know, but it can be remedied!

How you ask? By accessorising!

While I am starting to feel like Melvin and that I should be getting a red Swingline Stapler since I've been moved 3 times in under 3 months, that time is over. In my chats with Miss Intrigue she pointed out I need fun in my cube. I decided it's time to make my cubicle a fun destination. I had some fun accessories before, like my 14" Marvin the Martian resin statue, my Lava Lamp and even some fun little halogen accent lights, but it's time to step it up a notch.

What I need from you fellow slackers are some ideas. I need your help in making my cubicle the Coolest Cubicle in the Company. Yes, alliteration is always awesome, now pay attention here, we have slacking to do! It's the duty of a good slacker to have a fun cube. I shall need toys and other neat things to entertain and distract.

So, HOP TO IT! lets hear some fun slackerly ideas you've done with your cube, or have seen done in others. Tell me of awesomely fun gadgets I can install!

I must build on my Martiany, Lavay goodness! I am thinking though the start to any good Cube is it's defenses. Since the Coolest Cube in the Company will no doubt attract jealousy, it must be well defended in case of any envy attack. I believe for my first line of defense I shall install a Laser Guided Missile system. That should hold them off while I formulate my plan to become king of the cube farm.

Time to take cubicle slacking to the next level... let's hear some ideas!

Miss Intrigue

2007-09-25T12:09:00.000-05:00

So yeah, I really need to post more often. Odds are this one is going to get fairly long again since I had a nice, fun, busy weekend. The definite highlight of the weekend was making a new friend, who happens to be a very fun cute girl. Of course, the best will be saved for last.

Anyway the weekend started a little early with a visit from the True OG herself, Orientation Girl. She was in town again doing some recruiting and as per usual we hit up Stub and Herbs and worked off a little bit more of the shot list. To start, we had a Prairie Fire. Name sounds bad eh? Yeah well, the ingredients suck ass too. Tequila + Tobasco Sauce = Torture in a shot glass. We eventually finished off 4 more shots from the list effectively bringing us into single digits left. For those of you keeping track, of the 101 shots on the list, we now have ONLY 6 left. I can't wait till OG comes back to town on Oct 12th so we can finish off the last 6. We're so making Stub's give us shirts, or lovins, or something. Yeah. Six years of slacking finally coming to an end... It shall be fun!!

So Friday rolled around and I found out a friend of mine for years back was in town getting married. they're keeping it a small affair, since it was being held in a garden area of the Como Conservatory. At the last minute G-Spot calls and tells me there's room and that I should come. So I haul ass home from work, and frenetically find my suit and get to the wedding like 5 minutes before it started. The ceremony was short, sweet and very pretty in the Japanese Sunken Garden. We mosied on over to a different area of the conservatory for the reception, where there was some nummy food, and even better company. It's here that I met Miss Intrigue. More on her later (Hah! keep slackin, the good stuff will come.) They had an open bar, which any good slacker can fully appreciate. In the off chance the Chief here ever does get married, it will definitely include an open bar. A good deal was definitely had by all and it was really great to reconnect with a friend I hadn't seen in years!

Saturday was off to Ren Fest. I met up with Conservative Girl and her fam, and we were also supposed to meet up with G-spot, her boyfriend and also the wedding party from the night before. We managed to find G and her guy, but never could track down the wedding party. Sad. The highlight of the day though, was that like last year, CG's fam brought their puppy! And to top last year on the way up the got a NEW puppy as well. Not only was the ever cute Squirt there, but the new puppy Pepper (aka Dr. Pepper) was entirely adorable. they even had fun little costumes, Squirt had fully ironic Angel wings and Pepper had a little jester's collar.

Tell me those puppies aren't awesomely cute. I spent much of the day carrying pepper since the whole thousands of people around thing was a little overwhelming for her. I could rarely walk more than about 50 feet without someone wanting to pet her. It actually was CG's intent to bring the puppies to I could hopefully parlay then into picking up a girl, but that was unsuccessful. part of that may have also been due to the fact my mind tended to wander back to my new friend from the previous night, but who knows. In all it was a fun day.

The rest of the weekend was spent relaxing and doing a very large amount of chatting with Miss Intrigue. Ok, Ok. I'll stop with the teasing and tell you slackers about her! So at the wedding reception, G-spot's boyfriend and I are milling about chatting. Since I had been a last minute invite I was not included in the assigned seating and has to scope out which tables had available room. At some point G's BF (I can't think of a good name for him yet) and I start talking with two cute persons of the female variety about the hors d'oeuvers. As we talked I found one of them increasingly interesting. When I found out there was room at her table I made sure to stake my claim to a spot. We basically became surrogate dates for the night from there on out. We continued talking basically the whole night, during dinner, even though there were 5 other people at the table, I quite often forgot they were there in the midst of convo. For some reason our personalities seemed to click absurdly well. We hung out the entire reception and when it all concluded I gave her a ride to her hotel.

The evening could very well have ended there, however it did not. Since we had exchanged info, emails, IM, Phone, websites (yeah, we went WELL beyond the typical digits on a napkin deal) some text messaging ensued. At first it was innocent, but increasingly it became, well, flirtatious may be an understatement. Like 20,000 leagues under. Propriety however reigned, and it was left to simply flirting.

Hold the presses! Chief Slacker, Propriety, what, you say?? This is where things get interestingly complicated. In the course of the evening it was discovered that Ms.I has a significant other. Ack! You say? Not quite yet. The situation is quite unique, but will be kept personal until otherwise allowed. However, the situation most definitely does not preclude friendship, or even much more. Keeping that perspective we were good little kiddies that night. Since Friday night though, we have kept in pretty much constant communication.

For those of you who keep track of my crazy relationships, you're asking what other issues are there aren't you. Yeah, you know who you are. Don't lie! So far, there's really only one: distance. Me = Twin Cities, MN; Ms.I = Rochesterish, NY. Hi, half a country. Boo.

For most previous females I've met usually that would end up being a deal breaker. Oddly, not yet for this one and I'm not sure why. I named her Miss Intrigue over a good number of other possible names mostly for that reason. She interests and intrigues me in a way, really, not many if any have. She's not really my typical type, but from when we first started talking at the reception, there was most definitely an attraction. Usually with girls I'm attracted to, my typically uncanny knack for reading people and personalities gets cloudy. Such is not the case with her. Even her significant other situation, which we she was quite worried to discuss, I had read, assumed and understood before it was discuss. It's an absurdly odd connection thus far. And it's one I'm quite certain you all will be hearing more about.

So, now for something I'm sure you're all waiting for. All three of you. Yes you. I now introduce Miss Intrigue:

Allright, I'm off, keep on slackin!

Hmmm...?

2007-09-23T21:24:00.001-05:00

So yeah, the weekend was good and action packed.

Friday i was invited last minute to a wedding and made a very intriguing new friend. Saturday I hung out at Ren Fest with Conservative Girl, her parents and two adorable little puppies. Sunday, I got to see the apprently underrated Packers beat the Chargers. In fact, this weekend was so good, I'm just going to slack off the rest of the night and post about it tomorrow.

Lter slackers!

The Fun's Almost Over

2007-09-09T12:14:00.000-05:00

Warning, the action packed contents of my last week and a half are been squeezed into one post. It's worth it if it you can make it through ;O)

So Puerto Rican Pauly has been visiting for about a week and a half now. I pray to any god that will listen to me that I actually have some vacation time next time he comes to visit.

He flew in last Wednesday and at that point I was still working at the State Fair. Luckily he has a good number of friends in the area still and was able to find some fun stuff to do. Though, the kid needs to remember directions better while drunk so I don't go to sleep then get a 3am phone call asking where Slacker HQ is again.

Anyway, Monday rolled around and was my last day at the fair. To celebrate I met up with him at a friends house and manage to chat and drink many beers till 4 am. Work Tuesday morning was fairly painful.

Tuesday we hopped around uptown and met a friend for his official birthday as a warm up to his party on Friday. We also met up with a college friend of PR Paul's who was in town from Pittsburgh for a couple days. 2am comes far to quick sometimes... Work was again painful, but copious amounts of coffee is a good thing sometimes.

Wednesday we headed toward campus and were elated to see that our favorite old haunt, Stub and Herb's was back open again and still kept the employ of most of the good people who worked there. Even better it's now under less slumlord-esque ownership and nicely spruced up. We hopped to Sally's for a while and hung out with some friends, then headed back to Stubs where some other friends had shown up. For legal purposes we'll say that night ended at 2 even though it's possible it went a bit later than that. Work that next day actually proved basically impossible.

Thursday, we met up with another friend Murray at Gastof's. While the German beer was still flowing the good crowds were nowhere to be found. There was maybe 20 people there, even for a Thursday that was insanely dead. At least I got to chat with a pretty darn cute Sergeant in the army. Conversation with cute girls always makes a night good. Work the next day was pretty decent even if they tried to put me to sleep with several pointless and boring meetings

Friday was the friends B-day at The Independent. This place can be one hell of a crowded zoo on Fridays and Saturdays. Luckily he had reserved us a private room. Drinks were flowing well till they kicked us out. After that we went and had a post party at one of his friends houses nearby. At about 5am I could tell the host's fiance was out of steam so I nicely suggested we all depart. Thank god for being able to sleep till three the next day.

Last night we went downtown Minnapple and met up with some other college friends at Masa. It's a high end Mexican restaurant. The food was decent but really nothing special. The food was tasty, but would have been better if it was just a tad spicier. Afterward we went to Brit's and had a few drinks. Then off to the Newsroom for a beer. After that we ended up at a strip club. The reason we ended up there was in support of a guy there who was having his "non-wedding." It was supposed to be his wedding day till it was called off three months ago. I really can't think of a better reason to go to a strip club, can you? The Seville left quite a bit to be desired. It was a very nice classy place, the girls were good looking but for being a "Cabaret" the dancing was horrid. Sure, a Cabaret doesn't technically have to provide dancing, but at least entertainment. I'm no Strip Club connoisseur, haven't been to one in many years prior, but really, the girls barely tried. At least dance a little, or at the VERY least, when you're lazily leaning against that mirror, wiggle your ass to the beat. Sure, I'm a guy, seeing boobs is always mildly entertaining. Really, though, the breed of rhythmless girls they had there made it start feeling more like seeing boobs in a National Geographic show. I'm sure I'm waxing chauvinistic here, but I guess I believe if you're going to do something, do it well! Luckily two girls there, one in an FBI jumper named "Kinsey" and a red-head that danced to swing saved the day somewhat. Thank you for not completely shattering my beliefs in strippers. For the others though, maybe we need to start a movement, People for Strippers with Rhythm. Maybe, per Paulius's Rant we need to classify it Rhythmless Stripper Syndrome and have the drug companies make something for it. Either way, please save the strippers!

Anyway, yeah, we're planning on hitting The Wild Onion tonight. So, if any of you wanna come have a drink, or if the women readers want to come kick me in the nuts for being a pig, we'll be there. It's Pauly's last night in town so it should be fun! Keep slacking everyone!

Paid Slacking = Much Fun

2007-09-02T01:43:00.001-05:00

Slacking is a great way of life, I highly encourage anyone to slack whenever possible. it definitely makes life more fun. The best slacking, however, is the PAID kind. Not only can you go have fun, but you can do it on the clock.

Friday we had a division picnic. They had a really nice spread of food on the patio outside our building. To make things better they had games. They had a ping pong table set up, a volleyball net up and they also had the little game with golf balls on a string and three crossbars to try and get them on. Two hours of hanging out outside on a GORGEOUS day, all while getting paid. Definitely a good end to that work week.

Tonight, working the second job at the State Fair, we decided that since we've been finishing early, we could extend our normal 15 minute break a litte. So, when break time came, we hit the Midway. We walked around, scoped out the rides and played a few games. I played three of those squirt gun games and won one. I got a really snuggly bear which I gave to Johnny V, a guy who was at one time a friend and roommate, has a two year old and is the supervisor of the night crew. I also managed to win the one time I played the game with the big gun that shoots out balls and you have to knock down six targets. For that I got a new friend named Buddy!

He's an adorable huge headed "Snubbies" Dalmatian. Much fun. And, again, the whole time we were on the clock. And just so you don't think we were slacking TOO much, even with the extra 45 minutes for break, we only finished 15 minute later than we did the previous night.

Ok, well, time for me to go hang out with buddy and Puerto Rican Paulie since he's up from the PR on vacation.

Lata!

Best Invention Ever.. Almost.

2007-08-31T12:24:00.001-05:00

So yeah i was browseing the Star Tribune today and came across quite possibly one of the best inventions every created.

The Pedal Pub

Basically, it's a mini-van sized, mutliple rider powered vehicle. Right now they do pub tours with it and they're hoping to be classified along with limos and party busses so people can drink with riding on it. That would be epic.

I'll have to find out what a tour costs. Maybe I should look into investing. There's something very Slakerly about it!

Way. Too. Busy.

2007-08-27T12:48:00.000-05:00

So I did make it back from Michigan. The weekend ended up being pretty crappy since it rained for just about 48 hours straight. Mother Nature did a dang good job of screwing up my birthday weekend.

I come back from my trip to an association meeting where we finally get the bill for the the extra repairs that had to be done. $5,000 over the "fixed" amount the job was supposed to cost.

So yeah, happy birthday, you win a second job to try and keep you from going even deeper into debt.

So from this past Thursday until labor day, I am working at the Minnesota State Fair to make some extra money. On top of my normal 9am05pm professional job, I now clean ice cream machines from 9pm till 2am-ish.

I'm sure glad Puerto Rican Paulie is coming to town, I'm going to need to do some HARDCORE slacking come the day after Labor Day.

I need a nap.

To The Races Again!

2007-08-15T13:07:00.000-05:00

It's that time of year again, time to go camp, drink beer, and watch really fast cars go in a few hundred circles!

Tonight I head back to meet up with my fam, then The Dad and I head out to Michigan tomorrwo to camp out and see the NASCAR races at Michigan International Speedway.

It's always fun to take a nice, long weekend, especially when you can camp out with several thoushand other crazy, yet fun, fools. Really, it's kinda of a three to four day party. This year it has the added bonus of all leading up to my birthday on Sunday. With the copius amount of beer around the campsites, I have a feeling it's gonna be pretty crazy!

Anyway, gotta finish up here at work, but I'll definitely check back with some pictures after this weekend!

How to Make Thousands of People Gephyrophobic in Three Easy Steps.

2007-08-06T09:44:00.000-05:00

Step 1: Have a catastrophic, deadly failure of a major interstate bridge. Exhibit A

Step 2: Publicize the fact that the bridge taht collapsed was "structurally deficiant" and upwards of 25% of all the bridges in the nation may fall in that category. Exhibit B

Step 3: Actually publish a list of all the major bridges in the state that are rated "struturally deficient" so people can see that they drive over at least one of these bridges a couple times a day, every day. Exhibit C

Yes, it's just that easy. Now you too can join the ranks of the Gephyrophobics.

I'm quite certain the local chapter meetings are going to need a MUCH larger meeting space now.

My thoughts go out to all those affected once again.

I Don't Know What to Say.

2007-08-02T09:28:00.000-05:00

Wow. I really don't know what to say. I do know that even with the crappy luck I've had with commutes and my car, that I really don't think I will ever earnestly complain ever again.

In case you haven't heard somehow, a huge bridge here in the Twin Cities collapsed while full of rush hour traffic. CNN reports on it here.

The bridge is for Interstate 35W crossing the Mississippi River. It collapsed at about 6:05 pm and had at minimum about 60 cars on it. This was THE major North/South highway artery through Minneapolis. They say upwards of 100,000 cars crossed that bridge daily. I know I've crossed that bridge countless numbers of times. I used to cross it at least twice daily when I was living downtown and going to the University of Minnesota.

Luckily, no one close to me was involved with the disaster. As far as I know yet, I don't personally know anyone involved. My best possible wishes do go out to anyone who does.

I'm still just... in awe.

Revenge of the Car

2007-07-31T14:25:00.000-05:00

I must start this post with an apology. To anyone who may have been traveling on I-494 West around the intersection with I-35W, especially the hot blonde who was directly behind me, I am sorry for being the temporary bane of your commute this morning.

Yes, that was me in the Driftwood colored Nissan that apprently decided just keel over and die in the right lane just barely before the on ramp from 35W. Yes, that was me who blocked the right lane for a good 5 minutes forcing people to find away around me. Yes, that was me who gracefully sweated my ass of while pushing my poor, dead car off on to the shoulder.

I apologize on behalf of myself and also Ally (my poor car) for making your trip on 494 just that little bit worse than it already usually is.

So, that said, SCREW YOU ALL WHO WATCHED ME PUSH AND DIDN'T HELP! I'M GLAD YOUR COMMUTE SUCKED ASS!

Anyway yeah, obviously it was an eventuful morning for The Chief. I don't know what it is about my car, but Ally sure loves to act up when I'm starting a new job.

As was well documented (Here, Here and Here) a little over a year ago, I was pretty sure my car was cursed. I really hope the curse has not returned.

I'm three weeks into a new job and poor Ally dies on the way to work. I'm driving along and the battery light on the dash comes on. This is no good. Soon after the radio starts to cut out whenever the engine RPMs drop below about 1000. So here I am in the ugly traffic that is 494/35W, popping it in neutral every time traffic slows to a crawl so I can rev the engine and hope it keeps the power coming. Sure enough the traffic moves, then comes to a dead stop. Shortly there after my engine and car were at a dead stop as well.

Of course traffic piles up behind me along with the nasty looks of the pissed motorists behind me. (Quick aside: To the Beautiful Blonde who was the first in line behind me, that nasty look was actually a little hot, call me!) So, I go to call AAA and realize I have no idea where my card is. Joy joy. I decide I can't let my car just sit there blocking the right lane so I climb out and start pushing. Luckily there was room on the shoulder so I could get out of the way.

The next half hour was kind of a freak out. One I just started this job, the last thing I want is to do is seem unreliable. Yeah, I might be a slacker, but you gotta maintain some standards in order to keep a job to slack off at. So I call my contract agency and have my wonderful agent Tracy call in for me and give me the number to work so I could leave a message as well. I then call AAA and track down my info and arrange for a tow. Which, by the way, ended up being a hassle for various reasons. After taht was sorted out I had to figure out who to get to work...

Luckily for me, the wonderful Conservative Girl is always the helpful friend. Even luckier for me is that she was on her way to work and actually headed in my direction. At least the morning wasn't all bad luck. She met me and the tow truck on 494 and followed us to the station, and got me off to work. Luckily I made it in only about an hour and a half late.

Like I figured, the alternator took a dive and now I have a $350 repair bill I really don't have the money for (This poor credit card of mine has to be in pain) waiting for me back at the station. At least Ally will be running again.

Fortunately for me, I get to have a meeting in the iRoom before I head out. Also, in another fortunate note, I found a person I work with (whom I had never met previously) that is graciously going to take a detour on his way home so I can get Ally back.

The iRoom

2007-07-23T16:03:00.001-05:00

So as the last post stated, I have a new job going. And luckily it's still going very well.

We had a meeting a few days back to have a brainstorm session on how we want to lay out the components of the new machine we're designing. The location of said meeting was the iRoom.

When i heard of the IRoom, I just pictured your regular conference room with a couple neat high-tech gizmos thrown in the mix. What i didn't expect is this:

That's no moon, that's a space station. Or at least the bachelor pad penthouse of it.

Not pictured there are a couple glass high-tops with some trendy leather chairs on the left and TOYS! Yes, you read that right, Toys. On the right side there's this weird curvy shelf that's stocked with some fidget toys like koosh balls and also some creativity toys like Magnetix and building blocks. The flat screen on the wall is also a Smart Board that you can use little fake markers to draw on they email yourself the drawn images. The shapes on the left side are frosted glass panes that double as whiteboards.

Yeah, I'm currently starting a drive to have that be my office... who's in?

Starting up.

2007-07-12T15:35:00.000-05:00

So the new job has begun. I had my first day yesterday! They had a fun "Welcome 'Chief Slacker'" poster in my cube and they even had a party and cake!

Ok, ok, the party cake was actually for completing some milestone on the newest project, but I'm going to live in my fun little slackerly fantasy world and think it was for me. yup.

Anyway, like pretty much every job I've gotten the computer wasn't ready so currently I'm using somone's backup computer and a tiny little monitor they pilfered from the admin who's on vacation. The first day I had to work under a coworkers login since my network stuff hadn't been setup. I even had to create a hotmail account to use as a temporary email.

Like a good slacker, I got zero actual work done the first day. I started at 9, and after all the tuors and intros it was 11. I read some stuff till lunch, had some Buffalo Wild Wings, then came back just in time for a milestone party. Finished the day with a seminar on the new product we're working on. Gotta love first days.

Today's been more productive though I'm outtie in a little bit to go play some kickball! It's playoffs and my team's not getting a bye, so wish Team Recess some luck would ya?

Anyway, back to the slackin!

It's official: The Slacking can resume!

2007-07-09T11:15:00.000-05:00

I had taken another leave of absence lately because I REALLY needed to find a job.

As previously stated, can't be a slacker if you don't have something to slack off from. Well, Now I do!

Assuming I can pass a drug screening, which unless Big Mike's been dosing me and I don't know it, I will I will get hired. The New Company makes medical testing equipment for testing samples for various sign of viruses and other baddies.

So now I can resume life as a proper slacker as all is meant to be! Now I just need to finish fine tuning the page here... anyone have some fun suggestions?

Time to get back out there...

2007-05-28T07:32:00.000-05:00

So yeah, this whole returning to normal life thing is harder than it seems. Kickball started back up, so thank god I'm getting out and being social. There were times in the last couple months I think Big Mike was actually going to kick my ass if I didn't go outside just for a few minutes to just BE outside.

Being social is one nice step, but there's so much else going on. With this newest screw over for a job I'm now thrown back to looking for a new job. With that I'm facing the dilemma of do I really want to do what I've been doing for the last tens years or do i want to find some completely new field to slack off in? Maybe this latest job fiasco is just a bitchslap from the slacker gods to change things up?

Maybe i don't want to find a job, just sell off all my possessions and become a drifter? How slackerly could that be? Jeez. Plus after i find a job, then comes dating again. *shudder* Can i go back to hiding from the world please?

The Slack Is Back.

2007-05-21T12:32:00.000-05:00

Good god, it's been too long. But, I'm back and plan on bloggin a lot more again.

I honestly don't even know where to begin.

I decided a new start needed a new template, what do ya think?

Anyway, how about answering the "where the hell were you?" stuff...

Basically, what had been a year in decline last year crashed HARD last December. Not long after i wrote that last post, I ended up getting canned from that job. I think it was about a day later I got called in to the new supervisor's office and told I could finish the day if I wanted, but I was done. F-that, See ya.

So where have I been the last 5 months? Unemployed.

It's a previously stated rule of slacking that in order to be a slacker you need something to slack off from. So I really just lost track of blogging. I really lost track of a whole lot of stuff. Friends, emotional well-being, and if i hadn't had some stocks to sell probably even Slacker HQ. I really think I hit an emotional rock bottom somewhere around February.

I really thought things were finally turning around here a few weeks ago when I finally found a new job. It was another great job at a smaller medical device company. It was a design job just like I had been hoping for and it was even a contract to direct. It had some fun coworkers and seemed to be quite interesting. So, why all the past tense you ask? After a week and a half I was abruptly let go.

So they spend three interviews over a two weeks to decide they want me; Make me wait 3 weeks before my first day; After a week told me they liked what I was doing and in 4 months it would be nice to have me direct; Then three days later tell my contract agency there's been too many issues and they're terminating the contract because they're "Too busy."

I'm like my own personal "Lost" episode, every answer just gives more questions. Too many issues? Apparently he said I was coming in "late" though he told me we need to be there by 9, and he gets there at 8:30. I never got there later than 8:30 except the day the oil plug and all the oil fell out of my car. And then I was only 15 minutes late. Apparently he says they were hoping for someone who would show dedication by being there at 7.

Also, there was an issues with a note I left for the person who broke the headphones I brought in the FIRST night I left them there. I simply and politely inquired what had happened. No bad names, no trying to figure out who did it, nothing rude whatsoever. Curiosity compelled me to ask how the cord from the headphones to the computer gets broken off and disappears but the headphones are perfectly intact. Apparently that was inappropriate and apparently he's never been curious about anything in his life.

Even my contract agency is dumbfounded on the whole issue. My agent was supposed to go pick up the last of my things there (my lava lamp) and hopefully talk to him so maybe I'll get more info. They tell me he's a brand new supervisor so maybe he decided he needs to establish himself by being a hardass. I don't know but now I'm back on the hunt YET AGAIN for a job.

Got any good ideas for a job for me? That's three tries in a row now only to get fairly screwed by the company I worked for. Each time the screw job was more and more brutal. So how about some suggestions for something completely new and fun? Anything?

Anyway, I'm gonna go try not to be all depressed and find something new. But it's nice to be back bloggin, I'll be around! Keep slacking!

Up, Down, All around!

2006-12-12T15:36:00.000-06:00

So it's been a crazy week.

Tuesday the ever wonderful Orientation Girl wandered into town to chitty chat with the U of M division of the Society of Women Engineers. Afterward we had our traditional outing to Stub and Herbs to knock off a few more shots on the list.

Like usual we started with out Undercurrents and then had three more shots. The first of the three was Rocket Fuel (Rumpleminze and Bacardi 151) and is probably part of the reason I don't remember the other two. We hung out with Tommy Boy Jon Jon and shot some pool like usual. The typical fun time!

Wednesday I had lunch, then felt horrible. My stomach and I were very much not friends.

Thursday I talked with my boss here at the Temp Job and told him I had decided to accept the offer of a direct position here. I'd be hired on at the same salary that my hourly wage worked out to and get nifty benefits including an entire paid week off for the Christmas holidays.

That night my stomach started to rebel again and stayed that way most of the weekend. So, instead of going to Family Christmas (he time the whole ginormous Mom-side extended family get together) for the first time in years, I was stuck home sick.

To make things worse, my phone was nowhere to be found from Thursday on. Compounding that the roommate was gone all weekend.

Monday I get to work and have a talk with the Temp Boss. Apparently he had second thoughts about hiring me on because he was unsure about me being committed to the job since I took a week to think about it. He also said he had questions about the quality of my work because I had some horrid typos in the email I sent him Friday telling him I was sick. Nevermind I wrote this email in between visits with my porcelain companion.

Toward the end of the work day I start hearing a commotion coming from the Temp Boss' office. As it grew louder it was apparently he was in the midst of what can best be described as a "freak out." I don't mean the yelling, mad, tirade kind, I mean the anxiety overload horrible hyperventilation kind. It got worse until the people he was in there with eventually called 911. The commotion was creeping/freaking me out, so I had to jet.

Today I arrive and find out why: He got canned. Apparently amidst the talks of how to work the transition he had said breakdown. So now I have to work things out with a new supervisor and manager. Joy. There's a problem looming too, if I don't get hired on, I have no income for that week they're shut down. Not cool. I have some savings now, but that would definitely take a big bite of it.

Yeah. Craziness.

Well, I finally tracked down my phone, apparently I left it at Stub and Herb's, so pardon me while I go charge it then call my parents and let them know I'm not dead.

Then again, the way the weekend went, maybe I am and just don't know it...? Nah.

A Good Place to Be

2006-12-05T15:49:00.000-06:00

So, like a really needed more reassurance that the twin Cities are a great place to live! I know I love this area, and while I would definitely like to live in some other places for a little while, I definitely call the Twin Cities home.

A couple recent articles proclaiming the awesomeness of the Slacker Homeland:

Exhibit A: The Healthiest Place to Live

Exhibit B: Winter Wonderland

Yup, gotta love it here.

Out of Happy.

2006-11-30T16:50:00.000-06:00

Tell me you don't wanna give that cat a hug?

That's how I feel lately. Like I ran out of happy. Maybe it's the weather, or maybe it's the lack of things to do. Could be the lack of a decent job, or possibly even one crappy enough to bitch about. I'm sure not having had anything near a date since the days I hung out with Gypsy Girl a few weeks back (Who's since done the typical disappearing act for women I hang out with) is in there somewhere. I rather regret holding back at those points where a kiss should have happened. I'm also sure a lack of decent sleep is most certainly not helping. I'm guessing a few of my friends wonder if I'm dead, G-Spot's called a few times but I'm just not in the mood to do anything.

Whatever it is, this HappySlack has at least temporarily run out of happy. Maybe I'll find some in Conservative Girl's Company holiday party tomorrow night...

Or maybe I should just find that cat and adopt it.

Way to Slack!!!

2006-11-29T11:50:00.000-06:00

As if a true Slacker needs a reason to fake a sick day... Nice to see people are getiting in the holiday slacking spirit though!

Holidays Bring Phony Sick Days
Via Rueters on Start Trib.

Good slacking people!

Happy Turkey Day!

2006-11-23T12:56:00.000-06:00

Congrats Twins!

2006-11-21T17:11:00.000-06:00

So the AL MVP voting is finally complete and Justin Morneau won! Woot!

That's three of my Twins winning some of baseball's biggest awards this year.

Morneau beat out Derek Jeter with 15 first place votes to Jeter's 12 for the MVP.

Joe Mauer took the AL Batting title (first catcher to ever do that) and finished 6th in the MVP race.

Johan Santana won another CY Young award and actually got one first place vote in the MVP balloting finishing 7th.

That's a bunch of hot talent on one team, and the best part? They're all back next year! :O)

Fox has a soul???

2006-11-21T16:08:00.000-06:00

Who woulda thunk it. News Corp., the parent company of Fox and Fox News and other outlets of usually biased or just plain terrible TV actually found some semblance of a soul.

If you had flipped through any of the various Fox brethren lately, you likely would have seen commercials for a two-day special about O.J. Simpson. Titled “If I Did It,” it seemed from the commercials it was basically O.J. basically confessing to what happened. The special would be aired because of a book of the same name released. Even the publisher of the book admitted that she took it as O.J.’s confession.

I’m not sure who’s idea it was for the book, and even more so the show. Quite obviously, though, they are soulless and evil. How else could it seem like airing something that would basically be a big middle finger to the families of those killed and the American public’s belief in a decent justice system would be a good idea? All of this in the name of trying to get higher ratings since the majority of the rest of Fox’s shows right now, well, suck. (House and The Simpson’s still rule though.) many local stations weren’t going to air it and the TV people’s publication “Broadcast & Cable” even called this whole thing evil. Now, I do believe that Rupert Murdock is fairly evil, but had all this actually gone on it would have made me believe he very well maybe be the devil himself.

It appears however that the powers that be at News Corp finally had an attack of conscience and finally did the right thing, albeit WAY later then they should have. The show will be cancelled and most likely replaced by some other trash they hope will attract viewers. Even more amazing is that they’re actually nixing the book as well. Thank God.

I don’t know if the whole this was O.J. trying to clear his conscience if he actually did do it, or someone convinced him it would be a decent way to make some money. If he did make money it would almost all end up going to the families of the people killed due to the wrongful death lawsuit. Pay them with money he made by emotionally backhanding them in the worst possible way. I just fail to understand how this got to the point of even WRITING the book, much less actually publishing it and recording a TV special about it. They people behind it should be found out, and removed from the gene pool.

Arg! Thank God this won’t be airing and I pity those who profited from what book sales there were prior to it’s removal. You all better start praying to every god and goddess out there and get your bases covered or I’m quite sure there’s a toasty pile of brimstone awaiting you.

Anyway, if you wanna read and actual article on it, here’s one from the AP yesterday on MSN and one from the AP today on Star Tribune.

Later Slackers. Stay non-evil would ya?

*Edit* So Judith Regan toss an Article on Newsweek exlpaining that she had gone with the publishing because she wanted O.J's "Confession" made public to get some sort fo justice. The gigantic flaw I see with her argument: She was ok with the money from the book going to O.J's kids. How is it really any sort of justice if he's making money on the book, but skirting the law by giving the money to his kids? This, instead of serving justice by paying the Goldmans the money owed them from O.J. being found guilty in the civil lawsuit? Just because you can jsutify something, doesn't make it right Jusith.
*/Edit*

Naïveté is bliss...?

2006-11-20T08:56:00.000-06:00

So going out with Conservative Girl Saturday night just left me thinking: I wish I could be that naive again. I guess only time will tell if my usually impeccable sense for relationships (In others, not my own, anyway) holds true with her current one, but for now I wish I could be like her.

Right now, I don’t see it working out with her and the guy she’s pretending to date. I say pretending because right now it’s not really dating in any normal sense of the word. At best right now it’d be corresponding as far as I see it. There’s no real connection there, just the hope of one. Communication itself is very minimal since he’s in the National Guard in Iraq. Any dating would actually come more with his family whom she’s adopted and hangs out with at least every week.

Some of the guys she had met seemed to have some good potential but didn’t work out for various reasons. With this one it just hasn’t seemed right to me from the beginning. They met on match.com, which is fine normally, but they met only a few weeks before he was going to be leaving for Iraq. After talking on the phone and email for a couple weeks she decided to go down to Florida to meet up with him for a weekend he had off. After that the decided they would be “dating.” That tells me he’s either very selfish and completely disrespectful of her, or also incredibly naïve. He set her up for a year of waiting, a year of hoping he doesn’t get hurt, and a year of a phone call a week being “dating.” To me that’s pretty mean.

She somewhat recently got back from a trip out to Europe to visit him while he had his couple weeks of leave. She said she had a lot of fun, but all the fun stories were about the fun places they went, not about fun she had with him. The comment that hit me about the trip is that she said it was “weird” because they didn’t really know how to communicate. CG also mention that often he would ask her about her belly dancing and stuff, but she would said she was to tired and just wanted to go to bed. All of this that I heard about it just made me think more and more that there’s a huge lack of chemistry there. HUGE.

I don’t believe I’ve ever met a couple that considered themselves “very happy” that said they had to struggle to communicate. You don’t really hear people say “Well, it took a lot of work, but eventually we fell in love.” Yeah, people can change over time, but if the chemistry’s not there, it’s not there. To me, chemistry means the relationship comes naturally. Respect, communication, fun and all the rest don’t have to be worked toward, they’re just there. Sure, there will be lumps in any relationship that need to be worked out, but those should come later on. If you’re working to create that initial connection, it’s seems more like a project to be happy with, not a person to be in love with.

It’s that naiveté I wish I could have. The kind that keeps dating each other for the sake of dating still enjoyable. It’s the same deal when CG and I were dating. It was fun for sure, but it wasn’t love. We got along great, did lots of fun things, but when it came down to it there really wasn’t any chemistry. I see the same thing with CG and this guy, she has interest, she thinks he’s a good guy, but there’s obviously a huge lack of chemistry.

I guess I admire her for that though. She’s still able to be happy with the idea of dating. She gets happiness from just being in the relationship. That faded with me for sure. I could and will be very happily dating someone I’m sure, though it wouldn’t really be the dating that would make me happy, it’d be the person. I’m not going for something I need to work on that will be good enough eventually. I’m in it for something that will make me truly happy.

Maybe I’m the naïve one to think that’s out there...? Nah.

Got Soul?

2006-11-19T23:34:00.000-06:00

My love of live music took me to a place in the Warehouse District of Minneapolis call Trocadero’s. The Group to see was called The Prophets of Soul.

I met up with Conservative Girl and the Sister and Brother in law of the guy she’s “dating.” I hadn’t ever been to this place before, but it’s definitely a pretty cool place. They have their dining area and then a separate night club area. We ate dinner and then when the club opened, move to the balcony above the stage and dance area. We grabbed a spot on one of the crazy animal print couches and enjoyed the show.

The Prophets are a fun bunch and I had seen them a couple times before. The first time was actually with CG since one of the members of the group works with her best friends. In another bit of small worldness it turns out that one of the sax players in the band is also cousin’s with CG’s “boyfriend.”

As the name would suggest they music they play is all of a soulful variety. They have three different singers and go through all sorts of music from the era of Soul. From Otis Redding to Gladys night to The Tops to whatever. The music is always fun and to top it off the group is always moving and dancing and just having a blast.

I got a picture or three, but I can’t seem to find the cable to download them form my camera, but keep an eye out for those as well. And if you happen to be in the Twin cities, make sure to check out the Prophets ;O)

3 Lbs

2006-11-18T23:28:00.000-06:00

So yeah, I finally got my cable back and was catching up on the shows I missed. Well, onlyn the CBS shows I missed sicne so far they're the only network cool enough to put their shows free On Demand. Usually the day after it's new, it's on the On Demand service with only like 3-4 commenrcials during the whole show. It's almost better than DVRing since you don't have to skip through the commercials. I love you CBS. Hey now, in the friends sort of way, come on.

Anyway. yeah so they had this new show debut called 3 Lbs. It's about Nerosurgeons and if the rest of the series is like the pilot, this is going to be a DAMN good show. There were parts that were a bit cheesy, but I guess it hit me in enough of the right spots. Hopefully they didn't blow their load of good TV in just this one episode. Looks like i have one more show to at least temporarily get addicted too... bah!

So, any other great shows I should be watching? I know you Slackers watch some TV... lemme know!

Um Hi, Comcast?

2006-11-17T16:39:00.000-06:00

"Yeah, I called this weekend about our cable and internet service being out. You said you'd have someone call on Monday to schedule an appointment to check it out and hopefully get it working?"

"Yes, what can we do for you?"

"It's Wednesday."

"..."

"Ok, It's Wednesday and I still haven't gotten a call, can we please schedule something?"

"Oh, hold on, let me transfer you over to Tech Support"

"I dialed the number listed next to Tech Support on the bill, who am I talking to?"

"This is Customer Service, Let me transfer you..."

GAH!!!!!!!! Come on people. Yes, I have done "support" work before and I do realize that a lot of the people asking for said support probably should not be using the technology they're requesting support with. But to assume they won't even know which number is the right one to call?????

So I get sick and have to go insane watching what little was recorded on the PVR. That and digging through far too many movies to not really find anything that piqued my interest. For TWO days. I hate the changing of the seasons, it always messes with me. I drive home and it's dark out so I get all sleepy, yet it's way before I normally go to sleep. When sleepy time comes around I'm no longer tired and can't sleep. I can get by on five or less hours of sleep a few nights in a row, but there's a wall to be hit somewhere.

Blah so I'm at work and in theory Comcast is at Slacker HQ right now fixing the cable. I'm sure I missed some of the shows I'm addicted to as well. Problem is I don't remember which ones since my oh so loverly PVR remembers all that for me.

Blah, at least I feel better, now only if I could get rid of the horribly stiff back cause by other things.

Anyway, I will be posting this weekend (or I pity the person who has to take my call at Comcast), so stay tuned!

Lata tatas!

Save the Cheerleader...

2006-11-14T22:01:00.000-06:00

...save the world!

So yeah, that's gotta be one of the worst tag lines for a show ever.

Problem is I'm hooked on the damn show!

Must... watch... heroes.

I dunno what it is but I like the show. Hiro rules! He got me hooked on the show because of his giggle inducing "Oooh! Waffles!" That and I'm a sucker for shows that leave you hanging each week. I dig Lost, even though it's getting a little far with the fantastic at points. Even though I think Jericho really isn't that good of a show, I have to DVR it each week because it just HAVE to know who the hell blew up all the cities! Thank god I've never watched 24 or I'm sure id get sucked into that, even though it's idiotic this one guy that many screwed up days. Even my CSIs are all integrating ongoing elements into them to make sure to watch every damn week. Thank you to whoever invented automatic recorders so I can record them each week otherwise I'd end up pissed like I did with X-files when they went all ongoing and I missed a week. How did Skully get pregnant?? HOW!!!??? ARG!!!!

Damn you networks, I was so successful at weaning myself off of TV, and then you go and find some way to get me hooked again. I wonder just how many network execs owe their souls to the devil to create such addicting things?

Bah! Time to go watch House... What's this? They now have an ongoing bit about him with drugs??? Nooooooooo!!!!!!

Congrats!

2006-11-13T11:15:00.000-06:00

I'm officially renaming She Who Shall Yet Be Named to Gypsy Girl, well, because I needed s shorter name to type.

Anyway, congrats to GG for her news today. Glad you got what ya wished for!!

Multiple Monday

2006-11-13T11:09:00.000-06:00

Damn that Comcast. And Big Mike. Well, who knows for sure, but one or both of them is to blame for killing the Post-a-Day plan. For some reason, either billing issues or technical issues the cable has been out since Friday night. I plopped down to watch Numbers, and get some lame error about how the DVR has no signal. Yay! As luck would have it, Big Mike was out of town all weekend and I’m not on the cable account. I’m not exactly sure why the guy has a cell phone when he never answers it!!!

Anyway, I DID write the posts though, so you are all blessed with getting three posts in one today! If I was an official NaBloPoMo participant, I would have actually tried to go somewhere to get them posted, but yeah, I’m a slacker, what can I say? One of these days I’ll get my laptop running again so I can mosey on over to the coffee shop if need be… until then, I just get to bitch about not having net if it dies.

Enough complaining, time for posting. Here are this weekends posts. Enjoy!

Saturday - Express Lane Lunacy

I know it’s hard to believe, but I’m a pretty laid back guy. Ok, maybe my kickball teammates will disagree, but Kickball Slacker in competitive mode is like Bruce Banner when angry, he’s a whole different animal. Anyway, I’m quite tolerant and relaxed usually, things don’t bug me. Ask OzzyC, a typical answer from me is “Hey, whatever! I’m cool. If you do want to bug me however, be illogical.

So today Conservative Girl and I hit up this candle warehouse sale thing. I picked up a crap load of smelly good candles for a buck a piece. CG and I both bought a few dozen candles since they were at such a nice bargain price. The majority of my buys were a dozen “Midnight Sky” candles for my firelabra and a half dozen of the super smelly good “White Chocolate Mocha” tin candles. Slacker HQ will be smelling quite nifty for a while.

**Quick Side Note – A few dozen candles that may smell really nummy individually do NOT necessarily commingle well… Proper ventilation may be required.**

Little did we know, after leaving the waxy wonderland we’d up sitting around in the express lane.

While the traffic around the Mall of America was unusually horrid, the road traffic was the least of my day’s annoyance. The express lane I speak of is the IKEA checkout lane.

We decided we needed some food and the Swedish meatballs of IKEA were calling our names. Not only could we munch on Swedish meaty goodness, would could also pick up some other cheap items of Swedish goodness. I snagged some picture frames for stuff I want to hang up in the living room, while CG got some cute arty rubber ducky postcards.

Now, I love express checkout lanes in stores. You get in the nifty X-items or less lane and don’t have to worry about thinking you’re in the short line, only to find out the person three people up has 352 that they’re buying. Well, unless there’s that inevitable person trying to sneak by with X+12 items. That’s a rant for a different post though. But, the definition of annoying though could very well be getting in the 5-items or less line, seeing everyone with only a few items, but then watching every line around you go MUCH faster than yours.

From my vantage point about 6 people back, it started with a somewhat annoyed man having a discussion with the cashier over what I’ll assume was the receipt. During said discussion, 3 people with a total of about 213 items were checked out in the next lane over. Next came the manager type person to help figure things out, only to leave again. Two more people with a total of about 83 items shuffle their way by one of which was incredibly hot. Distraction appreciated. Back comes manager type person with superior manager type person who came equipped with a card full of bar codes. Apparently a laser scanning the Card of Holy Bar Codes isn’t enough to placate the guy holding up “express” lane. Gone is the hottie and her 13ish items of Swedish goodness. Replacing her is some dude picking his nose. I kid you not. At this point I’m now wishing IKEA sold firearms. Twenty minutes from when we finally got in line dude and his measly 2 items of Swedish goodness FINALLY head for the exit and the rest of the checkout process ensues.

I finally got to the checkout and sent my frames down the conveyor. When I got to the cashier, I had to ask “So, have a problem with the checkout there?” The answer would set off an illogical fury of massive proportions. “Well, I just started a little while ago and there was something I didn’t know how to fix.” Vision of backhanding manager type person and superior manager type person start flying through my head.

Do drivers Ed teachers have their first time drivers hop in the express lane of the highway? Hell no! They may be daring people, but they’re not insane! This is the EXPRESS lane people! This is for the power shoppers who like to get in, get their Swedish goodness (and maybe some meatballs) and get the heck out. We want the checkout person to be at one with the Swedish Zen. Put the newbies in lanes with large amounts of goods, people will understand if they screw up when checking out 184 items of Swedish goodness MUCH more than a purchase of 3.

Apparently IKEA is a GREAT place to go if you want to buy nifty inexpensive furniture and great stuff to organize. It is not however a bastion of logical though. It’s all about the logic people. Logic.

Arg, well at least when I got home I got to clear the head by looking at this adorably funny picture.

Sunday – Border Battle

In case you didn’t know, the official NFL team of the Daily Slacker is the Green Bay Packers. Hey! It even rhymes! Cool!

Anyway, today is one of two times a season I tend to have a hard time living in Minnesota, land of the purple pansies, err, umm, the Minnesota Vikings. Twice a year the Pack and the Vikes face off in epic battle. Last year was tragic as the Vikings managed to take both of the games with last second field goals. Being the lone packer fan among my friends and usually at work I get a lot of ribbing for this.

After last year’s dismal season for the Pack, I had been worried that this season would, like my life, be a rebuilding year. Besides the ageless Brett Favre, the Packer have a ton of rookies playing. The beginning of the season was rough, losing a couple tight games, but they’re starting to look pretty decent. They even managed to pull off something they hadn’t done very often since Favre’s been behind center: win in the Metrodome.

That’s right! My Pack won the first of the two border battles this season! They looked pretty good, not making any mistakes and playing some pretty good defense. At the onset of the season people thought that Green Bay and Detroit would be duking it out for last place in the NFC central, but it’s looking a bit more competitive than that. Granted, they’re only 4-5 and are a long shot for the playoffs, but hey, we beat the damn Vikings. Chicago is not nearly as good as a lot of people think. Yeah they have a great defense, but Rex Grossman is going to lose them more games. With seven games left to the season, who knows what could happen.

For now, and for the next few week though, I get to gloat about my beloved Packers beating those mangy Vikings! Go Pack Go!

Sing Damn It!!!

2006-11-10T13:45:00.000-06:00

I’m writing this post on Outlook this time for the damn browser doesn’t eat it again. Damn those post hungry blogger gremlins!

Anyway, I definitely have some good posts brewing on the whole Rebuilding Year thing, but first I need to get something off my chest…

So is it just me, or have has “pop” music suddenly been sucked dry of all its talent? I’d usually rather listen to the rock and jam out in my car, but once and a while I’ll flip to the top-40esque station and see what the kids are listening to lately. From the sounds of it lately, someone has firmly attached a shop-vac to many decent pop singer and is performing a major Hoover-maneuver on their creativity and singing abilities.

Now I’m not talking about newcomers that should never have been given a record deal in the first place. *cough*k-fed*cough* What I’m talking about are people who’ve been around the scene a little while whose new stuff, is, well, horrid. The typical occurrence lately is someone like a Gwen Stefani, Fergie, or even Justin Timberlake.

**Quick side note, since I plan on never, EVER, mentioning boy band members again in this blog, I have a quick fun story. So I’m looking through Big Mike’s “Video Gaming Mix” that he likes to listen while killing virtual bad guys. I’m looking down the play-list and have a “You know how I know you’re gay?” moment. Mixed in among the heavy bands like Rammstein and Marilyn Manson: Justin Timberlake – Cry me a River. I nearly wet myself in the midst of schoolgirl like giggles. Ok, back to bitching**

So these people who formerly displayed some pretty decent ability (however cheesy the songs) now seem content to simply talk on all their damn “songs.” Maybe it’d be a little better if the music was different or catchy but it’s not. You take two parts tribal-house background beat, mix in one part fairly monotone repetitive lyrics and slap it on the airwaves.

Come one people! Seriously, just like I don’t want to go to a art museum and see a finger painting I don’t want to hear something that easily could have been recorded using an out of tune guitar, some 10 gallon plastic buckets and a walkman. SING!!!

What bugs me most about this is that people hear this on the radio and think “Hey, I could do that” and form a band. The next time I go to a bar (which we all know happens frequently enough) I end up having to listen to no talent crap instead of great music like the aforementioned Heartless Bastards. Make. It. Stop. NOW.

Ok, now I’m going back to listening to Music to Slack To: Vol. 1. Good slacking all.

P.S. I used spell check this time so quitcher bitchen ya filty swine! ;O)

Bah!

2006-11-09T23:20:00.000-06:00

Screw you blogger. I'm tired and now cranky cause you just ate my post. You tease me with this "recover post" link yet don'y deliver.

Arg!

G'night.

Cozy Ranch or McMansion?

2006-11-08T16:45:00.000-06:00

Leave it to a slacker to reach a sort of epiphany through fantasy football.

As I asked at the end of the “Rebuilding Year” post, what exactly do I want to build?

OzzyC made the good comment that we should “ALWAYS be rebuilding.” Everyone definitely can use a remodel here and there as life goes on. You learn new things, your tastes change, new people come into your life. Usually though, for most people the “rebuilding” is more like light remodeling. Rearrange a room or maybe toss up some new paint to freshen up part of their life. For me right now I’d say it’s a lot closer to Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. Everything’s pretty ripped up right down to the foundation and in need of a plan for what cool things to slap on top. The only solid foundations I’ve got are the location and the finances. Those I’ve managed to sort out.

So, what to build?

I could aim high and dream of a grand mansion for myself, but that’s just not my slackerly way. I’m much more simple than that. Gotta be cool, it’ll definitely be unique and most certainly fun. The way my brain works though, if I don’t have a plan, it’ll end up like an episode of Monster House gone horribly wrong. I don’t want to end up with a permanent mess either and have it be a major work in progress. A whole house, a whole life, is too much to think about all at once, so I think I’ll tackle one area at a time.

The Foundation: Having a place to call home, having a means to support it.

The Structure: The family and few close friends I can count on for support.

Living Space: How do I wanna live? Keep everything neat and tidy but make sure the mini-bar in the den is fully stocked, or go more casual and relax on the futon and let things flow?

The Bedrooms: The personal side of life, do I want a big master room with a lot of room to share with someone, or am I fine with my single space. Do I need rooms for kids or guests?

Others: Any other part of life that needs to be added in.

Hmm, looks like I have some thinking to do. Definitely some good material to slack with…

Finally! No More Mudslinging!

2006-11-07T23:19:00.000-06:00

Wow, I LOVE it, I can turn on TV and NOT see an add dissing some politician. I am totally going to enjoy the next couple of weeks until the campaigning begins for 2008.

Now if the Super Bowl would hurry up and get here so we can see some good commercials!

Rebuilding Year

2006-11-06T23:28:00.000-06:00

*Sigh*

So yeah, Seattle blanked Oakland and their kicker managed to score three field golas so my fantasy team lost. The best record I could possibly finish with is 6-7 and that's almost definitely not going to get me in 6th place or better to make the playoffs. Accordgint o the "Man Laws" I can officially declare this season a rebuliding year.

After I put a post with that declaration on our Fantasy Football league website I realized how true that really is. not jsut for my fantasy team, but for me in general. This is a rebuilding year.

I lost the job at the Big Company and moved on. I reorganized my finances and got myself on more stable footing. I've been searching for that great new job. I've done some rebuilding on the condo, and I would say some rebuilding on me. I've had the ups and downs erbuilding the love life and am back to wondering what exactly I want.

Definitely a rebuilding year... time to figure out exaclty what I want to bulid.

Sounds like something to sleep on!

Fantasize

2006-11-05T18:56:00.000-06:00

Gotta love fantasy football!

Now every Sunday instead of watching the one team I care about and being done, the WHOLE day and Monday night become interesting. And since I'm a Packer fan, I need something to make this season interesting!

My fantasy team isn't doing all that much better, but it at least gets me caring about games I otherwise wouldn't. While my teams doing well today with it'd 20+ point lead over my opponent, he still has Seattle's kicker and Oakland's defense to play tomorrow night. I could care less about those teams normally, but tomorrow night you better believe I'll be near my TV cheering for Oakland to run up the score and for Josh Brown to keep missing any kicks!

My only mistake of the day was thinking that Chicago would actually, you know, not suck. I benched Ronnie Brown because I though da Bears would stuff the run. Like 170 yards later I'm moping over the fact he's riding the pine on my team. Oh well, at least I get to take pot shots at Big Mike all day since he's a HUGE Bears fan. Mwah ha ha!

Anyway, time to watch the night game, should be a good one with Indy and the Pats!

Later Slackers!

Knick of Time!

2006-11-04T23:52:00.000-06:00

Almost failed so early in the post a day thing, but I have like 5 minutes.

So yeah, I got called away to a Minnesota Wild game tonight. Of course there was much pre-drinking involved though we had to maintain some semblance of sobriety since the tickets came via Tommy Boy's Dad. Even got the ritzy club level passes!

The game was good, though the result sucked. It was all tied up 3-3 going into the third period, but alas the Wild fell to the lowly Nashville predators. I mean come on. Minnesota, the state of hockey, losing to a team from a state where Ice is a new novelty! (I'm teasing Tenneseeans, no hate mail please!)

Of course after the game there was more drinking to drown the sorrows of losing... But now it's time to play a little xbox360 and maybe watch a movie before the passing of the out.

Night slackers!

Music to the Ears

2006-11-03T19:28:00.000-06:00

I love live music. LOVE it.

You can get me to go to just about any live musical performance and odds are I'll enjoy it.

I do have to admit though, the ones I love the most are seeing a relatively small known band, playing at a small club. The bands that aren't playing because they're full of themselves, the kind that love the music. They're not up on some huge stage showing you their music, they're feet away sharing it with you. The bands that after they're done don't go hide in some swanky bus or green room, but mosey up to the bar and have a drink with the crowd.

Last night I got to have some of that fun. A friend of mine sent word that a group called Heartless Bastards was doing a show at a smaller club near downtown min-apple. They've done well for themselves, earning some airplay on the local indy stations so I knew a bit of their stuff.

I got there and got a nice spot right in the front corner:

The show definitely didn't disappoint. The singer has an amazing voice. Definitely one hell of a set of pipes for her size. I'm horrible at comparing sounds, so I can't really describe how it sounds. Just trust me on it sounding good!

The best part I think was the last song. Some people might have just said it was technical difficulties, but I though it's what made the show. A some point during their last song, it sounded like one of the amps croaked so a portion of the guitar chords were just horrid distortion. She tried switching guitar maps to no avail and eventually just gave up. The rest of the song was played with just the bass guitar and drums. While I'm fairly certain she felt a little awkward with it feeling like a capella, it really made for a very impressive finale. It ended up just showing of that voice! When I talked to her after the show, she claimed she missed a few notes and it made her nervous and though it was bad. Judging by the cheering of the crowd and the applause after I think everyone would disagree. I told her that's what make live music so good: the imperfections. Yes, it can also make it completely terrible, but not this time. I go to shows to hear real music, if I want it perfect I'll go listen to the CD. THAT, on the other hand was a great real show!

Speaking of which, pardon me, I'm going to listen to my new CD signed by Lead Singer / Guitarist Erika!

Lata!

NaBloPoMo Doh!

2006-11-02T11:23:00.000-06:00

Damn that .com!

I had this grand plan of getting things back in Slack with panache by doing the whole National Blog Posting Month thing. While I still plan on doing it I managed to flub the whole “official entry” thing. I sent an email saying I’d like to join on the 31^st, but where there should be a .org, my brain slacked off and tossed in a .com. Oh well, it may not be official, but I still plan on doing it.

So yeah, you’re get a whole month of be ranting, raving, bitching, moaning, elating, deflating or, well, just being a damn slacker!

Why not take part in the whole National Novel Writing Month? As stated on Fussy.org:

“Some of us lack the imagination, stamina, and self-destructive impulses required to write a novel that quickly, but, by Grabthar's Hammer, we can update our blogs every day for a month!”

I mean, yeah, I could probably write a novel. But that would most definitely Violate the Ethos of Slacking. See, right now I really don’t have anything important to do. The novel itself would become an important project and therefore NOT be slacking. Blogging however, will successfully keep me from working or cleaning or any other generally productive activity.

So there you have it, I’m no sure Who this Na is or why they want to Blo PoMo, but I’ll go along with it!

Now, go read my last post and

GIMME SOME IDEAS ALREADY!

Being all creative and brainstorm is SO not slackerly. So yeah, lemme know what ya wanna see!

Ok, Slack dismissed. Lata!

What to do?

2006-11-01T14:57:00.000-06:00

So, I’ve decided that since a year and a half has passed since the birth of the Daily Slacker, it’s time for a revamp. While it dig the slim “newpaperish” layout, I’m thinking it can be spiced up a bit.

So, it’s time for some reader interaction, what stuff do you all want to see on the DS? Lemme hear your wonderful ideas! I’ll look at adding them in to make the Daily Slacker not just a place to read about the exploits of yours truly and to disseminate the Ethos of Slacking, but a place all slackers flock and enjoy!

So yeah, start opining and let’s see what comes out!

Starting Anew...

2006-10-31T13:21:00.000-06:00

And yet again life gets crazy.

My life the last month has kinda lived true to the old cliché: “That which changes oft remains the same.”

So many things from this year have come to an end: Summer, That Great Job, Kickball, My patience with Cute Paramedic, My dislike of coffee and most recently my will to have fun.

It’s now most definitely Fall here in good old Minnesota. Mother nature painted her great fall colors, but they’re slowly bleeding off to leave a dull brown canvas. Gone are the days of “God, what a BEAUTIFUL day!” Now in their place is “God, it’s f#$%ing FREEZING out there!” Don’t get me wrong, your Chief LOVES a good snowball fight, but yeah, warmth is nice. What’s worse, this also marks the end of skimpy clothes season completely. Regardless of what magazines may have you believe, that whole hot women wearing a bikini under their parka thing… Never. EVER. Happens. Maybe in like Veil or something, but Minnesota women are far to smart for that. You can tell I’m still living in denial over summer being gone since my air conditioner is still in my living room window. Come on, there could be a heat wave in November right? Shhhhhhh!! Delusions are fun.

So yeah, the great new job I found? Bye, Bye. Between my bad luck away from work and their lack of money, The Great Job has come to an end. The last two weeks of silence were a product of job hunting and not being uber-busy at work as was the case previously. That puts me back where I really dislike being: hunting for a job. I am currently writing from a temporary job I accepted just for the sake of actually having an income. The Temp job is fair lame compared to previous. Instead of design medical devices that save lives, I’m helping design and document the displays and shelving for all the new Sephora stores around the country. (If you don’t now what Sephora is, you’re A. not female, B. Not trendy with make-up and smelly-good products.) Walk in to any new Sephora store or in-store Sephoras in JCPennys and the Black and Off-white displays you see were built by contractors looking at the drawings my company made. There’s very little creativity involved so, despite being a huge slacker, this is definitely not the job for me. It does however pay the bills and the job was accepted on the condition I am allowed to take time to go to other interviews. I have so far turned down three interviews because the jobs would be obviously be bloody-freakin-boring. I’ll definitely keep you all up to date on the new job hunt.

The Summer/Fall season of Kickball has come to an end as well. My team, the Gym Class Legends, well, sucked. In the field anyway. We went 0-7-1 on the field, but managed to come in second in both of the Flip-Cup tournaments during the season and usually dominated the flip-cup at the bars. As with the Spring season, this one was remarkably dry as far as the dating front goes, but I really wasn’t trying either. I’m definitely in the “don’t care” stage of the dating cycle. Despite being fairly terrible on the field, we had a fun team and it sounds like we might be getting together just for the heck of it on Thursday and/or Friday. Should be fun!

Speaking of dating, Cute Paramedic popped up again. As per usual, I fell into the trap of actually being hopeful. She randomly messaged me asking what I was doing for the Halloween weekend and said we should find something fun and Halloweeny to do. Since a friend of mine had invited me over to a party at her place I invited CP along. We chatted quite a bit during the week on the phone and via text message up until a last text message Saturday afternoon. Come party time though? Nothing. Unfortunately there’s nothing since either. While I most certainly hope all is well with her and her family, the lack of respect is fairly glaring. To quote another cliché: “Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me.” Well, we’re now on to thrice (or possibly what four version of that is) so I do believe I’m thoroughly exposed as being an idiot when it comes to women. Shame on me indeed.

That being said, the snafu with Cute Paramedic has actually led to encounters with a new member of the female species. I have yet to settle on a name for her (some options: Nessie, Snake Dancer, Dr. House Fan) but I shall decide soon. Anyway, I flew solo to the party and mingled a while and eventually got talking with who, like me, knew very few people at the party. After some talking we ended up having quite a bit in common: Friends who tend to disappear for lengths of time, a love for House, being recently unemployed and others. From further conversation I found out she worked as part of the entertainment for Renaissance Festival doing dance and such. Since CP knew a large portion of the entertainers from Ren Fest I asked if she knew of her. Turns out She Who Shall Yet Be Named is fairly good friends with CP’s sister! We talked and realized a decent possibility for CPs absence may have been due to a surgery within the family so she worried and immediately called CPs sister to check in. This did make me feel a wee bit creepy though since she enquired about the status of CP as well. I definitely didn’t ask her to call or to check on CP, but it still left me feeling slightly stalkerish. Post phone call we returned to chatting and found that we’d both be uber-nerds the next day and would be watching the House Marathon on USA. Ten hours of House M.D. Gotta love it! I also invited her over for scary movie night on Halloween since she said she wasn’t doing anything that evening. She left the party on the early side, but texted me later with her number and we got talking about Hugh Laurie (House!) being on Saturday Night Live and the missing the glory days of SNL. The next day there was some texting about the House Marathon and eventually she ended up at my place to watch the end of it. Since SWSYBN lacked cable and had to leave another friend’s house who had cable, I offered the services of the big, pretty, plasma screen. Her mom lives relatively close to me so she stopped over last night as well to alleviate some boredom with “Heroes” and a good game of Mario Party 3. She’s cute, quite fun, and has extremely long (albeit dyed) red hair. That’s like Kryptonite to my usually stoic willpower toward women. (HA! I just couldn’t say that with a straight face!) I’m trying to keep this on at friends for now as she mentioned she was “sorta” dating someone and a few other things. But, I figured now that I’m posting again you’ll hear about her… so know ya know! Now to think of a nickname since she reports “Nessie” is already taken, and the others are bland… Hmm…

So yeah, there’s life to date. Many changes, but still in the same place I’ve always been. Just a slacker going about the business of life. Now I just need to get that will to go out and have fun. I’ve basically had to force myself to get out of the house and do stuff lately because I realized I hadn’t actually even gone outdoors for like a week. Luckily the fresh job has helped the mindset, even if it’s not a great one. Having a fresh face around with She Who Shall Yet Be Named has helped brighten those silver linings with a little fun lately as well.

Another new thing will soon be the Daily Slacker. I’m working on actually getting an official website and also a new format, so stay tuned Slackers!

So yeah, The Slack is Back baby. See ya round!

The Silver Linings

2006-10-03T15:06:00.000-05:00

My what a roller-coaster weekend here in Slackerland.

I suppose it could start on Thursday with kickball. Our team had a double-header due to people pussing out in the rain the week before. Our first game was against a team who would have forfeited because they couldn't make it the previous week. They got saved by the rain-out and ended up beating us. In the second game we were losing by one in the third inning with people on second and third with one out. Just as our best kicker came up, boom, all the lights get turned off. The young park attendant's mom had to speak for him when we argued the contract was until 8:30, not 8. They ran off an didn't turn the lights back on. Yet another double header looms ahead... Luckily though, that meant a trip to the bar where we got to watch the twins pull of the extra innings win in my previous post. Extra-Inning-Silver Lining found.

So Friday the plan was to meet up with G-Spot after work and head to Gasthof's for Oktoberfest. She wasn't ready when I got there, but that's not unusual and not a big deal. Her sister and a friend of said sister were en route from Fargo for the weekend, so we ended up having to wait for them. An hour later they finally show and say they'll be ready to leave in 20 minutes. An hour and 20 minutes later we're finally leaving. Thank goodness for hearty German beer. We did one boot (a 2 liter glass boot the group passes) and 2 1-liter mugs later I felt better. It also helped that I Tom and some other people I knew there. German-Silver Lining found. Unfortunately this one was short lived. After the girls got the itch to leave and rushed out, we got back to G-Spot's place and I realized my Tab, Credit Card and ID were all at the bar still. Bah!

Saturday didn't start out well either. I met up with Conservative girl so we and her parents could head to the Renaissance Fair with the rent's new puppy. We were supposed to meet at 10:30, but knowing how they work I showed little late at 11. The parents arrived at 11:30 and we still didn't head out until close to 12. Luckily Squirt, the new 3 month old Silky Terrier, was adorable. We drove down to Ren Fest unloaded the vehicle and as I was picking up Squirt, YEEOUCH! A little bastard of a yellow jacket decides to sting me on the palm side of my right index finger. Luckily since I survived a sting in the throat in high school, I'm sure I'm not allergic.

I bought the two day pass, planning ahead since the plan was to meet with G-Spot at Ref Fest Sunday. So we wandered Ren Fest for a little bit. It didn't take long to realize that tiny adorable puppy = people (Ok, mostly woman) magnet. Come on, who wouldn't wanna play with this?

Yeah, I know I detract from the puppy. No, I don't have more pictures! ;O)

Anyway, just about the time that picture was taken I realize my hand it getting pretty stiff. I look down and say "Umm, maybe I am allergic to bees" as my index finger and half of my hand are twice the size they should be. Unfortunately, all the First Aid people there can do is give ice. The whole hand managed to swell up by the end of the day, but there was no sign of travel up the arm or any other problems so no worries came of it. The rest of the day was spent eating and watching a joust while somehow managing to wear all the little puppy energy out to the point she passed out on my arm. I wanted to go at about 4:30 to get home and meet up with friends for an event later. Since CG just HAD to show her parents this belly dance outfit she wasn't going to buy anyway we ended up there till well after 5. Squirt passed out in a ball on my lap for the ride home. Insanely Cute Puppy Silver lining found.

That evening I was supposed to meet up with another friend Whitey (that's the name he actually goes by, I can't give him anything better, heh) and some people to go to the Summit Big Brew. It was a music festival on Harriet Island with the top two bands being Soul Asylum and Cake. Living close by I jogged down to the Island because Whitey and the crew were supposed to be there. Much to my dismay however, it was 6:50 and I was hearing Soul asylum, who according to the Summit website went on at 8. I call Whitey to have him meet me at the gate with his ticket and find out he;s not even there yet. They had a ticket mix up and hadn't left yet. I called and let them know the schedule had changed and they said they were heading right out. I got let into the park without a ticket to see first aid because of my hand. Being the nice guy and thinking they were on their way I went back out after and waited for my ticket. Dumbass. At least I could hear the whole Soul Asylum concert well. Though it was said at 7:15 they'd be there in like 15-20, they didn't get there till 8:10. Luckily the Summit Beers they had on tap there went down quite easily and the Cake performance was ok. Silverish-amber Lining Found. John McRea the lead singer seemed like he may well have been drunk and was his usual arrogant self. The music was good though. Instead of bar hopping after, everyone else wussed out and I made the trek home.

The original plan for Sunday was to head out about 10 and get to the Ren Fest fairly early. The report that morning was the girls weren't in good shape from clubbing the night before and now were planning to be there at one. I headed down early to catch a show or two before the girls got there but ended up stuck in insane traffic. I called to warn them and found they now hopped to be there at two. I had mentioned I planned on leaving at about four because I wanted to be home for some stuff at 5. I got there and wandered for a bit checking out some of the last day deals when my hand started aching. Umm wow, it's bigger today. I get some ice and check in on G-spot. Bad news, looks like she's not going to make it to Ren fest by the time I leave, though I did mention she should give me a yell when she got here just in case. 3:30 brought a show with the very funny A Capella group Ten Second of Harmony so I figured I would see that and then head out. As per usual is was indeed funny. On the way out I hear "Slacker?" I turn to find Cute Paramedic and the Mistress o' Charades. While I still got the vibe that I'm on the outs with MoC, they did convince me I'd never make it to Slacker HQ by five (This was definitely true) and that I should stay for the Tortuga Twins final show. I text G-Spot to let her know I'm still there and get a call back: "Oh, I totally didn't think to call you, the car overheated, I won't be making it." Gee, thanks. I chill with MoC and CP order a last round of beers and settle in for the show. Like usual their show is great fun, and even more lewd since it was the last one. CP wanted to see her sister dance at the little closing Drum Dance so she and MoC jetted before the end of the show leaving me, yet again, alone at the fair. Things I should see coming. heh.

Luckily, during all of this I was informed that shortly after the Twins managed to beat the White Sox in their final game of the season, KC came back and took out Detroit. 37 minutes after their regular season was done, that fortunate turn of events moved my beloved Twinkies into soul possession First place for the American League Central Division. Woot. AL-Central-Champs Silver Lining Found.

I head home, stop at the store and pick up some benadryll and pizza. As you can see, my hand needed it:

Left - Normal sized left hand. Right - Giganto-sized right hand.

As my phone call Sunday night with CG for proof, by the end of the weekend though, all those silver linings were harder to keep track of. The weekend also proved I need a puppy. Yup.

My poor Twins dropped one to the A's today, but if they've proved anything, they're one hell of a scrappy bunch. Oakland watch out.

Oh well, time to make it though another week! Keep Slackin!

How 'bout them Twins?

2006-09-29T17:16:00.000-05:00

Damn it's a good time a year to be a baseball fan. Well, for those 11 teams that are in or fighting to be in the playoffs.

Last night was an epic game for the Twinkies. 2-1 Win in ten innings over the KC Royals. It moves them to a tie for first in the AL central and one game back from the Yanks in the battle for home field.

I don't think it's possible for a 2-1 game to get more exciting than that. Not only did you have Brad Radke coming back and pitching despite having a stress fracture and a torn labrum in his shoulder, but you had a nail biter finish. It went to the 9th inning 1-0. In the top of the 9th Denys Reyes managed to load the based with no outs. I repeat NO outs. The next two batters? Infield pop-fly, and a double play grounder. Whew!

Twins come up, give KC two quick outs before Joe Mauer visits the plate. In making his case why he should be the AL MVP and not the other M&M boy, he smacked a line drive homer into the second row of seats. Jeter who? Game tied, excitement level on a scale from 1-10 hits somewhere around 3,524.

The tenth comes and Joe Nathan does what he always does: three quick outs.

Twins get up, Morneau gets a hit. Rondell white manages a hit also and moves him around to third. With one out Jason Barlett gets up to bat. All he has to do is get the ball in the outfield... and he did! He popped what would have been a ground rule double (had it not scored the winning run) to center and the Twins took the game.

Now that's damn good baseball.

Here's hoping they can turn that sweet win into a division title and maybe even a World Series Title.

Oh and to any of you who might just happen to matter in the AL MVP voting? Read this: MLBs Big Questions on ESPN

I really hope he's right in that very last paragraph as well!

Any of you that would like to become Twins fans, even if only temporarily, are gladly welcome :O) Even you FINY, if you can get past that sweep in Fenway. There's definitely enough Minnesota Nice to go around!

Finally, some good TV!

2006-09-21T14:20:00.000-05:00

Mel Brooks, You rule!

Spaceballs: The Cartoon

Prepare for Ludicrous Speed!

Being Busy = Bad Blogging

2006-09-19T16:45:00.000-05:00

Abundant alliteration is always amazingly annoying, agreed?

Good.

Heh.

ANYWAY, yeah thanks you the wonderful Orientation Girl, Kickball, D, and my fun new job, last week was Busy. Yes, with a capital B.

So OG hit town on Monday. I always look forward to her visiting not only because she's a smart, fun, beautiful person, but it always means SHOT LIST!! As you have been informed in previous posts we started a tradition long ago to work on the Stub and Herb's Shot List. They have 101 shots listed and we decided they must ALL be done and they only really count if we do them together. Previous to this trip we had done just about 70 of them (The links above show some of the last rounds). This time we realized an error in our ways, we have done WAY to many of the good ones and left too many bad ones. The show must go on however and it was time to suck it up and go. We spaced this one across two nights, but here's the damage:

Day 1 (Monday):
1. Undercurrents: Vodka, Blue Curaco, and Drizzle some Chambord in the bottom. This is always our traditional starting shot.
2. Fireball: Cinnamon schnapps topped with Tobasco Sauce. I had done this before, and didn't really care to revisit it, but rules are rules. I manned up and later severely regretted licking my lips afterward.
3. Afghan Monkey: 151, Melon, Vodka, Pineapple. You would think all that fruitiness would kill some of the 151's potency, yeah, not so much when it's all schnapps.
4. Sour Apple: Apple Pucker, Cranberry. We needed something good. heh.
5. Rum Yum: Malibu, Meyer's dark, peach, OJ, Cranberry. This one was pretty good too, reminded me how good dark rum is so I've had to mix a few drinks with it at home lately!
6. Bacardi Buzzer: Bacardi, Melon, Pineapple: At this point we didn't care to read ingredients and just picked the next one on the list that wasn't crossed out, turned out OK.

Since we had had a couple Chambord Long Islands before hitting Stub's we decided that was about enough for the night!

Day 2 (Tuesday):
1. Lunch Box: Amaretto, Beer and OJ. This one was done as a drop shot, you had a glass with the beer and OJ, then you dropped a shot glass full of amaretto in it and chugged. It was definitely as weird as it sounded.
2. Cherry Bomb: Wild Cherry, Bacardi, Sweet & Sour. Since she had to be at the airport by 4:30am this was the last on and OG wanted to go out with something decent, so this was it. Not bad, but they went a little heavy on the bacardi.

And so concluded another visit from the Real OG and another foray into The Shot List. I'm not looking forward to some still remaining like Prairie Fair (Tequila and Tobasco) or Rocket Fuel (151 and Rumpleminze) but they will all be done some day! Hopefully the OG can make it back up to the cities again soon! Always a blast to have the girl in town! Especially when I get some of those $3/gallon fill-ups back in the form of shots! :O)

Wednesday was recovery since I ended up drinking with some of her coworkers till altogether too late. I basically passed out and recouped for Kickball the next day.

Thursday, of course brought Kickball, and even though the Police decided to ruin the fun and not have alcohol at the park, we still had a blast. My team lost a close one but I was able to develop a shallow left hand curve ball to compliment my killer right hand one and my fastball and offspeed pitches. Yes, this is with a kickball. Yes, I know I have mad skills!

We did however manage to exact large amount of revenge in the form of flip cup. Mind you while other teams have average ages in the low to mid twenties, I am the second youngest on the team at 28. Team Purple just can't be beat on the flip cup table. Now we just gotta work on the on-field skills then we'll truely live up to our team name of Gym Class Legends!

During the day I got a new prospect on the dating scene. Now, OG, before you read this and continue the lecture about not looking for dates I shall inform you she emailed ME, I was not doing the looking. So shut you pie hole! *hugs* Anyway, The Nurse (long term care)is a pretty brunette from the Mini-Apple. She shares my passions for squirt gun fights and live music and seems like she'd be a heck of a lot of fun. The semantics for a date are being worked out so I shall keep you fine readers informed!

Friday, D showed up in town from up north in Brrrrrrrmidji. He had gotten some tickets to the Gopher football game Saturday. We decided we couldn't just sit around the house, so we piled in a car and headed to the theater. Crank is not really is good a movie as I hope, yeah it definitely had some good parts, but given the premise and the name, I expecet a faster pace. It was alright though, definitely rent worthy, maybe theater worthy if you go to a theater with good sound.

The weekend was filled with football. I hung around the house and got some stuff done while D took Big Mike to the game since he turns the big 3-0 on, well, today! Hung out with them a bit that night. The Gophs managed to decimate Temple by a measly score of 62-0. You don't even wanna know what they're rushing yardage was. It was sick. Sunday was of course devoted to watching NFL games. I mean, what else is a guy to do on Sundays? Now if only my Pack wasn't stocked with rookies...

Anyway yeah, so here we are, back to the present. Tomorrow I'll be back with a Special Feature: Slacker's Cell Phone Clean-up! It's been way to long since I shed the numbers of people who changed theirs, who I just don't talk to, or, well, don't even remember who they are! Should be interesting, check back!

Damn I'm Tired.

2006-09-08T13:11:00.000-05:00

So, I get a text message from the wonderful Orientation Girl yesterday. It's four sentences:

Update your blog.
Will b in town 11th - 13th.
C u monday.
Bring shot list.

After getting over the elation of actually being in town for this visit (I was in Michigan last time she was here) I thought I better check to see when I last updated my blog. Two weeks. Holy crap. How exactly did 14 days feel like 4? Being altogether too busy, that's how.

So let's see what I've done in the last three weeks:

-Redesigned a new device for the company's medical procedure.
-Went to Michigan and camped out at MIS and watched some NASCAR for four days.
-While in MI, Celebrated my birthday and got way freakin drunk on Jim Beam and Canadian beer.
-Returned to work and tested prototype design. Found that for it to the job it's made to do it would heat up to the point of burning flesh. This is bad.
-Went to the Renaissance Festival.
-Played a couple games of kickball when they weren't monsooned out.
-Went to a couple parties at friend's houses. One that was basically so I could meet a girl. I like her, but didn't really get to talk with her much. Hopefully another opportunity will present itself.
-Played an epic game of Axis and Allies with D and Big Mike till 7am.
-Later that day, went to Ren Fest (Again) met up with OzzyC (see pic below), then met up with Conservative Girl at the State Fair.
-Ate a LOT on two different trips to the State Fair.
-Scrapped the concept for the medical device and started on a new concept. So far it works well, next step is refining the design.
-More Kickball, got our first non loss, though it wasn't a win either.
-Lost sanity.
-Look into getting a new car. Really like the Toyota Yaris and Honda Fit. Can't afford either.
-I think I may have occasionally slept. I think.

Anyway yeah, sorry for the lack of bloggage. I have been insanely busy. I shall put for a much greater effort. And I really need to get better at this sleep thing. Problem is it's not looking likely. Tomorrow is the kickball Mid-Season Party. Monday OG will be bringing her hotness into town. Too much fun is to be had, I'll sleep when I'm dead ;O)

Allright slackers, have a great weekend and I'll check in on Monday with the Shotlist that will be attacked like that reporter from XETV once OG gets here.

OzzyC and Chief Slacker hanging out at Ren Fest.

Thank you!

2006-08-23T13:34:00.000-05:00

Thank you Betsy Hannaford (and daughter) for your voices of protest for while we were stuck in traffic!

And a HUGE thanks to this guy, who may just be my favorite Minnesotan right now:

Photo by MN Publius

Reason #8,247 to Hate George W. Bush

2006-08-23T10:07:00.000-05:00

It's not like I really need another reason, there, are, lots. Even a song.

But yesterday Mr. President, you pissed me off and managed to prove you don't give a rat's ass about normal people. Instead of letting good people get home to their friends and families after work, you forced them to sit idle on Twin Cities highways so you could hobnob with rich people.

Now, no my way home I have this neat little sign that tells me how long a good chunk of my trip is going to take. Usually it varies from 9-13 minutes under normal traffic. Last night, it was over FOUR TIMES the the normal and, well, looked something like this:

Yeah, that bad.

So yeah, Mr. President, while I'm sure you have no concept of traffic anymore since you've been chauffered around most of your life, it REALLY sucks. I think you're just lucky for Minnesota Nice (well, that and your highly trained Secret Service bodyguards) or you probably would have been the vicitm of some serious road rage. Or at least a stern finger shaking.

While I'm sure your oil buddies love the profit of all us poor commuters wasting $3 a gallon gass waiting for your motorcade, at least have the courtesy next time you visit of not leaving town until AFTER rush hour.

Thanks,
Chief Slacker

Coming Soon: Why I was gone again, the NASCAR/Birthday weekend recap.

Meet and Greet x 2

2006-08-14T09:30:00.000-05:00

This weekend turned out to be a good one in the meeting of women department! Not only did I get to meet Double Blind Girl but I also ended up being matchmade with yet another gal as well!

The Double Blind Date wasn't really much of a "date" since it ended up being her and I as well as Conservative Girl, her brother and DBG's Coworker with the Same Name. It was fun though, we all met up at Irish Fair and enjoyed the time. DBG is pretty, not my usual type but pretty none the less. We chatted about work and all that jazz over a couple beers and some live music. She lives pretty close to me so hopefully we can meet up and hang out again soon. It basically went as expected, nothing major came of it, but hopefully it'll be a new friend around!

Also at the Irish Fair, there was a booth in the marketplace tents called Lisdoonvarna Come to Minnesota. Apparently, Lisdoonvarna is a town in Ireland and every year in September is becomes a site of pilgrimage for single from all over the world. People meet up there and matchmakers will try and find them their perfect match. So you got to sit down and have an interview with this matchmaker and she scouted around the Irish Fair looking for a girl to be that perfect match. I figured why not and gave it a try. Yesterday the matchmaker called and said she had found someone she thought I would like and that The Match wanted to meet me. So I called The Match and we arranged to meet up at my place and then walk over to one of the local bars and have a drink. We hung out for about an hour or so and talked it up. She is quite pretty, and as an added plus, quite active with sports and whatnot. She's in soccer and volleyball leagues and as an added bonus, she's in a kickball league as well! She didn't stay long since she had a pretty long weekend, but we talked of getting together one day soon when we could. I have Tuesday night free, so I figure I will ask her if she wants to grab a bite to eat after work then. I'll be gone for most of the week, so if that doesn't work out hopefully we can get together next week.

The end of this week and through the weekend I'll be gone to Michigan to watch cars go in circles and take part in the general debauchery that is NASCAR at Michigan International Speedway. The last two years have been quite fun, as evidenced by the pictures from last year! Much fun was had and I'm sure will be again this year!

Here's hoping for some good dates and fun times at the races in the next week or so! In the meantime, keep slackin people!

And today we meet!

2006-08-12T13:47:00.000-05:00

So yeah, the double blind date wil be today.

I called her Wednesday night and we chatted for a little while but she had a friend in town. She works at one of the companies my old place was in competition with but not the new place. She lives about 2 miles from me so nice location.

Anyway, the plan is to meet up and go to Irish Fair this today. Irish fair is what it sounds like, lots of Irish Food Music and Culture. Definitely a fun time.

So yeah, that's where it's at, I'll report back soon ;O)

The Double Blind Date

2006-08-09T16:12:00.000-05:00

First off, make sure ya doing miss the Festivals post on the AV Edition!

So yeah, a very odd, yet intriguing situation has arisen. Apparently The Best Friend had been talking to one of his customers, a nice middle aged woman. Somehow during the conversation down in Madison, they got to talking about her daughter who had recently graduated from college and moved up to the Twin Cities for a job and knew no one.

Yeah, you're guessing on this one already aren't ya?

Anyway, TBF of course mentions that I live up here and that I'm a pretty nice guy. Thus, the colluding began. After some conversation between the two, it was decided that the woman would give The Best Friend her daughters number to give to me while she would inform said daughter I would be calling. TBF then called me, altogether too excited and delivered me the news.

So I now have this girl's number.

This girl whom I've never met, seen, or really know anything about.

From My Best Friend, Whom has never met, seen or really knows much about.

From a woman who is: either an exceedingly caring, yet sometimes embarrassing mother like my own and, well, most of the good ones, Or: Well, who cares about the or, it's probably the first one!

So not only is it a Blind setup, it's Double Blind.

TBF is of course hoping this gets me a date and hopefully a girlfriend or at least laid. He apparently head from "sources" that she's "hot". The mother, I'm sure, is hoping for more of a helpful friend near her daughter's new home.

So there it is, tonight I'm going to be calling someone whom I know nothing about other than a first name and a phone number. While I would definitely call no matter what since I'm a nice, helpful guy like that, the data from the "sources" adds at least a little intrigue. Don't worry though, for the time being I'm going to ignore the golden hearted hornball on one shoulder and listen to the embarrassingly sweet lady on the other!

I'll let y'all know tomorrow what's become of the situation!

AV - Summer Festivals!

2006-08-09T11:33:00.000-05:00

So the AV Edition post about all the fun summer festivals I've been to and am going to is up! Stop on over to chack it out and I'll be back later to tell you about the interesting Double Blind Date situation I'm in...

Wow!

2006-08-08T13:28:00.000-05:00

So yeah, I just realized how long it's been since I posted. Ok, well not JUST since Orientation Girl heckled me for not posting a couple days ago. But yeah, I JUST got around to writing about how I realized I haven't posted.

OG guessed right when she said my job must be either going well or very bad since I haven't posted for a while. Luckily she was right with the former and not the latter!

The downside of having a job I actually enjoy is taht it doesn't seem like work. If it doesn't seem like work it feels kinda like I'm slacking when I'm really not. I made my first every prototype medical device and it was used during a test procedure on a sheep. It worked geat in open air but not so much in a fluid rich environment. Hopefully the o-rings I ordered will help with that!

Anyway I am back! Here are the posts you have to look forward to this week:

Today:
- When Net Surfing Goes Too Far

Tomorrow:
- The Double Blind Date
- VISUAL EDITION - The Summer of Festivals

Thurs:
- Fantasy Football is BACK!

Racing the Storm

2006-07-25T17:22:00.000-05:00

So yeah yesterday I'm at work and I read in the news that we'll have a storm rolling into the area. Yeah, still didn't have a window in poor little Ally the Altima.

I did have plastic wrap to put over the window opening, but with the heat wave and not being able to see well I didn't want to tape it in place. So, the plastic only worked if the car was not in motion, otherwise it blew out and flapped in the wind.

It gets to be about 4:30 and I check radar. Yeah, Hi, Storm! So I decide leaving an hour early would be in my best interest. I head out and see some ugly ass black clouds in the distance and decide I need to haul ass. I hopped in the car and realized one problem: The gas gauge was past empty. I stop and put in ten bucks quick (and at $3.09/gal that doesn't buy much) and then resume hauling ass.

I get just about half way home and this is the view out of the front of my car:

I stopped under an overpass and tried to get the plastic in place, but it would only stay for a couple miles so eventually I just gave up. Poor Ally is still drying out and there's another storm rolling though tonight. Luckily though, I can finally use my credit card again and got a new window put in this after noon. Now I just need to get the bra put back on the front so ally can be a proper little lady again!

Ok, time to go see if I can outrun today's storm! At least this time I don't have to worry about getting wet!

Keep slacking peoples :O)

Dear Acrobatic Motorists...

2006-07-18T14:14:00.000-05:00

While flying through the air with the greatest of ease may sound like a good idea, while driving a car, it's not.

In the last two days it appears a few of you stunt driver wannabes have taken "flipping someone off" to new extremes. Whether your vehicular barrel rolls are intentional or not, rush hour traffic is not the place for them.

Two days in a row now you kamikaze commuters have hosed up my morning drive something fierce. This open letter is a plea to please take your highway hijinks to roads other than the ones I use.

Yes, having your car on the side of the road roof down, wheels up does garner a very large audience, but spectators are NOT what I want in front of me whilst trying to get to work. A ninety minute rubbernecker filled commute is definitely not a good start to a day.

So please, please dear maniac motorists, keep the wheels on the ground or I know it's only matter of time before one of your car cartwheels lands on my poor cursed Ally Altima.

Thank You,

Chief Slacker

Yay for Parties!

2006-07-17T15:27:00.000-05:00

So, the End of season party for the Spring Season of kickball came and went this past weekend. It was definitely a good time with lots of drinking and a good amount of flip cup!

Our benchmark for the night was competing with the $900 bar tab we had for the mid-season party. The beverages consumed that night were documented a couple posts back. For this party we got $1 drinks from 7-8 (For this posts drinks means, rail drinks, call drinks like Captain Cokes and Domestic beers), $2 Drinks from 8-11 and then expensive stuff after. By 10:50, our tab, not including tip was $73. Now that's good timing, using up our $900 (once a good tip is included since we had three bartenders and a whole raise bar area all to ourselves) just as the drinks were going to turn expensive. Gotta love that!

Everything else that night went well and made for a very good party. Yet again I managed to get zero action but oh well. The liquor did lube me up enough to tell one gorgeous girl from kickball how incredibly beautiful I thought she was, but alas, that went nowhere. For the record, The Challenege is still in effect. Get cracking people.

Anyway yes, much fun was had and now it's time to look ahead to the Fall season that's just starting to get momentum. Hopefully it will be as fun as the last three :O) If you wanna find kikcball or start it in your area, check out Kickball.com.

Later slackers!

We Are the Champions!!!

2006-07-14T16:27:00.000-05:00

Yes, your dear chief slacker is now a champion. At what you may ask?

KICKBALL BABY!!! Woot!

So yeah, the Godless Whores and all their debauchery shall now forever be enshrined as the Spring 2006 WAKA MN Twin Cities Division Champions!

Winning the league was no small feat. There were ten teams in the league and when the season ended, the Whores and two other teams, TILF and Long Strokes were tied for first record wise at 7-1. While we might not have had talent, we had a ton of heart and healthy supply of alcohol. And hey, we wouldn't be the Godless Whores if we didn't get lucky once in a while right? Most of our games we trailed early but managed to eke out wins. The other two teams were arguably more athletic, and DEFINITELY a lot more full of themselves. While we G-Dubs were having toga, superhero, catholic schoolgirl, 70's, pajama and wig nights, they were being overly bitchy toward refs and generally making the games not as fun. Gladly in the end, we trounced them all!

The playoffs were four rounds. The first round was a play-in for the bottom ranked teams, then a regular 8 teams seeded-bracket from there on out. Due to the Runs Scored-Against Average for the teams we were ranked third. The rankings from first to worst were: TILF, Long Strokes, GWs, Rubba Bubbas, Kick This, The A Holes, Mu Shu Pork Kickda, Mighty Mosquitoes, and the Vistorian Gazing ORBS.

In the first round we matched up against the 6th ranked team "The A-Holes." We tried our best to keep this game light-hearted since the last time we played there ended up being a WHOLE lot of drama. There was some shoddy reffing and one of our team members getting way to feisty with some taunting and a beer crushing incident. This time it went much better, we all stayed friendly and it ended up being a really good, close game. We chose to use the standard method of mostly bunts to fill the bases then bigger kicks to try and drive them home. The Holes were a little more aggressive with their kicks choosing to use more hard kicked grounders than bunts. We got a 2 run lead but they came right back and tied it. In the 4th we scored a run to get us the lead and our defense held strong in the top of the 5th to end the game winning 3-2.

The Final Four pitted us against Long Strokes, the one team who beat us during the regular season. And by beating us, I mean kicked our asses. While a little of it might have been bad reffing, the score in that game was still 11-4. No arguing that. And to top it off they were pretty big jerks during the game so it made it a good deal less fun. Anyway, this game turned out to be much much different. After some other teams had mentioned that they didn't like LS's attitudes they definitely had toned it down a little, but were still pretty cocky. That cockiness went away as we started racking up the runs. We got a couple runs in the second inning sticking with the bunt to load method then a couple of well placed kicks. They managed to keep the game close by shutting us out the next inning or two, but then the floodgates opened. Due to a number of blown catches and some nice aggressive base running we brought home seven more runs and effectively took any fight right out of the Long Strokes. Their pitcher basically gave up and was just kin chucking the ball. They did manage to score three runs in the bottom of the 5th via some REALLY bad overthrows that resulted in a little league home run. However, in the end we paid back the trouncing we received by giving one back and won 9-6.

For the championship game we ended up facing off against 5th seed Kick This. They managed to take out first ranked TILF and we were glad they did. Both of the cocky, mouthy teams went down. Apparently TILF, at one point in the game, turned on their fairly mouthy captain and told her to can it. Alas, the Whores and one of the most fun teams, the "pinkies" due to their shirt color, in the league made it to the finals.

We played hard, but definitely kept it light and had fun during the game. Luckily there was very good reffing and all the teasing and mocking durig the game was friendly. There was lots of cheering though, so much so that we actually had a visit from the Park Police due to a noise complaint. I'm sure I was a good part of that because, well, I'm most certainly not a quiet guy on the field. The game was originally supposed to be 7 innings instead of the usual five, but since it was getting cloudy we made it just five. We kept chipping away and played some really good conservative defense to hold them to only one run. Offensively we kept chipping away and managed to rack up 4 runs before a storm rolled in. We had to call the game in the 4th due to lightning, but since three full innings had been played, The Godless Whores won the game!

After the game we joined the pink team at a local bar and partied it up. We filled the Kickball Cup with a pitcher of beer and passed it around and had all sorts of fun. We even scheduled a scrimmage game against Kick This next week. There were cheers's all around to beating the cocky teams and much other fun!

This Saturday is the End of Season party and we'll have another $900 bar tab to consume! Last time we managed to have 76 pitchers of beer, 50 kamikaze shots and a couple of 100 ounce fishbowls. This party should be even better with a $2 drink special almost all night and a $1 drink special for the first hour. Look out Lodge Bar, here we come!

Anyway, all hail the Champions! Congrats Godless Whores!

The Curse Continues

2006-07-07T15:47:00.000-05:00

**An open letter to my new "Friend" from last night**

Dear Dickhead,

I know you think you're all cool. I'm sure you're riding high because you believe you got away with you little heist. You may have thought it was fun to smash the passenger window of my car and steal my pants with my wallet and money in them. You obviously have some big balls since the car was in plain view of a busy intersection and also a busy restaurant with an outdoor patio. What you are short on is brains.

Little do you know I now know exactly which gas station you unsuccesfully tried to use my credit cards at and almost surely have video of you and the car's tank you filled up. If by some chance you are not caught, I wish to warn you that karma's a bitch so you better start watching your ass pansy ass little fucknut.

Sincerely,

Chief Slacker

**End Letter**

So yeah, last night while I was having fun playing kickball, some ass decided it would be a fun idea to break the passenger window of my car and grab the work pants I had changed out of. Along with them he got my wallet, credit cards, IDs of all sorts and probably about $60 in cash. He managed to leave a big dent in the roof as well.

Obviously, the Curse has not yet worn off and I an getting mroe anf more scared to drive my car. First the rear end with no damage. Then the idiot parking leaving a red streak and crease. Then, then running of stop sign and marring the front of the car and now Dickhead smahsing my window and stealing my pants and wallet.

Seriously, I SO wish i could afford a new car right now, Ally is most certainly cursed.

OH! And I forgot when I went down to madison this past weekend the check engine light came on. Fun Freakin Fun.

Seriously, let the donations to the Get Slacekr and UnCursed car fun flow in!

Ok, time ot head to the gas station they stopped and and see if they have security cameras.

Later people!

Oh Come ON Congress!

2006-07-05T16:40:00.000-05:00

If anyone wanted proof the Congress seriously had their priorities in the wrong place, look no further than this article:

Christian Film's PG Rating Troubles Congress

Are you serious? It's P-Fricken-G people. Over half of disney's cartoons end up with a PG rating now. I'm sure that if this football coach had been struggling with a Satanic Cult the same politicians would have begged for it to be PG-13 or something. Even if the rating WAS made purely because it was discussing christianity (which it was NOT), why is that such a bad thing? I think "Parental Guidance" should be not only suggested, but expected involved when it comes to the topic of religion.

Anyway Congress, stop pandering to the overtly religious and do your damn job. Myabe, jsut MAYBE, you should worry much more about some Crazy Communist Leader launching missiles toward our country instead of movie ratings?

Holidaze

2006-07-05T16:25:00.000-05:00

Hope you all had a great 4th of July weekend!

Mine kinda sucked, but those things happen! ;O)

I had hoped to get some people to come down to Madison with me to check out the annual Rhythm and Booms fireworks show. The only one who was interested was Conservative Girl. Instead of coming however she chose to sit at home all day and hope they played a little 5-second "hello" from her sorta-boyfriend in Iraq. Nevermind I had the DVR set to record this for her. Can anyone else say "puppy dog?"

I hung out with the mom and some other relatives for a bit on Saturday until the fireworks were rained out. We did meet this adorable girl name Joy on the buss back though. You couldn';t help but feel sorry for her that she was only in town till the next morning and the fireworks got rained out for her.

Sunday night they got the fireworks going, though they did have one glitch part way through. Still, the fireworks were AMAZING like usual. It's always a great show to see 10,000 plus fireworks shot off to explode along with the music. When the singer talks about love, hearts explode, when they talk about rain, huge waterfall effect shells go off. The show definitely lives up to it's billing as one of the best in the nation.

Monday I came back up here to the cities hoping there'd be more going on. I ended up hanging out with G-Spot and her little brother and catching the end of the Taste of Minnesota before we showed him around to some bars in the cities.

On the 4th basically all of my plans fell through and I ended up spending it by myself playing WoW. I took a break to walk down to the hill by the Cathedral and watch the Taste fireworks from there. Also had to light s pack of firecrackers, the 4th just isn't the same without there being some possibility of lighting myself on fire ;O)

Anyway, hope you all had a kick ass time and didn't manage to blow yourselves up! Keep slacking people!

Holidaze

2006-07-05T16:09:00.000-05:00

My holiday weekend turned out to be much less eventful than I had hoped, but not bad.

I went dot to Madison for Rhythm and Booms like usual. Unfortunately, I couldn't corral an friends to make the trip with me this year. Conservative girl said she wanted to go, but instead sat around all day at her parent's place like a good little puppy dog hoping a very short recorded "hello" from her sorta-boyfriend would be shown. Never mind I had set the DVR to record this for her anyway. Oh well, at least she can't complain about me not inviting her since I have the past two years now.

The fireworks got rained out on Saturday night, but they shot them off on Sunday and they were AMAZING like usual, I took pictures with my phone, but they pretty much suck. Gotta love 12,000 or so fireworks shot off in beat to the music and doing stuff like hearts when the signer mentions love!

I came back Monday to the cities because I thought there would be a lot going on. Late Monday night I went out with G-Spot and hit up the Taste of Minnesota festival, but we got there to late to do any real gorging. Got to see the fireworks though. Afterward we hung out with her little brother a little bit and took him to some places in the twin cities.

Tuesday ended up sucking ass. I had one party I could have gone too, but underestimated how late it would go and missed out. I knew of other friends (one of whom was Kickball Girl) who were out making a day of it, but when I tried to get back a hold of them I was unsuccessful. I ended up just playing WoW and walking to the Cathedral hill by my place and watching the fireworks from there. Had to light off some fire crackers as well, what's the 4th without making sure there's some chance of me lighting myself on fire? :O)

Anyway, hope you all had a great 4th and no one got blown up!

Keep Slackin!

My Car, is Cursed.

2006-06-29T15:07:00.000-05:00

Before I blabber about my car, I have to say that Pajama night tonight at kickball could get interesting. My new team this year, The Godless Whores, is a fun bunch. Both Superhero and Toga nights went well. Don't ask me what superhero I was, I dunno, American Weirdo? heh. Anyway, yeah, much fun will be had ;O)

Anyway, yeah, Car = Cursed. Poor old "Ally" the 95 Nissan Altima. Since the Friday before I started at my new job, it's been hit by other vehicles THREE FREAKIN TIMES. And that's just that I know of since I don't exist in my car 100% of the time. That Friday some dumbass rear-ended be while I was stopped for a red turn arrow. He got lucky there was no damage short of a tiny little paint chip. The second one was a week and a half ago (or so, since I didn't notice the damage right away) some bastard in a fire-engine red vehicle apparently turned a little too wide while parking and managed to leave a twelve inch streak of punk-ass car's paint from the bumper onto the fender and crinkled said fender. Never did find this guy, but believe me, I look at the front of every bright red car I see. Then, yesterday I'm driving to work and Captain Numb-nuts decided to blow through a stop sign right in front of me. Lucky for him I had my breaks fixed a month ago so instead of completely T-boning him, I was able to stop enough so that he only tore the front end cover and scraped the bumper while I dented his door and rear fender. I got his name and info, he got a traffic ticket for running a stop sign and promises to pay for a new front end cover plus $100. You better believe I got it in writing.

In this time frame I have also been cut off on the interstate so severely that I had to swerve onto the shoulder once and screech the tires while breaking once. I swear my car has some cloaking device that randomly makes it invisible to other drivers.

Oh that and hitting a pothole the other day produces the following sounds: "Clunk, Crack, Sproing, clunka clunka." That would be the sound of a coil spring breaking.

I don't know what I or my car did that got it such bad Carma (hehe, get it? Oh god that was lame...) but it sucks none the less.

I am hereby starting a charity drive. We'll call it Safe Wheels for Slacker 2006. The goal of the drive is to either get Slacker a better car that is not cursed, or raise enough money to hire some voodoo lady to remove the nasty hex.

Please please contribute what you can to this, the roads are dangerous enough as it is without having a large meta-physical target type thing on my vehicle. At this rate it's just a matter of time before something like THIS happens to me! ;O)

P.S. If you or someone you know is a crazy voodoo lady who happens to be good at removing curses and stuff, you know, like, get a hold of me PLEASE! :O)

I Heart Dayquil

2006-06-27T13:28:00.000-05:00

Ok, Ok, so I might have the cheapy CVS knockoff but, whatever, It still rules!

I've been feeling pretty crappy since Thursday. I woke up and just felt horrible. Of course later in the day I started to feel better so I'm like "Sure, I can still go to kickball." Yeah, Hi. I'm Dumbass, nice to meet you.

Anyway, Friday sucked, but I made it through. Saturday I managed to scrounge up some cough syrup and it helped a little, but not much. Went out far to much this weekend: Grad Party for Kickball Girl, Twins game (They totally beat up those Cubbies hehe!), and a Pride festival. It was nice to get outside, but man was I worn out sunday night.

Anyway today I decided I couldn't function at work with a stuffed up face and chest and coughing like crazy so I stopped by CVS on the way in to work. Picked up some kleenex and some of their "Daytime" equivalent to Dayquil. Holy crap this stuff rules. No more sniffles, almost no cough, no sore throat.

Yes, I heart you Dayquil.

Ok, now that I don't have an excuse to not work, (well, not like I NEED one) I should get to doing some work. Later slackers!

Down in the Valley...

2006-06-19T09:30:00.000-05:00

Today's Happy to Crappy rating is somewhere in the "Eh" to Dumpster Diving range. I had a pretty good weekend, but it's funny how one little thing can bring ya down.

The weekend was indeed good, Friday I just chilled out at home. I really didn't have the energy to go out, but the rest of the weekend was a different story.

Saturday I got up, played a little WoW, then worked on the garden for a while. I was supposed to go running with Kickball girl, but I got a nasty bruise on my hip playing kickball and running was not really on my to do list. I had to start chipping away at the jungle of weeds and crap that have sprouted up. I'm determined to actually plant something this year and get that sidewalk into something decent looking. It's a slow process that I should have started way earlier, but it's going.

After the garden I cleaned up and headed over to the kickball mid-season party. We rented out the back couple rooms of a pretty cool bar in Minneapolis. We of course had a flip-cup tournament and the best part was a $900 bar tab. We managed to rack up 57 pitchers of Miller products and also had 49 Kamikazes along with some fishbowls and other various alcohol. It was definitely a good night! Unfortunately no good makeout stories or anything of the sort, but it still was fun!

Sunday, I slept in for a while due to a late night then got up and putzed around the house a bit. Eventually I met up with Conservative girl and we hit up a local Art Festival for a while. I bought some cool photographs of old cars to add to the living room. Slowly getting the classic car / 30's-40's garage theme going there. Afterward I met up with Kickball Girl at her grandparents plan on a little lake/pond. Afterward we made a pit stop at her place so she could shower and then headed over to the patio at Brits to relax and have a bottle of wine. We have another "date" scheduled for Tuesday, we'll probably go running and then go from there, but we'll see. I'm really not putting much optimism in this one, but hanging out with a friend is cool.

Somewhere in the midst of all that I got a new "friend" request on MySpace. Yes, I have a MySpace page. No, I'm not going to link it because, well, I have this huge gut instinct that MySpace is completely evil. I mean it IS owned by Rupert Murdoch, like that's not evil enough. Anyway, turns out that friend request is a girl I had been friends with for a while, but she slowly faded out of touch when she moved in with a guy. I'm not sure how she found me considering I have like zero info on there, but cool anyway.

I logged in Sunday night to see if she had responded to my email and noticed my friends list had dropped form three to two. Eclectic girl, the main reason I started a MySpace page had removed me from her friends. Sad. I guess that ends a to-be-written chapter of Slacker's Dating Odyssey. Oh well.

Not like that one was going anywhere, but the dead ends are really getting old. The Cute Paramedic returned, only to disappear again like usual. KBG is back, but I seriously doubt that will go anywhere either. There aren't really that many options out there either. There is one incredibly beautiful girl in Kickball I'd ask out, but I'm fairly certain I wouldn't have much of a chance there either. Maybe I should do the CG thing and date the family of someone who's completely unavailable for a year and hope the person turns out to be worth it. Nah maybe not.

Anyway, time to get to work and all that! Keep slackin people!

Yay Yay Deputay!

2006-06-14T11:34:00.000-05:00

So yeah, as I said way back in the one year anniversary post, I decided it's time to refresh the ranks of deputies. Some have moved on to focus on other parts of life and some have disappeared, and in one extremely sad case, passed away :O(

The Ethos of Slacking must propagate through society, no more of this uptight dog eat dog world. People need to learn to slack, to have fun!

So, today I am introducing some new deputies and also extending an invite to all of you to become deputies as well. You just need to try and fulfill your duties to some extent and if you happen to be in a state where there are no deputies, you're a shoo in ;O)

That said, here are the newest additions to the International Bureau of Slacking!

Hailing from the Bureau's home state of Minnesota, welcome Aliecat and her Kitty Kat Lounge!

Finally expanding into New England, and coming to us from New Jersey (Well, at least I THINK so from what I could glean out of his blog) say hi to Porq and Porq Barrel Stuffs!

Continuing the northeastern expansion I'm adding a pair of deputies from New York, since there's WAY to many people there who need some slack in their life... Hellos to FINY at Miles from Fenwmay and also Esther with Jumping off a Bridge!

Congrats to all of you, go forth and slack! You all will get badges as soon as I get a graphics editor again and can make them!

As for the rest of you, who wants to be a deputy? :O)

Drinkers Rejoice! With Coffee!!

2006-06-12T17:23:00.000-05:00

So all the self analyzing (See the post below) just about drove me to drink, but then I thought about all the jokes made about how my liver must be hard as a rock by now. Drink = Fun, Cirrhosis of the Liver = Not so much.

Fret no more drinkers of the world, some kick ass doctors made a discovery that will make you raise your glass... of coffee!

While the old remedy of drinking coffee to sober up might not be true (It's not people, now hush up your wired drunks you), it turns out coffee does tend to counteract the toxic effects alcohol can have on your liver.

http://www.startribune.com/789/story/488366.html

Yeah yeah, they also say drinking less is a good way to avoid it as well, but that's like saying there's smog in the air, which can give you cancer, so stop breathing.

So drink up people, just try not to drink both at the same time. Extremely energetic drunks make me want to punch them in the face. Just be glad I'm not a violent guy.

Maybe that guy I used to work with who spiked his morning coffee with Jim Beam really had the right idea though...?

So yeah, time to drink away the self loathing from below... with a coffee ;O)

The Secret to My Success Suckage

2006-06-12T11:03:00.000-05:00

So as you've read through the 13 or so months this blog has been active, my history with the opposite sex has been, well, not so spiffy. With some of the women, like The Cute Paramedic or OCD Anxiety Girl, the issues seem to be on their side of the fence. But with many of the others I have to believe the trouble comes from my side. Let's take Eclectic Girl as the most recent example. I have to believe any issues there, would be much the same as any of my other recent relationships. Looking back at this one, the answer was fairly clear:

My ADD Brain.

While I might not hear from her again, I was lucky enough to at least get one message from Eclectic Girl. It turns out, my mixed up brain managed to turn one mistake into about, oh, six or seven. Or More.

Her message was a pretty good rundown on the ways I screwed up and how the way my brain works, just ain't the same as most peoples. This, unfortunately can cause some issues, especially early on in a relationship.

So the whole laundry list of issues started last week Tuesday, I text messaged EG to see if she wanted to get together, she called back and was out with friends but said she would see me at the bar Wednesday. I assumed that meant she would come out. We all know what they say about assuming... Also, while I might be fairly pessimistic about finding relationships, when I do I fall on the opposite hand and tend to be probably overly optimistic. While the EG thing may not be as much relationship as arrangement, it's still much the same. I really need to not look forward to something that's not an actual planned event.

That was all normal circumstance, until the brain kicked in. Wednesday comes along and doesn't really go according to plan from the start because Stub and Herb's decided to cancel their poker night. Usually G-Spot plays poker and I play trivia. Since it was cancelled, the poker peeps decided to head to a different bar, which I really didn't feel like going to. I decided to chill there and see if Eclectic Girl would show.

Now don't confuse ADD with ADHD. They are related, but the H is for hyperactivity, so both mental and physical continual motion, and I've never had a problem with that. By nature, I'm a really laid back kinda guy. I like to chill out with friends and chat. Personality wise I'm a really relaxed kinda guy. ADD is just in the head and unfortunately, the only time the altogether too many channels of my brain relax is when I've had a few drinks. The problem there is not knowing which channel the brain will settle in to. Sometimes it's called over-analyzing, but that's a much more intentional thing than what my brain does.

Here's about a minute of the various channels of my brain last Wednesday:

Ch1: Sucks that G-Spot left, hope the poker night is good over there. Ch8: Man, Trivia sucks tonight. Ch3: Wonder where EG is? Thought she said she's stop by tonight. Ch12: The whiskey diet from that side of the bar tastes different from the one he poured me on the other side, wierd. Ch5: EG's probably at work or out with friends or something. No biggie. Ch6: I should go out on the patio, it's a gorgeous night, wait, no trivia. Ch11: Oh hey, I left a voice mail, but her phone's been stupid, I should leave a text message so she hears it. Ch2: OOOH! I know this answer! Ch9: I hope she's not sick or something from getting drunk last night... And on and on. It's like that one TV show, called "Dave's Head" or something, where you had the four parts/personalities of his brain as characters except instead of 4, I have like 43.

So yeah, I think it ended with a voice mail and a few text messages, then a few more text messages across the week whenever the thought of her popped in my head. Not until later I realized I had sent one or two every day for like four days and that was too much. Then the various egos inside the head convinced each other to send one last more playful message and leave it at that. Most of the messages were sent with the mindset of friendliness, not desperation, but perspective is everything...

To seal the deal with a big fat dumbass cherry, I wrote that last blog post. The post itself wasn't the deal, but the part where I opined about her past relationship was a bad plan. The bad part was that in my head, this had nothing to do with her, it was one channel of the brain thinking about all the bad recent relationships mentioned by G-Spot or Conservative Girl and other friends while the other channel was writing a blog post. Unfortunately they blended. After the snafu with the Hot Friend picture, and recently hurting my friendship with The Mistress o Charades due to my comments about Punster and the awkward double date and then this, I am hereby making sure to not comment or opine about anyone's life other than my own. It just gets me in trouble later when what I wrote turns out to have been a brain scrambled version of what I really meant.

The crappy part is, I don't realize any of this is causing a problem till it's too late. Maybe one of these days the channels will finally synch, or maybe I'll find a girl who can relate or that it doesn't bother. Who knows.

Anyway, hopefully I'll see Eclectic Girl again as I really did like her company. I did send a message back apologizing, but who knows if that mattered or not. At the least, actually getting some feedback will make things go better in the future. But until then, next time you're thinking about desert, but ask someone for your briefcase and accidentally say "Can you hand me my cake?" Think of me and smile would ya? ;O)

Later peeps! Keep Slackin!

And some things stay the same...

2006-06-10T13:50:00.000-05:00

Updates

So the first week at the new job went exceptionally well. I got that design project and the second prototype worked well, so now it's on to making a near production version of it. We'll see how that goes!

Kickball is still kickball, though now that our bar took away Flip-Cup it hasn't quite been the same at the bars, but we still have fun. I did get a phone number of one cute girl, but she's "kinda, sorta, somewhat dating a guy." So that's just a friends thing. But it's been good. I'm a member of the Godless Whores this season. We're a fun bunch, we already had a catholic school girl outfit night and this week will be super hero week. Should be a hoot, two weeks will be toga night! :O)

And The Things That Stay The Same

Happenings with the other women around have turned out much the same a the rest in recent history. The Cute Paramedic stood me up Monday, so nothing's changed there. Kickball Girl was supposed to meet up with me on Thursday, and did, but only after I found her chilling upstairs after she said she would come downstairs and find me. Since she was already pretty drunk at that point, that was a non-event as well.

Then there's Eclectic Girl. I'm not really sure what happened there. We talked on Tuesday and I was kinda down because I had wanted to go out and celebrate having a new job, but couldn't get anyone to go out. Haven't heard a word from her since.

I'm not sure if it was my kinda depressed text message, or maybe it's this most likely unhealthy (as they always are) "On again, off again" relationship she had been having before she met me. Maybe it's just since she's leaving she wants to hang out with all her various friends. Maybe I was too whatever for enjoying her company. I don't really know.

We had been having a LOT of fun together, it was something like 7 out of 9 night spent together, and we both seemed to be on the same wavelength. It's unfortunate she seems to be another in the long string of women I've had relations with who don't even afford me the respect of a goodbye or a "sorry, I'm busy with friends." It's kinda sad. I'll hope she'll turn back up for a bit before she moves to New York, because it seemed like I had at least met a new friend, but maybe not?

Anyway, time to head to IKEA to check out the summer sale with Conservative Girl before it ends. Keep slackin peoples!

New Beginnings

2006-06-07T11:24:00.000-05:00

Well, it's time for things to start again officially. The job hunting is now over, the women hunting has, well, slowed and it's time for things to be fresh again!

As of yesterday I am now employed again! I accepted a position at the company that gave me the first offer. I had also gotten offers from two other places, but this seemed the best for me.

My new company, I'll call it The Start-up, is a very small medical device start up, but has a very promising technology for the treatment of congestive heart failure. I also got an offer from another medical device company and also from a machine design place, but this seemed to be the best fit. After I got the offers, I mulled over things for a day. This job just got me more excited when I thought about it, so I had to go with it. Turned out to be a good choice!

I expected the first day to be a bunch of paperwork and boring stuff, but then I get called into a meeting an hour after I started and they gave me a design project. I have my first little prototype almost done! Fun fun!!

So yeah, I can officially be a slacker again ;O)

In girl news, things are still going along fine with Eclectic Girl, we've spent many more evenings together since I last reported in. We certainly have fun, now we have to work on having a real date ;O)

I was supposed to go out with The Cute Paramedic the other day, but as per usual she's disappeared again. She did come hang out for a while for Grand Old Day, the big music festival they block off a mile and a half of one street in St. Paul for. But yeah, disappeared again, oh well. It's probably for the better for the time being since I am enjoying my time with Eclectic Girl and really am not a fan of having to juggles dates.

Anyway, look for me to finally be active again and I will get some pictures up for you all to see soon :O)