Well today was the first official day that I felt like I was done with school. You see, today was a Tuesday and that usually means school. But not today. Allow me to pause a second to relish in the joy that is summer vacation. . .
. . .
. . .
Wow. I am SO very excited!!! Even though I will be working a lot (I got my manager to finally give me more hours - - next week I have 27), my time is going to be spent doing a lot of nothing. And that makes me happy. Of course, I plan on reading some books, catching up on my TIVO'd shows (more on that later), and being active, but I will not be doing homework, or reading any Shakespeare, and certainly not venturing to AVC anytime soon. That makes me happy.
On a work-related note, I have gotten the green light to begin doing the prepatory learning modules (our training at the FL) to become an Associate Manager. It is vey exciting! It would not only mean a raise (to at least $9.50 an hour - I know it's not that great, but it IS better than minimum wage) but mucho mas horas (that means "much more hours" for you unolingual individuals. . .) as well. I'll let you know how that goest when more begins to fall into place. . .
Back to TIVO. Have I mentioned how wonderful TIVO is? When I move out (God-willing by next summer) I will be putting the price of one in my budget. I don't want to think about life without it. Yes, it is that ridiculously fantastic! Well I caught up on a few shows tonight, seeing that I had nothing else on my plate for the evening. I watched two episodes of STUDIO 60 ON THE SUNSET STRIP, which is airing its final episodes this summer. I am still broken up over the quick deletion of this show from NBC's schedule, but whatever. The only season has been great thus far, and I look forward to how it will end. I also sped through the last two episodes of the new FOX reality show ON THE LOT, where a bunch of aspiring filmmakers try to earn a lucrative prize that includes a million dollar movie deal. The bummer part is that the show has gotten extremely blahish - - I think I'm done with it. Yes. Yes, I am.
And then I watched this week's season premiere of HELL'S KITCHEN, which is back for its third season!!! I'm so giddy about the return of this show! I love everything about it and this season is going to be incredible - I just know it!
The TIVO was good for me tonight because I had a rough day car-wise. First off, I kissed back bumpers with a Suburban in the Mall parking lot as I left work today. He was parked behind me and to the right (smack dab in my blind spot) and we both backed up right into each other. A completely mutual 5 MPH accident. His car was fine (Being a beast of a Suburban) and mine was left with only scratches and a tiny dent near the trunk - I figured it was fine. We agreed to just leave it and not worry about info or anything like that. Well when I got home and opened my trunk just to see what had happened, I could not close it! It did not latch. Apparently, in the light tapping, the bumper was moved enough so that the latch would not engage or something like that. My dad, being the savvy body-repair man that he is, did tinker with it and got it to close - however, if I am to open it (which I will avoid at all costs) then I am going to have to slam/manipulate it into shutting again.
While he was inspecting the trunk, he also checked the air pressure on my tires. Turns out, I had a tiny nail in my front right tire and it was causing a small leak. So I hurried over to American Tire Co. before they closed at 1800. I got there around 1700 and my mom had told me it might take 10 minutes to do. That was fine with me seeing that I had not eaten all day and dinner was not quite ready anyway. So I went and I ended up being there until a little after 1800 because of the business of this place. I was pretty flustered, especially since I had not brought anything to entertain myself with (e.g. IPOD, book). I ended up talking to Heather for about twenty minutes on the phone (which was nice) and staring off into the distance for the remainder of the time. But, they fixed it, and now that's better.
Here's a new goal: I want a different car by the end of the year. I presently owe about $5500 on my car and it is worth a little bit more than that (not much, mind you). I'll be down to about $4500 by the end of 2007 and if I could somehow get $6000 for it, then I could have a nice down payment on something newer. I have had the car for almost three years now (Seems longer, though) and I certainly would not mind something newer and better (and with fewer miles!). So we'll see how that goes. . .
And now on to more bad news: on Monday morning, my mom received a call from a business colleague who informed her that her long-time associate John Brooks (I mentioned him in this post back in April 2006) had passed away from a major heart attack. I am still in shock over this. I don't know how old he was, but he could not have been older than 60. He was a brilliant and caring man who did everything he could to help those whom he liked. He is the one who gave my dad and me tickets to the Easter Sunday Lakers/Suns game (very expensive tickets just given to us). It was John and his wife who took me to my first NBA game back when I was like eight or so. He drove me down to see the Lakers and Rockets play at the old Great Western Forum. I actually don't remember anything about the game (who won, the players, any plays) but I will always remember going with them and then to the Cheesecake Factory for food. His wealth (I would say he was a multi-millionaire. . . multi-multi even!) was not obvious, as he carried himself with a humility that is rivaled by few. John gave a start to many people in this valley (and to Ed, my mom's boss) and was many people's safety blankets. It is hard to imagine him not being around anymore, even though we have not talked in a very long time. But we used to. And his role in my mom's life (through their businesses) caused her to take it very hard as well. It just sucks. I hate death.
A quick bowling note before I head out for the night: I averaged 180 over ten games last night, which is very exciting. I'm starting to learn my new ball and all the things that it does. 200 average, here I come!!!
No work for me tomorrow, but I will be there on Thursday and Friday both. . . come stop by!
Have a good Wednesday!
Showing posts with label death. Show all posts
Showing posts with label death. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Sunday, June 03, 2007
The Weekend Grab-Bag:
The Things That Suck Version
As much fun as it has been being off of school (and believe me, it has been FANTASTIC not to have to turn anything into any type of teacher!) there are a few things that are irking me. And I just have to let you know about each of them. . .
So here we go, with another installment of the GRAB-BAG series that runs back o so far (by the way, the two year anniversary of A RAMBLER'S RAMBLING is in just two months and I can't believe it!).
So enjoy the as-always non-chronological goodness:
- In ALL honesty, one thing that everyone can agree on as sucking is diarrhea. And in ALL honesty, I have been suffering from said terrible problem the last two days. Not that you really needed to know that, but you gotta KNOW that it sucks. Seriously, why is it that the waste product feels the need to rush out so damn fast? Does it really desire to go from inside me to outside of me in such a hurry that it does not get to know my intestines even a little? Seriously guys, you should meet. Exchange pleasantries. Tell life stories. Whatever. Just hang out a bit longer and maybe band together before you decide to depart from me next time, ok? Thanks.
- Reason Number 86 why my faith in the goodness of anything around here exists: My ever-dancing sister Aimee was at dance practice last week and did a move resulting in her rolling her ankle. Turns out, after an X-ray, that she fractured a bone in her foot and she has to be fitted for one of those walking boot things tomorrow. Not only is her year-end pageant in four weeks (which she will possibly miss - - I think she should try to dance on it that week and see if she can go - she worked too hard all year to just not be able to participate) but she was going to take summer school dance classes at AVC and those begin in just two weeks. It's just ridiculous. The last person on this Earth that deserves to miss out on her passion is my sister. She works too damn hard and wants so much to be a dancer (plus, she is REALLY good!) that I have had to watch her fight back tears all weekend whenever the topic is brought up. Meanwhile, she crutches around the house and is basically playing the waiting game. As a dancer, she was bound to get this injury (or a similar one), but why now? It's just not right, and no one can convince me othewise.
- Death. It sucks. Heather's grandmother Shirley unfortunately passed away last Sunday. I only met her five times (or so) but she was such a wonderful woman. I grew to love her and her fantastic personality after the first lunch I had with her. I was a junior in high school and in over my head in my relationship with Heather. We went to Olive Garden with both Shirley and her husband Bill and the first question I was asked once we sat down was "So what do you want to do with your future?" Bill was already grilling me and I was scared shitless (too bad I cant have that condition now. . .). At the time (and seriously, name me a HS junior who knows exactly what he or she wants to do!) I wanted to be a film critic and so I went with that. Mistake #1. I was told how I should attempt more secure employment opportunities and the like. Bill was looking out for me (and subsequently, his granddaughter) but was also being kinda scary. . . But I remember Shirley smiling at me from across the table and even giving me a wink or two to let me know it was going to be ok and that I was doing ok. . . I hugged her goodbye that day and thanked her again for lunch. She smiled and said anytime and I felt like I had been victorious that day. Not because I had somehow won her gparents over or anything, but because I had met a phenomenal woman. Over the course of our three years together (now almost 3 1/2. . . wow!) we were able to to see them occasionally, but Shirley had been sick the last six to eight months off and on and was the type of lady who had to have everything perfect for a guest to see her or her house. Thus, I did not get to see her. I believe the last time I saw her was after Heather returned from Australia last August. . . But I'm not sure. I had the chance to see her in the hospital the week before she passed away but I couldn't do it. I couldn't stand the thought of seeing this strong, independent woman weak and living through machines. So I passed. Do I regret it? Kinda. But not really. I would rather think of Shirley as the winking, strong, wonderful woman that she was and be thankful for the few meetings that we had. So I guess that makes me a lucky son-of-a-gun. I met Shirley Ann Acuff. And that was an honor.
Shirley Ann Acuff: 11/20/28 - 5/27/07
- Movies that aren't KNOCKED UP. Well, I don't know about that exactly, but what I do know is that the aforementioned movie is freakin' awesome. Maybe I'll write a formal review (just to keep my writing skills sharp) later on this week, but for now, just know that it is not only ridiculously funny, but it is also very sweet and endearing. . . Another success for Judd Apatow and Company. . .
(Grade: A)
- Distance. Heather's last finals are tomorrow, but it doesn't really matter. She lives in Pomona now, and even if we are able to somehow see each other more than once a week because we are both out of school, it will be under not only quick (not always, but often) but gas-guzzling circumstances (being 90 miles apart is a bit of a problem for cars too). Bleh. I hate being so far apart. . . Summer 2009 is only two years away, but you know what, it is also two freakin' years away! It's so far, yet so close. . .
Damn.
- The NBA Playoffs. I'm so fed up with how the playoffs played out. Not only are the evil San Antonio Spurs in the Finals (they coasted against the Jazz of course) but the god-awful Cleveland Cavaliers are their opponents. My Phoenix Suns would have destroyed the Cavs (just like the Spurs are going to do) and it just means that its another wasted opportunity to bring a championship back to the desert. . . And now, we lost an assistant coach to a head coaching position in Memphis (good for Iavaroni, though) and are also ready to hire Steve Kerr as our new General Manager (replacing Head Coach Mike D'Antoni so he can focus on coaching). I don't know. . . I just have no idea what is going to play out this summer in the NBA. So many players are going to be wearing new colors next year, and it is going to be VERY interesting how it all ends up going down. . . More to come at a later date on all of this.
But that's it for right now - - -
Hope your Monday is better than a usual one (I'm speculating, of course). . .
So here we go, with another installment of the GRAB-BAG series that runs back o so far (by the way, the two year anniversary of A RAMBLER'S RAMBLING is in just two months and I can't believe it!).
So enjoy the as-always non-chronological goodness:
- In ALL honesty, one thing that everyone can agree on as sucking is diarrhea. And in ALL honesty, I have been suffering from said terrible problem the last two days. Not that you really needed to know that, but you gotta KNOW that it sucks. Seriously, why is it that the waste product feels the need to rush out so damn fast? Does it really desire to go from inside me to outside of me in such a hurry that it does not get to know my intestines even a little? Seriously guys, you should meet. Exchange pleasantries. Tell life stories. Whatever. Just hang out a bit longer and maybe band together before you decide to depart from me next time, ok? Thanks.
- Reason Number 86 why my faith in the goodness of anything around here exists: My ever-dancing sister Aimee was at dance practice last week and did a move resulting in her rolling her ankle. Turns out, after an X-ray, that she fractured a bone in her foot and she has to be fitted for one of those walking boot things tomorrow. Not only is her year-end pageant in four weeks (which she will possibly miss - - I think she should try to dance on it that week and see if she can go - she worked too hard all year to just not be able to participate) but she was going to take summer school dance classes at AVC and those begin in just two weeks. It's just ridiculous. The last person on this Earth that deserves to miss out on her passion is my sister. She works too damn hard and wants so much to be a dancer (plus, she is REALLY good!) that I have had to watch her fight back tears all weekend whenever the topic is brought up. Meanwhile, she crutches around the house and is basically playing the waiting game. As a dancer, she was bound to get this injury (or a similar one), but why now? It's just not right, and no one can convince me othewise.
- Death. It sucks. Heather's grandmother Shirley unfortunately passed away last Sunday. I only met her five times (or so) but she was such a wonderful woman. I grew to love her and her fantastic personality after the first lunch I had with her. I was a junior in high school and in over my head in my relationship with Heather. We went to Olive Garden with both Shirley and her husband Bill and the first question I was asked once we sat down was "So what do you want to do with your future?" Bill was already grilling me and I was scared shitless (too bad I cant have that condition now. . .). At the time (and seriously, name me a HS junior who knows exactly what he or she wants to do!) I wanted to be a film critic and so I went with that. Mistake #1. I was told how I should attempt more secure employment opportunities and the like. Bill was looking out for me (and subsequently, his granddaughter) but was also being kinda scary. . . But I remember Shirley smiling at me from across the table and even giving me a wink or two to let me know it was going to be ok and that I was doing ok. . . I hugged her goodbye that day and thanked her again for lunch. She smiled and said anytime and I felt like I had been victorious that day. Not because I had somehow won her gparents over or anything, but because I had met a phenomenal woman. Over the course of our three years together (now almost 3 1/2. . . wow!) we were able to to see them occasionally, but Shirley had been sick the last six to eight months off and on and was the type of lady who had to have everything perfect for a guest to see her or her house. Thus, I did not get to see her. I believe the last time I saw her was after Heather returned from Australia last August. . . But I'm not sure. I had the chance to see her in the hospital the week before she passed away but I couldn't do it. I couldn't stand the thought of seeing this strong, independent woman weak and living through machines. So I passed. Do I regret it? Kinda. But not really. I would rather think of Shirley as the winking, strong, wonderful woman that she was and be thankful for the few meetings that we had. So I guess that makes me a lucky son-of-a-gun. I met Shirley Ann Acuff. And that was an honor.
Shirley Ann Acuff: 11/20/28 - 5/27/07
- Movies that aren't KNOCKED UP. Well, I don't know about that exactly, but what I do know is that the aforementioned movie is freakin' awesome. Maybe I'll write a formal review (just to keep my writing skills sharp) later on this week, but for now, just know that it is not only ridiculously funny, but it is also very sweet and endearing. . . Another success for Judd Apatow and Company. . .
(Grade: A)
- Distance. Heather's last finals are tomorrow, but it doesn't really matter. She lives in Pomona now, and even if we are able to somehow see each other more than once a week because we are both out of school, it will be under not only quick (not always, but often) but gas-guzzling circumstances (being 90 miles apart is a bit of a problem for cars too). Bleh. I hate being so far apart. . . Summer 2009 is only two years away, but you know what, it is also two freakin' years away! It's so far, yet so close. . .
Damn.
- The NBA Playoffs. I'm so fed up with how the playoffs played out. Not only are the evil San Antonio Spurs in the Finals (they coasted against the Jazz of course) but the god-awful Cleveland Cavaliers are their opponents. My Phoenix Suns would have destroyed the Cavs (just like the Spurs are going to do) and it just means that its another wasted opportunity to bring a championship back to the desert. . . And now, we lost an assistant coach to a head coaching position in Memphis (good for Iavaroni, though) and are also ready to hire Steve Kerr as our new General Manager (replacing Head Coach Mike D'Antoni so he can focus on coaching). I don't know. . . I just have no idea what is going to play out this summer in the NBA. So many players are going to be wearing new colors next year, and it is going to be VERY interesting how it all ends up going down. . . More to come at a later date on all of this.
But that's it for right now - - -
Hope your Monday is better than a usual one (I'm speculating, of course). . .
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Two Weeks Later
It's been exactly two weeks since my Live Blogging event for the 2007 Oscars and I have been all over the Western coast and some since then.
But trust me on this one: I will not be updating you on everything that has happened the last two weeks. Not tonight at least. . .
But I thought I would at least let you know that I had a safe journey to Phoenix, Arizona last weekend to watch my beloved Phoenix Suns defeat the stumbling Los Angeles Lakers. That was a lot of fun and there are no words to describe the feeling of cheering alongside thousands of your fellow fans. It's incredible! GO SUNS!!! (Note: We get a chance to end Dallas' should-be 18-game winning streak on Wednesday night in Dallas. . . You're going down Mavs!)
Secondly, I had another safe journey this week. This time it was a five-day voyage to the green city of Portland, Oregon for a National College Newspaper Convention put on by the Associated Collegiate Press. It was a blast and I learned a whole hell of a lot! More to come on that later (I'm writing an article about our experience and I plan on posting it here too - along with some pictures!) - - - O and we took home Honorable Mention in the Best of Show award!!! Don't believe me? Check it out!
And thirdly, it's officially March Madness time! The bracket has been done up and I'm ready to do my research to do my picks. (Another note: Yes, I'll be posting my picks here - - I'm nice like that!).
I plan on posting again soon, but I really need to be productive elsewhere this evening.
Enjoy your week (I can't believe it's Monday already!) and I'll chat at you all again soon!
(P.S.: If you are a twenty-something year-old man, go see 300 now! I loved it!!!)
(P.S. 2: Completely sad news from the entertainment world tonight. Comedian Richard Jeni, my second favorite comedian ever - behind Seinfeld - is dead after an apparent suicide. I am still stunned. . . I saw him at the Improv in Ontario on January 21, less than two months ago. I remarked to Heather that he looked really awful and I wondered how he was doing. . . apparently not well. RIP Richard - You were a hilarious individual and I absolutely HATE demoting you to the past tense. It actually pains me. . .)
- - - "The way I see life, it's like we're all flying on the Hindenburg, why fight over the window seats?"
- - - Richard Jeni
Peace
But trust me on this one: I will not be updating you on everything that has happened the last two weeks. Not tonight at least. . .
But I thought I would at least let you know that I had a safe journey to Phoenix, Arizona last weekend to watch my beloved Phoenix Suns defeat the stumbling Los Angeles Lakers. That was a lot of fun and there are no words to describe the feeling of cheering alongside thousands of your fellow fans. It's incredible! GO SUNS!!! (Note: We get a chance to end Dallas' should-be 18-game winning streak on Wednesday night in Dallas. . . You're going down Mavs!)
Secondly, I had another safe journey this week. This time it was a five-day voyage to the green city of Portland, Oregon for a National College Newspaper Convention put on by the Associated Collegiate Press. It was a blast and I learned a whole hell of a lot! More to come on that later (I'm writing an article about our experience and I plan on posting it here too - along with some pictures!) - - - O and we took home Honorable Mention in the Best of Show award!!! Don't believe me? Check it out!
And thirdly, it's officially March Madness time! The bracket has been done up and I'm ready to do my research to do my picks. (Another note: Yes, I'll be posting my picks here - - I'm nice like that!).
I plan on posting again soon, but I really need to be productive elsewhere this evening.
Enjoy your week (I can't believe it's Monday already!) and I'll chat at you all again soon!
(P.S.: If you are a twenty-something year-old man, go see 300 now! I loved it!!!)
(P.S. 2: Completely sad news from the entertainment world tonight. Comedian Richard Jeni, my second favorite comedian ever - behind Seinfeld - is dead after an apparent suicide. I am still stunned. . . I saw him at the Improv in Ontario on January 21, less than two months ago. I remarked to Heather that he looked really awful and I wondered how he was doing. . . apparently not well. RIP Richard - You were a hilarious individual and I absolutely HATE demoting you to the past tense. It actually pains me. . .)
- - - "The way I see life, it's like we're all flying on the Hindenburg, why fight over the window seats?"
- - - Richard Jeni
Peace
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