Tuesday, August 31, 2004

Nice little night

So I went out for dinner, at the Wayfarer. Had delicious fish and chips. The best in town, I do declare. Saw Laura there. Had a nice time, smiling all-the-while because it was a rough work-day. Met a couple new folks and kept up the rep up for us regulars. Laura and I chatted a ton. We are headed out for Indian food Thursday before our singing night. Sounds like a terrific night. I cannot wait. Now to keep Beth and Amy at bay. Should be easier for #2, but much much harder for #1. I can do it!

OK. I had a little to drink and then a little more here at home. Time for bed. Time to go and get all...well, I will spare the adjectives. Makes life more interesting. Night to you all. Talk to you soon!

-Rich

Monday, August 30, 2004

Starving hysterical, naked

Sometimes it is sage advice for one to visit an old "master". Sometimes, I give myself this advice, but I seldom heed it. Tonight, I re-read Howl and found a few morsels of wisdom that hadn't hit me before.

And I called Laura and talked, right after her work was over. Silly rabbit that she is. Then talked a friend down from a ledge, metaphorically. But not by much. I don't think I will ever tire of trying to delve into the why's of others. Well, myself, as well.

I feel all disjointed. Like someone somewhere is sticking a hatpin into me. I can't find the pain, exactly. But I feel an unrest that I hate. I can't sleep, and I can't figure out if I should get a bite to eat.

I should probably just go and figure it out. Night, y'all.

-Rich

Sunday, August 29, 2004

The play-by-play

Friday night began like many other Friday nights:Myself getting all gussied up and heading to my favorite starting point, the Wayfarer. A nice little Irish-English bar. I was supposed to meet a guy from work there who normally doesn't show his face at these outings, but he showed. And a decent friend from work was supposed to show up, but he flaked. Again, like any other night. But the highlight for me was to be after 6. Laura, a delightfully charming, attractive and intelligent 30-something was to join me for a couple drinks after she got off work there. So she did. She sat down next to me, and Steve (my infrequent bar comapanion) announced he must retire for the evening. So he said good night and left Laura and I to our own devices. Uh oh.

So, after I buy her 2 drinks and we dine on some appetizers, I am shnoogied. 2 shots of whiskey, and 3 beers for me so far. Feeling very fine. I can hold more than I should, but I knew I was doing quite, quite well already. So she said she wanted to drive to this bar on the south end of town, where she has a lot of frineds and feels a little more comfortable than in her own bar. Makes sense. So we got in her ForeRunner and went to the next temporary home. We pulled up stools at the corner of the bar, and got a warm welcome. We proceeded to drink and laugh and talk about the weather and everything else. Literally, everything. Then, the Karaoke lady showed up and I got suckered into "practicing" for later this week. So by the time the night was over, I sang at least 5 songs with Laura. One with another regular there, too. And it was about 2 when we called a cab to take us home. We had proceeded to tell each other all the stupid things drunks tell each other. Now, to be honest, I have enjoyed her presnece in my life for many months, and have thought about more. And she said she had, too. See? I told you!!!! Corny, predictable drunken banter. So on the way to the cab we were holding each other up. We figured out who was going where and went on our way. We continued the laughter and talking. But when we got to my place, she was all puppy-dog-eyed. She said "I'm not coming up, but I don't want you to go." OH!!!!! So sweet. So she grabbed me and kissed me. And I did my part and kissed her. And when she let me go, we both went in for another round. And then I went inside and went to bed. Woke up literally just in time for work, but realized I needed to cab it, so I was a little late. Oh well. Saturdays are a little more lax. I get to call the shots, and everyone there thought it was hysterical that I was late. All was well with the world. About 2 hours into work, I remembered the previous night....oh man. It all came rushing back. I started smiling SO wide. I had a good night out. The first really decent one, start to finish, in a long time.

So saturday afternoon I got home and there was a voicemail. It was Laura. She wanted to make sure I got to work OK and apologized if I didn't. And apologized if I got too drunk and anything was awkward. She said she had a great time, and that I could call her that night or the next, as she was at a friend's wedding until Monday AM. So, I called her Sunday and we talked for a long time. Everything is really good. No idea what is happening or where this is going with her, but that's quite alright. I am a planner, and this is freaking me out a little. But in the meantime, fun. Not a casual sex-er, and neither is she. And that is a relief. So whatever happens, happens.

On another note, Thursday will be very very weird. The Ex is coming back to town to finish school. She only has 2 blocks left, which translate into about 7 weeks. Then she has enough of the right credits to be graduated. Hmmm....this could get weird. I rather enjoyed my time not seeing her all the time. And I live close to her school, so she may very well want to pop over all the time. Gotta be strong and let her know my life is mine and she removed herself from it, so she should respect what it is I have going on now. Right. That makes sense.

OK, I have to go shower and get clean. Today was a nasty automotive day of finding used parts and swapping them into my old pickup that Bill just bought. He has it for a couple weeks and already he exploded the gears in the rear differential! That's talent.

Night all. Hope the world was good to you this weekend.

-Rich

Friday, August 27, 2004

Friday...if only it meant something....

So, I am home from work and headed into the shower, but I thought I would share some of the joy awaiting me. After 5:30-3:30 work today, I get to go back at 6 tomorrow morning and leave around 6, too. It's a little busy at my job! At least I really truly enjoy it. It's just the unnecessary stress created by one person that irks me. But alas, I make do with what I have. But in the meantime, gotta go out for a few drinks tonight. The Wayfarer will be the first recipient of my cash. Meeting both a guy from work there and waiting for a friend to get off work at said bar. I promised her I would buy her a couple drinks and we could all hit a bar or two afterwards. A nice, clean dose of fun with no huge chance for funkiness. That's what friends are for. I cannot wait to see the happenings that ensue, though. There are usually some good ones when we all hang out. More on that later. For now, gotta go get all primped and pimped. Enjoy the beginning of the weeknd!

-Rich

Thursday, August 26, 2004

15,488 thanks go out to you, EmGee!

For finding a solution to my woes. Now I am addicted. I must now catalog my entire mass of photos in order to get some good ones published. You rule my world.

-Rich

Me before a jog at the Garden this summer


Figured it was a good idea to post one pre-exhaustion. Posted by Hello

Me, this St Pat's at work.


Another pic. Not many of me. Trying to find some, though! Posted by Hello

Another Jeep shot.


Nice shot from Wheeler Lake, towards the Jeeps into the clouds. Posted by Hello

Mine and Erron's Jeeps at Wheeler Lake


Mine must be the better Jeep. He's tying his best friends off to my front bumper. Posted by Hello

Wednesday, August 25, 2004

New beginnings. Again.

So I started actually writing with a purpose again. I was knee-deep into a book a few years ago when disaster struck in the form of a breakup. Well, I thought the world had ended and I pushed all that "crap" aside. Well, I guess part of it did end. 6 years is a long time to say goodbye to. But, older and wiser, I kick myself painfully in the ass. I am no terrific writer (I think), but I would have loved to have held onto some of that. So here I go again. I have a regular journal I keep fairly updated. And I have this blog. Now I have a "book". I think the trick is to dumb it down and not make it too prevalent that it actually has to be something in particular. Yeah, lemme hang onto that notion.

So I have all this damn laundry to fold and a small sinkful of dishes that need done tonight. Ugh. The little things kick my ass. I hate dishes. If I didn't have so many neat ones and such a terrific memory that binds possessions to events, I would toss a lot of them. But the reward is what is driving me. Well, rewardS. Clean stuff, and I'll feel legitimate in my desire to go and and meet some people at the Wayfarer. One is a terrific engineer I know through work who I recently saw at "m cle bar and we started talking Jeeps. How terrific. Guinness, Jeep talk, live music, and some beauties to enamour me. That is a sweet, sweet night. If only this engineer was female.

OK, you mad, mad citizens of this planet; I must go surrender to my domestic fate and become a hero in my world. At least that makes dishes sound important. And if you think of it in time, maybe an aboriginal romance ceremony in my honor would be appropriate. With a few horror stories of late, and a few mediocre dates, I could really use something special. With red hair, preferably. :)

-Rich



Tuesday, August 24, 2004

Every 60 seconds...

There's a sucker born. It was my time again, I guess. So now I am gonna be singing karaoke with this fine young woman, Laura. A delectable morsel of a bartender at one of the spots I hit with some regularity. A friend told me I was an easy touch...basically, get a few (or a few more!) drinks in me and I will do almost anything. It's true, for the most part. Except for piloting the beloved Jeep home in a state that would make her mad. And make me look stupid. And make me jeopardize everything in this dimension. So anyway, Thursday the 3rd, I will be singing Paradise by the Dashboard Lights. Oh boy. It's been a while since I sang that on a stage. Since my double-ex (of some seriousness) and I out on Tuckahoe Road...memories.

So, I went out for my nightly (for the most part) run, and decided that I should drive out to the Garden of the Gods instead of hitting the asphalt in the neighborhood. Terrific trails to get lost in. So I did. About an hour. Totally beat and exhausted and regretting it and loving it at the same time. So I climbed up the bumper and laid down on the hood, watching the daytime go to sleep. Then, and this was a splendid thing, a thunderstorm rolled in from the North. And there was sunset, still trickling in from the West, the moon trying to get out from behind the clouds, and lightning. I love it. Made the rest of the humdrum seem better. Worth it.

So let me run you through an average day in the life. 5:27 the alarm rings and by then, a cat has usually been a pest enough to wake me anyway. So I beg the alarm clock to make the next 7 minutes of snooze-time seem like an hour. Never works. But I always ask. I roll out of bed and sometimes step on another cat. Probably Biscuit, who won't sleep on the bed, but will sleep right next to it on the floor. Nice. I turn on the news and weather channel, and make sure to seee my local on the 8's so I know just how rough the day will be to me. I make something for breakfast and try to enjoy it, eyeing the clock every couple minutes. After donning my work clothes, I grab both my work cell and my personal cell and head downstairs. Aidan (the giant male cat of mine) jumps on the railing and waits for me to kiss his big head. He won't let me leave until he gets his dose of head-kisses. He loves the goatee. I can't blame him. He probably wouldn't recognize me if I shaved it. On the way to work, I try to find some semblance of inspiration on morning radio. Yeah, good luck. So at about 6:25 or so, I walk in and unlock the shop. Make the coffee and get things ready to go for the day. Heaven forbid the guys have to wait for coffee or wait for something to be unlocked. Bigger grumps than me. I mean it. At quarter of 7, I head upstairs into the office and enjoy the morning meeting, when we are all supposed to plan out what is happening for the day. Several times, Brad (the owner) has asked me to participate more. And I reply, with gobs of respect (I really do like both him and the job) that the meetings are almost always useless. By the time I walk downstairs and out to my shop, everything is screwed anyway. The best-laid plans are fucked, so imagine the plans made by the guys I work with!!!! Not even close to best-laid. Anyway, that sets the tone for the day, and I break the news of all the hot jobs to my guys, which is currently only 2...down from 7. Seems this town is suffering a shortage of fabricators who meet these "strict" criteria: 1) Be a certified welder 2) Be able to read blueprints 3) Have a valid driver's license 4) Be able to pass a drug test. Odd. For the money this industry offers, people can't step up. So we go through the day, trying to work on contract jobs...jobs that we won the bid on and are on a timetable to finish. But, the office folks love to walk on down and derail the soul train. We got the huge shop with the blaring jams all to ourselves, and if left to our own devices we would actually get work done. But about a third of every day is spend trying to put aside one job to interject another. Outstanding. But whenever the day begins to get stinky, I look outside...our shop is completely open on one side and it faces Pike's Peak. So sweet. Everything comes down a notch and my shoulders actually relax and drop down below my head. It's weird. You should see it. I wish it happened all day at work. Then I go home when the work is done. Should be 3:30, but it's almost never before 4. And sometime Saturdays. And once in a blue moon, a Sunday. The things you do for love.

OK, so that's the boring scoop of my day-job. Well, not so boring. I figure, there's only about 10 of you that ever drop by, so you must be intersted in something, and that rocks. Right back atcha. I gotta go fill out some forwarded questionnaire and then hit the hay. Who starts these things and why do I like them so?!?!

Night everyone. Sleep tight, and bite the bedbugs back. They will stop coming by at night. I promise.

-Rich

Monday, August 23, 2004

More nighttime mayhem

Some nights, I am not sure what it is, but I just want to stay up all night. Like I have something terribly productive to do. Like I have a hot girlfriend waiting for a call or a surprise. Like I have anything to do other than work.

I find myself in a rut every now and then. I meet a nice person or two (damn, I hate the word "nice"), and I get reeled into being a drunk. I am on the verge again, and I won't go there this time. But it is fun to see these folks and hang out and have a couple drinks. I am just so glad I can stop when I want to. Amen to self-control.

So a fellow blogger and "friend" is moving, but not before offering to sell any of her photos to anyone. She has some really nice stuff, and some divine words to pass on. Check it out if you get a chance:

http://www.tooeasilysatisfied.net/

So I will stay up and write in my regular journal until the lids to my eyes foget to reopen after blinking. Yeah, that's what I'll do. Or maybe lie back and read with a cup of that green tea I was just given. Or maybe I will daydream about the Jeep of mine. That usually passes the time nicely.

Thanks to any and every commentor. Nice to see some people out there making the rounds. So drop me a line, or steer me to a blog or something. As you can tell, I could use another hobby!!!

Night again.



Thought for the night

Watched Lost in Translation again tonight. Second time. I figured I owed it that much. And on the way down the shelf of movies, I realized I owned Love Actually. I can't remember for the life of me what the heck it was about. I MUST have watched it, no?

OK, the thought. No one in love ever feels old. I think. That notion will find its way into a story of mine, I swear. And when it does, I will let you all know about it.

Night kids.

Sunday, August 22, 2004

Morbid thoughts, and more!

So I have a friend who is having a little trouble being good. He got out of jail a little over a year ago and still has a PO he checks in with weekly for about 7 more months. He met a wonderful woman, a few years older than him, but completely terrific and a well-made match. They both enjoy their church together, and support each other very well. But they have hit some rough patches over the past 2-3 months. He isn't sure he is being himself. He feels he needs to find himself, instead of staying tightly-wrapped in a little mold that will prevent him from being himself. Basically, I think he is being suffocated by the strictness of his parole and his choice of religion. And this upsets his girlfriend, Courtney. So whenever we hang out, she looks for the opportune moments to talk to me solo about how touchy things are. What to do? Then for about a month, they broke up and I had bad thoughts. I actually thought about her in "that" way. I hadn't before. And I shouldn't. Out of respect for Erron, if nothing else. He needs to see that he can find himself without leaving everything behind. Courtney is a dream...loves the outdoors, owns a Jeep, loves dogs, cooks and bakes QUITE well, OH, and she is a stunning beauty. And Irish. She should have a twin sister for me to date.

But things are OK with them now, I think. Well, maybe not. They got back together and immediately planned a wedding date. Seems odd. We all went out this weekend into the mountains and things seemed really good, but I was not sure he was holding himself back. See? He tells me that's what he thinks is going on, and I look for it. I see it everywhere if I try. I need to shrug that off.

But the rest of my world is spinning correctly on its axis, and for that I am thankful. I need to do a lot of cleaning and do something to confront my anxiety about Beth coming back to CO to finish school. It's only for a couple months, unless she decides to stay local after graduation. And that bugs me. I like who I am without her around! I have more money, less guilt. Less stress. I feel so compelled sometimes...so compelled to impress her or something. It bites. Like I have to struggle to keep up my best behavior so she stays friends with me. Like I need her? I wish I did, simply so I felt less freaked out now. That makes sense, right?

So there's a "new" band with a song I adore. I get goosebumps when I listen. But the rest of the CD is mediocre at best. Finger Eleven ..."One Thing".

"Restless tonight
cuz I wasted the light.
Between both these times
I drew a really thin line.

It's nothing I planned
and not that I can
But you should be mine
across that line.

If I traded it all,
if I gave it all away,
for one thing,
just for one thing;
If I sorted it out
if I knew all about
this one thing,
wouldn't that be something?

I promise I might
not walk on by.
Maybe next time,
but not this time.

Even though I know,
I don't wanna know.
Yeah, I guess I know.
I just hate how it sounds."

Not sure what all it means. But I know some of it. And I feel all weird when I hear it. Can't help but sing.

That's all for now. Talk to you all soon. Drop me a line or leave a comments. Something so I know someone else is out there.

-Rich