Work It

Got a sweet Elliptical trainer over the weekend. Big thanks to Nate for helping us move it upstairs. You know, those things are about as awkward as you can get in terms of weight and shape. You would be hard pressed to make something any more awkward and difficult to take up the stairs. To my product designer friends: That's not an invitation to prove me wrong.

Back to work this week. It feels like the winter snap is still in effect. I had 4 layers on at one point this morning. Good thing my phone didn't ring. It was on layer 2 where the pockets aren't easily accessible. Had someone tried to mug me, I probably would have gotten stabbed by the time I was able to peel my wallet out of layer 1. (I was going to make a joke about "layered security" here, but only 2 people would get it and neither would have found it funny.)

Next weekend is my birthday. I should be more excited. It's going to be the big "30". I'm convinced that 25 is the new 30. What happens on your 30th? Nothing. No insurance discount, no AARP, not letter from Ted Nugent - nothing. It's just a lame excuse for your friends to raz you about an age that is about as inconsequential as Casey Afleck's role in Oceans 11.

Now 35 - Theres a fucking party. If you've made it to 35 and still have friends, you're doing really well and should celebrate. I know plenty of 35+ folks with only kids, mortgages and ex'es.
Bets' and I are going to pick out a caterer (and hopefully) a photographer this week.

Gregsta'

Powder?

It's snowing outside. Nearly sticking.

It's April, folks! Furthermore, it's Spring Break. What the fuck?

I thought it was supposed to be rainy and warming up by now. Is this what global warming is doing to us?

Better get my snow shovel for the sidewalk. While I'm at it, maybe the kids down the street need some help with their snowman.

Gregsta'

Spring Breakage

This has to be the best time of the year. Spring break. No, I don't get the luxury of vacationing in some far off resort town filled with lots of other about-to-turn-30-somethings. I don't get a break from attending work or being productive. Nope, but I do get a kind of reprieve that only the inner city commuter can truly appreciate....

No Morning Rush Hour...

That's right! Since those kids (and the looser parents who insist on driving them to school every fucking day) aren't in class, the roads are clear as a bell. Why I've been able to take the Highway to get into the office earlier than when I take my normal route. During non-spring break days, that route adds 15 minutes to my commute.

I love it. I've gotten in the car every day this week, looking forward to the morning commute! I suppose I shouldn't revel in the miracle too much. It will be gone starting Monday.

A thought: This experience has suggested to me that perhaps the key to solving some of the congestion problems in this town might include beefing up the school's bus system. It seems to me that the more you get kids on the bus and put roadblocks in place to entice parents and teen students to not drive every day to school, the better off we'll all be. The city should actively fund placing more busses on the road and look at ways to encourage students to use them (i.e. offering just a few parking spaces at high schools for select 3.5+ GPA Seniors only).

Springingly,
Gregsta'

More! More! More!

There's nothing quite like a weekend at the beach to bring someone back into the "Relaxed Zone". Granted, we really only had one day to relax (being Saturday), it was still more than I've had here in town in some time.

Saturday had no plan. Just whatever we felt like doing. The day essentially played out like this: late breakfast, long shower, a complete by-the-rules game of Scrabble, reading, after noon nap, awesome home made lunch, reading, walk on the beach, drive to the lighthouse, dinner at a fancy restaurant, some more reading and off to bed early.

If I could do that every day, I would be so happy. Then again, I would be broke, jobless and completely worthless. Eh, doesn't sound so good now.

Back to the grind tomorrow.

Relaxingly,
Gregsta'

Hupdate

Dinner with my future Father-in-Law and my parents went swimmingly. No awkward pauses. No clashes of politics and religion. Nope. Just a great get together. I can see that there will be no issues between the families. This is good. Not too many married couples get this. I consider myself a very lucky individual.

The burn-out factor is high this week. Too many appointments, meetings and deadlines. Considering vacation remedy.

Bets' and I spent the later part of the evening at Vertigo last night, where we celebrated Aaron's Birthday (the significant other of my good friend Chelsea). For the festivities, we connected a DVD player up to the projector and showed Logans Run. I thought I had seen this movie before. Apparently I haven't. I would have remembered it. That's one fucked up movie.

NCAA madness right now. PSU whipped by Kansas. So much for that.

All my accomplishments otherwise relate to the wedding planning and work R&D efforts. I haven't even watched the DVR all week.

Lame, I am.

Renewingly,
Gregsta'

So Very

How can I be this tired? I had a healthy breakfast, French Press coffee and have been moving around most of the day. Maybe that Bacon Cheeseburger w/Fries did me in. Nah.

Dinner with the future Father-in-Law and my parents this evening. Looking forward to it. I'm hoping that the conversation doesn't drift too far into religion, gun control and politics. It probably won't. Unless I show everyone my Catholic Republican Hunters league membership card.

I'll keep it with me just in case the conversation drifts.

Gregsta': Out

Betsy quote of the day...

"It's american to want bread with dinner...It's italian to charge for it..."

See why I love this girl?

Gregsta'
From Ginos in Woodstock

Thanks!
Greg

Blog Neglect

Sometimes Friday comes along, and all I do is pull my fat ass into the office for one more day of it.

This would be one of those days.

I've been uninspired this week. Nobody has done anything to really piss me off in a way that's out of the ordinary or intolerable.

That's not an invitation to try.

Weekend: Relaxing: Ahead

Gregsta'

Herding Cats

Shelby, our "shy" kitty has taken to waltzing into the Home Office and declaring mental war. She paces around and meows incessantly. She doesn't stop. What does she want? Petting? Nope. Food? Probably. Attention? Likely.

My theory: She hopes we'll follow her downstairs and break out a can of the wet food (as opposed to the strict dry food diet we've placed her on) and stand by while she finishes eating it.

Cats: Sources of endless entertainment, therapy, company and annoyance all at the same time!

Kittingly,
Gregsta'

Friday night, don't know what to do...

Another week ends just as quickly as it ended. Great, huh?

We're done with computers for tonight.

Gregsta': OUT

Rollin'

Tired, but not phased.

Overworked, but not under appreciated.

Blogging, but not blogged about.

Glowing, but not overexposed.

Cliche, but not common.

Openingly,
Gregsta'

Guess who's back?

Our good friend Lori is back in town from her extended stay in the UK with her Latin-teaching boyfriend. Good times! Heading out to Vertigo shortly to welcome her back to the United States.

In other news, we spent a big chunk of change getting the truck worked on. I have to take it back tomorrow to have them finish the job, but hey - at least we're well on our way to having a solid reliable rig again.

Family meals all weekend long. Going to try to sneak a few naps on the couch in on Saturday.

Latiningly,
Gregsta'

Happening

Lately, I've been dreading Mondays more than any other single event in life. Turns out that Sunday is the day that the ol' boss returns emails that aren't "Urgent", which would include anything technology or support department related. This has made for a pissy Monday morning more than a few times in recent history.

In other news, I officially hate the people at IKEA. They discontinued a set of chairs that were in high demand I needed 2 more of. Every time we went in to get more, they were out of stock and they refused to hold anything for me for more than an hour. An hour? FUCK YOU, IKEA.

In other rage-inducing news, I can't seem to work until I'm completely exhausted, as passively expected by the people I work for. I'm a terrible, selfish person for wanting any quiet/down time.

Right.

I hope I'm in a better mood later today. I'm making some kick ass dinner tonight, come hell or high water. Last thing Bets' needs is to put up with the inconsiderate likes of me.

Bitchingly,
Gregster

Food Good

Sitting on couch. Watching Knocked Up at future in-laws house. Strange? Yes. Good movie.

Gregsta'

Thanks!
Greg