More sweltering

Ok, I've been sitting here for about 3 hours now. I had to call about the DSL thingie and am still waiting for the Direct TV tech. AT&T has to send a DSL tech here Monday, so I get to wait around again. I actually would like the Internet more than the need to watch reruns of Chopped and The Naked Archeologist because yours truly needs a new job. It's all right. It's not like I really have all that much to do here not to mention the fact that it's 100 degrees outside.

I found out that this supermarket called Tom Thumb is really Safeway. That wins points with me. I used to shop at the Safeway in Menlo Park. It was a well-known dating place although dating in silicon valley is sort of an oxymoron. I got some of those steam-in-the-bag veggies that were on sale, but as I was dozing off last night, I realized that I don't have a microwave! I guess I'll go Old School and use a sauce pan.

Sweltering

I can't believe how hot it's been here in Dallas. I can only walk Mr. Rocky about 500 feet before he fizzles out. I wish this apartment had hardwood floors. The kitchen and bathroom has that faux stuff which is good, but the living room, sunroom and bedroom has the usual beige commercial carpet. I guess I should've been more selective than settling on the first non-sucky place.

I've driven all over the place but stayed faraway from Ft. Worth and Dallas because I don't know where the hell I am. Euless is next to Ft. Worth, Arlington and Bedford and Grapevine. I only know Grapevine because that's where the coffee house! Jimmy and I saw the Transformers movie in Grapevine last night. I saw that they also had one of those faux town squares that always has a Cheesecake Factory, Barnes & Noble and Apple Store. The movie theater was there and was one of the better Big Theaters. Stupid movie, cool sound system and screen.

The Direct TV person is supposed to stop by tomorrow morning. I have to get one of those tripod dishes since I don't have a balcony. I have a sunroom! I have to call AT&T and see where my DSL is. I never ever get this kind of stuff setup/enabled on time.

I have to register my car, change my car insurance, and see if I should join a different gym. Ballys keeps going up and the closest location to me is in Arlington. Arlington is scary. It's like a really big Parma, Ohio.

Day 1

Last day in C-town. I wish I could've gone to the Indians game last night. It's fitting that it was the Battle of Ohio with the Indians losing to the Reds. This makes me think of whatshername which makes me want to go all Milton Bradley and kick the water cooler. I'm going to take Mr. Rocky to the park, pick up a coffee, and then come back and finish the loading. My hung over brother might crawl back here in the afternoon. I don't need him to help load the truck but he needs to go through his stuff and do something with it. Or not. I gave the keys and contact information to my nice neighbors.

I have to take apart the TV/DVR/DVD as well as remember to pick up the DSL modem upstairs. I should also clean out the microwave.

And that's about it! I'm halfway through a book called The Digital Plague. It's one of the better action scifi tomes, well, the sequel to one called The Electric Church. A girl at Caribou recommended it. I like recommendations. I tend to recommend old stuff, like Vurt or Revelation Space or (National Book Award Winner circa 1960) The Moviegoer. I like books. Well, I like good books. Other ones that I've loved include The Sheltering Sky and anything by Jerzy Kosinski. Yes, yes, I know he comes from the Elizabeth Hasselbeck School of Plagarism but a good book is a good book. It's not like Hollywood movies don't have a cast of thousands to doctor a typical script, and Hollywood has been cannibalizing itself since Birth of a Nation.

Day 3

I picked up the truck today and always ran it into the house. It doesn't really fit in the driveway, or rather, it fits but I can't open the doors - either doors. The guys who are working on the house next door took up the space in front of the house, so I have it parked across the street. And some damn Honda is now parked in front of the house, so I can't move it until they leave. This sucks.

I had to move the car dolly myself which was not an easy thing to do. I felt like I was deadlifting 500 lbs. I probably need to pick up a lock for the back. The last thing I want to do is load it and have someone break into it the night before I leave (i.e., Sunday).

I just got back from taking Mr. Rocky to the park. There were tons of people there so we just did a revolution and then came back. I stopped at Giant Eagle and picked up a couple of steaks for Mr. Rocky and me since this is probably the last regular dinner. I also used up my 20 cent gasoline discount.

My breaks are still squeaking. I'm pissed. The dealer couldn't fix it and now it looks like Firestone can't either. I paid for the latter, so maybe I'll drop by a Firestone down in Texas and show them the receipt, point to the guarantee on the wall, and demand that they fix. Needless to say, I'm not impressed.

Day 4

Ok, so maybe I didn't do anything today but drive to Parma (ick) and go back to Firestone to get them to finish what they started. I did stop at the gym where I sweated like Albert Brooks in "Broadcast News."

I just realized that I never got around to donating this box of cell phones and chargers or this bag of prescription glasses. Maybe I'll do that tomorrow after I pick up that 16' truck.

After I got back and made something to eat, I dozed off but was awoken by thunder. I look outside and what do I see? White puffy clouds. I guess some of them were packin'. I'm glad it didn't rain because 94 degrees + rain = double ick.

I owe Mr. Rocky a walk in the park which will probably be abbreviated because he has what I can only describe as seal furr. Maybe I'll teach him to clap this hands and catch something in his mouth.

Day 6

I think I'm going to die in Texas. Ok, not die but melt. I grew up without A/C in a smoggy suburb of Los Angeles, but that doesn't mean that I liked it. I didn't and don't. Still, I'll take 100 degrees over 10 degrees. Just drink a lot of bottled water/iced tea, right?

I picked up the bond this morning which I'll drop off with the lawyer tomorrow. I think everyone and his mother was out driving today, at least in Rocky River. I almost gave up and came home because my usual haunts were so crowded. People are fickle. It's not like all these people stop strip malls from dying.

The guys next door are still working on the house. They work on it almost every day and blast the radio. The radio doesn't bother me even though it's always on Mix 106.5, one of the sucky Clear Channel stations with no DJs but some pre-recorded idiot who announced the song and artist. It sounds like she's talking in a bathroom or something. I'll take the NPR stations or WKNR (ESPN Cleveland). I bet most of the broadcast radio stations in Dallas are in Spanish.

Wedgie still hasn't been fired. I don't think it matters at this point, and it really won't have an effect unless Shapiro is fired too. I'm not impressed by either of them. People have been saying that they should hire Grover. I'm usually skeptical when people go for the strategy of nostalgia (think: Gingrinch, Ken Griffey, Poison/Def Leppard Tour). Sure, Grover got a bum deal but so did Charlie Manuel. At least the Old Indians had an identity (hitting) and best double play combo (Vizquel, Alomar). This crappy team is just an unordered collection of 9 guys, all weakly typed.

Day 7

Just one more week to go. My brother has a new phone and new phone company (Sprint). He decided to get a flat-rate plan and he settle on (cough) Sprint. I should'nt dis them since AT&T drop calls like crazy. Actually, they beep and then drop calls. I have a $39 plan and a $40 phone (which I bought because the previous $40 phone died) and I'm holding off on moving and getting settled before I even think about joining the iphone/google phone clique. I might end up sticking with my average joe phone and spend my money on, well, other stuff.

I stopped by State Farm and got a bond. I'm bonded! Actually, I pick it up tomorrow and I get to pay for it. I'm not sure if this is an "estate expense" or I just pay for it myself. Since it's several hundred dollars, you can bet your bippy that I'll be asking the lawyer what to do. I want to say that it's the estate but I'm not sure.

I also got renter's insurance. I had to get it from the - what else? - State Farm office in Texas but I don't have to pay for it until next month when I have to sign something (for the car insurance). I guess that makes today the Day of Insurance.

Kathy is stopping by tomorrow to pick something up. She just said that she was laid off. Who in this town hasn't been? The place she worked for was evil but it was still a job. She mentioned that she's getting as much as she made on unemployment. I mentioned that she should go back to school since she won't always have tons of free time. And $0 income might get you some financial aid. Tri-C isn't too expensive. I took a history class at Tri-C one summer. It was strange being in class with kids who just graduated from high school and kids who went to one of the state universities but needed this summer class. I liked the teacher who reminded me of one of those middle age nuns who is hip but tough. I'm neither.

The weather has been almost perfect here in C-town. Every time I talk with Jimmy or someone in Texas, I hear how bloody hot it is. I hope I know what I'm doing. If I melt like a crayon on the sidewalk, you'll know why.

Sprinkles

I'm sitting here shirtless because I'm too lazy to find a t-shirt. My brother is stuck at a TSA because there was something wrong with a "wheel well." Not sure what that is but it was leaking.

It looks like someone is going to buy the house in N. Olmsted. That's a good thing since it's very easy to believe that the economy in Cleveland is dead on arrival. I live in an area of Cleveland called the Detroit Shoreway and I've seen the same houses for sale since last year. Early last year. (Wait, did I say live in an area of Cleveland? Only eleven more days.)

I think I'll have to leave some stuff here. My brother thinks that this place will be his flophouse when he's in town. That's probably a good idea since I have no plans to come back to C-town unless I have to. Here's scenario I think of: The Indians are in the World Series and Sin Soo Chu gives me free tickets. Since the Indians are the worst team in the worst division, I don't think it'll happen until after Wedgie gets fired and any player of value is traded for a bag of donuts. I don't know much about the Texas Rangers only that they do not suck.

Blacking out the friction

Well, 1/4 of the 2nd floor is done. By done I mean mostly empty. Sure, there's a pile of plastic hangers and I haven't bothered to vacuum, but the door is closed so it's officially done (or rather, done enoug).

I have to get up at the butt crack of dawn and go back to the car dealer because I don't seem to have much brakes left (and they just replaced them today). My brother said that there's probably air in them and he asked if they bothered to test everything out. Since I the car was finished close to 6PM, and the service department closes at 6PM, I'd say that's a big no. I'm working hard not to become Mr. Furious so I'll just ask them to fix that which is broken. So much for having a GM car.

Who knows, you might meet this guy

I have a hard time figuring out which day it is.  It took me a few minutes staring down Bridge Avenue before I realized that they didn't pick up the trash because Monday was a holiday.  I then guessed that it must be Friday, right?  The exact day isn't a big deal to me.  What's the difference between one day and the next?  The only gauge that I have is how far away I am from July 1.  I think mid-June will be fairly busy since I have to cancel this and that, and, like Bob Dylan on his Nashville Skyline album cover, take my hat off and say adios to C-town and its two buildings.

I guess there's a basketball game tonight.  I haven't been able to get into the playoffs this year.  Yes. I like the Lakers but they've fallen into that same pit of apathy that houses teams like the LA Dodgers, SF 49ers and the Detroit Red Wings.   My mind is somewhere else.

I think the library will have a couple of book sales comprising books that yours truly has donated.  I have no idea what Goodwill does with the money they make except maybe pay for their employees.  I know that in sucky times that Goodwill or any discount place is your best friend.  Still, the libraries are what distinguishes us from the heathens and they have free wifi!  I don't go to any particular library so I have library cards all over the place.  I even have a library card for the Akron Public Library and I've never checked out a book.  It's 40 miles away, what can I say?  

Mean time between failures

I had the taste for pot roast today. Actually, if you want to know the truth, I had the taste for home cooking. I rarely make pot roast which explains the fact that it never turns out like how I remembered it. My last visit to LA didn't see too many home cooked meals. I think I had some eggs and bacon that my dad made. Rocky is pacing around in the kitchen because he knows what's up. He's been in the doldrums lately and it's worrying me. I asked Dr. Gano the vet if I should be worried about Rocky's incessant jonesing for grass. Maybe he's just upset with me for leaving Annie and him at Pet Co. to get a bath. I'll keep a close watch on him.

I really don't want to see tonight's Cavs-Magic game. I've always thought that the Cavs were overrated at least when you compare them to teams like Boston or LA. Some wise person once said that you need at least two bonafied stars. One good season doth not a star make thee! Booby Gibson had a good playoff a couple of years ago and has been MIA. Mo Williams had a career year but the NBA playoffs are, of all the major sports, a separate and not equal season. Just just have to make the playoffs and kick your butt in gear. The Shaq-Kobe Lakers just farted around during the regular season knowing that the real season didn't start until the playoffs. Sadly, the Cavs figured that they best regular season record meant something and that home court would be an adequate substitute for bad matchups. The so-called Best Defensive Team in the NBA is suddenly Paul Blart: Mall Cop when they should've been Robo Cop.

My brother's truck broke down somewhere in San Diego. He was able to stop and see Brodie down in El Centro but his truck flaked out. They towed him to a Freightliner shop but they didn't seem to have any parts. I think the fact that my brother was given a new truck, and that it broke down, is a warning sign. The simple fact of this event is that if my brother's not driving, he's not making any money. Luckily, he seems to be a good spirits. He had to curtail part of his delivery and som other (irate) driver had to take the rest of my brother's load to Vernon (a neligible suburb of LA close to where I'm from) which means that my brother won't get to visit with the parental units. I gave Jimmy my XM radio so that means that I've been driving around with sucky radio. I haven't been following WKNR because I don't need anyone to tell these sad facts of life:
-The Browns suck
-The Indians suck
-The Cavs suck
So I've been toggling between WKSU (NPR and classical music) and some jazz standards station on 91.5. Oh yes, I do catch the Diane Rehm show on 90.3 (regular cat-in-heat jazz).

Today's show had Robert Reich. He has the best matter-of-fact commentaries on economics and policy in spite of his being a "weenie" (Cal person). Reich reminds me of one of those teachers you had who could simply a seemingly intractable problem into a couple of straight-forward pieces. (e.g., my high school history teacher who said that the problem of illegal immigration was simple: just increase the economic opportunities in Mexico.) Granted, the whole of my economic/business/policy background is limited to Econ 101 which I took one summer at East LA College.

Epiricism

I've had a long day. Not only did I spend a tank of gas and drove to Pittsburgh but the neighbors came and took away most of the furniture. The dining room table and chairs, the armoire, the buffet thingie, the desk thingie, the bed and mattresses, plus a lot of assorted stuff including a couple of frame pictures. The downstairs area is pretty empty. They wanted to take the leather recliners but everyone seems to want those. I'm not sure if they'll fit in the U-haul but we'll see. They were also nice enough to help me empty my NEW sofa bed to the garage. Yes, I stood in line in Pittsburgh and was one of the lucky ones to get a $150 sofa bed.

The drive to Pittsburgh was fair uneventful. I hadn't thought about the toll roads and I really didn't think that it would cost me a tank of petrol. Oh well.

So here's what I'm taking:
-Bed (I got it at IKEA a few years ago and no-one likes it but me)
-Desk (I got this at World Market)
-Office chair
-2 leather recliners (Got this last December)
-2 metal racks (One is in the pantry and one is in the dining room)
-Tons of boxes of books, cds, misc.
-Boxes of clothes, towels and blankets (ok, maybe they're more like comforters)
-Boxes of cooking/kitchen stuff.
-Stools (2)
-Laptop
-Misc. papers/checkbooks/bills/stamps
-2 dogs
-2 cats
-Brand new sofa bed(big-ass box and 2 cushion thingies that look like burritos)

I'm hoping that all this crap will fit inside the moving truck. I still need to get a couple of kitty carriers and a litter box. I made these litter boxes by taking a really, really sharp knife and attacking a plastic tote.

I'm not taking these:
-Fridge with ice maker
-Microwave
-Washer
-Dryer
-Elliptical machine in the basement (I didn't even know it was down there)
-Exercise bike in the basement (Not sure why I kept it and I've always disliked it)

I'm debating whether I should take the frankenputer (desktop) that's upstairs. It works and has plenty of disk space but I don't really need it. I might take it only to put linux on it or maybe Windows server. It's a low priority thing.

It's just bidness

I decided to brave the metroparks today and had to cut the walk short. During the week, walking two dogs is do-able but not on the weekends. Between the big Doodle and Mike Tyson mini-Beagle, my arms are sore.

There are simply too many people half of whom seem to be fishing. I've yet to see someone walking back to his or her car carrying any fish, but that doesn't mean that their time was misspent. The idea of fishing in the Cleveland city limits brings to mind images of mutant fishes or some radioactive swamp thing with sharp teeth.

The guy who is fixing up the house next door (the one that was rightly condemned by the city) might be interested in buying this one. Of course, talk is cheap but I gave him the bank name and loan number. More power to him if he can do it. I tried calling the bank the other day and I got in an argument with some idiot girl who couldn't understand that a "short sale" - or any sale for that matter - is only possible if someone makes an offer. I kept telling her that no-one in three months has even expressed interest in seeing this house. What does she think, that I kidnap someone and waterboard them into making a house offer? She couldn't comprehend the fact that selling a house requires at least two parties: who who is selling and one who is buying, and no-one is buying.

In retrospect I don't think much for the real estate agent who could never recommend a price for the house. "Well, it depends" was all he could offer. Like no duh. There's always a price for a house even if that price is FREE. I told him what the mortgage amount was and he never said a peep about listing the house that would encourage a short sale (less than the loan amount). I think he's stuck in commission mode of listing a given house for the maximum amount of money. He like most people don't realize that you can make good money by selling low but selling in bulk. Whatever.

I talked with the lawyer and the estate (read: me) will have to pay the utilities even though I will have moved out. My brother and his friend have offered to semi-stay here which is just fine as long as they realize that they might have to skiddadle once the bank takes back the house or someone buys it. If the guy fixing the house next door buys it, it would simply so much since he can stay here; that is, it's livable.

Anyway, more packing to do. I've begun to box up some clothes. I'd like to take the metal wire shelves because I can use them for a multitude of things. I have the strangest tastes in home furnishing.

I have to take the Doodle and Rocky to the vets office on Tuesday to ensure that they have all their shots. I also need to get a rabies cert in case I take them to Pet Smart for a day spa. I also need to get a couple of kitty carriers.

Details

It's pretty difficult for a non-logical person to suddenly become logical.  To that end, I'm trying to get quotes for movers vs. renting a big ass truck.  I've rented a truck and car tow thingie when I moved from Cleveland to the STL and I vaguely remember the difficulty in manoevuering a 14' truck and my 1995 Cavalier.  St. Louis is only 10 hours away which is do-able in a day.  It's about 1200 miles or 18 hours from Cleveland to Euless, TX.   600 miles a day is not too bad, right?  The U-Haul website says that I can rent a 10' truck + car tow thingie for only $1200. 

When I moved from Cleveland to Palo Alto, I used a mover who picked up some stuff.  I want to say that it was only $400 but I really didn't move much stuff.  I'd prefer movers since they might be "asynchronous" - that is, they pick up "when they can" and deliver it "when they can" - which is perfectly fine with me.  It's not like I can't live without my 20 friggin boxes of books for a couple of days.  Additionally, I'd save time and gas/hotel money.  So let's see what the movers can quote me.

I have to move-in on July 1, so it can be anytime after July 1.

I still need to get rid of a bunch of furniture.  A big armoire, a small but heavy table and chairs set, and a dining/serving thingie.  I also have one honest to God antique: a curio cabinet.  I'm not a guy who collects plastic horses or Limoge boxes, but it simply tossing away something like this doesn't feel right.  Maybe I'm feeling what the person who threw away that copy of the Declaration of Independence.  Just....words.....and more words....

There's a washer and dryer hookup in this apartment, and as luck would have it, I have a washer and dryer.  I also have a fridge and microwave.  What I'm thinking of doing is leaving the big appliances and instead taking the wire shelves (2) that are currently in the pantry and kitchen.  I like things that I can see.  Cabinets and drawers are my bête noire.

Baby Temblor 2

My mom just called and said that there was an earthquake there in LA.  Ok, so maybe it was in Hawthorne which is just a couple of cities away from Downey (where my mom lives).  It was a 5.something and lasted about a minute.  I guess Porkchop the Cat freaked out.   I hope my grandmother isn't scared.

Baby Temblor

I think I'm possessed.  As I was filling out an apt application in EULESS, TX, there was an earth quake.  I did notice the windows rattling in the lobby but the ground didn't move.  I figured  that something blew out, like a power transformer or Jason Kidd's knee.  It was ONLY a 3.something, so it probably wouldn't have woken me up (assuming I was asleep).

Well, I found an apartment in EULESS.  It's strategically placed between the stripmall hell known as Arlington and the more bucolic Grapevine.  The airport seems to dominate the region which I suppose is all right.  In general the places nearest an airport are cheapest.

I have no idea what's in EULESS except a few broken windows.  I called Jimmy to tell him and he said he knows the area.  I like the 114 and 121 freeways if only because they haven't been too crowded.  

Today I decided to see if i can find something called the Irvine Mall.  I figured that since the north Irvine area where my hotel is nice (that is, clean), I'd drive there and see more nice things.  BIG FRIGGIN MISTAKE.  I felt like I was driving through mega stripmall hell.  It was like a big perversion of the most traffic congested mayhem.  I held out hope that once I was out of the retail hell, I'd see some swanky mall thingie, maybe like Crocker Park or Legacy Village in Cleveland. NO FRIGGIN WAY.  It was a regular mall with even crappier parking.  Sure, there was a Barnes & Noble and AMC theater, but nothing to write home about.  Still, I walked around. 

I have to figure out what to do when it comes to walking the dog.  I don't think I can simply leave the place with Mr. Rocky in tow, but there are some parks nearby.  Rocky might end up peeing over the nice landscaping but I'll have to trek to the park if he wants to, you know...

I was able to get a short (7 mos.) lease in case I have to skiddadle.  At least I should be able to work and save up some dinero.  I wonder if there is an Ikea around here.

Browsing

I don't know what's more tiring: flying in a plane for 5 hours or apartment hunting for 5 minutes.  I looked at 3 places today and none of the places were near each other.  The first one is by some lake west of Ft. Worth.  It reminded me a lot of central Illinois (think: Decatur).  I spent an hour in traffic on I-35 because nothing stops a 2-lane freeway like cops giving out a ticket to some hapless driver.  I thought about walking around downtown Ft. Worth but I just drove through it on my way to Arlington.  

Arlington is a little scary.  The new Cowboys stadium looks a lot like that scene from the new Star Trek movie that shows the U.S.S. Enterprise being constructed.  Basically, it's hazy and gray and pokes through the clouds.  That monstrosity must've cost a billion dollars.  Anyway, I looked at one place in Arlington which left me shaking my head.  There was a "demo" apartment that was connected to the lobby office.  The weird green carpet was scary and the place was sort of dirty.  The girl in the office said that they use the demo place to eat and hangout.  

I've noticed that these apartments really try and weed out felons, or, on the case of this green carpeted place, multiple misdemeanors.  What I can figure out is how a bunch of traffic tickets would preclude ones being rejected.  

On the way to look at another apartment (which I could never find), I stopped at some random apartment complex to ask for directions.  The guy was nice but kind of pushy.  He was the owner of the place and he showed me one VERY lived in apartment.  He said that it belonged to some woman who got back together with her boyfriend.  It was a mess and dark and scary.  The apartment location is good (close to the freeway and what looks like a new Whole Foods Store).  

So far the nicest place was that one by the lake.  It's about 30 miles from here in Irving and there doesn't seem to be none of that retail/stripmall development that abounds in Arlington.  The lease term is 8 months.  Why would people choose an odd length?  What's wrong with 6 months?  Maybe the owners like the octal system.

I'm supposed to check out some place here in Irving tomorrow.  I'll do that and maybe check out whatever's north of here.   This apartment hunting is not enjoyable at all.  I have to do this (look, that is) but nothing seems to be directing me in one direction or another.   The Dallas-Ft. Worth area reminds me St. Louis only without the bizarro historical quality.  At least there's Mexican food, right?

Shopping

Looking through all of the apartment ads is a daunting task.  And this is just online.  Craigslist is good because it doesn't barage you with 10,000 banner/content ads that have nothing to do with the context of the page (think: weight loss/teeth whiting ads on msnbc.com).   My head is spinning.

I'm not sure what I'm looking for at all.  If I'd be honest with myself, I'd say that the idea of living in an apartment complex is scary. I really don't want to be annoyed by loud music, fights and I don't want to be the one who's doing the annoying because of the dog.  I saw dog (singular) because I'm hoping that my brother will have Annie with him in his truck, at least for a while.   Renting an entire house is an option but it's always more money and the leases tend to be at least a year.  A lease that long scares me.   I think a 6 mos. lease is reasonable and I'd even pay more for the ability to make like a tree and go.  A big 2 bedroom place would be nice if only for the pets and my 10,000 boxes of stuff.  I had a 2 bedroom apt when I lived in St. Louis and I never used one of the bedrooms.

Living in a not-so-nice neighborhood should be cheaper and doesn't scare me because those are the kind of places I've been since I've been in Cleveland.  I might hang out in places like Rocky River but I have to live on Bridge Ave in the heart of the Puerto Rican hood. Que lastima.  I also know that I'd feel really out of place if I lived somewhere swanky.   Besides, it's not like I'm rolling in jack.

I've noticed that a lot of apartments don't list air conditioning as one of their amenities.  Is that because no sane person would ever live sans A/C in Dallas?   It doesn't really matter, you know?

Cat position

I don't think I've done a damn thing since my brother has been here.  Well, aside from walking not one but two dogs every day.  We did haul down a couple of dressers from the 3rd floor, so I guess I've done something.  

My flight to Los Angeles is this Sunday, so one of my brother's friends will he house/dog/cat-sitting for me.  I feel slightly guilty because there's no longer any sofa, so Brad will have to crash upstairs or on the floor.  I might drag down one of the mattresses downstairs since I'll have to do that eventually.   

I still need to figure out what to do with all of the books.  I can probably open my own used book store although there's a bidness idea whose time will never come again.  Speaking of which, I picked up a (used) book at 1/2 Price Books on Yoga for Beginners.  I love to stretch around because it feels 10x better than, say, running or using the elliptical machine.  

I guess I'm more serious about Dallas since I zapped the bookmark link to craigslist-cleveland and instead replaced it with craigslist-dallas.   If it's 90 degrees when I visit, I might come back and change it to craigslist-north pole.   My next door neighbor is working in Everett, Washington and was raving about it.  He gets paid pretty well since his wife and kids are still here in C-town.  I kept dropping hints that he should probably relocate there since C-town was just ranked as the third worst big city for jobs (you think?) . Why Cleveland doesn't punt the Burke Lakefront Airport and develop it is beyond me.  I'm not from Ohio and the incompetency and corruption smell like one of Tigerlily's WMDs.  For example, what is the most desirable and expensive real estate in Cleveland used for?  Answer: above the ground parking lots.   

I don't even bother listening to  the Indians these days.  They're good enough to have the lead for 7 innings and then they'll roll over like a beagle looking for a belly rub.  To be the worst team in the worst division should say enough.  Answer: can Wedgie and pay Grover whatever he wants to return.

     

Grill marks

I have these moments where I just done care.  Wait, let me rephrase that.  I sometimes have moments where I'll just ignore something that would oridinarily drive any sane person batty.  For example,  it's almost 8PM but it's very hot.  And I'm waiting for my coffee to cool down.  I also just came from the gym, so something icey and cold is usual end result.  But I always have coffee here, so it's coffee tonight.  I supposed that the only time I'll frequent some establishment sans buying anything would be a place that I owned.  Maybe I'd still order a coffee just to keep the streak going.

I'm waiting for PetSmart to call me and tell me that the dogs are ready.  They really needed a grooming.  Hell, I really need a grooming with this messy hair.  My brother is at a BBQ and has my car.  The stupid thing was that I had originally thought that the BBQ would be at the house, that is, he, me and the two dogs.  I guess there must be women at this other wingding.

I did some cleaning up on the third floor.  I don't think I made a dent.  I really need to find one of those self-storage places.  Like U-Stor-It, Uncle Bob's Store-It, We Stored It So You Don't Have To, etc.  I guess I can be all scientific about it and approximate the space that I'd need; that is, a 5'x5' or 5'x10', etc.  I'm pretty good with visualizing stuff, so I'll just imagine a shitload of plastic tote boxes that are stacked really, really high.  If I can pay $75 a month, I'll probably consider myself lucky.  I might rent something bigger just so I can (eventually) store some furniture.   Apart from books and CDs and a few odds & ends, I have no special attachment to anything I own.  I technically have no place to live but have custody of two dogs and two cats.   Well, at least one dog.

The back brakes sounds really bad on the Jeep.  I can't remember which mechanic is open on Sundays.  Why do all these things happen on Sunday (or too late on Saturday)?  I heard from someone that the post office by the airport will no longer be 24 hours.  As bad as the service is (and it is), at least I could always mail something whenever I wanted.  I'm certain that the post office could save tons of money if they read just one book on process improvement and customer service.  Yeah, we really need 20 years of experience to sell stamps and ask strangers "is there anything fragile, dangerous or illegal in here?"  Maybe I can make some money by selling do-it-yourself waterboarding kits.  Thank you, Mr Cheney. Will you be needing any stamps?

I wonder what took KFC until 2009 to have grilled chicken.  Sure, it doesn't compare to the 11 types of salt - excuse me, 11 secret herbs and spices - but it's 2009 for chrissakes.  I think I spent all of last year pulling apart those snack wraps at Mickey D's just to have some grilled chicken.  Why people would serve non-homemade tortillas cold is beyond me.  Real homemade flour tortillas are also good when they're cold. At least my grandma's.   I just hate that floury, gummy taste that does not say Southwestern cuisine.

Accoutrements

I wonder if I'm falling apart.  I never dwell on the fact that I'm old, that the layer of dust is always on my head,  and that, like most true Generation Xers, has wasted his years.   My shoulder hurts even though I don't think I injured it.  Like Ken Griffrey Jr, I probably injured it by merely waking up and reaching for my hat.  At least Junior gets paid.  It feels like I caught a cold in shoulder, to use an expression that my mom's wont of saying which has always sounded weird.  I wish someone would rub it.  I'm not one of those touchy feely people but it's that kind of irritating soreness that a warm touch might help.  Maybe I should dig up a heating pad.  No wait, I think I donated it to Goodwill.  I'm been ODing on the Aleve which worries me.  Of course it might be the weather which, true to form, sucks.

Well, a bit of the Big Furniture is gone.  I donated the sofa and Rocky's love seat along with not one but two armoires.  Oh yes, and a small table. I still have to do something with two beds and the dining room stuff (one of which is, yes folks, an armoire).  Good thing this place picks things up.  I can barely fit Chunky Butt Rocky in my car.

Instead

I can't decide whether I'm tired, uber bored, or just out of it tonight.  I fell asleep around 6PM and work up around 10PM.  I guess I must've been tired but I figured that since I left the radio on, that I'd just take a nap. I like naps. 

Work was slow today and made slower by a 1.5 hour webex meeting.  I was sitting at someone else's desk, behind said someoene else, so I couldn't read politico.com or see which lucky team gets Jay Cutler (as if the Browns had a chance/clue).

I sent out a couple of resumes.  Ok, more than a couple, but I doubt I'll get any phone calls.  A lot of these jobs/contracts ignore you if you're not local.  Being local to Cleveland isn't a good thing when it comes to, well, gainful employment.  I guess the chance of my runnng over some poor guy in Florida because I was drunk is fairly low.  I've only been to FL once in my life.  I'm listening to the new Madeleine Peyroux album.  k sent me one of Peyroux' albums a few years ago for my birthday.  I think our tastes in music overlaps like 85% or something.  Scary.  I meet so many people these days who like bands like Linkin Park or whatever formulaic boy band is being proferred by The Man.  A point in fact is that we have nothing in common.  Nothing.  Nada.  Zilch.  Bupkis.  The Null Set.  

This song ("Instead") makes me think of sex.  Hmm.

If I didn't care

It seems like I've been here forever.  It never fails to amaze me how slow the process of copying files from one drive to another is.  I noticed that I was running out of disk space on C: and decided to move 95% of my tunes to this portable USB drive that I have.   I still haven't opened up the other USB drive that I got a few weeks ago.  I still have buyer's remorse even though it was under $100.  I think the first paycheck will eradicate remose, poverty and all around blah feelings.

I hauled over ten boxes full of books and CDs to the garage.  I also spent a good hour facilitating my neighbors in taking some of the stuff that I had promised them.  I don't think that I'm the most mannered person in the universe except when I'm around people who have none.  I hate to be judgmental but it's hard to deny the obvious.  Let's just say that when a woman asks where the trashcan is so that she could spit in it, one better point and stand back.  

My head is killing me.  Pressure headache.  I took 3 ibuprofen but I think I just need some air.  

I keep waiting for warmer weather and it never comes.   Most of the stuff up in the third floor was Melissa's. I didn't realize that there were so many cards and photos and trinkets.  It was hard to stand there while Jackie went through things and I kept saying what she could have and what I wanted.  A lot of stuff was unopened and new even though it was dusty and if she didn't take it, I would've taken it to Goodwill.  I fought back the feeling of abject loss that threatens to fall on me like an avalanche.  Why doesn't anyone visit?   Why doesn't anyone stop by and see things for themselves? Things have always been so insular, so isolated.  Like Easter Island but without the statues.

Ineffectual

Today is the first day of Spring.   The change of seasons doesn't mean much to me even if I live in a place with actual seasons.  I've been thinking about planting something but I'm not sure why.  I really need to kick it in gear and empty out the house.   

The big stuff are the furniture and boxes and boxes of books.  There are even more up on the third floor.  I have a contact who might be interested in some of the books, but I haven't called yet.  I guess I'm waiting for better weather or winning lottery ticket.

The NY Times website looks worse and worse each day.  Today I was greeting for a ginormous Lowes ad.  I don't mind big ads, but when it takes up half a page of content (read: was especially distracting), I'll start going somewhere else.  Why do people think that bigger is better?  Big ads never work on a person like me.  Sure, someone has to pay the bills, but it's not like the Times has an exclusive on content - or its content.  Maybe I'll just read Google News.

Jetsam

It's 1am and I'm wide awake.  I have exactly one more day of freedom made a little freer since my brother doesn't need a ride from Wherever He Leaves His Truck (e.g., Wal-mart, Pilot).   

I cleaned out 95% of the stuff that was in the pantry and took everything to St Augustine's over in Tremont.  Unlike most of the churches in my neck of the woods, this place always has people there.  I can't tell who is a volunteer, who is homeless, and who actually works there, but it doesn't matter.  One big family.  I took food there yesterday and today clothes.  In some way, I wish I could keep taking stuff, you know? Some guy named Virgil helped me unload today and I noticed that the garage/storage place is chock full of stuff.  Mostly random pieces and parts and old, old furniture.  

I think the funiture in the dining room might be worth some money.  I have no idea what we paid for it.  They're Mexican-style if that means anything.  One piece is huge 6' armoire.  One is a table and chair set.  Heavy table.  And one is a serving thingie.  I have no affinity for them and I never use any of them.  The cats love to sit on the chairs, so I definitely have to de-cat-hair the chairs at some point.  There's also a full size bed upstairs too.  I paid something like $500 or $600 for it at Unfinished Furniture.  Yes, it's finished.  I never liked the bed because it always squeaked.  I quieted said squeak by using a roll of toilet paper as a sort of shock absorber.  I'm not a mechanical-type, so I never experimented with various (read: elegant) ways to quiet this bed.  Maybe some small piece of rubber?  I like my cheap Ikea bed.  That I paid $100 for at the Ikea in Pittsburgh.  It feels like a futon more than anything else.  

I told my brother that Watchmen sucked.  I only made it through two of the three hours and ended up walking out.   Worrying about the dogs was real, but the movie was really, really, really slow.  And I never read the comic and couldn't keep up with the time periods (WWII, Vietnam, 1985).  Since Jimmy has "plans," I probably won't see it again.  Going to a movie is slightly more appealing than gaving a tooth filled.

I'm not the kind

I wonder why I seem to be listening to old Morrissey songs.  I used to have this cassette of "Bona Drag" and I played it to death.  I didn't have many tapes but I listened to most of them over and over.  And over.  Music was about the only thing that kept me company during the late 1980s.   Yes, it's stupid and nostalgic because I'm stupid and nostalgic.  

I have this urge to run.  It's 12:30am and 16 degrees outside, sure, but that doesn't change the fact that I feel like running.  I think I just want to be warm and perhaps hot.  I'm always cold these days because it is cold.  I made a pot of coffee and it did nothing to help.  Caffeine doesn't make me bouncy at all; in fact, I'm the guy at Caribou with his head on the table dozing off.  I know I'm eating because I keep buying food and washing dishes.  Tonight I made some chicken like Stacy does it (mayo + parmesean cheese) and I microwaved some calabacitas veggie mix that was on sale for $1.50.

I hate my haircut.  I'm usually do indifferent when it comes to how I look or what I'm wearing, but I hate my haircut.   Going to some random Cheap/Best/Cuts place never fails to disappoint.

Light snow

I fell asleep today on top of the dog. Ok, so maybe my head was resting on Annie. She was so warm. I had intended to drive to Caribou so that I could hear some acoustic musician, but I slept through it. I ended up driving to the supermarket at midnight for no reason in particular. I took the dogs with me. It's bloody cold outside. They keep talking baseball on WKNR and when I think about how cold it is, I can't help but recall that opening day game that Jimmy and I went to a few years ago. Nothing like watching a baseball game in the snow. It was probably the worst outside thingie that I've ever attended. It's right up there with the time I went to OzzFest and it rained. Nothing like watching drunk/high ozzites fallen down in the mud.

I've been thinking about Debbie's horse. And I'm sad. 28 years is a long time to know someone or have an animal. That was her baby Melissa used to say.

Dog day

Today was just one of Those Days.  It started the second I led the dogs outside, put down my gym bag, and then shut the front door.   Like an idiot, I forgot the car keys inside, so I was locked out!  Fortunately, I had hidden a spare door key in the backyard just a few days ago.  No biggy, right?  An hour later, and 1000 tiny cut on my hands and arm, I had no key.  I had to mangle this huge grass plant THING and not for the life of me figure out what happened to the damn key.  As I paced  the driveway, I saw pieces of the plastic bag that contained the key.  The damn dog(s) found the key and killed it.  I looked everywhere for the key hoping that the Doodle and Mr. Poopy spit it out.  No luck.  So I took a BIG FRIGGIN ROCK and clobbered the front door's window.  PLEXIGLASS!  Fortunately, the window was dislodged enough for me to squeeze my hand and unlock the door.  I had busted these little plastic nubby things that looked like someone's chicklets.  As I grabbed the keys, put the dogs in the Jeep, and walked around the car, I saw something SHINY and SILVERY.  So, I now have a slightly gnawed spare key.   

I stopped at Home Depot to get some plastic nubby things and MY DAMN DEBIT CARD was rejected.  I then remembered that my bank sent a new ATM card for some reason.   I looked at the expiration date and it said 2012 or WHEN THE WORLD ENDS (WHICHEVER IS LATER).  So I drove back home, found the new card, activated it, and then I was good to go.  

Caribou, like many coffee houses, has a trivia question of the day.  Guess the question correctly (or be an official Cool Customer like me) and you save 10 cents on your overpriced cuppa joe.  I freaked out the guys where because no-one has been able to answer today's query:  Shakespeare was born and died on the same day of the year.  Which day was it?  I laughed and said that it was indeed trivia and that it was easy (April 23).  So maybe I've kicked up my status as a coffee house trivia god of minor note.  Most questions are easy which is how it should be, at least if you want to "reward" people with a whopping 10 cent savings.   

But wait, the dog day of February 25 isn't over!   When I got back home, the dogs ran in the backyard like they usually do.  I got a screw driver and reattached the front door window and then I let Annie inside.  I figured that Rocky (Mr. Poopy) was still in the back, so I called him and then walked back.  No Rocky.  My heart literally stopped.  Here I am, in my early 40s and fighting back the prospect that he got out of the yard.  And then it hits me, he might be under the back steps, so I walk over and then hear something.  Suddenly, Rocky's snout pokes out.  HE'S STUCK.  Rocky is a little sausage.   For some reason, he decided that the best thing to do after being locked up in a car for two hours is dive under the stairs like he was going after Charlie.  I was able to pull his sorry butt out.  He was scared and I was just so happy that he was all right.  

I have a weird relationship with pets.  I take care of them and tolerate them even though they chew up things or have accidents in the house.  But the sudden feeling of loss, that Tigerlily has gotten out or Rocky has escaped from Cleveland Guantanamo terrifies me.    I had a friend in college who said  that she didn't ever want kids because she couldn't protect them.  It didn't make sense to me then, and it sort of does now.  I can't even cope with two dogs and two cats, so I'd definitely be challenged with a tiny person to protect.

Finally, as I was typing this a few minutes ago, I smelled something.....burning.  Yours truly was going to make some tea and forgot to add water to the sauce pan.   I rarely do stuff like that.  Maybe I'm just out of sorts today.   

Not a timeless town

I'm an Ella Fitzgerald mood tonight.  Not sure why.  I wish I could listen to these songs (Cole Porter Songbook) on something other than a laptop speaker.  

I cancelled HBO/Starz because, aside from Flight on the Conchords, I really wasn't watching those so-called premium channels, so I save $25.   It's kind of pricey when you think about it.  I have a Netflix subscription and use it even less.  I'm on those people who requests DVD but doesn't find the time to watch them and ends up sending them back.  I think the last movies I watched were Trekkies and Trekkies 2.  My brother is a hulu junkie.  I think I saw 10 minutes of Firefly which is strange since I have the damn DVD box set.

I wonder if Obama's speech will change any of the idiot republicans who are sitting on the fence.  I know that there has to be more than 3 turncoats.  It's hard not to like Jindal even though he's just repeating the GOP mantra that the only one ever needs are tax cuts.  I'd really be surprised if he got the nomination in 2012 because the GOP is really a bunch of old white guys who need to hold the mantle of the, well, old white guys.

Sad tomato

I like to listen to Olbermann and Maddow on my ipod, but I really am missing out because I don't download the video.  Solved!  You don't realize how slow your net connection is until you download a half hour podcast.  Meet the Press, at a full hour, needs a goodly amount of time.  I just wish that it was available by noon time.  To be truthful, I don't always listen to podcasts.  I'm one of those people who, like the whiny girl in Willy Wonka, wants his oompah loompah now.  I don't think anyone's ever called me patient ever.

It's almost 2am and I'm wide awake.  Five hours in a car will do that to you.  Maybe I should take a melatonin.  For once I get to sleep in while my brother gets a motel wake up call at 6am.  I hope he wakes up.  This is the same brother who slept through a stopover in Cleveland and ended up in Kansas City.  I never thought I'd be in one of those movie moments where you pace around in the waiting area oscillating between anger and fear.    

The dogs were good tonight.  Jimmy and I waked them at some rest stop but they slept most of the way to Columbus and back.  I wish I had taken my XM radio with me because the every damn AM station between Mansfield and C-bus was some damn right wing anti-Obama idiot.  I can't believe that people tune in to listen to this Rush wannabes.  You'd think they could keep a low profile until the economy is recovering.  It definitely feels that they want everything and everyone to fail.  I hope that they really are made irrelevant.

Road trip

I hate Sundays.  Sure, the Oscars are tonight, but since I haven't seen any of the nominated movies, I don't have much interest.  Does anyone really care that this movie wins over this other movie?  Besides, the Cavs-Pistons game is on at the same time.  The trivia question over at Caribou was who won last year's best picture Oscar.  I was stumped.   There Will Be Old Men?

I feel cold. I'm usually all right when it comes to being too cold or too warm, but lately I've been cold.  Maybe I'll make some tea.

I started to watch Meet the Press and hearing the broken record known as Bobby Jindal started to grate on me.  He's better than the usual GOP wankers, but the fact that he'd turn down unemployment money from Obama just shows you how out of touch some people are.  If there's any state that need that sort of immediate relief it's Loo-siana.  It's not racist as much as clueless.  But poor people don't vote otherwise all these republican governors who turned down stimulus money would be kicked out of office.   The idiot governor here in Ohio voted against the stimulus.  And he's from Cleveland.  Nothing like the caring conservatives sticking it to everyone who needs help.  I love Rachel Maddow's habit of calling the GOP the "party in exile."  

I have to drive to Columbus tomorrow.  Maybe in the afternoon.  Just me, my brother, and two dogs.

Stickies

It's raining today.  I feel happy(er) for some reason.  I took a couple of boxes to Goodwill and then stopped at Marc's to get some muchy sticks for the dogs.  For some reason. they price those sticks 15 for a 99 cents.  So when the checkout person asks me how many I have, I usually say "three dollars worth."  They never ever trust me, so I have to think in tuples of 15.  I got $3 worth of brown sticks  because I'm good at figuring how many white sticks and brown sticks map to $7.   The old price for these things used to be 18 for 99 cents.  Clearly, a 4th grade teacher manages this store.

I got a call from someone at AT&T who said he'd call back and actually did.  Of course it took about 2 hours.  He said he had to escalate my trouble ticket to two managers and he still didn't know what was up with the Cleveland central office.  Lovely.  I did hear from a friend that phones were out at AT&T or rather, that there was some "disruption."  This is why I really like wifi.   With multiple layers of coverage, you almost always get online.   The two cups + string approach that AT&T/SBC/Ameritech favors can get blow'd up.  

Every day that I walk out and see the For Sale sign, I get mad.  The anger is directed at myself.  Why am I even bothering?  Jimmy suggested something last night whilst we out walking los perros.  Brodie (late of Cleveland and now living in sin in El Centro, California) might be able to come back and watch the house and, just maybe, the dog(s).   Annie the Wonder Doodle is high energy but she's a big baby.   Jimmy would prefer Annie's company in his truck vs. Rocky.  And I know that Brodie likes Rocky.  This might be a good solution and would allow me to find somewhere else, somewhere that's dog and/or cat friendly.   Definitely not something in Cleveland.   We'll see.  Ideas are always a good thing to be tossed around.

Queasy

2/15/2009

Another seemingly unproductive day.  Sunday, no less.  I did stop at the gym but that isn't a big deal.  I saw (ok read the closed captioning) of Burris' "I forgot to mention something" news conference.  For some reason, Fox News is always on one of the overhead televisions.  Which idiot would think that Fox News is anything but "fair and balance."  It's a joke of a new channel.  The media in general is pretty annoying, but I'll take MSNBC or CNN any day of the weak over the muckrakers on Fox.   At least Fox Sports is all right.

It's about 8pm and I'm feeling slightly queasy.  I made Italian meatloaf tonight but it's not sitting well with me.  Not sure what it is.  I just hope I'm not getting sick.

The real estate agent is going to stop over tomorrow.  Haven't met him before and I'm not going to clean up.  I'll give him the 20 second rundown and see what he says.  The house will have to be at least presentable before I let in people.  I do know that few if any visitors are serious and most will want to check out the house.  Maybe I should bake some cookies.  Who is really serious in the Cleveland real estate market?  

Team Xerox

An AT&T Tech came by today.  He was here about a half an an hour before he gave up.  He did provide me with a nifty ticket number and said that someone named Andy would be calling me in 30 minutes.  He never did.  So here it is, Monday night and I'm sans Internet.  The problem is at "their end," that is, the central office. I have a good DSL signal but nothing else.  That nothing else is probably PPPoE.  I can't believe that I've been net-less for over a week.  If these idiots can't do a dryloop "connection" in a couple of days, they shouldn't be offering it.  AT&T is not your grandpappy's AT&T.  It's not even your older cousin's AT&T.  It's just an old name with brand new (crappy) service.

I listed the house today.  I know it's listed because the real estate agent put up a sign.  The house is nowhere near "show-able."  I'm still sorting and boxing up stuff.  I've begun to stick my stuff on the window seat in the dining room.  CDs and books mostly.  I don't have the money to rent some storage place but I think I need to otherwise I'll just move one box from one room to another.  I guess I could put it in the garage but it's the same problem.  My brother is still hobblin' around with a spained ankle.  If he hadn't attempted to drink-and-lambada, he'd be in C-Bus starting a new job.   To be sure, a week doesn't really matter.  I should mention that the prospect of being alone - like this here in Cleveland - is scary.  My brother's being here has helped.  Maybe I should tell him that sometime.

Since I'm net-less, I find myself listening to the podcasts that I normally download.  I stopped at Caribou after the gym.  I don't like this particular Caribou but it's only a mile or so from my gym.  I wanted to see if anyone sent me email about some jobs.  I did get a call from someone in sixburgh today but I didn't have a chance to call him back.  He said he was just "calling to touch base."  Without specifics, that's tantamount to "things are slow here too."  The job pimps are very much pimps.  Their lack of follow up makes me seem like I work in customer service.  I can't tell you the number of people who simply didn't call or email.  I hear about a job and it's painted like the ultimate situation.  Mostly, I don't hear anything after my resume is "presented."  Occasionally, I have the ever-useful phone screening/interview.  Most are painless but a few are so lame.  Asking me arcane technical questions isn't a good measure of my being able to do anything but answer arcane technical questions. Another annoying question I get is "how do you troubleshoot?"  Um...  That's like asking LeBron how he plays or Emeril how he cooks.  Another annoying question is "have you ever had to work with a problem colleague?"  Um...no, because everyone who works in IT is on LSD and therefore loves everyone."   Most of the people I work with are just fine, but I have worked with some real idiots on occasion.  I don't mind the people who have abrasive personalities or lacking in the social skills, this is ostensibly a technical industry, but I've encountered the usual backstabbers and schemers and faux techies.  What's the reason for asking me that sort of question?  Maybe they're looking for someone who never badmouths anyone.  Group hug!

   

Cold turkey

Another boring Friday night.  My brother is out with his friends, so I'm stuck dogsitting.  I spent a couple of hours working on my brother's laptop.  I had to downgrade it from that piece of crap known as Mojave to Windows XP.  The time consuming part was having to reinstall itunes, avg and a slew of other things.  I also had to copy his old songs back from this 160 GB drive that I carry around.  The idiots at AT&T still haven't fixed my DSL.  Nothing like going from an O.G. DSL line (DSL + land line) to a "dry loop" (DSL + nothing) to show how stupid the AT&T provisioning process can be.  It's been a week that I haven't had DSL service. This really bites but there's nothing I can do about it.  I've talked to every freaking department at AT&T and each person tells me something else, such as:

Here's the painful set of events:

Monday (2/2/2009)

-------------------

Called A&T& to cancel the regular phone (i.e., land line).  Was told that the DSL might flake out and that I'd have to re-register.  Given a "dry loop number" and the number for tech support.  And here is a nice "confirmation number."

Sometime last week

-------------------

The dial tone died (not that I use it).

Monday (2/9/2009)

-------------------

DSL flaked out.  Called tech support and figured I'd be back online in 10 minutes.

Tech support #1: Let the guy run 1001 tests.  Yes, I have three green lights.  The guys said that something was up, so here's a nifty "ticket number "and that someone should be calling back. (No-one did). 

 

Tuesday (2/10/2009)

--------------------- 

Tech support: Don't know what's up.  Let's call the dry loop department. Dry loop department: It's being processed and will be done by 8pm.  Here's the number for the maintenance department "just in case."

Maintenance dept: Your order was cancelled.  Can't tell you why. Let's transfer you to the orders department.

Orders department:  Your order was cancelled.  Do you want to reorder?  If so, we'll need your credit information. (Me: Are you on crack?)

Tech support:  Something was up with your line, but it should be fixed in 48 hours.  Please give it a couple of days.  For your troubles, here is a nifty "case number."

Thursday (2/12/2009)

----------------------

Business dept:  Your call is important to us, so let's punt you over to the broadband customer care department.

Customer care department:  Your order wasn't cancelled but "something" was missing in the order, so we have to escalate it to Team Xerox.  Someone from Team Xerox will call you in 1-8 hours. (No-one called). 

Friday (2/13/2009)

----------------------

Business dept:  I was talking to so-and-so who sent me to customer care and......

Customer care department: Your order was cancelled.  Let's toss you back to the business department.

Customer care department: Had to become Mr. Irate Customer because I really was.  CC rep called a manager who said your order was not cancelled but is almost complete.  Please let us suck up all your cell phone minutes by placing you on hold.

Actual callback from Customer care department: Something is up with your line, but here's another nifty "ticket number."  Since it's Friday, don't hold your breath.

This is very sad.  It's pathetic service and I'm a longtime AT&T customer.  I hate to see how they treat Joe Non-Techie Public.

VHS or Beta

I hate Craigslist.  Ok, I hate the Cleveland Craigslist.  Community areas, such as general and groups, are chock full of those stupid "earn $1200 a week only working part time!" ads.  There's nothing "local" about any of this crap, and if something sounds too good to be true, it always is.

I think Craigslist will soon join this ever-growing list of places that used to be cool.   I'm a misantrope, I admit it, and when I try to go against my nature and look for my fellow C-towner, I end up becoming even more of what I am.  People suck and people don't care.  Ok, maybe Craigslist was never cool; I'm just misremembering that way.

My brother and I took a couple of totes full of VHS tapes.  Goodwill took them, so I guess that's a good thing, right?  I asked the guy working there what they'd do with Christmas stuff.   He said that they put it in storage until it was Christmas-time.  Good answer.  I have about 8 totes full of Christmas stuff that I don't know what to do with.  My brother and I browsed a little at the Goodwill Store and most of what I saw was crap...er...I mean Goodwill stuff.  Almost all of the crap...er. stuff that I've been boxing up is much nicer.  Most looks new and a lot of it really is new.  I wish I knew what to do with this stuff.  Simply tossing away the things inside this house doesn't work.  I didn't have any problem donating all of Melissa's warm clothes to the homeless.  It was nigh zero degrees and the clothes went directly to people; that is, they weren't resold.   I guess that it's important to me, to Melissa, that things go to people who can use (and appreciate) them.  She hated Goodwill  except I don't know where else I can take all this crap...er, stuff.

 

 

Two little gods

Another uneventful day.  I was hoping to receive a 1099 today so I could finish my taxes and e-file it.  No luck.  I also got a letter from Aetna saying that Melissa's erstwhile doctor hasn't sent them some medical files and that they need them by the end of February.  Melissa has always had trouble getting this doctor's office to send or fax things.  I remember picking up some papers and I ended up faxing them myself.  So Monday, I'll call Aetna and see what it is they exactly need, and then I'll make a beeline to the doctor.  I feel a mix of annoyance and anger.  This was Melissa's personal doctor who didn't find the cancer until it was too late.  He's a nice guy, but when one goes to the same doctors pretty much every week, you'd think that early detection would be a given. 

 Don't get me started.  I know that it's a human thing wherein we place blame on someone because having a face it far easier than stupid adages like "things happen" or "it is what it is."  Lord knows  there's another randomness in daily living where our ticket could be punched the second that a car runs a red light and plows into us.  I remember a story about John Glenn's almost dying from slipping in a bathroom.  Here's a hero who went into space and he was almost done in by something mundane.  I guess there's a benefit to using a vacuum cleaner hose to wash yourself.

I downloaded a couple of ebooks from the Cleveland Public Library.  A book on Spanish verbs and Freakonomics.  I don't think I'll spend much time here reading either book.  I just don't have the patience to read books on the 'puter.   (One word for you: Kindle!)  I prefer having a real book that I can take with me and hold and reach for.  That's what I grew up with; that's my wubie.  Still, I'd kill for an iPhone or a netbook.  There are plenty of times when I grow bored with the used paperback in front of me and I want to read sports news or something.  And I almost never haul my Dell laptop to the coffee house like most of the people there.   I don't think that this my rejection of bathos as much as my being lazy.  So you can see how a small netbook would help.  

I keep thinking that Melissa is on vacation, that she's here in the house when I'm at the store.  I keep reaching for my cell phone to call her to see what she'd like for dinner.  I'm afraid that I won't be able to break out of this silly habit until I was somewhere else, somewhere that doesn't look like Cleveland.  Unfortunately, in this part of the country, everything looks like Cleveland.

I've been reading Craigslist.  Not the jobs (those are bad) but the apt/housing.  I look at the ranger of prices and if they allow pets.  I don't need a house but I'm afraid I might have to rent one just so I can have a place for two cats and one or two dogs.   I suppose I should land a job first and then worry about the abode.  I just wish that winter was ending.  The gloomy days and snow-dirt covered roads depress me worse than the Yankees winning another world series.  I am so cold inside.  This is so not me.

I got a kick out of the Pope's uncommunicating that Holocaust-denying bishop.   Maybe he can re-admit someone who believes that the earth is flat and that the moon is made out of cheese. 

Assets

My brother might have a new job.  If so, I have to drive him to C-bus.  I've driven through Columbus plenty of times this past year on my way to, well, Central Illinois.  Hopefully he'll be able to take Mr. Poopy with him down the road.  Being the new owner of a big golden doodle has been weighing on my head.  Annie really was Melissa's dog and having one and possibly two dogs impacts the places where I can live.  For example, I can't go to my mom's tiny apartment with two dogs and two cats (oh yes, there are two cats although they're pretty independent).  Maybe rent a house or duplex?

I got my second W2 today.  Just one small 1099 to go and I can e-file my taxes.  Some years I do the taxes for a zillion people.  Maybe I was a tax accountant in a previous life or maybe I want to get the most mileage out of Turbo Tax.  Turbo Tax is the only software product I buy each and every year.  I have a box of old TT versions from the time I got audited by the County of Cuyahoga aditor.  (Ten years ago I had an employer that didn't withold city taxes and I got stuck with the bill.  I have learned that it really doesn't matter who screwed up: The Man always gets paid.)

We went to see "Taken" this afternoon.  It was good if somewhat predictable.  The trailers for a couple of new movies (e.g., Crank 2)  had a better impact than another give-me-back-my-son/daughter action flick .  Although most of the movie takes place in Paris, no-one spoke French.  Not one word.   Er, pas un mot.

Every day is like Sunday

Today was uneventful.  I did get off my butt and go to the gym.  I skipped the machines and just did 40 mins of cardio.  One of the things that irks me is that the earbuds that my brother gave me are too short.   I hate cords and wires in general, and if they can get tangled up or caught on something, it'll happen.  Cords are my bête noire.   Still, I'd never be caught dead with one of those wireless cell phone thingies because no-one, and I mean no-one (think: naked woman) ever looks cool with one of those contraptions on one's ear.  Those devices remind me of an ancient three inch USB drives that could barely hold a Word document.

I should've gone through more of the stuff upstairs but I didn't.  I can't feel or sense any sort of resolution.  I talked to John on the phone and I might have some idea if the estate will have some money.  No money pretty much means I have to get outta Dodge PDQ.  Some money will definitely help.  For example, I might be able to get a storage place for some of this stuff.  That would be a good short-term solution.   Houses aren't selling here because 1. it's Winter and 2. it's Cleveland.   Things might improve in a couple of months.  Yeah, yeah, keep telling yourself that, pal.

I've been drinking mint tea. I usually don't like mint but for reason, this tastes good.   

Girly man

I think the Utah Jazz are underrated.  I think the Cavs would've had a championship by now if Boozer didn't take the run and run.  Still, it's nice to watch some decent basketball.  Yes, I know what I said about watching the game but I wanted try out these "adjustable" dumbells that my brother had in the garage.  I could've used these over the summer.  I haven't gone to the gym in a while, I also fizzled out on my diet, but I'll get back into the swing of things, I think.

I have no bloody idea what to do with all this Christmas stuff.  There are about 5 totes filled with ornaments, nic-naks, wrapping paper, stuffed animals, you name it.  I have a feeling that if I take them to Goodwill, they'll just toss them.  It's a very bad time of the year for this superfluous stuff, and if I ever get the money for a storage place, I might store them there.  Looking at all this stuff makes me sadder than sad.   I can't linger too long on these reminders because I lose it.  By losing it, I mean my legs wobble and I want to crumble on the floor.

I wish I had a treadmill because I think I have some excess energy thanks too that pot of coffee.  I got tired of making tiny (6-9 oz) cups of coffee in my Keurig.  Nothing like an old school brewer to get overcaffinated with.

Closing time

One of the things that really irks me is inconsistency.  There's a coffee house a few blocks from me called Gypsy Beans where I decided to walk to a few minutes ago.  Walking is something that I like to do except WHEN IT'S 14 DEGREES.  I finally get there and what do I see?  It's closed.  It's dark and the workers there are closing up.  Lovely.  It's not like there's much to do in this crappy neighborhood, especially WHEN IT'S 14 DEGREES.  For about six months, this place didn't bother to post their hours, and since it's fairly common to have "summer hours" or "winter hours,"  I usually take a gander.  Two words for them: sharpie + paper.    Their website says that Fri and Sat they close at 11PM.  Maybe that's 11PM Beijing time.

I have the Cavs-Jazz game on but I'm not interested in it.  Actually, I just like the distraction of noise.  In some alternate universe, I'm watching the game and I'm a member of society instead of pacing around frantically.   I don't want to be in the house.  I don't want to be here at all.

Flotsam

I have no idea why I'm blogging.  It's not like I have much to say.  I do think about writing long letters to friends,  at least I think about doing that, but I don't think I have the energy to do much these days. 

Thinking usually pales in comparison to doing.  A case in point: my brother has always thought that applying for a job was enough.  Um, no.  Any idiot -- myself being a prime example - can apply and even get an interview.  The only thing that counts is landing a job.  Talk is cheap.  To that end,  I'm doing what I need to do and meet with the lawyer next week and try to pay the bills.  The legal stuff isn't scary, it's the every day stuff.  For instance, today my brother and I took two boxes of stuff to Goodwill.  I stood there while they guy tossed various nic-nacs into big boxes.  He tossed out some stuff that was clearly junk/trash.  Almost everything was purchased by Melissa.  I gritting my teeth and tried my hardest to not get upset.  I wanted to cry and fall down on the floor.  My brother is immune from these sort of sentimental things.  

One of Melissa's friends/ex-coworkers called the other day to see how she was doing.  I had to tell her the truth.  She started to cry and cry and quickly hung up.  I feel like I need to call her back.  I feel I need to drive to the hair salon and tell Melissa's stylist that she's gone.   As long as I remain here - in this house, in this crappy city - a part of my thinks that she's on vacation.  Maybe she's down in Florida.  I know it's foolish but it hasn't really hit me.  Something is amiss.  It's surreal.  It's abstract.  I want my mom.

I wonder what's up with all the bananas.  I stopped at two supermarkets today and neither had yellow bananas.  All were very much green and immature.  I don't mind waiting a couple of days for them to ripen, but really green 'nanas usually turn a weird shade of gray.  I guess it's not banana season.

I got a call today about a job in Youngstown.  It paid 30k.   It was good for a laugh.  I offered some advice to the nice guy on the phone that a 30k programmer means that he'd only find a new grad with zero experience.  I don't think I've seen salaries that low.  I'd never hire a new grad for that little.   Even if it was a newbie, he or she would eventually learn that he or she could make 50% more without doing a thing.  I hate IT.  I hate the job pimps who lie because their lips move.