CAUTION: Milestone approaching.

Hi y'all. Here's the short version of my weekend. Concert went well, had some good down time relaxing at Mom's. Bought new tires for the old family truck, thats about that only highlight of the weekend. Sunday T and I took Tuck to a Meet and Greet. Hopefully he will be adopted soon.

Saturday is my 30th birthday and I have been deep in thought about it for several weeks now. At first I wanted to try to make it a big deal. Try to go to dinner, go out, the whole nine yards. Last year we had a huge party at the old house and it was fun but I didn't want all that hassle. Last week my roommate mentioned he could switch days off and we could go to dinner and go out, etc. So I figured that would be an ok way to celebrate it. We've been invited to a party too, but I haven't really talked to the hosts in a long time. Last night I was informed that my roommate has made other plans for the evening and will be available later maybe to go out. So now I'm rethinking it again. Anyone have any suggestions? I guess I'll go to the party by myself. Sad that I'm 30 and have exactly noone that considers me a priority, other than my family. Thank god for them.

All this is probably just an early version of a mid-life crisis. I'll make it, I always do.

Come on weekend!

I have been so busy this week. I have not had a night at home since last Friday and I'm worn out! Tonight is SIUE's Orchestra concert. I've been on campus three nights this week and its about 45 minutes from home so it will be a nice relief to be done with that for a while.

Yesterday i got a summons in the mail for a parking ticket that I received in June. In July I went to court to contest it and won so I was very surprised to receive this! This morning I called the Parking Bureau and they did have my court information on file and to disregard. OK, fine. Wonder whether I'll get pulled over and arrested for this sometime down the road. I think I'll put the court paperwork in the car just in case.

Speaking of car, the TCS light is still coming on. It has every trip since Wednesday night. Fun times.

Tomorrow is a Mom day, probably clean up the plants and bring them in, then hopefully a trip to Eckerts. I'm overdue for some apple pie and fresh cider!

SuperSperm!

Yup, that's me. I have never laughed so hard in a costume in my life. It was a LOT of fun to wear and experience the reactions of my friends. I must say that polyester can be VERY hot when it surrounds your head. I was miserable after the first number and had to pull my head out of the costume to finish the concert. Click HERE and HERE to see the pictures from that night.

I've managed to catch the cold that has been flying around the office and am trying something new to me called Airborne to treat it. So far, it has helped a lot! I feel pretty good and not nearly as weak. You do have to take it every 3 hours which is a pain and it isn't cheap but I'm giving it a college try.

My car is done, apparently the code causing my TCS light to come on is due to low voltage. They cannot find the cause of it at this time, so I guess I'll just have to wait and see what happens. Me thinks a new battery may be in store soon. The good news is that they aren't charging me to test it, which is nice since I'm no longer under warranty.

Good weekend, long week ahead.

This weekend was a very nice one in St. Louis. Not a cloud in the sky for most of the weekend. After work Friday I went to the opthamologist to see about the cyst on my eyelid. It can be removed, with a few shots, stitches and a patch for a few days. I'm fine with all that, however I will be finding another doctor to do the procedure. This guy had the bedside manner of a telephone pole. He pushed my head back to put drops in and didnt warn me that they were going to burn, and then got pissy with me when he wanted me to open my eyes and they were burning and tearing. To top it all off, as he has my eyelid inverted his cell phone rings and he actually answers it. Holding my eyelid with one hand and talking to his daughter about dinner plans. I was floored. I have never seen a doctor be so unprofessional during an exam. After all that I looked at their glasses to replace my 6 year old ones. The dr.is on my plan but their optician is not. Grr.

Saturday morning we went and picked up the new lawnmower *swallows pride*. The service guy in the shop came out and told the salesman to be sure that I know how to check the oil. Fine. No problem. But he didn't have to whisper it to him when I was standing next to them both and heard everything he said. Later that night was BandTogether's Annual Halloween concert. I will have pics in a separate post tomorrow probably as I haven't uploaded them to flickr yet. The concert and post celebrations were a lot of fun.

My ankle is feeling pretty good. Yesterday I mowed the lawn and then went to bowling without any pain. An occasional reminder if I twist just right, but that's about it.

Tonight my car goes in the shop for TCS light issues, and I have rehearsal for Fridays orchestra concert.

Busy times.

Sh*t happens

Yesterday really was not a very good day. After spending almost an hour talking to Belleville Honda, we agreed on a price for a new lawnmower altogether. We get to spend $800 instead of $1k. At least it will be over today. Click HERE to read about the Honda Masters Series. I didn't want to spend that much, but it was either $640 to get a new engine that was only warranted for 6 months (most of which would be stored for the winter) or get a new one that is good for 2 years. Oh well.

In the midst of this, I stepped out to Amighetti's for lunch. Even that was a challenge! I wanted 3 1/2s of LBI and a 1/2 of Special (some for lunch, some for later). I didn't care how it was packaged but when the kind Italian woman told me the total, she gouged me for $4 more because they were individually wrapped. I tried to tell her to give me the whole ones and re-wrap but she couldn't grasp why I wanted that. Defeated, and hungry, I paid the extra money and left.

After work I took a power nap to get ready for BandTogether's dress rehearsal. On my way out through the garage I locked the door into the house and closed it without my keys. My roommate was at work, and the only other person that has keys was unreachable. Luckily I had my Horn with me, and Mom was able to bring the valet key to my car so I could get to rehearsal. Afterwards I only had to wait a short while for T to get off work and let me in. I felt and still feel pretty stupid.

So far so good today.. *crosses fingers*

Wow, its been a while

Hi everyone, I'm very sorry that it has been so long since my last post. I have been extremely busy lately. Here's the short versions of the sagas going on in my life right now:

Mom's car is fixed, but not without a fiasco. I was called Thursday afternoon to pick it up that night. I returned the truck, and when I got her car it had a big crease where they started buffing that was not there when I dropped it off. As it was the very end of the day, they told me they would call me on Friday to let me know whether it would be done Friday or not. Enterprise came back for me, and I got the truck again. Friday comes, and I am busy at work so I don't call them. I left work and hadn't heard anything so I assumed it would be Monday. At 4:54 they call and tell me it is done. First of all, I was more than a half hour away from the shop at the time and they were closing at 5:30. Big fiasco. Sorted it out with the general manager and he agreed to rent the truck for the weekend and I picked it up Monday afternoon.

The lawnmower saga continues. I've looked at other new ones, and have decided i want what I had. Do I spend $625 and replace the motor, or $850 and get a new one. That's today's decision.

I see an opthamologist on Friday for the stye and cyst on my eyelid. I haven't been able to comfortably wear my contacts for about six weeks and since the torn ligament in my ankle has taken care of meeting medical deductibles for the year, I may as well get this done too. I'm not sure if he will handle it or if I will have to see a plastic surgeon like last time.

The TCS and i triangle in my car have been coming on in city driving, indicating that there is something wrong with my Traction Control. That goes in Monday afternoon, and I'm about 5k out of warranty. More money out of my pocket.

When is it going to end?

I did manage to find a really fun costume for halloween that I'll share with you after the BandTogether concert Saturday night.

Hope Murphy isn't spending as much time with you as he is with me lately.

Who's limo out front?

At work today, we had a visit from the singer Chilli from TLC. She wanted to see our product and talk to our management about advertising possibilities. There sure was a lot of hub-bub and hoopla. Her bodyguard was probably the best part. He was dressed in tails that were bright purple, and completed the ensemble with a pair of matching purple sunglasses. Too fun.

In other news, today was my last day in the walking boot! I've graduated to a heavy duty pantyhose lookin' ankle brace for the next 2 weeks and then I'm done. This makes Aaron a very happy boy. I can finally join my bowling team, mow the lawn again (my roommate doesnt care about the yard as much as I do so its been bothering me) and wear sandals. Oh how I've missed them :)

After going to the podiatrist I took Mom's car to Collision Plus as they are a qualified estimate/repair provider for the woman that hit us. $954 and they can start tomorrow. Bonus. I dropped it off, and Enterprise picked me up. The kid that gave me the ride was really cool, and hooked me up with a 2006 F-150 4x4 that was just delivered that morning. I was supposed to get a Taurus, and I love big trucks, so the next few days are going to be fun :) Hopefully it doesn't give me the new car/truck bug again *crosses fingers and stump*.

I've been fighting a sore throat for a few days and now my roommate has a fever and doesnt feel well. I think its the freaking weather here in the 'Lou. This time last week it was 50, today it was 89, tomorrow a big cold front is coming through and will be 60 if we are lucky on Thursday. Make up your mind please, my body doesn't like the yo-yo!

BandTogether Press Release

WHAT: BandTogether's Annual Fall/Halloween Concert
WHEN: Saturday, October 15, 2005, at 8 pm
COST: FREE, but donations graciously accepted.
WHERE: E. Desmond Lee Concert Hall
The Community Music School of Webster University
560 Trinity Avenue (at the western end of "The Loop" by the stone lions)
University City, MO 63130
314-968-5939

NOTE: Map to venue is on the BandTogether website
WEB: BandTogether
EMAIL: BandTogether@hotmail.com
CONTACT: Gary Reynolds, Director, 314-313-9294

BANDTOGETHER'S FALL/HALLOWEEN CONCERT

On Saturday, October 15, BandTogether, the St. Louis GLBTA community concert band, kicks off its 9th performance season by presenting its annual Fall/Halloween concert. This event features a variety of Halloween-inspired selections for wind ensemble (with the occasional sound of hanging pots and pans) ranging from classic Rachmaninoff to totally fun fare, and even (gasp) a musical attack by Godzilla! John Williams will also "make an appearance" on the program for a night of performance you won't soon forget. Check out the Band's costumes for the second half of the concert!

If you cannot make this performance, please pass the word on to someone you know who might enjoy a relaxing evening of enjoyable music in a comfortable atmosphere. Word-of-mouth continues to be our best source of advertising. Thank you for your support!

As always, the concert is open to the public and admission is FREE. Your tax-free donations and applause are welcome and greatly appreciated.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION


BandTogether was formed in 1997 and has grown to include over 80 musicians and dozens of volunteers and boosters.

BandTogether produces four public performances each year and participates in the annual PrideFest parade, as well as several other community events around the St. Louis area.

As a volunteer community band, BandTogether's main purposes are to provide the GLBTA community's instrumentalists a musical outlet and to offer unique musical offerings to the community and beyond.

BandTogether is a Missouri 501(c)3 non-profit organization, making all donations tax-deductible. Donations are graciously accepted at the door of every concert, through the BandFriends Rainbow of Giving program (see our website), through corporate matching grants (ask your employer), or by mail to:

BandTogether, 4579 Laclede Ave. # 259, St. Louis, MO 63108

Three's

We've all heard and used the expression 'bad things always come in threes.' First it was the metal in my tire that led to 4 new tires. Then the lawnmower throwing a rod and costing an arm and a leg to repair. Number three happened today. Mom, her dog Lori and I were in her car on the way out of town to see my brother. I had backed out of a parking spot at the grocery store, put it in D and looked to the left just in time to see a green Town Car backing right at me. Boom. It isnt too bad, a crease or two, a few dents and scratches. The woman that hit us was very nice and has insurance so it will not be my nickel. Here's the irony. We stopped there because I had bad luck Thursday night unloading my trunk. An $8 bottle of Hot Pickled Asparagus broke through the bottom of the bag and shattered at my feet on the street. They exchanged it with no problems, but still, that was the only reason I was there to begin with. Shit happens, but that is the 3rd time her car has been hit in a parking lot, once when parked and twice when I've been driving. Moral of the story: silver cars must really be hard for others to see!

Anyway, its a nice night here in Champaign. We went to dinner and then Meijer and now watching a movie that I'm half watching. Working on the deck and making a good dinner tomorrow, then heading back. Hope everyone's having a good weekend.