Algieri Vs. Taylor Boxing Match

       I went to the comedy club tonight, and in the bar area was a boxing match on ESPN, Friday Night Fights. I like watching boxing, and was able to see many of the 10 rounds before the comedy show began. It was Chris Algieri vs. Emanuel  Taylor, junior welterweights, in Huntington, New York. I noticed how Algieri was winning many of the rounds I watched, throwing and landing more punches. I found out he won the fight by unanimous decision.
  I was onstage tonight and it went really well, doing plenty of jokes about dating. I often had to wait longer than expected for the applause breaks to end before telling another joke. If given three minutes, I have no problem finding enough material.
   Some of the other notables was the 'Extra murder' comic doing his 'Walking dead' joke. The Tetris comic did one about staying at a hotel near Universal Studios, apparently named for the movie 'Waterworld'. I spoke with the Belarus native before and after the show.
    I liked how I was able to get caught up at work, especially on the letters. The volume dropped enough where this was no problem, same for the payoff report. And I liked doing a pack of new contracts, accepting them in the system and then filing them. I think I like the contracts as I like working with numbers, in this case the account numbers.  

You Can't Handle The Truth!

       After watching my second episode of 'Big Bang Theory' tonight I kept it on CBS and watched 'The Millers'. I liked how the mom in it gave a speech similar to the one Jack Nicholson gave in the movie 'A Few Good Men'- known as the 'You can't handle the truth!' speech. It was in reference to getting rid of an annoying pet bird. I like the speech as it is true, how some can't handle the truth.
    I made it home just in time to see the syndicated rerun of 'Big Bang Theory' tonight. It was the one where Sheldon goes to jail for contempt of court, contesting a traffic ticket. He misses out on meeting Stan Lee. He tries to meet him later on but gets a restraining order. The prime time episode was about Amy getting a gig at the same university Sheldon works at.
   I drove into work today as I had an appointment in the morning. I liked how I still got my share of the payoff report submitted close to the preferred time around midday. But I was inundated with letter requests so it was anything but a leisurely afternoon. I did complete 19 letters, but had to leave some for the next day. I did the second Olympic event, it was a hockey obstacle course ending with a shot on goal. I did fine on the event, middle of the pack. We had to use mini-hockey sticks that were from a Winter Classic, probably from this year as it said Toronto vs. Detroit.
   An E-bay order arrived, Canadian pennies. I added the 5 pennies to the folder, so now there is 28. I placed some more orders this evening, some World's Fair postcards.  

First World Problem

       I went to the comedy club tonight and the 'Extra murder' comic did his 'First world problem' joke. I also liked hearing the one about how his friend dated a carnie. Before the show I exchanged business cards with the 'Rapper' comic. Much of his set did involve rapping, including a cooking recipe. The godmother comic did jokes about getting internet dating emails even though she's already married. The show closer was the Wisconsin native who is married to a comic. I agreed with his joke about how you can't just take a class to be funny, as funny just happens to you. Another comic did most of her set talking with her phone, the 'Siri' app if I'm not mistaken. I have seen this kind of technology depicted on 'Big Bang Theory'. I am trying to think of a nickname for her, don't have one yet but she has done comedy longer than I have.
   I was onstage tonight as well. I did one about somebody in the elevator at work who spoke of seeing barfing on CNN. And I did some about my recent dating exploits, including one about how my dad didn't know what to do at comedy shows besides smile.
   I stayed past my normal leave time at work to get caught up on doing letters. I tried bidding on a set of Canadian coins on E-bay but was outbid. I ordered some other things after the show on E-bay, including some Chicago World's Fair postcards, a lot of 5. It does seem to be a better deal than ordering them individually.
   At work we did an Olympic event, our version of curling, I was in the middle of the pack. The
object of the game was to slide some plastic discs on the floor with our knees behind the line. I also liked doing Wii dancing, it included a song titled 'Barbra Streisand'. I liked the final one we did, 'Dynamite' by Taio Cruz, as it had lyrics about being the 'Last one standing'. There was one by No Doubt frontwoman Gwen Stefani, but it wasn't familiar to me, one of the lyrics was 'Tick tock'.

Bump And Grind

     Normally while at the comedy club, I mostly write about what is happening onstage. But I will have to write a little more this time about offstage events. After the show ended, I was planning on making my way out to the bar. But somebody was dancing right in front of me. So to me, the most appropriate thing to do was to join in on the dancing- and I did the 'Bump and grind'. I spoke with the headliner in the bar area after the show when my dance partner found me and asked for my name. I presented a business card, as I said right away I would have to write about it. She did give me her name, but I don't use names while writing unless they're already famous, somebody I used to know, or no longer alive. This goes back to what a writing instructor taught me in high school- how it has a more universal appeal. In her words, in case someone in San Francisco is reading it. It's not too often where I end up dancing at the comedy club, or anywhere else, so of course I enjoyed doing so. I am hopeful to see my dance partner again, and since I gave her my card it is possible.
   Well, now I should cover what happened onstage. I did step out and go to the bar during the show to get some air. I said to some of my friends that I can't believe how bad some of the comics were, as some of the jokes were stale. In my words, I say 'It's been done'- but thankfully it did improve. The godmother performed, I still like her jokes about being married to a cop. She did a new one about being certified to be a life coach after watching some Youtube videos. The 'Happy meal' comic did one about being afraid of bees due to being stung at a young age, after somebody set the hive on fire. The 'Extra murder' comic did the 'Man cave' joke, I said I really like it. The headliner had a CD available, eventually I should get it as I already have four of my friends' CDs. He did his Super-America joke. I like it even though I eat at this convenience store every so often as I like the loyalty points. I guess he should be the 'Cashew comic' since he shared on Facebook recently how he got cashews as a tip. I said I like cashews, and so did others, eventually he revealed this as well.
   After the show I did like hearing 'Angel' by Shaggy playing. When I got home I noticed the couch cushion from the day before still on top of the snowbank. So I decided to walk over to the dumpster and put it in there. As I was leaving the club I did the same with a drink cup, and somebody said they liked how I did this- getting it into a trash bin. I said it was usually a thankless task.
    It was a long day at work, I stayed a few extra minutes to finish things up. I ended up getting home on a bus that is two buses after my normal one. I just missed one so I had to wait 12 more minutes. I almost got caught up on the letters, you do what you can.
   I am watching 'The Fly Show', and there was mention of the passing of former child star Shirley Temple. Clips from some of her movies were shown. It did remind me of an episode of 'Education of Max Bickford' where Richard Dreyfuss played a college instructor. He had a debate with a colleague and former student, played by Marcia Gay Harden, about who was more important in the history of the decade of the 1930s- President Franklin Roosevelt or Shirley Temple.

Couch Cushion In Snowbank

     When I made it home after being at the comedy club tonight, I noticed there was something in the snowbank when I parked my car. It was a couch cushion. So I pulled it out and got a picture of it. I see litter all the time in my neighborhood, despite plenty of dumpsters being made available.
     As usual, the comedy show was good all around. I am looking at the list, the lineup as it helps with remembering the highlights. There were two ladies near the middle of the show, both did jokes about their lack of success with men. One said she was told she was comedy pretty, implied as not interested in dating her. This was the 'Resistable' comic. The next one did her joke about her low self-esteem is the 'Netflix kind'. I liked hearing the joke about history being lies again, mainly about the Parson Weems fable- George Washington cutting down the cherry tree. The sub teacher spoke about his new lady friend, being like a movie critic on the set of a film he is directing. The 'Extra murder' comic did one about going to work out at the gym and seeing plenty of old, naked men there. And he did the joke about being at the strip club.
   I stayed a few minutes after my normal leave time at work so I could get more caught up on the settled, and paid in full, letters. It was a long day as the payoff report was printed late, and I had a ton of contracts to print to go with the report as well. I brought in two containers of cookies to mark my 15-year service anniversary, which was actually Saturday. One was peanut butter and the other chocolate chunk. Over the weekend there was an email sent about ordering a service anniversary gift. There are plenty of choices available, some I can eliminate right away as I am not interested in jewelry. When I have more time I will narrow my search some more.

American Spirits: Prohibition Exhibit

     This afternoon I went to the Minnesota History Center and saw the 'American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition' exhibit. I knew I had just another month to see it, and this day was available. I bought some small souvenirs after seeing the exhibit- two postcards, a button and a magnet. I got 12 pictures on my camera as well. Some was of artwork supplied by breweries who had exclusive rights to supply certain saloons. These particular artifacts were on loan from Anheuser-Busch. There was mention made of the likes of William Jennings Bryan and Billy Sunday, as both were advocates of Prohibition. There was a display about the entertainment in speakeasies, including Louis Armstrong. Near the end, there was a wall devoted to famous gangsters involved in the liquor trade. One of these was 'Dutch Schultz', whose real name was Arthur Flegenheimer. This name was familiar to me as I saw a movie called 'Billy Bathgate', which was about Dutch Schultz. I saw it at the theater with my dad, and he spoke before we saw the movie how he knew of his real name. Dustin Hoffman played him. I liked one line he had on the witness stand: 'I am a public benefactor, not a public enemy'. It was well worth it to be there at the exhibit, as I usually enjoy my time at a museum.
   After the museum visit I went to my employer's fitness center, which was nearby since the museum is close to downtown. I wasn't there for long, making it just before closing time. But I like knowing I am getting back in the exercise habit more. Then it was on to the copy store to get some things printed. One of these was a photo I got from the museum exhibit, next to a cardboard cutout of Al Capone. It was a nice souvenir to have. I did briefly visit with who I know there, while he helped me with my purchase of a Charlie Brown mug, which was on sale for $5. It has a winter theme, and even though it says it is a mug it is bigger than my coffee mugs. It looks more like a soup bowl to me. There's Lucy, Sally, Snoopy decorating a snowman, Linus throwing a snowball, and Charlie Brown on a sled, and 4 Woodstocks. I'm proud to have it, as I wanted it more than the glass ornaments. I liked how this friend suggested putting it in a box to protect it while getting it home. I like hearing how his training will be finishing soon, apparently he expects to be practicing as a chiropractor later this year.
    My internet dating fortunes may be changing, though it's hard to tell at times. I am getting more responses, but I know it doesn't mean a thing until-or maybe I should say unless- I meet them in person. One of them requested to skip to emailing, and said they were unavailable for more than 2 weeks due to being ill. I did get not one, but two, responses on Facebook to my comments about my E-harmony frustrations. But both are from out of state- one from Florida, the other Colorado- and I haven't done a long-distance relationship before. I did finally get a response to sending flowers and a card to one match, by email, but still heard 'No'. At least I got a response. I did respond to some of what was written, and said 'If you ever change your mind, don't be afraid to contact me'. I said my preference was to date, but I am open to just being friends as well. Can't have too many friends, only too many enemies.
    This was also a laundry day, and I did laundry before going to the museum. As I was leaving the Laundromat, I saw somebody smoking a cigarette- inside. It may have been the same man who had a NORML shirt, which I know is a pro-marijuana organization. When I was driving home I saw a vanity plate on a car that said 'DUI/DOA'.  

Decus Et Tutamen

    I went to a US Bank to have some change counted around midday and I made a nice discovery there. At first I was a little frustrated about having to wait for the machine, normally I don't have to. But it said 'Temporary delay, see attendant'. Then an attendant showed up and took out a full plastic bag of quarters. On her cart was two full bags of other coins, pennies if I'm not mistaken. I was third in line but the line moved quickly after the attendant arrived. When I stepped up I ended up with $7.29 as expected since I count it before putting into my can at home. I keep track on an old business card I tape to the side. The breakdown was 114 pennies, 27 nickels, and 48 dimes. I usually don't put quarters in as I value them for things like doing laundry, or getting a paper. Much like before, the change once counted is deposited into my savings account.
    The discovery was some foreign coins left behind by others. This must have been the loud knock when the coins were being counted, having them spit out. There were 5- one Canadian quarter, two British pounds, and two Euro coins. One was a 1-Euro coin and the other 20 cents. It was the first time I had seen Euro coins. I hadn't seen many British coins yet, only on my one visit to Great Britain in 2012. I checked the current exchange rate online, and it says the 1.20 in Euros is equal to $1.64. The 2 Pounds are $3.28. I had 1.88 Pounds from the one visit, so the 3.88 Pounds are worth $6.37.
   I tried to ask someone while in Great Britain about the inscription on the pound coin, but didn't get an answer. This would be 'Decus Et Tutamen'. Apparently it's Latin and means 'An ornament and a safeguard'. I don't know what it refers to specifically, unless it is to the currency itself.
   I went to a hockey game in the afternoon, it was Charles Schulz Arena in St. Paul. I like going there annually as I  am a Charlie Brown fan and I like to see the Snoopy statue inside. It was Senior Day for Cretin-Derham Hall, who was playing East Ridge. Cretin won 4-2. East Ridge went ahead 1-0, their goal was midway through the 1st. Cretin went ahead 2-1 with two goals early in the 2nd. East Ridge tied it 2-2 with a goal early in the 3rd. Cretin went ahead 3-2 with a goal at about 6 minutes left, and it ended 4-2 with an empty net goal in the final minute. I did 'Chuck a puck' for a dollar, and threw a rubber puck onto center ice during the 2nd intermission. Mine was one that kept rolling and didn't fall over.
    I was on Facebook tonight and I saw a posting from E-harmony. Many aired their frustrations about being unable to find the right one, including me. This led to me getting a response from somebody. I asked them if they had done a long-distance relationship, as they are in Florida and I am in Minnesota. I will have to see where this one goes, but either way it is another good story to tell.