Pacing The Cage

Twins or Brewers this summer? Buffett concert or not? Appease my spontaneous streak or compromise? These questions are filling my brain with torment. One at a time:

#1: Twins or Brewers? - Every year, we take a long weekend to visit a different ballpark. Since we're going to Charleston for a week, we decided not to travel very far for a ball game. Therefore, Minne or Milwaukee (we've already been to Chicago and staying in Detroit is out of the question). We decided to take the trip sometime in September. Twins are at home the weekend after Labor Day. Brewers are at home Labor Day weekend.

#2: Buffett concert or not? - For the first time in four years, JB is coming to Detroit. The concert date is September 12 (Tuesday). If we go, tickets will be $200 and vacation days will be planned :) This ties into dilemma #1. If we decide to partake in the concert festivities AND go to Minne, then we'll be traveling, spending a ton of money and taking a few days off from work within a short period of time. If we don't attend the concert, then two things will occur - I will be extremely disappointed AND it won't matter which ballpark we go to this fall.

#3: Appease my spontaneous streak or compromise? - I can see right through Jason. God bless him, but he's so damn transparent. When I informed him of the Buffett concert, his immediate response was, "What about Minneapolis - isn't that the weekend before the concert?" I think that's his way of saying, "I don't want to say 'yes' to the concert because it'll piss me off and I don't want to say 'no' because it'll piss you off." I introduced the idea of going to Milwaukee, but he didn't seem to warm up to the idea right away.

I think my idea is brilliant - go to Milwaukee for Labor Day (don't have to take off from work, which is a plus) and attend the concert. Minnesota can wait until 2007.

Simple solutions to simple problems, right?!

HELP!

Bad, Bad UAW

My week just went down the toilet. Well, not really, but I'm not too happy right now.

For those of you who don't know, I work in a represented (union) environment. Strange, I know, because all of the engineers/chemists/technicians are salaried.

To "reward" my "good" performance, my supervisor offered alternative work schedule (AWS) to me -specifically 9/80. I was so excited because one day every other week that I don't have to drive to Dearborn is a total bonus. So, naturally, I thanked him and accepted his offer. He told me that I was one of a handful of people offered AWS and congratulated me.

*INSERT CHILDISH, MIDDLE SCHOOL BEHAVIOR HERE*

Once people found out that THEY didn't get the opportunity of AWS, the fur started to fly. To make a long story short, a grievance was filed. Needless to say, AWS came to a screeching halt within three days. *SIGH* Two questions ran through my head.....Since when did I start working in a Socialist environment? AND Why the hell am I paying union dues when I was totally screwed? I guess I was a little naive about a represented working environment. In response, I'm doing a little research. I am aware of my Beck rights, but that just addresses the financial aspect of my membership. The question that I want to answer is, can I resign my membership? We shall see. If anyone has any information on this subject, please feel free to comment.

There is a silver lining in this whole mess.....I have the personal satisfaction of being recognized by my supervisor and I've been there for only 8 months. *Insert evil grin*

Catch Up

As the title of this post suggests, it's time to play catch up. Since one of my plans for Memorial Day weekend fell through, I decided to put Plan B into action - attend another bachelorette party. I really wasn't too interested in going since I only knew the bride through a mutual friend, but I'm glad that I did because it was a blast! I mean, really. The evening started out at Miranda's house with appetizers, drinks and gifts for Joy (B2B - not business to business, but bride to be). Sorry, but I had to clarify for the engineer/business nerds...



Joy had a really great time catching up with everyone since she and Cole live in NC. Most of all, I think she really liked the gifts she received :)

Around 10pm, the limo showed up and we were off. First to a restaurant/bar that was closed, but we were able to get in for a Monster Margarita.

Check that out!!!

Next, we stopped at Litehouse where we danced and drank....owie.

And things got a little out of control....

For some reason, Joy just couldn't resist shots....

And more shots.....


By the end of the night, some people just couldn't hang....he, he, he



It was a fun night :)

Coconut Telegraph

I think I'm going to have a heart attack.....For the first time in about four years, Jimmy Buffett is coming to Detroit. Since 1996, I've been to 7 Jimmy Buffett concerts; 4 in Detroit, 1 in Indianapolis, 1 in Cincinnati and 1 in East Troy, WI. Ah, I can remember the first time I heard Jimmy's caribbean tunes like it was yesterday. I was 17 and on spring break in Myrtle Beach. The hotel we (Devon, Katie, Lynnette and I) stayed at had a cover band that played JB songs every morning at 11:00. So cool. Then, by some strange twist of fate, I was able to score a free pair of concert tickets the night before high school graduation. You had to be there. Disgusting, I know. After that night, I was completely hooked. So hooked, in fact, that I went to Key West on my honeymoon. Again, so cool - actually it was REALLY hot.

Now for the hard part.....since my hubby and I have a very different philosophy on what is a "reasonable" amount of money to spend on having fun, I will probably buy the tickets and tell him after the fact. I may be in hot water, but we shall see. It's better to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission. I don't really believe in that statement, but it's applicable to this situation. So - if my plan works, I'll be looking forward to ending the summer with a Buffett concert, having just a sick time with a crap load of crazy Parrotheads and not worrying about whether or not I'm living or dying in 3/4 time!! FINS UP!!!

So When's The Next Trip?

Three adjectives perfectly describe the weekend spent in NYC for Andrea's and Jen's bachelorette party: drunk, sleepless, and quasi-disappointed.

To describe each in greater detail.....

Drunk - because from the time I checked into the hotel to the time I landed back in Detroit I was either drinking, drunk or sobering up from the night before (not to mention locking myself out of my room and not realizing that I didn't have a key until 4am).

Sleepless - three or four hours of drunk sleep does not qualify as actual sleep, therefore, I was sleepless for 48 hours.

Quasi-disappointed - when girls get together, they like to shop (especially if you're in a place like NYC). I, on the other hand, am not a typical girl. I HATE SHOPPING (I still love you beautiful, happy shoppers). I would much rather spend my money on cultural/natural stuff like the MoMA, Ellis Island, Rockefeller Center, Central Park....you get my drift....or drinking. I have to admit, though, Karen and I *really* "bonded" when we were caught God-knows-where walking for about 5 hours (getting stuck in a shiz cab) and laughing at how badly our feet hurt before going to the bar for the nightly festivities. Not to mention, I think I met my match when it comes to fast-paced walkers. I've always been told that I walk fast, but Karen walks REALLY fast. Owie.

All in all, it was an awesome weekend. The weather cooperated and it was so wonderful to see everyone; especially those who I have not seen in a really long time. Thanks to all who could make it out, because it was a blast!! I know that Jen and Andrea appreciate it, too!

Some of my fav pics:

Andrea looking hotter than ever!!

Bolte and Heather enjoying the evening

Karen and me....When are you coming out to Detroit?!




Karen - I can't believe we couldn't convince Heather to demonstrate the "Quadriplegic Hall of Fame"...or was it "oral, consensual conversation"...he, he, he.



See, AGD little nuts get special treatment....Will is always welcome to crash our parties!!!

Start Spreadin' The News.....

....I'm not leaving today, but pretty close!! My flight leaves on Friday around 1:30pm bound to NYC for a girls' weekend to celebrate Jen's and Andrea's short-lived bachelorette status!!! What more could a girl ask for than to hang out with great friends in a vibrant city for the weekend? An update (with pictures, of course) will follow......


Some interesting facts about NY:

State motto: Excelsior (Ever Upward)
State beverage: Milk
State gem: Garnet (coincidence....my birthstone)
State flower: Rose (A rose is as beautiful as its least perfect....)

Oh, and for the creepy part of NYC, check out this story

State of the Human Address

Thoughts of "you're breathing my oxygen" and "please don't contaminate the gene pool" ran through my head as I battled a 2-hour drive home. A combination of an accident and construction closed I-94 just east of I-275 (of course). I must admit, for someone who acknowledges that they don't possess as much patience as they should, I was pretty calm. My calm demeanor may be because Filter was BLARING out of my speakers. For a split second I wish I was unemployed. I know, I know - I run the risk of long commutes because of the distance, but seriously.

It took me one hour to drive 15 miles and an additional hour to drive the remaining 36 miles home. Then, as if I was the butt of a cruel joke, I was stopped by a train 3 miles from my house. That's when I lost it. I laughed hysterically. People in the car behind me must've thought I was some whack job. I couldn't help it.

If I were in charge:

• Labor hours for construction workers would be from 9pm to 5am
• People driving at or below the speed limit would not be allowed to leave the right lane, people driving 5 - 10 mph above the speed limit would be allowed to drive in the center lane and the left lane would be ONLY for passing (ever heard of the Autobahn?!)
• Drivers must merge as soon as they are notified of a lane closure
• No one would be allowed to talk to me for 15 minutes after a crappy drive home. I am following my childhood rule of "if you don't have anything nice to say...."

Simple, right?! If only it was just that.....And after all of that - I STILL VOTED!!!