Fun times per usual at the MPYD Christmas party with an even dozen attendees, including Robin. Got a kickin' gift from Mssr. Peters, which was nice. Also really enjoyed the restaurant, especially the Haye Loft and the desserts associated. Now a busy evening to prep and pack, then tomorrow it's rock and roll hoochie coo, let's blow this pop stand, I'm going to make like a banana and get the H-E-double hockey stick out of Dodge.
posted at 7:50 PM - comments
Wednesday, December 17, 2003
A good batch of stir-fry can really enhance an evening, that's what Robin and I concluded. We filled the wok with oriental goodness, had a glass of white, and enjoyed ourselves. Then I was off to the office and Burns Court, then home to change laundry and make a couple of phone calls. It's beginning to feel a lot like the week before Christmas - Taylor's travelling arrangements were settled, mine were not, and tonight is the MPYD company dinner at Euphemia Haye.
posted at 1:24 PM - comments
Tuesday, December 16, 2003
New tires found their way onto the James this day, with a little help from Sam's Club and Robin, who later joined me for lunch at Mattison's City Grille. Even though they are still pink around the lettering, the LTX M/S sure appears to be one mighty beast, with treads that must be 3/8ths of an inch deep. Last night was laid back - Robin cooked fajitas that I believe must have been laced with triptophan, because we both barely made it to halftime of MNF.
posted at 1:54 PM - comments
Monday, December 15, 2003
Despite a nightmarish drive to Orlando on Friday it was a good weekend. We had dinner at Downtown Disney on Friday, spent all day Saturday at Sea World, with an emphasis on Dolphin Cove, then lazed around Sarasota all the day long on Sunday. Got some good 'small company' news at the meeting this morning and am looking forward to a long, family-filled Christmas break. Good stuff.
posted at 12:27 PM - comments
Friday, December 12, 2003
Waiting patiently for this week to come to a screeching halt, knowing that at 5:30 time steps up to double time as I buzz to MCO to collect Robin. Then a weekend of Florida fun, hopefully including Sea World and the Christmas boat parade in Sarasota. Not sure what all we'll do next week, but my guess is that it's going to fly by.
posted at 12:45 PM - comments
Thursday, December 11, 2003
Fun times last night in St. Petersburg. Running 3.1 miles wasn't much of a highlight, but it was fun to be out running again. Somehow I always overlook how much track and field is in my history. Then off to TooJay's for a sandwich and a place to sit for a few. Been a slooow day today without much to do. Robin arrives in about 25 hours and so tonight is going to be a little busy prepping for that.
posted at 4:39 PM - comments
Wednesday, December 10, 2003
Time to vent today, about warehouse clubs and telemarketers. Why can't people just leave you alone, let you do your thing, and not charge you an arm and a leg? I bought tires this week for the GMC, which involved joining a warehouse club to get the best deal. Unfortunately, they won't let you use your own credit card and require that you be there between 10 and 6 o'clock to conduct business, which is ridiculous since I knew they didn't have the tires and I could have just as easily phoned in my order and returned when the tires arrived. Then, shock-me-shock-me-shock-me, they charge $11 per tire for installation! So now, after going through the whole thing I added up my big 'discount store' savings and came up with (wait for it) -$0.12. That's right. I lost twelve cents. But hey now I'm a member at Sam's Club so anytime I want to go be miserable I can truck on out to Sam's and stand in lines that don't move and get zero service to buy goods at marginally discounted prices. You have to be kidding me, how can there not be a better way.
Off to St. Pete tonight to participate in the Reindeer Run with friends, should be fun. Haven't covered 5k in awhile, but hopefully the Christmas spirit will carry me.
Had an alternately busy and not weekend this past. Friday was crowded with First Friday and then an early bedtime. Saturday started early with a thorough whoop-assing of a certain assessment that shall remain nameless, then continued with a little jubilant early-afternoon Christmas shopping with about every person in Sarasota County. From there it was home to watch some football and catch Al Sharpton on SNL. Sunday was busy, with FUMC duties filling a large part of the day. In the late afternoon I finally got to do the recreational reading that I've been missing over the past 2 months: David Sedaris' "Holidays on Ice" and a good chuck of John McPhee's "Irons in the Fire." Good to reunite with this form of recreation after a hiatus.
posted at 1:05 PM - comments
Friday, December 05, 2003
Another short week is nearly over here, with FUMC First Friday activities looming for the early evening. Did the lunch thing at Caragulios, as much for the salad and the scenery as anything. Looking forward to the weekend, after Saturday morning's uber-fun is over. Got my new S28IIs last evening and hooked them up...they sound sweet. I think perhaps some new speaker wire is on the horizon and at some point a subwoofer, but for now I'm pleased with the setup.
posted at 3:47 PM - comments
Thursday, December 04, 2003
Back to Sarasota - the library, dinner, antonyms and analogies. Wrapped up loose ends from the trip last evening, caught The Wing, and really didn't do a ton else. Somehow I'm not sure where the evenings disappear to lately, but they are gone faster than I can imagine. Will be much the same tonight I'm guessing, and I'm at a loss as to how to buck the trend.
posted at 4:30 PM - comments
Wednesday, December 03, 2003
So we resume the flow of bloggy goodness after a 6-day break. Here's how it shook down: good Thanksgiving hosted by my grandparents Bruno, then a day and change of relaxing and watching home videos from my childhood. Saturday it was off to Lansing for fun at Robin's. We had a mini-birthday party attended by the fam and an invited guest, with whom I then departed to see "Elf." Sunday was MSU day, walking the campus and hanging out in EL before parent's departure and a trip to the mall, then dinner and a movie. Monday was a whirlwind, but a fun whirlwind that I think went pretty well. That night was a birthday trip to Jacqueline's, followed by a night at BW's watching the game and (as they say) having a drink. I felt all grown up all day long. Tuesday was a slow start and then a long trip home, and then the day after that was today.
posted at 4:23 PM - comments
Thursday, December 18, 2003