CasaChristy

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Wednesday, January 22, 2003

 
Okay, whoever you are, if you come back and are looking for the Laura Fahey that may or may not have gone to Duke Law but definitely grew up in the Northern Virginia area and who would be 33 years old, graduating from HS in 87 and college in approx. 91, please email me at cbean2@yahoo.com. Oh, and her mother is US Attorney, Helen F. Fahey. Anyway, I don't know where she is, but we were friends as children and I would like to find her...

Christy 5:09 PM

Thursday, October 24, 2002

 
Happy Relationship Moment #10. Where: Mugsy McGuire's, Carbondale, IL (and if you would be there with me, I could you the exact stool I was sitting on). When: Circa September 1991. Who: Stephen. What I was wearing: an oversized white scooped neck T-shirt and flowered cotton/spandex pants from Express.

I bought my first pack of condoms that day, because after 3 weeks of spending nearly every night together, I decided that it was time Stephen and I had sex. I didn't really buy them because I was too chicken, but I did go with my former roommate while she bought them for me. I had also decided to ask if it was time we stopped seeing other people (neither of us were, but that's how I approached it), but I wasn't sure if I should do that before or after we did it. The implications being: if I asked before, he might be inclined to say yes in order to jump my bones, but if I waited until after, it might imply that I had used sex as a weapon. So, earlier in the night we both indicated that we had something we wanted to say to the other and after a "you go first, no you go first" volley, he said, "I love you." I freaked and ran to the bathroom. When I got back he said, "It really is a good thing." And then he asked what it was that I wanted to say. I just laughed. Then we went home and had sex. It wasn't very good the first time, but we got better.
Christy 11:13 PM

 
I changed the name of Julian's band in Quantum Theory Alternative Life #2 just to make it funnier. And it's copyrighted on behalf of my friend Jay, who thought it would be a good name for a band, even though I came up with the term.
Christy 10:59 PM

 
Whew. Completed my bi-weekly history paper. Which means I can work out this afternoon. I lost two pounds recently and I did it with fairly minimal effort, but more effort than I normally put out. Which means that if I bump up the effort, I will probably be able to wear a bikini next summer.
Christy 9:26 PM

 
So far, not a great morning. I have this thing about ice. I love iced beverages, the more ice the better, but I'm particular about the ice itself. I've talked about this before, so I won't get into it, but this morning, my favorite ice dispenser was jammed. Of the 6 ice machines in the cafeteria, this one has the best ice--the irregular, chunked ice. So, I had to use thee half-cylinder ice. I hate that.

I get back from my tea-trip and my boss wants to know if I can be at a 3 pm meeting tomorrow--tomorrow-the-day-I-was-going-to-leave-early. "Of course I can." It's actually kind of a big-deal meeting and it's kind of a privilege to be involved in this particular protocol. I don't know if I'm going to make it to Don's Halloween Party at his haunted mansion. I'm running out of time to get my costume together and make pasta salad, plus, the Pissed-off Bastard and I haven't seen each other awake since Monday and I have class tonight, so I might suggest that he take me to dinner somewhere. Somewhere with cloth napkins, that is. It's funny how much I wind up missing him when I don't see him. It's also a strange concept to miss someone that you sleep next to every night. It's also amazing how less often we fight when we don't see each other...

I bought fig newtons, too. Because the lunch offerings suck, though I might go to Children's Hosp. and get cheese fries. Not exactly the best food to eat when you're trying to scratch the pounds, but I hear they are good. Frankly, anything that includes potatoes and cheese is a winner in MY book.

I read on BlueChemical today: I felt the need to have a stchick when I was a kid (talk in only song titles or something) just like the wacky kid always did in books I would read. I think, that even though I'm an adult, I'm going to affect my own schtick. I like the talking in song titles idea, but I might make it just lyrics instead. Or maybe, I'll go a whole day without saying anything that isn't a cliche.
Christy 6:14 PM

Wednesday, October 23, 2002

 
Wow, the contributor that this guy is talking about is me. It's weird to find yourself on stranger's websites...
Christy 11:47 PM

 
God, I am dying. I have to go to the bathroom so damn bad; I can't WAIT to go home. It's days like this I wish I were a guy--they never have any compunction (is that a word) about using public facilities for any reason whatsoever. It's been like this ever since I got to work--couldn't have been like this this morning while I was at home--nooooooooooooo.
Christy 11:23 PM

 
Quantum Theory Alternate Life #2

I picked Pantomime Dad over Pumpkin Boy. We go to England together and then, with the money I got from doing a side recruiting job for PD's company, I spend 10 days in Ireland. We fall madly in love in London and my absence during my Ireland tour makes our hearts grow fonder. In May, he finally talks me into going off Depo Provera and having a baby. Against my better judgement, I agree. Since my landlord has already indicated that he's not going to renew my lease and would be willing to let me out of my lease early, PD talks me into moving back to WestCo. He hates my neighborhood and doesn't want his child raised in the city. After many, many arguments regarding my books and space and etc. he helps me find a nice little townhouse in the Creve Coeur area big enough for all of my stuff and a baby. He helps with the rent. I continue to recruit until I'm ready to go on Maternity leave and then my boss suggests that I not come back after the baby is born. This is all fine with PD as he wants me to help him with some human resources software that he's developing. I work part time for PD and when my lease is up on the townhouse, we get married and I move into his house with the baby and spend long summer days by the pool reading my books. Occasionally I cook, but we have "a person" since his mom died in April. I'm not necessarily wild in love anymore and wonder if I ever really loved him, but we get along fine and my new lifestyle fits me well. I even have time write, though he thinks it's only a frivolous hobby.
Christy 10:45 PM

 
Happy Relationship Moment #9

Smart Brian and I were at our first Ellis Paul show. Neither of us had any idea who he was, what he sounded like, but being folk afficionados we went. It was our 2nd or 3rd date. Ellis (who's real name is Paul) sang "Did Galileo Pray"--years before it found a home on an album--and required the audience to sing the "Did Galileo Pray" section of the chorus. Smart Brian complied, though I'm not found of singing in public--or in unison. In any case, when I hear that song now, I ALWAYS think of Smart Brian and those couple of months in early fall in the middle of my tour of North Carolina when I wasn't so lonely.
Christy 10:26 PM

 
I need a happy relationship moment. Because I'm feeling a little funk-y this morning and because Pumpkinboy's comment on my triangle post made me cry. So, I will have a happy relationship moment about Pumpkinboy.

The two boyfriend thing had just begun and keeping up with the two of them had turned into a full-time job of its own and I took a couple of days off from my paying job. I had just met PB in person the week before and he was pretty crazy about me at first. We talked on the phone for hours one Thursday as I sat in my window seat. It was Feb. 8 and it was very warm outside. I was restless. And after we hung up, I already missed him. He got out of his previous engagement, either early or altogether and drove to Soulard. We took a walk. He put his arm around my shoulder. It was a very nice night. But, god, he used to call me late at night and keep me talking until dawn. It was crazy, but it was fun. That was Pumpkinboy's best thing--he was fun.
Christy 6:01 PM

 
The Ellis Paul show was excellent. In terms of where this show ranked among the many other times I've seen him play, it wasn't the best show ever, but still excellent. I think, part of the reason that it was excellent is that he played a Tuesday show as if it were a Tuesday. The last time I saw him in St. Louis, he played for 4 hours or something, but it was a Friday or Saturday. I thought that was very considerate of him to play a shorter show on a school night. Also, it was excellent because my dad was there for the first time. And, for most of the first set and then some of the second set, he got off the stage and did an "unplugged" performance from the extra chair at my table. He played a lot of new music and he didn't ask for requests (probably because the show was so short). I would have liked to hear "Angel in Manhattan" or "Say Something" or "Translucent Soul" but as I have all of his stuff and have heard him do it all before, it was all right. While he did do Woody Guthrie's "Hard Travelin'" he did not do any Dylan covers, to the mild disappointment of my two tablemates. And, he did a hauntingly, folky version of "Let it Be."

I stopped by the Meow for awhile before going to Off Broadway. Fred walked me to my car when I left.

Speaking of Jesus (oh, wait, we weren't). This story hit the papers and National Geographic this week... My only issue is that anything that indicates that James is both the brother of Jesus and the son of Joseph is erroneous because there's no way that a son of Joseph could be the brother of Jesus since Joseph wasn't the father of Jesus. Or is it only me who remembers that Christ was conceived by the Holy Spirit? Granted, he could be the son of Mary and still be the brother of Jesus, but that's not what the box says. Biggest find since the Dead Sea Scrolls, my ass--more like the Cardiff Giant, I'd say.
Christy 5:50 PM

Tuesday, October 22, 2002

 
My tea is gone. I finished it about 2 o'clock. This is more reason than ever to leave at 4 pm and work out. My week is so damn busy that the only way I'll make it to Don's Haunted Mansion on Friday is to take Friday off--at least a half day. Tonight I have my excercise/nutrition class and father/daughter bonding at the Ellis Paul show. Tomorrow, I'm meeting my best friend from high school, Jay, who, despite the fact we live 5 miles from each other and despite the fact that he's often in my neighborhood, I haven't seen in 5 years. Jay is half of the "Gay Correspondants" on the Dave Glover Show on 97.1 Thursday, I have class (but, don't worry, I'll be over that by Friday). PLUS, I have to work out at least two more times after today. I don't like being this busy.
Christy 11:50 PM

 
Oh, and I now have tea. And I am happy. However, I was so damn thirsty by the time I got it, I drank most of it pretty fast, not giving the ice time to melt and therefore not giving me a full 32 ounces of icy-tea goodness.
Christy 8:25 PM

 
In response to the decision that websites are virtual space and not physical space and are therefore not covered by the American's with Disabilities act, the Ratbastard wrote: "Making the web accessible to the blind is like making braille accessible to people without fingers."

I am rolling on the floor, laughing my ass off.

Christy 8:23 PM

 
I thought I'd fixed the garbage disposal last weekend, but it turns out I didn't fix it enough. Now, it is fixed enough. My favorite part of fixing things is the amazed look on the Pissed-off Bastard's face.
"How did you do that?" he asked me last night.
"I allen-wrenched it."

He asked me the other day if I had any pliers. I couldn't find any. This makes me happy, because it gives me a reason to go to the hardware store. I love the hardware store. I love knowing what size phillips-head screwdriver I need. I love knowing what a phillips-head looks like. I love knowing the reason why you should always use the right-sized phillips head screwdriver. But, I already have many phillips-head screw drivers so I'm going to have to be happy buying pliers.

Oh, and please be sure to check out BanScrewdrivers.com site. Um, yeah. To quote my office mate: "Someday has too much time on their hands."
Christy 8:19 PM

 
This post contains foul language

Now I am fucked. I was in such a lather about triangles and then about printers and non-working print-servers in buildings I can't even find that I never made it to the cafeteria to get iced tea. And now, it's closed for an hour. And now there is nothing more than I want than iced tea--a big 32 ouncer with lotsa ice.

An hour I have to wait for iced tea. An hour.
Christy 5:58 PM

 
I've been thinking about a number of things lately.

I'm not a one-man woman. My life is full of bizarre love triangles. Some of my triangles have had triangles. I function much better in a triangle situation. I think it's because I want too much from a single person and I find it easier to have my cake and eat it too if I'm in a triangle. Two is plenty and even then I prefer them one at a time.

Looking back through all my relationships for "Happy Relationship Moments" I have noticed again the triangle theme. My most successful was Mercer and Dan the Pervert. Mercer had a girlfriend and while we were able to work around that as long as I was in North Carolina, once I moved back it was very difficult for us to deal with what was going on. And then came Dan and everything balanced out. And, for the most part, I only needed Dan in the context of Mercer. Once Mercer was out of the picture, and we were no longer a triangle, Dan and I faltered.

Later, I had the two boyfriends, Pantomime Dad and Pumpkinboy. That worked out pretty well, too, until Pantomime Dad pressured me to stop seeing other people (aka Pumpkinboy). I wasn't ready to do that so Pantomime Dad left the scene. Then Pumpkinboy and I faltered. Mostly because it was too much pressure on him I think, to be the only banana in my banana orchestra. I became, how did he put it? "Clingy and jealous." I think that is a bit of an exaggeration. He would often leave me alone in groups of strangers while he flirted with every other girl in the room. Wait. Scratch that. While he flirted with every girl in the room under the age of 21. Yeah, it pissed me off. There's an element of humiliation in that.

My strangest triangle was probably Stephen and Joe. But that was strictly sex. And it really didn't exist to balance anything--at least not from my perspective. I can't speak for Joe or Stephen and I suspect that each of them had an underlying motive. For Joe it was me and for Stephen it was Joe, but I can't actually prove this.

For the last year and a half, I think I've been yearning for a third party. The POB just can't be everything I want. However, it's hard to convince someone to be the small arm of your triangle when the other arm is a big, giant guy with a misconceived reputation for mean. Also, triangles are easier if everyone involved are at least peripherally aware of the situation. No way am I going to convince the POB that this is the way to go. I think I've tried, even.

Nevertheless, I've been marginally allowing myself to be wooed--that is, I've offered little or no resistance to the pursuit. But, I'm not sure what the sincerity level of this person is--about 9 months ago he said to me, "You know what the difference between you and me is? You're scared and I'm not." I corrected him: I'm scared when I'm drunk, he's scared when he's sober. As I've been fond of saying the last few months--it would be like going from the fire into the frying pan: the surface is level and easier to stand on, but it's still just as hot. He's getting divorced; he knows the POB. And, in reality, it wouldn't necessarily be a trade-up.

I think it's possible that someone saw me kiss him outside the Meow on Saturday. Well, I'm fairly certain this guy saw but I don't know if he'd tell the POB--or tell someone who would tell the POB. Mostly, I'm not sure that he remembers that I'm the girlfriend of the POB. Additionally, I don't know if he knows we're still together. And furthermore, I'm not sure he'd have the balls to tell the POB as he is in that misinformed population of people who think the POB is an ass-kicker.

However, yesterday, I got to the neighborhood before the boyfriend and I went to the Meow to read the paper. A half-hour later, POB called and wanted to have a drink with me--did I mind if he stopped or did I just want him to go home? "You aren't busy?" he asked me. He NEVER wants to have a drink with me--this was extremely odd behavior. I determined he didn't have any money, but he left before I did AND he paid the tab, so that wasn't it.

The next time he drinks vodka, I'm sure I'll find out.

And, no, I don't consider myself infidelous...
Christy 5:33 PM

Monday, October 21, 2002

 
So, I have FREE passes to the Ellis Paul show on Tuesday. For which I'm very excited. Likely, I could have gotten on the guest list since I'm still officially part of his "Fan Out" which turned out to be more of a fan club than what I thought it would be initially. I'm a fan, but I'm not the fan club type. Those people loose their objectivity for sure. Anyway, I'm on the notification list for Off Broadway. And Joe offered free passes to an upcoming show for the first 3 people to respond. I was one of them. But, you have to request the show because they only offer so many free passes, etc. etc. but I got them for Ellis, whom I was planning to see anyhow. Only now I don't have to pay. So, I guess I can add that to my non-currency money to bring the total to $154.xx.
Christy 11:42 PM

 
I don't know how much money I have in the bank. It could be very little or it could be a lot. However, this is how much non-currency money I have: $50 Visa Gift Card. $5 lottery ticket. $20 (I think) Borders Gift Certificate. $5.35 merchandise credit from Bath and Body Works. $1.xx remaining on a B&N gift certificate. $20 Vintage Vinyl gift certificate. Another $20 Vintage Vinyl gift certificate. And $14.35 in WorldWinner Games winnings (Although it's really only $9.35 since I staked the first 5).

That's a total of $130.xx in unused money. That's a lot. Some of these gift certificates are almost a year old. I hate to use gift certificates. I'm not sure why. I waited until after Art died to use the $75 Victoria Secret GC he'd given me the Christmas before. I cried at the register; I'm sure the VS babe thought I was nuts.
Christy 11:17 PM

 
Happy Relationship Moment #7 The Alternate

The week I moved from St. Louis to North Carolina, Mercer and I were on our first of many lunch dates. He took me to Dierdorf and Hart's and as we finished lunch he said, "I know you are going to be busy this week with your move, but I want to spend as much time with you as you can spare."


Christy 11:07 PM

 
Okay, I just posted Happy Relationship Memory #7 and the Happy Relationship Memory #7 the Buzzkill and all of a sudden, my post started being eaten. Seriously, I watched the whole thing delete from the end to the beginning. Like a snake. Like a Blog Snake. Like one of those evil Blog Snakes that you are warned to avoid when playing Blogger.

Come on, Ben, now's the time to say it again. I gave you an opening even.
Christy 11:03 PM

 
Happy Relationship Memory #6

I was 18 and a freshman in college; I was also severely homesick. I don't remember how I met Julian, but not long after we met, I came back from a weekend at home (my 4th in a row) to find out that the guy I thought I was seeing was now seeing the girl across the hall. I decided that I wanted to transfer to Edwardsville and live at home. The next morning, I found a note under my door that said something like, "Christy, please don't transfer. I'm here for you if you need me. Jules." It would be another 2 months before we were officially a couple, though.

I really fucked up the business with Julian. When we broke up, it was one of those significant moments where the outcome of one's life immediately and irrevocably changes.

Quantum Theory Alternative Life #1:
Somewhere, according to quantum theory, Julian and I are happily married, living in Colorado, with 2 lovely children who have bowlegs and chin-butt dimples and who ski almost as well as their daddy. Mommy won't ski, but will read and write and drink the occasional toddy in the lodge.--nope, strike that. Julian and I are happily married with 2 lovely children who have bowlegs and chin-butt dimples and who ski almost as well as their daddy and living in Genève, Suisse, where Mommy has a job with the United Nations. Mommy doesn't ski, but saves the Palestinians from the Israelis and the Irish from the English and will probably win a Nobel Peace Prize. Julian was the lead singer of "The Liquor Store Widows" who took the world by storm back in '90. "The Liquor Store Widows" were highly influenced by Yes, Journey and post-Peter Gabrial Genesis. He made tons of money, stayed off drugs and groupies, invested well, and then retired. Julian is a professor of music and physics at L'Université de Genève.
Christy 8:22 PM

Friday, October 18, 2002

 
Happy Relationship Memory #5

In 1992 I worked at the Mississippi Flyway in Carbondale and often worked a split shift (Lunch and Dinner til 10 or so). Stephen worked evenings (until 2) wherever he happened to be working at the time. Often, he'd meet me after my lunch shift and we'd hang out in Turley park. I was very skinny then and wore a lot of mini skirts (only the skinny thing has changed). One afternoon, at the park, on a picnic table bench we were making out. And then we were screwing. In public. Within yards of small children and their mommies. But we were very discreet and it was probably not apparent what we were doing. At least, no one ran off screaming.

That's my last happy memory for the day. This has been nice and refreshing and I may pick it back up again on Monday. Do you have happy relationship memories to share? Ko has the Funniest Relationship Memories going on over at his site--they are indeed funny. Mae should start a Kinkiest Relationship Memory thread on her site. But, I'm going to stick with happy for now.

Maybe next week I'll talk about Fred.
Christy 10:28 PM

 
Happy Relationship Memory #4

Not long after Stephen and I were together, we drove with Chris (see below) and Spike from Carbondale to the VP Fair (which was held over Labor Day weekend that year due to repairs at the Arch earlier in the summer). The relationship was still very new (I didn't yet know he was married and etc.) We split from Chris and Spike and went to the beer garden at Sundecker's and I remember feeling happier than I'd ever felt standing there with him, looking across the Mississippi to Illinois. No particular reason.
Christy 10:10 PM

 
Happy Relationship Memory #3

When I would go up to Chicago to see Dan the Fork Dork we would spend the entire day in bed, listening to old music, quizzing each other, drinking Absolut Citron and Diet Coke, having sex, ordering in lunch. We felt no pressure to do anything else. Or be anywhere else.
Christy 10:06 PM

 
I'm behind several hours on my Happy Relationship Memories.

Happy Relationship Memory #2

When the Pissed-off Bastard and I first started dating, I had a post-wedding party to attend. He was supposed to go with me but at the last minute couldn't. I drove out to St. Peters, stayed for about an hour and drove back to the liquor store. He was very happy to see me, told me I smelled good, was afraid I'd be gone all night. Later, a bunch of us were sitting outside and it was chilly and he gave me his favorite sweatshirt. There's nothing better than the feeling of wearing the first piece of his clothing in a relationship (does that make sense?)



Christy 10:04 PM

 
Happy Relationship Memory #1

I heard "The Dance" on the radio yesterday. During my senior year in college, Chris and I, in the evenings would play cards or Trivial Pursuit sitting cross legged on his water bed, listening to country music and drinking Boone's Farm wine. I was very content to do this and Boone's Farm always made me feel warm and fuzzy. The first time we said, "I love you" we were on my living room floor, playing Trivial Pursuit and drinking Boone's Farm. But "The Dance" always reminds me of those cold nights in Chris' house on his waterbed.
Christy 5:59 PM

 
Normally, I would not blog about such things, but I think I'm getting my period. This is only noteworthy because I have not had a period since Febrary 2001 and it was a fleeting one at that. Since Jan. 2000 I have had only 5 periods, not counting this one. The reason I'm having one now (I think) is that I haven't had a Depo Provera shot since last December. I'm so used to not having them that I can't decide if having one feels novel or alien.

Anyway, it is making me a little grumpy and I've felt grumpier than usual lately and last night I decided that in lieu of my very screwed up relationship, I'm going to have one happy relationship memory an hour today. Not necessarily about my current relationship, though one of those might sneak itself in there. These will not be in any kind of chronological order.
Christy 5:56 PM

Thursday, October 17, 2002

 
Okay, it's Wednesday. I usually go out for a couple of drinks on Wednesdays. But, I need to work out 3 times this week. I can't do it tomorrow; I'm unlikely to do it on Friday. And I've only worked out once this week so far. I'm sitting here trying to decide. What the fuck. Let's roll.
Christy 12:43 AM

 
I have a unusual fear of html tags. Even the simple ones. Especially the simple ones. Like, if I hit the italic font icon to italicize a block of text in Blogger and both the opening and ending tag wind up sitting on the end. I will delete both tags and start over or will attempt to cut and paste the opening tag, rather than just typing it in.
Christy 12:28 AM

 
I am on the phone with my father and he has just said, "I've been listening to the Grateful Dead."

"Really??" I mean, my dad has very eclectic taste and I know he owns some Grisman/Garcia stuff but that's bluegrass, but the Dead's the Dead, you know?

"Yeah, what's wrong with that?"

"Nothing, it's just--"

"--This is the kind of music that's right up my alley. It's....it's...it's...they are to rock music what the New Grass Revival was to Bluegrass. No holds barred. They're really just a country rock band. In fact..." He then proceded to dissertate on this topic more fully, ending with "The New Riders of the Purple Sage. You know them?"

"I've heard of them. Wasn't someone in that band?"

"Christy, a lot of people were in the band. That's why it was a band." This delivered with great deliberateness. I knew I got my sarcasm from someplace.

"I mean, someone who's known for something else."

"Well, see, Jerry Garcia wanted to be able to play the steel guitar and ya-da ya-da..."

"So, Jerry Garcia."

"Well, yeah, but I thought you knew that."

"Mmm...are you going to Ellis Paul next Tuesday or not?"

This conversation was prefaced by a conversation that began, "Did you see The Sopranos last night" and ended with "Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson singing Rio Bravo." I didn't see The Sopranos nor have I seen the movie "Rio Bravo" but I now know there's a connection.


Christy 12:22 AM

Wednesday, October 16, 2002

 
Found in a newsgroup email: Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.
Christy 11:43 PM

 
I opened up Blogger and "edit your blog" and I realize that I have nothing to say. I had all kinds of things to say this morning. On the way to work. On the shuttle. In the cafeteria. During a lecture on "Hereditary Endometrial Cancer" Identifying Patients at Risk & New Advances, all of which, except for the words in the title of the lecture, went right over my head, without passing go and without collecting 200 dollars. On my way through the link, because they've blocked off my outside shortcut. While reading other blogs. While posting other comments to other blogs (I found Adam Curry's and he mentioned fellow STLBlogger Burningbird. Which sort of makes me, by virtue of our tenuous STLBloggers connection, separated from Adam Curry by only 2 degrees. Which is far closer than I ever thought I'd be to Adam Curry. Or wanted to for that matter).

So, while I had plenty to say then, I don't remember any of it now.
Christy 11:03 PM

Tuesday, October 15, 2002

 
A couple of weeks ago, something happened to the garbage disposal. There's been a clinking noise during the post-grind phase for awhile and then one night it stopped grinding altogether and then the motor stopped. Some aural research later, I discovered that the motor didn't break, it just needed to be reset. So, I reset it. But it still wouldn't grind.

"You need an allen wrench," Andy told me. It fits into a hole in the bottom and you turn it to unblock whatever's in there.

Later, Little Jeff said, "No, you aren't taking anything off, you just need to turn the blades to unlodge whatever is stuck. Turn it counter clockwise, because the blades turn the other way. You might have to turn it one way and then the other to loosen whatever's there."

Home depot: "I don't know what size allen wrench you need, ma'am, you need to check your disposal."

So, on Sunday, the Pissed-off Bastard has just done some dishes and I notice some excess water beneath the sink. At first I think it's a leak, but he suggested it was just water he'd splashed. Later, doing other dishes, he noticed that it seemed to be leaking near the dishwasher. I opened it and stagnant water was pooled on the bottom. This has happened before, though I'm not sure how. So, I start the DW. It starts to back up into the sink. I turn it off. Concerned now that this problem is connected to the disposal problem I decide it's time to go back to Home Depot.

I feel up underneath, get a general sense of what size allen wrench I need (at least I know what an allen wrench IS) and then remember that I might actually HAVE a set of wrenches somewhere, that might include an allen wrench. I check. I do and I do. The first fitting I try is too small or too big or something, so I go to reach for another one and something under the sink twinkles at me. Lo! An allen wrench--or rather, an allen wrench TOOL. The one that obviously came with the disposal, just sitting there IN PLAIN VIEW this entire time.

And, so, I fit the allen wrench into the bolt and turn and the water subsides. I reset the disposal and once again it grinds.

"What did you do?" The POB asked.

"I fixed it," I said, and went upstairs to fold laundry.
Christy 5:49 PM

Monday, October 14, 2002

 
Very mixed weekend. Friday wasn't such a hot night for me and the POB...mostly because he started drinking vodka right after work and he's a bear on vodka--so while my night out was interesting, it didn't include him. After I left him, I went to the Meow and ran into Richard, this guy I don't know very well and hadn't seen since the last time it was cold out. We talked about infomercials, particularly Ron Popeil's, and at some point he said, "you know, there's two different versions of the rotisserie one."
"I know," I said, and then simultaneously we both said, "there's the one with his DAUGHTER" proving that we know WAY too much about infomercials.

On the other hand, I'm gonna get me some of that Orange Glo and that Ka-Boom that Billy Mays hawks.

Later, we went to the Venice Cafe. I'd never really been there before. Mostly because they charge a cover. However, it was AWESOME. There's mosaics EVERYWHERE and cool Tikki rooms and one of the best bathrooms EVER. And they have a diorama with naked Barbies and Friends sunning themselves on rocks by a babbling brook--WATCH OUT, Barbies, here comes a GIANT HULK HOGAN...some of them are pretty drunk judging from the numbers of beer cans, littering their perches.

Also, while I was there, I ran into Kevin, with whom I spend every Thanksgiving (his mom and my mom are best friends and we've known each other all my life--he's a little older). We've been doing the Thanksgiving thing nearly every year for 20 years. It's a big deal with lots of ritual. We chatted and made a pact that at least once a year, I'd come out to North County and at least once a year he'll come to the city, so that way we'll manage to see each other 3 times a year. I told him my cousin Andy was coming this year and we both grimaced, remembering the LAST Thanksgiving Andy came out. Anyway, I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving.

I went home around 2 and grabbed my pillows and slept on the futon. As usual, everything was fine by morning, though we did have a discussion and some resolution. I went out for a little while and we barbequed, as usual.

Sunday, he made chili. I sat outside, but it was too cold, so I went to the roof where it was sunnier. That wasn't working either, so I took a nap and then a bath.

And then I got some bad news.

Jay called to tell me that Quincy's younger brother, Kyle died on Thursday. It was self-inflicted, but I'm not sure if it was on purpose or not. Kyle and I were buddies for awhile the year that Quincy and I dated. I spent a lot of time with him that summer going record shopping and whatnot. I remember he was into old 60's rock before I was and he's the only person I know who had "Freedom Rock" both I and II. I haven't talked to him in years and the last time I saw him he wasn't particularly friendly, but I am feeling a bit of a loss today and I can't imagine the pain his parents are feeling--

I hope wherever you are, you are safe and happy, Kyle.

Christy 6:37 PM