Filed under: Life Happens
Got these a little while back. They’re not as comfortable as my Rudolf Dassler Pumas, but I like ‘em.
Filed under: Annoyances & Irritations
This not-accomplishing-anything crap is getting ridiculous.
No more.
Handle-it-music:
Handle-it-motivational-photo:
Filed under: Reflection
Writing has always sort of been something I never considered to be too difficult. Instead of speaking aloud, you write down what you would otherwise say. No biggie. Of course, as time progressed so did my understanding of language, tone, rhetoric, vernacular, narratives, discourse, etc. I still don’t have too much of an issue with writing, but I no longer think it’s as simple or easy as writing down what was going to come out of your mouth.
Writing has sort of become something I have to warm up to do well, or at least to my standards. Like an athlete or singer or what not, I have to be “warm.” I have to be in the right mindset to write in the manner that appeases my self-imposed requirements. Of course, there are those who simply ooze natural ability and can vomit something talented on queue. I, however, have never been too naturally gifted at anything.
What’s my point…
With the amount of writing I’ve been doing for the past few months, it’s become something of a chore. I still enjoy writing things like this because, well, it’s like talking but not. I suppose it helps me get my thoughts and feelings out there instead of letting them bounce around inside my mind. That can get somewhat destructive with the other stuff that’s in there already.
A part of me wonders if I’m feeling this way because I’m suffering from a bit of writer’s block with one particular piece on my table. I am, after all, tremendously affected by a lack of forward progress. Perhaps I wouldn’t feel so defeated if I continually made steps toward my ultimate goal of finishing it entirely.
Sometimes I wonder what it would be like to finish all the pieces I have lined up and be done with the constant feeling of having something I need to take care of hanging over me. It’s sorta like that feeling of being back in school and knowing you have homework to do but deciding you’d rather play videogames or go outside first. The feeling that stops you in your tracks and makes you frown. The feeling of dread. The realization that instead of handling what you need to handle, you’re procrastinating.
Like me, right now.
Filed under: Annoyances & Irritations
The folktale where the local dealership or mechanic swindles you? Yeah, it’s true.
Cheryl’s mom is big on getting car maintenance done at a mix of the Honda dealer and local mechanic who “gives her good deals.” I try and remind Cheryl to tell her mom that I may not be a master mechanic, but I like to think I know what I’m doing when it comes to mundane things like routine maintenance. I mean, I’ve built a head, I think I know how to change oil. Cheryl tries but her mom seems to just be set in her ways. In the end, I understand. It’s just when the car comes back with half-assed work that I get annoyed.
The last time Cheryl’s car briefly disappeared to go to the Fontana Honda dealer, it came back with a recommendation from the Honda mechanics to change the brake pads that supposedly had 2mm left. We took their word for it and I bought some replacements from Kragen. I finally got around to changing them today, but when I pulled off the wheels, I saw that the old Endless pads on there still had half the pad material left. My personal opinion is that they’ll go another 2 – 3 months easy. Figures, honestly, that the Honda dealership would recommend service that didn’t need to be done. Sure, this is a common occurrence, but it still irritates me when it happens.
That would have been the end of it had I not gone to make sure the rear lug nuts were torqued correctly. In doing so, I noticed that the freakin’ tires were on backwards. They’re directional and therefore need to be mounted so that the arrow points forward. They were pointed toward the rear. F’in geniuses.
Ugh.
Filed under: Life Happens
..I got trapped in the bathroom.
No, that’s not a euphemism for bowel issues. I was literally trapped. The door handle turned, but the pin or whatever you call it wouldn’t move.
I text Kent, “Hey, I think I’m trapped in the bathroom.” No answer. He’s probably still out running his errand.
I go back to work on the door, twisting the handle opposite directions.
Nothing.
Then I remember the credit card trick. I try it, but the slant is facing away from me. No leverage, no dice.
I try locking it, unlocking it, and then twisting.
Nothing.
At this point I succumb to the idea that I really am trapped in the bathroom and I try to force the door open.
Nothing.
Ten minutes goes by and I text Kent again, “Hey, uh.. are you going to be back soon?”
Finally, an answer. “I’m already here.”
What? So I text him, “I can’t open the door.”
He replies immediately, “LOL. I had the same problem. Are you inside?”
Of course I’m inside. That’s what being trapped inside means. I text, “Yes. Open the damn door.”
Kent finally comes to my aid. Tries twisting the knob.
Nothing.
He can’t get a credit card in from his side. He tries a paperclip.
Nothing.
He gets a screwdriver.
Nothing.
He asks me if I think he should kick the door in. “If you think you can,” I tell him.
He kicks.
And kicks.
And kicks.
Tries the handle.
Nothing.
And kicks.
Nothing.
Another 10 goes by and he’s defeated. I ask if I can break the door knob off. “Go for it,” he says.
I pull the cover off the toilet bowl reservoir and swing at the door handle.
BANG.
BANG.
Kent says, “The door handle is loose on this side.”
“I know.”
BANG.
The door knobs fall to the floor. I reach in and pull the pin or whatever it is.
I open the door and with door knob destruction beneath me, I’m finally free.
Free from being trapped in the bathroom.
Filed under: Musings
Burberry’s latest piece of marketing genius: Art of the Trench
Some of the photos are really nice. And choosing The Kooks for the bg music was brilliant.
