Rant: I was texting with an old friend from high school who lives a few blocks away and foolishly invited him over for a porch beer. He showed up already wasted and I spent two hours feeling like I was walking the line between mom and enabler, trying to subtly discourage him from drinking more while feeding him snacks and la croix. I feel like I've entered this weird zone where 11pm is too late for the friends who would just sit and have a nice beer or two, and too drunk for the friends who are up to hang out. Are there no reasonable night owls in the world?
Rave: I just got back from the funeral for my great aunt, Dorothy. It's not a rave because she's dead. It was nice to see all the family, and it was - if you can believe it - a lovely Catholic service. Even I had to admit that the priest was exceptional. May we all live to be 100 and die of sound mind surrounded by all of our families, as my aunt did.
Rant: My friend's 13 year old boy was just hospitalized for ITP. I had never heard of this disease before. Apparently if you have a case like his and are untreated, you can die very quickly from organ failure. I think at this time they are treating it with multiple blood transfusions. I wish the best for him and the family. All hopes and best wishes sent their way is appreciated.
Rant: I had to spend sixteen hours hanging drywall on my ceiling. Rave: The insulator will be here soon and finally I won't have to swelter in my own garage port.
Rave: Just finished the last test for my MBA. Nothing left to do but wait on the grade. I'm definitely going to graduate.
Rant: Why do people feel the need to crowd into an elevator like it's the last helicopter out of Saigon? There are 11 of them in this building, if you miss this one another will be along within seconds. I do not like being crushed in a small space designed for 8 people that is now holding 15, all with varying strengths of cologne, perfume, and BO.
Rant: So I got a call from my brother today. He told me that his ex-wife had been pulled over for a second DUI. She had their 3 year old in the car. As if that wasn't bad enough, she apparently blew a .3. Not a .03. A .3. Russian mobsters don't get that fucking hammered and drive. Rave: She's agreed to give my brother custody for at least two months while she's dealing with being a fuck up. He's talking to his lawyer tomorrow to get the parental plan changed. Rave: Had a successful job interview. A friend of mine is a manager over there and floated my name to the VP I interviewed with. If things go right, I could be looking at a $10-15K yearly raise, which might be enough to keep my wife at home.
Rant: My poor sister had a miscarriage. She found out last week. There were no outward signs, just lack of a heartbeat when they went in for a regular checkup. She was shocked. Yesterday morning they had the procedure and she was discharged around 5pm yesterday. Rave: I am so glad that she has us to support her. Being from a big family-oriented family has its advantages. We are all pitching in to help with the kids (since she can't lift anything and her husband is going out of town this weekend), I brought over food for them last night, and my other sister is helping her with school supply shopping this weekend. It's a tiny rave in such a sad situation, and I know we can't make it better for her, but I want to make life as easy on her as possible right now.
Rant: Today was our office manager's last day. I only got a week's notice so I haven't found a replacement yet. Looks like I'll be working more hours than normal to cover for her absence. Going into show season this could be a train wreck waiting to happen, I guess luckily she was only working 20 hours a week so it won't be that much extra to cover. Fuck.
Rave: Jungle Julia just told me that she got us tickets to see Joan Jett and Heart on August 18th! Rant: The show is in Dallas - about 500 miles away. If it was up to me, I'd have never bought the tickets, but she did, so I'll have to find some way to make this work.
Rave: On Sunday night I will be in New Orleans watching Guns N Roses with The Cure opening. Lucked into a floor seat for free. The good luck continued as I managed to book a room at the Crowne Plaza on the corner of Bourbon an Canal for the great price of eighty bucks. I can't wait. Rant: Although I'm meeting friends and old frat brothers in New Orleans before and after I'm actually going to the concert by myself. This is a first for me but I think I can jus party with strangers.
RAVE: So, me and two chef buddies have been looking for an investor. We just about have enough money on our own, but we're short about $30k to get the location we really want and get the ball rolling, and if we don't snap up that spot it's gonna be gone quickly. RANT: So, one of the two buddies found a potential investor, scheduled a meeting and when I walked through the door, the look on the potential investor's face was priceless. All three of us saw it immediately and he wouldn't even look me in the eye. For fuck sakes, the last name Bear should've been a dead giveaway that I'm not white. He ignores me the whole meeting and says at the end that he doesn't want to invest in too many chefs, saying that he's worried that there will be too much in-fighting. Whatever. RAVE: So, we finish the meeting and go get a beer and some lunch and discuss things. The long and short of it is that the money's there if I'm not. So I offer up my savings to get the other two into business. An interest free loan for a couple of great chefs with a lot of potential. They refused it and decided they didn't want to line the pockets of some rich white prick who's still living in the fur trade. That's friendship right there. They might never have this opportunity again and they took my back instead.
Rant: Two people just quit today. Funny how that happens on the Monday after the Friday when the annual bonuses clear. Now our team is completely fucked. I dont put that on the people leaving. The fact that we are even in this position with that kind of deviation is a problem in and of itself. The forthcoming busy season is about to become a fucking nightmare. It was last year, and we are operating at 3 people less now. And the worst part? Our efforts to pick up the slack will go unnoticed by the powers that be.
Rave: I haven't posted here in a while, but I'm heading off to Toronto for the first time in October and I'm really excited. There used to be a networking thread around here - not sure where it went. Can some of you friendly Canadians recommend some cool-non-touristy stuff to do? Thanks!
Rant: My twin is having a bone marrow biopsy. I'm worried. I know stay in the moment day by day etc. I'm kind of freaking out a bit. The irony of cancer treatments causing cancer is sinking in. My brother received the highest radiation amount he could for his brain tumor and now he's having these issues. Nothing has been written about whats going on yet but thats what I'm worried about. Rave My family rented a house in Steamboat Springs starting Wednesday. I'm going to wakeup and fish every day with our dog Chico chilling on the banks.
Rant/Rave?: My daughter normally goes over to my inlaws house Saturday night and spends the night. Well the inlaws were out of town this weekend. My daughter knew they were back yesterday. So before dinner she asks her mom to call grandpa. So my wife dials the number and hands the phone to our daughter. Grandpa answers the phone. Daughter starts crying: Where were you grandpa I missed you. Grandpa: You want to come over tonight? Daughter still crying: Yes please. Grandpa: I will be over in a few minutes. Daughter gets off the phone wipes the tears from her eyes and says "I am good girl now so I can go over." SHE JUST TURNED 3 IN MAY.