Things I don't really get. Number 1

Sometimes, just to break up the day, I like to sit in the office parking ramp and watch people try and park SUVs like this one into the available spaces. I try to give them the benefit of the doubt by figuring they just dropped off their 13 children at school or hauled lumber before coming to work.
Seriously, let's assume that gas is an infinite resource and always affordable. Would you still want to have to manuever something this big on a daily basis? If so, become a school bus driver. Sell your house and get a mobile home.
Nice car. Sorry about your penis.

I am back from Chicago and ready to start the work week, a bit tired and grubby. Victor surprised me by driving instead of taking a flight, which added to my frustration. He thought it would be a nice surprise so that we'd have a car to move around, but it was unnecessary and since his hip gives him trouble - driving 11.5 miles is idiotic in my opinion. I ended up cancelling my return flight and driving home with him yesterday. It wasn't as bad as I imagined, since the last time I took that trip was to drive down here with everything I owned in a Uhaul from Minneapolis. We left early enough and made it home by 8pm.

The trip itself had highs and lows. The class was not great, even when the instructor did decide to show up on the first day. No other students were in the class, which sometimes happens with Microsoft training. This can be an advantage since not everyone is at the same level with the program being taught. However, when Mr. 1.5 hours late DID finally show, he told me that he liked to start at 10 and leave at 4 to "avoid traffic." His laid back manner got under my skin because I was already frustrated, even though I tried hard to move past it. In addition, since I was the only student, the room would be locked until he did arrive - so I couldn't get in to study the material on my own. I am an early riser, so waiting around until 9:30 to take a class sucked a little.

On Saturday, it rained and made everything sort of sticky. Our plans included a visit to the Field Museum with V's mom, dad and brother. The exhibit we wanted to see was sold out, so we wandered around in the other exhibits for a bit and then went out for deep dish pizza. We also had a great dinner and some much needed margaritas with friends of Victor's bro, so the trip wasn't completely without fun and relaxation.

A busy week ahead, and I've GOT to get this computer fixed. Off to read about YOUR weekends.

Update: I've been told the instructor is in the parking deck and it should be a few moments.
It is 10:00 am.
What is "late" to you guys? I say...20 minutes. It has been 1.5 hours.
If you were close to me, you would see steam coming out of my ears.

Hi all.

I am in downtown Chicago right now, stealing a few personal moments while I wait for the class instructor to show up. I do believe this rinky dink operation's days are numbered. I am the only one taking the class, which is a good thing if the dude actually shows up to teach. I called their office twice already as I was supposed to be here 30 minutes before 9:00 am and it is now a little after 9 and no one is here. NO ONE. Not even a receptionist. The management office assures me the guy got stuck in traffic but I am a tad worried. I really want to take this class!

Chicago is awesome. The flight took about 1.5 hours and I picked up "The Glass Castle" at the airport and finished it last night in my hotel room. I am across from Grant Park in a probably once grand but now fading hotel. Victor will join me tonight and spend tomorrow golfing with his brother while I complete the class (hopefully, if homeslice ever shows up to teach it.) His parents will drive over from Milwaukee on Saturday and we'll have lunch and hit a museum. The G's are big museum people. Me? Eh. I'll do one but if they want to visit another (there is talk of "the history of surgery" showing) I will pick up another book and lay in the grass to wait for them.

Seriously, it's after 9. WTF? This class cost 2k.

I STILL haven't done anything with my computer at home, as I have just been too busy and distracted with other things. Blogging is sketchy because it times out as I finish a comment or a download of a photo. I hope to resolve this when I return because I miss you guys. In the meantime, I'll continue stalking your blogs and write when I can. I do not want to blog from work as my office is open.

Shall I rename this "The Coyote Blog?"

Around 5 am, Victor and I awoke to the sound of a dog barking right outside my deck. My neighbor has a dog but this sounded different, and, well - close. The 4 of us got up and went to the deck in time to see the dog face off with one of the coyotes. I ran out the front door and down the sidewalk to try and reach the dog before any actual fighting happened, and tried to get the dog to come to me. He saw me and heard me but I think he was just so freaked out that he took off running up the road, and the coyote followed him. Damned if that coyote wasn't two feet from where I stood in my pajamas and bare feet. A few moments later he made his way back down the hill, giving up on the dog and disappearing into the woods. Victor grabbed the camera by this time and told me he was going to go and "scare the coyote with the flash, like Rear Window" which made me laugh for a very long time. We didn't get any good shots, and headed back up to greet two freaked out indoor cats. This morning I opened the front door to check the temps and Raleigh wouldn't even go near the door. I'm hoping there is a memory chip somewhere in her pea sized brain recording these events so that she wants to stay indoors.

A little sad that the holiday weekend ends. Victor is putting the bike rack on my car as I write this so that we can head to a local trail for one more ride. I'm going to take my small camera with me to see if I can get some photos of the trail - here's to hoping I don't land on it during a fall.

We met our neighbor friends at the gazebo last night for wine and apps...fun to be able to walk up the short hill to the house rather than get in cars to visit people. Lots of political talk and plans to meet up again around election time, if not sooner.

The computer is letting me know in no uncertain terms that additional memory is needed, so I will most likely be offline for a few days this week while I get this fixed. I'll check in once I can.
Happy Sunday all.....

I can't part with my computer, so for now I'm leaving short comments in blogs and hoping for the best. I have a few trips scheduled in July and would rather turn it over while I am gone.
I have to say, sitting here with my coffee and reading/writing without having to keep an eye outside for the cat is rather nice. Raleigh went to the door this morning and wandered the stoop for about 3 minutes before strolling back inside. Not sure how this coyote situation will play out but for now, she is an indoor cat and my heart doesn't feel like it's in a vice.

The coyote drama and a birthday party for a friend on Thursday night left me exhausted most of yesterday. I worked a cat shelter shift for someone and ran an errand for Victor, then went back to bed for most of the afternoon. I had larger intentions: reading by the pool, mountain biking, etc. but could NOT wake up. I was almost thinking that I was coming down with something, but my energy seems to be back this am so I plan to make up for the sloth with a run and a ride. We are supposed to get some rain today but I think just scattered thunderstorms. In Ga. you sort of learn to do everything early before the heat really sets in.

A neighbor friend of mine wants to get together at the gazebo tonight to talk politics and drink wine. She and her boyfriend are big Obama supporters and we met because I showed up at a board meeting with an anti-Bush sticker on my car.

What else, what else. I got nothin.