Rodney Dangerfield

I checked my phone earlier today and my dad had called on Sunday afternoon, so I called him in the evening after arriving at the comedy club. When informed of where I was, he spoke of comedians like Rodney Dangerfield and how he 'got no respect'. It was in line with what I would expect, as he had spoken of Bob Hope and Red Skelton when I had called from the same place previously. When I think of Rodney, of course I think of the movie 'Back To School' which was a laugh riot. He once spoke of wanting to do the same thing as in the movie, enrolling in college with me, but then admitted it was a bad idea. That's why it's a movie- it's a farce!
   On the bus in the evening after work I saw a fairly young woman walking with a slight limp, left arm out from her body, often with a clenched fist. She had some bracelets on her right arm, and a tattoo on the same arm that said 'unforgiven', oh and can't forget the lip ring. She looked kind of sad as well, don't know if she was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. She got off the bus before I did.
   It did make me think of a song that has 'I wish you would unclench your fist' in the lyrics, but I did not speak to this woman. It's not too often that I speak to other riders. There is usually something else I want to do like check for phone messages or read a book.
   I was really rushing to make it to the comedy club tonight, I stayed a few minutes longer than typical at home before departing. It was a combination of factors, like wanting to finish an online survey, along with having some Little Caesar's pizza at home. It was left over from the weekend, what's customary is me getting a quick meal at the Superamerica convenience store.  

WD-40 and a Screwdriver

I needed to change the license plates on my car as the current ones expire at the end of the month. So I had to check in the trunk of my car to see what I had in there, I hadn't done this in a while. There wasn't much WD-40 left (and the can was rusting, ironic) to loosen the screws, and I couldn't find my flathead screwdriver, just the phillips. So thankfully I was able to go nearby without having to drive to get what I needed. It was a 6-in-1 screwdriver, and I liked knowing the supplies I needed was just over seven dollars. There were some pocket schedules for the St. Paul Saints at the checkout counter, I picked up 2 so I could send one to my dad. I decided to do more than just toss the old WD can, as I looked at all of what was in the trunk. Also thrown in the trash was a can of Prestone windshield de-icer, hadn't used it in a long time. I usually just take an ice scraper to it. I had seen every license plate I had ever used, so it meant some Iowa and Illinois plates. There was even an empty Circuit City bag, folded up neatly, and that chain store closed up a few years ago. Also notable was a few giveaway items from baseball games: a window flag, and a broken plastic license plate holder. I did use the Jack-In-The-Box fast food coupon on the license plate holder. Though that restaurant chain isn't around here. So I had to use it right away near my hotel. Both of these giveaways were out of town. It was nice how it didn't take long to get the new plates on, and not a moment too soon as it was starting to rain and really picked up after I went inside to take care of dishes. Had to put on rain gear when I went outside to drop off the recycle and get groceries.
   Earlier today I went to the Twins game, Twins beat the Royals 7-4. It was a group outing, and I was pleased to see a comedian friend outside the stadium before the game. I said that looks like him when I was still on the light rail waiting to pull into the station, at the end of the line. Besides this, I also started watching another DVD series with my date. Now we are watching segments of the Charlie Brown and Snoopy 'This is America' series, 8 episodes. We covered 2, about the Constitution, and the Wright Brothers flight. It was expected how the characters were just playing supporting roles to the actual events, the proverbial 'fly on the wall'. We decided to skip over the first one for now, about the Mayflower, as we had seen it before. It is shown annually on TV along with the Thanksgiving special.

Finally Saw Hubert's

Finally saw Hubert's, a sports bar in Minneapolis, earlier today. It's near the Metrodome, been to plenty of events at the Dome and knew it was there. Enjoyed seeing all of the pictures on the wall and even the bobbleheads in a display case. Saw the Iowa-Minnesota baseball game at the Dome, Gophers won 4-3 on a bases loaded walk. Hated seeing the small crowd, box score said 510, but I largely expected it as I know college baseball doesn't interest most people. Before that I made it over to find a Charlie Brown and Snoopy statue, the only one for this month. It seemed to be very close to where we were trying to find it last summer, but there was so much construction nearby. And I think the given address on a blog was either inaccurate or it was moved due to the construction.
   While at Hubert's, I did watch some of the baseball game on TV, Cardinals-Brewers. I think it was the backup game on Fox since the Twins-Royals game was in rain delay, then eventually was washed out. I started seeing some fans or stadium employees show up as they had tickets in a lanyard, my date said some of them planned on seeing the college game we attended. I guess they still wanted their baseball fix and I don't blame them if they had driven from outside the metro area and already had a hotel room. I was one of those out-of-towners at Twins games when I was in high school and college. It was why it meant something to me when I was at the Roseville Super 8 this week, as it was one place I had stayed at. I recall things like the listing saying it was near Rosedale Mall, and seeing Snelling Avenue, which is a main road through that part of the Twin Cities. Also notable was seeing the ads in the bathroom, which included this year's St. Paul Saints baseball schedule. Hopefully I will see some pocket schedules somewhere soon, I like having those for quick reference.

Move Over, Blockbuster Card

I needed space in my wallet, so I took out my Blockbuster Video membership card. Hadn't used it in over a year, since they kept closing locations near me. It was replaced by my Erbert and Gerbert loyalty card. It's a nice regional sandwich shop, fun stories about how sandwiches got their name. I like the Boney Billy, a turkey sandwich. And this is what I had at lunch today. Truly the end of an era, as I got the card back in 1998. It was my first year in suburban Chicago, and the reminder of it is seeing the phone number with the 630 area code on it, Dupage County. I know at times the video store chain was parodied on animated shows, like calling it 'Lackluster Video'. Sadly, they are now lackluster.
   At work I saw an empty cube once occupied by a Japanophile colleague, he spelled out 'bye-bye' in push pins. Reminded me of once getting pictures of office art, binder clips lined up all in rows.
   Just saw an online video from 'Good Morning America' on ABC. It was about the reunion of the castmembers of the TV show 'One Day At a Time'. It was a show I recalled a little as a kid, I think I saw it more in syndicated reruns. It had a catchy theme song, 'this is it, this is life the one you get so go and have a ball'. I liked how it had a Midwestern setting, in Indianapolis, since I am a Midwesterner. It was one of many popular shows produced by Norman Lear, and I liked many of his others like 'The Jeffersons' and 'All In the Family'. He liked tackling taboo issues nobody else dared touch. It was nice how one of the journalists on this story gave credit to Lear, as it was truly deserved. I had seen an article in the USA Today paper about his shows being released to DVD, and it did go through his bio of being a true TV pioneer, having many successful shows. I think there were some other reunions, as part of an awards show on cable, as many old shows are shown on Nick at Nite. This included 'Laverne and Shirley', 'In Living Color', and 'Murphy Brown'. 'Shirley' was another one I had watched fairly often.
   

Howdy, Just Fine

I cleaned out my wallet tonight and the receipts went back a month. On one of them I wrote 'bus driver: howdy, just fine'. It was from an anecdote told by a colleague, the theater guy. He told me this is the original definition of 'howdy', a longer one than just 'hello', including 'how are you' apparently.
   I like getting things done, and I was motivated to do so tonight after watching 'Big Bang Theory'. Episode was a fun one about the bachelor party for Howard. First was going to the library to print tickets for a concert in june. Then it was on to Minneapolis to scout out a 'Charlie Brown and Snoopy' statue. Found the blue Lucy I couldn't find last summer, thanks to a lead given by a fellow comic it narrowed down the search real well. So we've got one for this month!
   After this I went to a Holiday Inn and turned in the keycard I found at the bus stop this week. I was basically there long enough to do this, as I didn't want to get a ticket, or towed, as there were signs up to this effect. Finally it was over to the Dairy Queen to use up another coupon, now there's one left and I have a month to use it. I got a banana split and I liked the taste of it, haven't had one in a while as I like the blizzards quite a bit. The strawberries, chocolate, and pineapples on each mound of ice cream worked real well. I had 2 quarters on me, and it was enough to park at the Dairy Queen, as well as when scouting the statue. I walked back to my car with the ice cream and finished it in my car before leaving as I knew I had just 12 minutes with the quarter.
   It was a notable food day, in more ways than one. At lunchtime I was making up time, or flexing, due to my time at an advisory program this week, just yesterday. So my lunch was shorter, and I decided not to heat up the soup I had brought. So I got a bag of BBQ chips out of the vending machine, then went to a nearby store to see if they had Lunchables, I like those a lot. They had 'wedge' sandwiches, but I was more intrigued by the 2 hard-boiled eggs, also since they were slightly cheaper. I had the eggs as I don't have them too often, and they taste good with salt and pepper. For breakfast I also had a rare thing, cereal. Usually I have oatmeal when getting ready for work, it's quick in the microwave oven. I had bought 2 single-serving packs of Lucky Charms, hadn't had them in a while. Made me think of the theater guy having it as a prop for St. Patrick's Day one year, he was playing a captured leprechaun.

Drawstring Backpack

Got a drawstring backpack at the Twins game tonight. First one I attended this season. Twins lost to the Boston Red Sox 7-6, left the bases loaded 3 times, including in the final inning. It was tough to see one Twins player, Parmelee, after he was beaned. Helmet was off and wasn't getting up at the plate. He was taken out of the game. This keeps the memory of my favorite movie alive, 'Good Will Hunting', by seeing at least one Red Sox game a year. I have done this since 1999, a year after seeing the movie, and a year after making the move to suburban Chicago, in part inspired by the movie.  
   Also notable was at work. There was a treat cart in the afternoon, I got a fudge bar. Odd how one of the people manning the cart saying he wanted to charge me double since he saw a sticker for a baseball team that happens to be his favorite team's rival. It seems silly to get bogged down in sports rivalries, and no I didn't have to pay extra. I would have flat-out refused, I don't care if it would be going to charity. I will like whatever team I want.
   In the afternoon I went into the breakroom to partake of the leftovers from a seminar, love the cheese they had available. I saw on the TV how the president was giving a speech at the college I attended, the University of Iowa. He is on his 'college aid tour'. I had to research what venue it was, surprised to hear it was the Fieldhouse, the former basketball venue. It's small, and the current venue seats more than twice as many, Carver Hawkeye Arena. When I saw President Clinton speak at the university, it was at Carver. Clinton also spoke about college aid, which I liked hearing as I needed it to pay for college. I am proud of how it took me just 5 years to pay off the loans. But I don't know if I could afford to attend college now, as the tuition has at least doubled since then. I know there are many who are graduating with mountains of debt, and are apparently filing for bankruptcy because of it. I understand the president also spoke previously at the U. of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

Abraham Was Uncircumcised

I was waiting for the bus after work tonight and somebody on their phone spoke of how 'Abraham was uncircumcised'. I knew they meant from the Bible. Then when I boarded the bus somebody was trying to name what Chicago suburb some relatives lived in near Naperville, I guessed Downers Grove but he said that wasn't it. I said I lived in those suburbs for nearly six years, I know there are plenty of them.
   At the comedy club tonight I was greeted by the 'Magic Man' while waiting to order a drink. He did do a joke about doing magic, something about stealing ideas from other magicians. Fairly good lineup, including the show runner as the headliner as his comedy CD was released this week. I like how he closed with the log flume joke. The MC even gave me a shoutout, wondering if it was my laugh they heard. As usual I am flattered by a shoutout, even if many of the crowdmembers don't know who they're talking about.
   Before I arrived at the club, I went to Roseville for errand running, 3 stops in all. Went to the library to print a few items, then on to Target to finish up a gift card. There was 15 cents left on it, after buying 3 pairs of socks and a candy bar, started off with $10. I got a Rice Krispie treat, which was 54 cents after using up the gift card balance. So I have the Jiffy Lube and Olive Garden/Red Lobster cards left. Final stop was to a Super 8 hotel to give them the 2 keycards I had found. Before entering the lobby I saw a Pabst beer can and I picked it up and tossed it in the trash after taking off the pulltab, have been saving those for the Ronald Mcdonald House at work. All they said was 'thanks' when I gave it to them, saying I had found them at a laundromat.
   There was something unusual today at work, I thought I heard plenty more walkie-talkie type voices than typical. Then I saw in the hall how somebody was being wheeled away on a gurney, sitting up, so these visitors were EMTs. It looked like somebody in the adjacent department, somebody I have made copies for and likes the T-Wolves basketball team. She even has season tickets for the Wolves. I hope she is all right.

Holiday Inn Keycard

I saw a Holiday Inn keycard while waiting at the bus stop this morning. This is the third straight day where I've seen a key of some sort and feel the need to get it to the right people somehow. I did send the keys from sunday to Metro Transit, they asked for information like when and where it was found. Then she got on the phone right away about it. I did my best to be accurate about it but it's hard to recall all of the specifics of course.
   A flex-time approval for a volunteer luncheon came through, after submitting it the same day the invitation arrived, late Friday. My employer is big on volunteering in the community. I try to go to as many events as possible when I am invited, as I am thrilled to be invited. It is why I do the same for the Facebook invites when my comedian friends have shows. This is why I call myself an 'invite whore'.
   At the comedy club tonight, I was sitting in the back near a man who had told a joke about opening up a checking account after winning the lottery. He did swear a lot. At first I didn't recognize him at all. This is fairly common, sometimes I do better at recognizing comedians by their jokes as opposed to their faces and names.
   After I was at the club, I went to Walgreen to get some supplies. This included security envelopes, Chap-stick, and a generic version of Pine-sol. I like buying the store brand as it tends to be cheaper, and this tends to be true for many products including prescription drugs. It can be hard to know all of the names, when the name brand and generic name can be way different. I am thankful I don't have to buy any of these items too often, but surprised I had to buy them at the same time. But after this weekend of cleaning the bathroom I thought about how I hadn't mopped the floor in a while, this is needed regularly, though I do see the sweeping is done more often.

Keys Found On Train

I went into Minneapolis today with my date to see a baseball exhibit at a library. We took the light rail from over by the Mall of America, and noticed somebody left their keys behind. So I claimed them and will send them to a Metro Transit location when I report for work on Monday.
  I liked the exhibit, first we had had to find out where it was from a poster, then the directory. It meant going up one floor. It was locked, the information desk said we likely didn't find the only entrance, just the exit. So we did after taking a different elevator. Plenty of vintage photos on the wall, even recordings of historic events in the game like the Kirk Gibson home run in the 1988 World Series as well as Hank Aaron's 715th in 1974. Liked seeing the photos of all 26 major league stadiums from 1982, had to think a little how true it was that just six of them are still used as major league baseball venues now. I got a few pictures there, like of the display case with books about baseball like the Iowa Baseball Confederacy. It was written by W.P. Kinsella who also wrote 'Shoeless Joe' which inspired the movie 'Field of Dreams'. I liked seeing the print of a Norman Rockwell painting of a Pirates-Dodgers game in Brooklyn. The scoreboard shows the Pirates ahead 1-0 so they would win if the game was called since it was already an official game by then. There were some displays outside the gallery, mostly of the local team, the Twins. Liked seeing an artifact from Met Stadium's first year, 1956, where the minor-league Millers played before the Twins arrived. There was even a program from the 1965 World Series. On the lower level was photos from the new stadium, Target Field, when it opened in 2010.
   There were some newspaper articles about Cal Ripken from the Baltimore paper, and mention how some levels of baseball have been named for him much like how some levels were named for Babe Ruth. The level of baseball in my hometown between little league and high school is called Babe Ruth, I think some towns call it 'Pony League'. It does lead me to think, when he has been appointed as an ambassador of the game, how he is an ideal candidate for the president's Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilan honor. It has been awarded to just 8 baseball players, most recently Stan Musial. I really liked how there were some recent things in the exhibit, like a bat used by David Freese of the St. Louis Cardinals in last year's World Series.
   In the evening I didn't eat much since I had a sandwich and fries after the exhibit, at Rock Bottom Brewery. I had a chocolate Easter bunny and some popcorn, while watching the Fox 25th anniversary special. There was plenty about the more popular shows like 'The Bundys' (aka Married With Children) as well as 'The Simpsons' but also '90210' , 'Melrose Place' and 'X-Files'. I was doing my best to pay attention to it while cleaning the bathroom, which had some mold around the window. I had bought the cleaning supplies at Walmart even though I found out I already had 2 sponges, so now I have 2 more. Didn't know if I needed to get a dust mask as well, probably made me look a little more meancing if anyone saw it on me. Now I smell the bleach from the cleaner. It does remind me of having a dust mask on before, in art class when using 'workable fixitif' on art and then at church work camps when helping strip nailed-in boards from the skeleton of a house.
   I did get around to placing some orders for things I wanted, a little at a time. I ordered a ticket to see the Incubus show at the Myth nightclub in Maplewood next month. I also ordered 2 postcards of my hometown of Newton, Iowa from Ebay, both are images from the town square. Next would be tickets for the Charley Pride concert at a casino in june, as well as a plane ticket, a free trip (or award trip) to St. Louis later this summer. I looked up the Wikipedia page about Charley Pride, as expected he is old, age 73. So it's good how I'm planning on seeing him perform now as I was reminded of how I hadn't before and unsure why. Also found out he got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999, same year actor/comedian Bob Newhart got his star.  

Super 8 Keycards

I had to switch laundromats as the one I normally go to had no change machines that worked. I grumbled about finding this out after loading two machines. Thankfully I hadn't added soap just yet, but it was still a pain to unlaod the machines. Even though one patron advised me to go across the street to get change, I said I am used to hearing 'no change without purchase' and I am used to laundromats having at least one change machine that works. If it doesn't, then an attendant helps out, but there wasn't any. So I went back to one I hadn't been to in over a year. While there I saw two Super 8 motel keycards on one of the machines. I claimed them and will return them to a Super 8 after checking online the closest one to me. Even at the 'alternate' laundromat I it was a struggle to find machines that worked, though this time it was the washing machines that worked as the change machines were fine. Had to switch out one load twice before finding one where the change acceptor worked. This was why I hadn't been there in a while: all of the equipment seemed to be broken or taken when I would go there. All I was told before was the owner was old and didn't want to fix anything, no he can't afford not to! My opinion is he should sell to somebody who is willing to do the proper maintenance, as I saw one machine had a note on it from October saying 'do not use'. One had no agitator in it, has been that way for as long as my first visit over a year ago. I found some junk inside it like kid's artwork and a laundry soap bottle cap, and threw it in the trash bin.
   I also went to the DMV and got new license plates for the car, in this state I was told they change the plates every seven years. I have until the end of the month to put them on my car so I have no real motivation to put them on yet. I also got a little cleanup done around the home, much of it involved finding junkmail and shredding it.

Roget Before The Thesaurus

Went to 2 events tonight after work, the first was a member happy hour at the Loft in Minneapolis. During this hour, there was food and drink, then after it ended there was a reading from three writers in the auditorium. I really paid attention to what it looks like in there, though I've been in that room many times before. Some of the walls were brick, and I could see the line in the pattern. The floors were knotty pine. Maybe I noticed more since I was in the middle of the back row, nice straight on view of the speakers. After the event, I did speak with one of them, a college instructor at St. Thomas. She spoke of one poem being inspired by Roget, a Frenchman. I did not know he was a scientist who quit because of Darwin, and then decided to do the thesaurus. Also learned it's pronounced 'row-jay', and I like learning new things. Though I tend to seek out events where I will, as I like the intellectual stimulation. The one thing that caught my attention was the writer saying she had conflicting attitudes about Colette, a Frenchwoman who wrote 'Ripening Seed' about an affair with a stepson. Made me think of how it's a lot like the smut that became popular stories- but not really newsworthy- like Mary Kay Letourneau and Debra Lafave. But I like how she said she was trying to separate the art from the artist. I try to do the same thing, especially when doing comedy.
    The other event was a friend's comedy show, who was MC tonight. Liked his joke about Plenty of Fish, the online dating site. I had tried that one, but it didn't pan out, probably why I liked the joke. I saw to ti that he got a picture that was taken in January of us. I had meant to give it to him earlier but he was unable to make it to the February show at the 400 bar. Actually I knew both of the opening acts, even said so to the headliner, a woman who sometimes referred to women as 'broads' in her act. I said I liked her joke about a hard-luck friend, and was reminded how it was a true story. But I know sometimes the best jokes are true stories, to the point of having to say so. I recall Bob Newhart having to say it when I saw him do comedy in person, when living in suburban Chicago.

Lunchtime Sirens

I was in the breakroom and nearly finished with lunch when the storm warning sirens blared earlier today. I had to move to an interior hallway. The ordeal ended before my lunchtime did, so I still went for a short walk. I didn't like having to rush things along a little, but I was out before anyone ordered me to leave. I figured I had a minute or two to gather up my things and wash out my plastic soup bowl, and I did. I got out just before somebody arrived. This is typical, depending on when I take my lunch. Many times, there is nobody else in the breakroom when I am.
    Went to the 400 bar in Minneapolis tonight as I had some stagetime, it was a few more minutes than the previous night so a few more new jokes were told. I was the second one on after the MC. One comic, the one before me, said he was inspired to write songs because of me, which sounded a little odd. I did tell him how somebody did that when I was in high school, to the tune of 'Sweet Child of Mine' by Guns-n-Roses. Tried some Guinness beer, didn't like it as much as I had hoped, seemed a little bitter. After the show I did pick up two more Godfather's pizzas at Bobby and Steve's before I hit the road. Notable was the road closures near the U of M parking ramp, so I had to take the long way around back to the main road before I picked up any pizza. But nothing worth having is ever easy.
   Since I finished with work a little early today I did take some time to go through files I hadn't seen in a while. I've printed many things from online, like changing my 401-K contributions, which I last did just over two years ago. Also saw the evolution of my United Way contributions by payroll deduction, this year is the first time in a while that I am not contributing any amount. But it is my choice, and I didn't like how I was treated one year after helping out with the campaign, somebody who didn't even apologize for being rude. After that I was reducing it each year, by about half, until it became nothing this year. In many ways it was more than what I gave to other charities anyway, but harder to notice since it was off the top before I am paid.  

Inadvertent Headbutt

I was at the comedy club tonight and a fellow comic was leaning in to tell me something and we head-butted. This has happened before, but I don't like it that much. Who would? But I knew it was inadvertent. It was in reference to the comic onstage getting animated. She said 'it looks like he might break his neck' as he nearly left his feet a few times. When she took the stage later on she said it looked like he was Pigpen from 'Charlie Brown and Snoopy' as he was kicking up plenty of dust. Since I am a fan of the comic strip I could visualiza it and it seemed to be on target. I was onstage as well, mostly did new material and it went over well. This included mention of a phone conversation with my dad, who spoke of Red Skelton and Bob Hope when he thought of comedy. The joke was how it's a little dated since both are no longer alive.
    Almost was thrilled to get an email from a longtime friend, but it did say 'no subject' so I was a little wary as I should be. It turned out to be junk mail, don't know if it means somebody hacked his account.
    The big news was the death of 'American Bandstand' host Dick Clark. There was mention of it on various media outlets and news broadcasts I watched, including ABC's 'Nightline' show. It was nice how they mentioned gameshows he did like '$25,000 Pyramid' as I was more familiar with it than 'Bandstand'. It led me to reverse the names on purpose- to Ed Clark and Dick McMahon, trying to be funny. I also recall how he made an unwilling appearance in the Michael Moore movie 'Bowling For Columbine' and was in a minivan that sped away from the cameras. I found out he did get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, in 1960. According to Wikipedia, the Walk of Fame started in 1958 so this would have been an early star.

Trash Hauler is White Trash

At first I dreaded seeing somebody board the bus tonight after work, but then I saw it as something entertaining on some level. A man was fighting with somebody at the bus stop who said 'get on the bus!' to him, and another man had to restrain the man yelling. His jacket spoke of the Waste Management company, a safety award, ironic since the man is white trash. He spoke of 'harassing the driver' and I could tell the driver didn't want to talk to him, she even said so but claimed it was due to wanting to stay focused on her job. I exited the bus through the back door, didn't want to interact with the man. But then he ended up getting off at my stop. Thankfully, he didn't try engaging me in conversation as I just wanted to get home.
    I tried to write down as much as possible what this man said, as it was priceless. He said $12-13 an hour isn't bad for a woman, I think he meant the driver. I was surprised he didn't use a demeaning term like 'broad'. Also how he likes good looking women, he pays taxes, he takes care of people. But does he take care of himself? He had a bike that he put on the front of the bus before boarding.
  The theater guy was at work today, he spoke a little of being ill if I'm not mistaken, but unsure what the illness was but I thought he said something about a coma. It may have been why I was covering payoff reports for three straight days. He also spoke of getting an evening job as an electronics engineer at a show.
    At the comedy club tonight, a friend was MC and will be at the club for the rest of this week. I hadn't seen him in a while, he said he recognized my laugh when he opened the show. He was onstage when I arrived. I would like to see one of his shows, but said I needed to check my schedule first to see when I am available.  

Eyes On Light Switch

At the comedy club tonight,  I noticed how there were eyes on the light switch in the bathroom. It was the types with the little black disc that rattles around, wish I knew the official term for it. Seemed odd how I noticed it the same day I finished a ginger cookie, also with eyes on it. I thought it looked cool, so I got a picture of it before eating it. Though it was of just half of the cookie. The label said it was from a Supervalu store in Osceola, Wisconsin, which is out of state. Haven't seen it too often where bakery items are moved to another store so far away, possibly since the 'sell by' date was approaching and wanting to increase the odds of selling it. Were too many made? Who knows?
   It was once again a busy day at work, as there were 2 people out in the morning though one of them arrived at midday. So it meant me having to help with covering the payoff reports the third straight workday, a break from making copies but not much of a one. I do need a break from making copies as it can be real demanding, as I am the primary for it.
   It's typical to see a comic run the light every so often, but the one tonight wasn't typical. She was doing a lot of needless posing and I said to myself 'just take the stage!' so it didn't bother me any that she ran the light and of course she won't be back. One can usually tell which ones likely will, as they aren't paying attention to the light. This is why I prefer a seat where I can see the light, or at least a reflection of it.
   One comic I noticed likes to wear the same shirt nearly every Monday, it is an 'Oregon Trail' shirt, as in the video game. It of course makes me think of Emerson Hough, as there is a covered wagon on it and Hough's novel 'Covered Wagon', about the Oregon Trail, became a movie in the 1920s.

Mike Veeck Interview

I may not watch the Rosen Sports Sunday show every time after the 10pm news on WCCO, but I did this time as there was an interview with St. Paul Saints owner Mike Veeck. The Saints baseball season doesn't start until next month, but apparently he was in town trying to lobby the state legislature to get funding for a new stadium in Lowertown section of St. Paul. I do like seeing people get interviewed, as I like what can be learned from them. I liked how he said the favorite Saints player is probably Kevin Millar, as he later played a long major-league career including a World Series win with the Boston Red Sox.
   I did watch another segment of the baseball documentary with my date today, so now all we have left is the bonus features on it. We did look up the information on the baseball exhibit at a Minneapolis library, we have until June to see it and plan on getting there next weekend. I have been there before, as I recall it was for a book signing I heard about through the University of Iowa Alumni Association.
   My date was done in the mid-afternoon, I had enough to get to my employer's fitness center before it closed at 5pm. Another patron asked me to hold the door open to the locker room when I left, as he wanted to lift weights for a few minutes longer. I know full well to get in before 5pm, as otherwise you are locked out by the electronically-controlled door.
    I looked up quite a bit online after going to the fitness center, I noticed one concert tour I researched said it would be in Pacific Junction, Iowa. Never heard of it, and it's in my native state. Found out it's in southwest Iowa, near Omaha. Though I won't need to go there to see this particular music act, as they will also be at a nightclub in Maplewood.
   Other things I looked up was the origin on the Demon Deacon mascot for the athletic teams at Wake Forest University in North Carolina, where a classmate from high school attended. I was wearing a Deacon warmup basketball shirt, which did remind me about wanting to figure it out. According to Wikipedia the term was coined in a newspaper, maybe the campus paper, in the 1920s. The name 'Demon Deacons' stuck after a game when their team was described as such due to 'devilish play and fighting spirit'. On to the origin given for the stage name of musician Elizabeth Grant, which is Lana Del Rey. It was said how it was from Lana Turner, the actress, and the Ford Del Rey car. The car wasn't familiar to me, found out why- apparently just made for the South American market from 1981-1991. I got signed up for the newsletter for Pink, the musician, or often spelled P!nk. I've wanted to see her in concert, but previous research said she doesn't do concerts much in America, mostly TV appearances here. So it may mean going to Chicago for a concert, when it's the third-largest American city one can't ignore it. I took full advantage of all the concerts there when living there by attending plenty of shows.
 I can see some odd things while out walking around. In this case it was some free publication boxes that had graffiti saying 'Mike Gould for Mayor of Minneapolis'. nothing wrong with that, except this was in St. Paul, wrong city. This morning I had a dream about being in Great Britain on a train, getting off in time, but not enough time to get all 4 bags off. One of them was thrown at me.
   I decided to use a coupon from Barnes and Noble tonight, it was 'Welcome Borders Customer'. It gave me 20 percent off any item, I chose a book- 'Better Than Homemade' about 'amazing food that changed the way we eat'. I have use for 2 of the 3 coupons, before they expire at the end of the month. The other would be 'buy one get one free' on drinks at their cafe. I have no plans to buy a Nook to get a $50 gift card, as I still like traditional books and I'm afraid it will be like other electronic devices- becoming obsolete too quickly.  According to the sign near the front door, the Nook is $139, well over half the value of the gift card.     

Lana Del Rey Song

I knew the Sierra Club board of directors vote was happening soon, in four days. So this morning I decided to look at the candidate statements and vote online. One can vote for up to five candidates, as five will get elected out of nine. I underline what I agree with in the statements, and I am not impressed by them having statements from others. I think one should be able to speak for themselves as to what they are for and what they have done and plan on doing. I prefer to represent myself, as I know myself best. So it was a case of having to eliminate candidates, and eventually I arrived at the five and made it official by registering my vote. But this was done after printing a few pages I needed for reference purproses. The printouts were on unrelated issues, such as the cost of baseball tickets for a group outing later this month and then the cost of attending my class reunion this summer. I like getting things done and crossing things off of my list. My memory may be good, but it's even better when I write things down. I know how I tend to get more done when it's right in front of me. With one of these things, the reunion, I had meant to print it much earlier but got too busy.
   I heard a song on my car radio while errand running that was memorable due to the piano playing in the background, it was 'Video Games' by Lana Del Rey. Liked finding it on Youtube, after a search of the lyrics- 'heaven is a place on earth with you' yielded the title and performer.
    I saw the movie 'Bully' this evening with my date  in St. Louis Park. First time at this theater, unusual to see a theater employee when we arrived doing the announcements like 'turn off cell phones and pagers' as I am used to seeing this on the movie screen.
    I was mostly stone-faced while watching it, as expected very little if anything depicted was funny to me. I say this because I was bullied in school, and at church. It did become somewhat relatable to me, when seeing one of the kids profiled was from my native state of Iowa, he was from Sioux City. In addition, he was wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers sweatshirt and I thought of how I have had a Steeler trash can since age ten but I have since picked another favorite NFL team as Midwestern teams will be shown more often in my area due to regional coverage. There was also one kid saying he found the courage to punch a bully and he was left alone after that. I knew doing this helped me as well, I often reference the movie 'Back to the Future' when George McFly slugs Biff Tannen.
   I will admit how some of the profiles were of extreme cases, like kids who committed suicide due to being bullied, but one must show these stories to get the public's attention. Same was true for the girl who ended up in reform school for taking a gun onto a school bus, though the charges were later dismissed. Even though it was tough to watch in some places, I am thankful I saw it. I didn't like how some of the school officials in the documentary came across as cold an uncaring about it. What wouldn't surprise me is if some things change because of the movie, including a school official being fired due to a poor public image.  

Blue Shirt Acquired

Before I went to a comedy show tonight, I went to Maplewood Mall and got a blue shirt for the office at their Express clothing store. It worked just fine going to another location, as I knew what I wanted and no salespeople interfered. Thanks to the gift card, it was half-price. Also had food there, a Gyro sandwich before buying the shirt. Then it was a Dairy Queen Blizzard as I was leaving. The shirt had to be blue as it was replacing one that is blue. I like the color as it goes with most other colors.
   I still made it well before the show began in the basement of a bar in Minneapolis, as I was there before showtime and it started late. I knew all of the names in the lineup except one, and I did speak with him briefly after the show, a French-Canadian. Also notable was the band that played after the comedy show, called Porcupine. Though it was odd how one of the stickers for sale had a rhino on it. Speaking of stickers, they were everywhere in this place, on the support poles as well as in the bathroom, even in the urinals in some cases! Some of my friends were wondering for a while what Clint Eastwood movie the picture was from on the drum. I asked between songs and was told it was from 'Outlaw Josey Wales'. I did get a picture with one of my comedian friends, had to let him know I didn't have one yet. We got it as he was leaving with his lady friend, she took the picture. What I've learned in life is that I haven't gotten anywhere- or anything I really wanted-by being timid. I have to stand up and be counted, state what I want and be willing to go get it. The example I sometimes give is the 'Hot dog story at Wrigley Field' as I wanted a hot dog and I was hungry, so I tried harder to make sure the vendor saw me. I am thankful I have the picture now, as I didn't have any comedian friends in the 'Ring of Honor' but there will be two now. I was flattered to be given a poster of the comedy show, as my friend said he and his lady had bought two. I am more gracious than I was with these things, knowing how saying 'Thank you' is enough. It's all about speech quality.
   I liked speaking with one of the comics, who asked me if I liked baseball. Very much so! He said he had went to the Twins game on Wednesday. I said I cut back on seeing their games since they left the Metrodome, since the tickets became more expensive and harder to find. But he tells me the prices are lower now, maybe even below face value in some cases on Stubhub. I said I also like going to see the St. Paul Saints. Don't mind that it's minor-league as I grew up going to plenty of games at this level. He said he hadn't been to a Saints game, but had been to an Iowa Cub game when in Des Moines once, same place where I saw minor-league ball often. As I recall, we hadn't really spoken much at length before. It was mostly just 'I like this joke' but it's nice to get to know others on another level, i.e., their interests besides their craft.
   It wasn't the only picture of the night. I did get one of the drum kit so I could be demonstrative about the story on the movie, though somebody is bending over in the picture so you see their rear end. Oops! The other would be at the Bobby and Steve's near 35W, as I needed fuel. Got one of the sign which has more than the gas price on it, also 'Godfather's Pizza Express' as I often get pizza there. But not tonight, already had some this week.
   I liked watching the syndicated rerun of 'Big Bang Theory' tonight before leaving for the mall and for the show, as it included Sheldon saying he likes to frequent hot dog restaurants inside retired railroad dining cars. I like doing this myself, since the hot dog place is a reminder of Chicago.

Scarf and Tiara

After work there was a woman who boarded the bus and was wearing a scarf and tiara. The scarf was white and looked like a doily. She showed a Red Cross card to the driver and spoke of war crimes.
   This was a gift card day all around. The one for Express clothing arrived, after more than two weeks of waiting. Tried to use it tonight to get a shirt for the office but the sales rep was too annoying, wouldn't leave me alone. So I told myself I can go back at a later time and probably a different location, like this weekend. It started off on the wrong foot, telling me right away what shirt size was for me and I prefer one that's a slightly larger size. What has happened before is I know well enough to get assertive and say 'Hey, I'm the one with the gift card!' For some reason he ended up hearing quite a bit of my life story, don't know why I even shared it. In some ways dealing with salespeople can remind me of carnies, as they all have their own versions of saying 'please play my ring toss game'. Like at the County Fair one time, I told them I had no money to play but they asked me to try anyway, it was throwing darts at balloons. I was horrible at it, as expected. Then they asked me to close my eyes and- miraculously- one balloon popped. Ha!
   I was more successful at getting socks at Target in Roseville, with the gift card I got last week at work, replacing the missing birthday balloon from last month. Maybe since there were no salespeople bothering me.
   I used my other code for a free movie from Redbox, after returning from the mall in Roseville. I watched 'What Goes Around Comes Around', actually a play that was filmed instead of a movie. This was likely why it wasn't quite movie length, at just under 80 minutes. Jimmie Walker was in the final scene as the preacher, 'JJ' from 'Good Times' who liked to say 'Dynomite'. He had a marriage joke about pronouncing them 'prisoner and warden'.
  'Big Bang Theory' was a rerun tonight, at least the episode at the regular time. I didn't stay to see the second one an hour later as I wanted to get to the mall. And before that I redeemed some points on my Superamerica loyalty card for a Vanilla Visa card, good enough for groceries for a week.

Coroner's Hearse

Saw a hearse after stepping off the bus tonight after work, which is rare. The sign in the side window said 'Medical Examiner', looks like there was a gawker down the block looking at it but there was nothing else outside besides a gurney. I just kept walking, as I've seen gawkers before and don't care to be one myself. None of my business, just wanted to get home and unwind after work.
   On the bus I saw twin babies fighting over two bottles, and one dropped a toy which was eventually taken away by the mom.
  At the comedy club tonight, I saw the bowtie guy with nerd glasses and fanny pack again, same one from last month on my birthday. He was funny, and very young. It's possible he was still in high school, especially when his jokes seemed to be about school quite a bit. My hat is off to somebody who has the courage that early in life to take the stage. It does remind me of another young comic, a little guy who went off to college in Boston. Sometimes I still see his Facebook postings.
   Another notable thing at the club tonight was the seating was scaled back a little, as there was black curtains in some areas. I guess this was encouraging people to sit closer to the stage so it would look like the club is more full on some nights.

Bronx Jack-in-the-box

I spoke with the facility manager this morning after noticing he was wearing a Yankees shirt the previous day for the office's Opening Day baseball celebration. Today he had a Yankee lanyard on, sometimes it is a 'Batman' lanyard. He is an ex-New Yorker, for football he likes the Jets. I said I had received a Yankees jack in the box with an Ebay order, had no use for it. Unexpected to receive a throw-in item. So I said I would send it his way along with a ball with a Yankees logo on it. I made sure to get a picture of both to remind me, and to prove there was such a thing. As I recall, the ball was one of two I bought at the silent auction as part of the fundraiser for Emerson Hough School nearly two years ago. Of course this is relevant as it inspired me to start writing this blog. I like knowing I am finding a good home for it. We hadn't spoken much recently, probably not at length since the railroad tour in December. It was nice we could talk about baseball, I guess sports is often known as a 'universal language'. The jack in the box plays 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame' when turning the knob. He shared a story of giving somebody a TV he had no use for as he had too many, and the man was 'down on his luck' and living in an apartment with a 9-inch screen TV. Didn't know they made them that small.
   At the comedy club tonight, I liked hearing the show closer do a 'cradle robber, grave robber' joke. He also did one about time travel, and the add-on to it from compared to hearing it before made it even funnier.

Opening Day Popcorn Bags

When I arrived at work this morning we had a choice of Cracker Jacks or Orville Redenbacher popcorn, I chose the latter. Later on I checked in the breakroom, and there were some little single-serving bags left before lunchtime, so I ended up with a total of four and popped one of those microwave bags at lunchtime. I decided to 'get while the getting is good'. It was a celebration of the Twins and their home opener, I found out they lost to the Angels. I had followed the score a little online at work, and at the comedy club they had the final score on the crawlers at the bottom of the screen. ESPN was showing the Cubs/Brewers game from Chicago, Brewers were leading as the show began.
   As I was leaving I saw a friend who was in town to shoot a film. He told me his lady friend likes reading the blog, but she didn't make it to town. Thrilled to say I have friends in California, so in many ways this is a shout out to them, and you know who you are!
   After the show, and on the way home, I stopped at Bobby and Steve's near 35W and got 2 Godfather's pizzas, as usual a pepperoni and a sausage. Also got some Reese's penaut butter, a 2-pack.
   It was hard to keep up with work today, they were handing me things to be copied near the end of the day before I had a chance to pick it up.

Breakfast Food at Dinner

It was nice to stay in and do very little today, but since it was Easter Sunday my date and I knew there were many places closed due to the holiday. So after going to church, where an Easter egg hunt was to be held inside after the service was done, we watched another segment of the baseball documentary. This one was the 'tenth inning', covering the 1990s. So there was plenty about the Yankees, as well as Barry Bonds, and the Home Run Derby of 1998 between Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa. I was tired and kept experiencing 'micro sleep' during the Yankees segment. Also liked seeing them cover the recruiting of players from the Dominican Republic, a big part of the sport and has been for a while. I did share a story of the 1998 season, seeing a Cardinal game in Milwaukee as I had moved to suburban Chicago from central Iowa that year. It was in September, and 'Big Mac' had passed 62 home runs by then. It was a sellout crowd, one Brewer fan held up a sign that said 'walk him'. I got lost trying to find my way back to my car, and a sheriff deputy helped me find it. I just recall passing by some portable toilets, as those were for the construction workers for the stadium that became Miller Park. It opened in 2001, a year late as there was a construction accident which killed 3 workers and led to a game being postponed. In my pictures, as I recall one can see the construction just beyond the outfield wall.
   Usually I say I don't want breakfast food at dinner, but this time I was fine with it as there were few other options when we didn't want to go out to eat. So I had bacon, 3 eggs, and toast. Maybe it was appropriate to have eggs when it was Easter.
   I liked the history covered in the 'Simpsons' episode tonight, about Moe's bar rag. Much of the storyline was about it being devalued as it kept being tossed aside over the centuries. But of course since I majored in history so I like it when movies or TV shows cover history. This includes both 'Night At the Museum' movies, though the second was inaccurate about what paintings are there. 'American Gothic' by Grant Wood is not at the Smithsonian, but in Chicago.

Scanning 6 Pictures

I scanned 6 pictures to send to my class reunion rep, quality was asked for over quantity. I am pleased that I had some good ones to send. I sent 3 of the 6 before having to leave to meet my date, we had dinner in the evening. I hope to find the time to send the others real soon.
    I did laundry, retired one tee shirt as well as 2 pairs of socks, meaning I ripped them up and threw them out. When I have plenty of shirts it is no big deal to retire a few, especially when it was one I had been given a while back. I recognized it as one I had back in suburban Chicago, so it was at least 8 years old.
   I still have an affinity for Chicagoland, and this explains why I made it to a hot dog place in St. Paul known for its Chicago-style food called Chris and Rob's. It is inside a retired streetcar or trolley, and I like the ambience to it. This includes all of the pictures on the wall like of the Chicago sports teams. It would be nice if the Wolves hockey team was included, but they are minor league and suburban so this is likely why it was excluded. I like the chili cheese dog with poppy seeds on the bun. I found out they have two other locations in the area, in Minneapolis as well as Fridley. I also like finding things on the Chicago map I recognize, like the venue the Wolves play in. This would be the Allstate Arena, f/k/a Rosemont Horizon, in the northwest suburbs near O'Hare Airport. I think the map is for showing where all of the Vienna Beef hot dog locations are, which is what they serve here as well. I like the logo, and it looks like they have souvenirs such as shirts with this logo available online. There are many fans of this establishment, I am sure I am not alone in terms of it attracting many ex-Chicagoans. The City Pages voted it best hot dog in the metro area.

Perfect Age of Rock and Roll

Got a Redbox movie with a free night code, one year anniversary gift, and rented 'Perfect Age of Rock and Roll'. The Peter Fonda character drives an Airstream RV, and the movie is about a rock band on the road in the RV, traveling coast to coast. The music was good in it. I heard 2 notable songs today, but these 2 were not in the movie. One was while at the Redbox kiosk, however. 'Kiss Me' by Sixpence None the Richer, from the movie 'She's All That'. I was once too ashamed to admit- even to a stranger- I was trying to find the theater showing this 'teeny bopper' movie as my dad would call it. The other was 'This Love' by Maroon 5, a reminder of a job ending in suburban Chicago. It should be a sad song that I hate to hear each time it's on the radio, but the opposite is true. I could have looked at it as a painful reminder of an ending, but it was only the beginning for me.
   I picked up the movie after going to church, Good Friday services. I also picked up an ice cream cone at a McDonald's. I would have picked up the movie at the same location, but it wasn't there. This is why I looked it up online to find the most likely place it would be, and this location was actually outside the given range so I knew I still might luck out on a 'one stop shop'.
   I liked finding this movie when doing an online search, just by entering 'road movies' as the key words. It was a nice touch to see an Airstream in it, a reminder of some neighbors when I was young having one, though theirs was a trailer and not an RV. I still see a few of these around town. I like road movies a lot, it likely started with seeing the original 'Muppet Movie' and continued with the likes of 'Rain Man' and 'Midnight Run', along with 'Planes Trains and Automobiles'. It was nice to hear them discuss music, and guess songs, I correctly guessed one. It was 'A Horse With No Name' by America. There was mention of the band New York Dolls as well, a comedian friend said their frontman later was Buster Poindexter of 'Hot Hot Hot' fame.

Dolly Parton on Nightline

I was tagged on Facebook earlier today, and it led to way more messages than normal in my Hotmail account. I am used to getting under 40 on a weekday, slightly less on weekends, but I had something like 67 waiting for me! I decided to wade through them since it is most recent first, then found out I made the list for a comedy contest that will begin next month. I'm thrilled about it as it was the same contest I just barely missed the cut on in the 2 previous years. I recognized a few of the names on the night I am doing the first round, as expected, from going to the clubs regularly.
   My boss was absent today, so it meant no meeting in the afternoon, or 'conventions' as I call them as it sounds more classy. I saw the online calendar reminder when returning from lunch, so I canceled out of it to make it official, saying 'the boss is not here today'. Yes I do use the term 'boss' instead of their name often, it sounds like I'm a whiney and sniveling henchman in a gangster movie.
   I am already having to think of what my weekend schedule is since a holiday weekend is upcoming. I am aware of needing to move up doing things like groceries and laundry one day as some places are likely not open on Easter Sunday. Nothing wrong with moving it up if it means getting it done more quickly than typical and more time for other activities.
  I happened to see a Redbox kiosk tonight and saw a movie that may interest me, a baseball movie called 'One Hit From Home'. Another would be 'Perfect Age of Rock and Roll', a road movie with Peter Fonda in it. I have 2 free nights to use up soon before they expire, so it means getting motivated on what is available.
    In my car tonight I heard an older country song where the lyrics included 'If Your Heart Aint Busy Tonight'. Found it on Youtube, it's the title of a song by Tanya Tucker.
   Just saw Dolly Parton on ABC's 'Nightline' show, I like seeing these interviews. It was her playlist, included the song '9 to 5' from the movie of the same name which she had a role in. Pleased that she spoke of Johnny Cash's 'Walk the Line' along with Led Zeppelin's 'Stairway to Heaven'.

Not Puking Into It

I went to the comedy club tonight, and ordered a drink as well as popcorn. After I was finished with the popcorn, getting everything except for all of the unpopped kernels which were numerous, the server said it looked like I was going to puke into it. Must have been the way I was holding it. I gave my standard line of how I am fine, and I was. I had to wait for my card to be returned to me after paying tonight, and listened to some stories from a comic who was next to me. I almost got his pizza, and let the server know it wasn't mine and I was still waiting for the popcorn. A big tip-off that I ignored at first was seeing a shaker of the Parmesan cheese be placed on my table. I said his joke about roller blades reminded me of hearing how my dad broke his leg slipping on a wet floor at a movie theater. I had to see the movie he saw after the broken leg happened, 'Ten Things I Hate About You' thinking it must have been a really good movie if he watches it before going to a physician.
   Going to the clubs pays dividends in more ways than one. When one friend said there were some more leads on Charlie Brown and Snoopy statues, I had another comic who expressed interest in it and they gave me a lead as well! I like how I'm not out of ideas yet, not by a long shot apparently.
   I acquired enough points this week to dump 500 more miles into my Delta Airlines account, though it was from a different site from where I answer surveys. It was a site where they want you to buy things, but I just answer the 5-point survey usually. I noticed how they had an obsolete frequent flyer number on this site, since it was the one from Northwest and of course Delta bought them out. Customer Service got it changed for me, and I deposited miles today. First time I had done it from this site since 2008.
   I am doing my best to help out a classmate with requests on photos for the class reunion in June. There will be a class window display inside a business on the town square. I said I had some good ones, like from the homecoming parade of the class float as well as the football team on the truck. Sounds like some of those from graduation would be in demand as well.
   At the show tonight, I noticed how the hat one comic was wearing answered 2 questions that had been unanswered for a while. He was wearing a 'Black Flag' hat, I knew it was a lyric in a covered version of the Don Henley song 'Boys of Summer' subbing for 'Deadhead sticker on a Cadillac'. The other would be seeing these black bars as a picture on a friend's Facebook page.

Texas Twisters

The news on ABC's 'Nightline' show included the Texas twisters. I have a Facebook friend in Dallas-Ft. Worth and said I hope he and his family are fine. Sounds like it led to plenty of flight cancellations at the big airport there. Good or bad, when I think of this term I think of some idiots in high school having it as a punchline for a joke when all they wanted to do was a 'titty twister'.
   A friend at work spoke of wanting out, his first day back after a few days off. He spoke of getting into tech work for the circus, since he is a theater tech guy it is much closer to his field of study than what he does now in finance.
    At the comedy club tonight, a friend informed me about a benefit show next week for a show he is doing in Mexico. Found out I already had a Facebook invite and responded to it. He did some jokes I really like tonight, about speaking in tongues- in reference to a visit to church at a younger age- and a 'life coach'.
   Called a college roommate tonight, first contact in over three months. Same one I sent a Facebook message to the night before. Nice to hear from somebody who knows me well. I was informed how the friend had thought of contacting me this weekend, so we were 'in sync' about things which is nice, but also unexpected to hear. Maybe since it had been a little too long since last contact, but of course we all can get busy in our lives. But it's important to take time out for friends, who make life more worthwhile and more bearable.

Comedy CD Recording

I went to 2 comedy clubs tonight, the second was to be part of the special event, a CD recording. One of my friends was doing the recording. I liked his stolen penguin joke, I had asked for that one for a while. It works on so many levels, including when he decides to sing a variation of 'The Gambler' by Kenny Rogers tailored to the joke. Also the one about his dad being a judge and watering a fake plant.
   When I sent a Facebook message to a college roommate before going to the clubs, I did speak of one thing I didn't have to- how there was hot pizza on my lap as I had just pulled it from the microwave oven. It was done in context as I said I was on my way out soon. Since the thread continues indefinitely, it might be more fun to look at the message much later on. It sure was when looking at the last time I had sent a message to this friend, usually I just call on the phone. There was mention of a coworker who has a shirt in Japanese that said 'no smelly feet', appropriate as both are Japanophiles. Another was about my roommate taking his now ex-spouse to see tourist sites in Chicago. These dated back to 2009.
   My boss wasn't at work again today, I had a to help cover the normal duties like the payoff reports for the first two hours but I was fine with helping out. It meant a break from making all of those copies,which can be exhausting to say the least.  I hear the rain, thunder, and lightning just outside my window.
  On the way back from the clubs I heard a rap or R&B song that stuck in my mind, on a radio station I don't get too often. There was a lyric about the 'angry years'. I could relate to having some of those, but not now thankfully.

Million Dollar Quartet

Saw the play 'Million Dollar Quartet' at the State Theater in Minneapolis this afternoon, really enjoyed the music in it. Some lines stuck with me more than others, like the one about how banning the music will make the kids want it even more. This seems to be true about many things, like how a banned book becomes more popular than ever once it is deemed to be 'forbidden fruit'. I will admit how I am often more interested in reading a book after hearing it is banned, wanting to know why. Another was seeing a backup musician playing the string bass and picking it up off the floor and lifting it high into the air. After the event I went with my date to eat at Pizza Luce, first time there. I noticed the artwork everywhere, they had quotes from Louis Pasteur and Orson Welles on the wall. It was odd looking to me at first to see the commercial size can on the table, then I noticed it was what the pizza was going to be laid onto. While riding the light rail home after the play and the pizza, we had to deal with a vagrant asking for money, claiming she was diabetic. I liked getting a program from the play, consistent with what I get at similar events like the Harlem Globetrotters or Barnum and Bailey Circus. Since I like books, it makes sense I would like this as a souvenir. There was a free program of course, the Playbill, but this program has plenty of high quality pictures in it.
   The Simpsons episode tonight was a fun one, about Homer becoming a commentator on Fox News after becoming a viral video on Youtube. It likely was a rerun, but I didn't mind at all. After all, I like watching the syndicated reruns during the week after work if I get home in time for it after getting off the bus.