The Shuffle, Round 3

There was a mandatory meeting at the office scheduled for 10 in the morning, prepared for the worst and hoped for the best. It was scheduled before I left on Friday, so I was left with it in the back of my mind over the weekend. It wasn't a 'pink slip' meeting, as some new opportunities were announced on transferring to other departments within the office. I had tried for this twice before and wasn't picked. I am still kind of miffed about it. It seems appropriate to call it 'the shuffle, round 3'.
    At the comedy club tonight there were plenty of pictures on the wall. Nothing unusual here, but they were  about the club's 20th anniversary celebration this week. As much as I would like to attend one of the shows, as it will be a good variety of entertainers, I don't think I can find the time in my schedule. It does make me think about what was going on in the world back when the club opened in 1991, and what was going on in my life. Same as any other 2-decade period, plenty can happen. In this area, the relevant thing is that the Mall of America hadn't opened yet. Even though it was Halloween, few performers were dressed in a costume, I saw just 2, both women.

Ides of March

Went to see the movie 'Ides of March' at the Grandview theater in St. Paul earlier today. It was anti-climactic at the end, seemed like it ended kind of abruptly. I liked George Clooney in it, he played a presidential candidate. It is likely somehow a reference to the Shakespeare play 'Julius Caesar' as a Soothsayer was known for saying 'beware of the Ides of March', or March 15. Also found 2 more of those Charlie Brown and Snoopy statues, looks like the total is at 111 now. It was the first we had found since the first of the month, the Linus in Sleepy Eye. We aren't out of ideas yet on where to find them. Liked eating at Genghis Grill in Eagan in the evening, made it home in time to see the Halloween episode of the Simpsons. It included a parody of the French movie 'Diving Bell and Butterfly', one that I had seen. It was about the editor of a fashion magazine with 'locked in syndrome', who was unable to communicate except by blinking eyes. So his memoirs were dictated this way.
    I liked getting most of my errand running done early in the day before the date, so there was less of a sense of urgency to get it done in the evening when I had less energy. I slept later than typical, until 10am, and said I needed to get milk and orange juice, not wanting to get a breakfast sandwich at McDonald's since I would be eating again around 12noon. So it meant doing the weekly grocery run then, which is more practical. Also did the dishes and recycle, and going through the mail, most of it junk. Since I tend to take out important things like a bill right after recognizing it, I find that it's no big deal to let most mail wait a few days before truly getting a close look at it.  

Look-Alike at Game

Saw a lookalike to that San Francisco Giants pitcher named Wilson- from a TV commercial- on the way to the Iowa/Minnesota football game earlier today. Hawkeyes lost to the Gophers 22-21, 2 missed field goals and an onside kick were costly. I did get a picture of this man and after I did it he said if I wanted one that I just needed to ask. It's the second straight year where Iowa has lost the battle for the trophy known as 'Floyd of Rosedale', a bronze pig created in 1935. I was fine with walking to and from the stadium and across a footbridge over the Mississippi River, good exercise and nice scenery.
    In the evening I went to Fright Farm in Maplewood, a haunted house. One actor was keeping people interested while waiting by gunning a Husqvarna chainsaw. I wasn't sure what brand, saw it was orange. It's proof of how I think, when I care about things like a brand of chainsaw and wanting to satisfy curiosity. So I saw it on a table, turned off, after I had went through. My dad had chainsaws as a kid, so hearing and seeing one doesn't bother me much. He had Homelite and McCulloch, those are red and yellow. I liked doing one thing after the haunted house, hadn't done it in a while. It was watch some of the shows after the 10pm news, like 'storm stories' and another where a local sports journalist interview people. Though I fell asleep in my easy chair while watching the first one, must have been tired.

Napa Valley Wine

I have been inundated with emails recently about the writer union I am a part of, looks like we are having another meeting soon. Trying to figure out the best time for it. The last meeting was a month ago, and little was agreed upon besides deciding to meet again. I said I wanted to participate more but needed to know the ways I can, and not much was said so far.
    I had 3 bottles of wine for a while that weren't cracked open, but slowly after meeting somebody they have been opened and drank as I met somebody who likes wine. The last of these was the Napa Valley wine that a friend from work got me while visiting there. My date liked it a lot, when we had it for dinner tonight, lasagna.
    Tonight was game 7 of the World Series, and somehow the Cardinals found a way to win again over the Rangers. During the 6th inning my date decided to go walk the dog, I went out as well, knowing it was a 30-minute walk and we would be back before the game ended. We decided to get up and dance a little after the final out, as I spoke of how I did this when the Cardinals last won in 2006. It seemed appropriate then as I was hearing them play the song featured on a Six Flags commercial where you see an old man dancing around, and the few words heard were 'hey now'.

Great Pumpkin and The Series

Divided my time tonight at first between the Charlie Brown Halloween special 'Great Pumpkin' and the World Series. What a wild night! I put in a photo order at Walgreen and got home right before prime time programming began. I told myself I wanted to pick them up after the game was over, then couldn't wait until game 6 was over as it went into extra innings. After the 10th inning ended, I drove over to Walgreen again to pick up the photo order, and get some drain opener for the bathroom sink. I was listening to the radio broadcast in my car, and as I was pulling into the lot it ended on a walkoff home run. So there will be a game 7, since the Cardinals won tonight over the Rangers. It was something like the 4th walk off home run in game 6, the previous 3 were quite famous, in 1975, 1991, and 1993. The Cardinals kept tying it, 7-7 and then 9-9 the next inning, it ended 10-9. I did pull out my Great Pumpkin book while watching the special, and the election special after it called 'You're Not Elected' as it was a reminder of winning it when finishing 2nd in a reading contest in 2nd grade. The book has held up well, helps that it's hard cover.

Expensive Football Shoes

On the bus this morning I was bored having to listen to a woman talk about her son in high school. Something about how he quit football, even after paying the fee and getting the expensive shoes needed for it. And something about how he was too embarrassed to have her around at the swim meets he is now in. He's a teenager, what did she expect?
   I had another vivid dream this morning, meaning it was another odd one. I looked at the laundry that was drying on the line, and saw bedsheets but both were fitted sheets, made no sense to me. Also saw a blanket if I'm not mistaken. Don't know what it means, when my parents had a clothesline when I was a kid but I don't use one. Or possibly that I should do laundry more often, though it's already done every 2 weeks which is often enough to me.
    There were leftovers from the taco feed, but not the soupy chicken. I liked eating the shredded cheese, of course. And I'm thankful I found enough time to walk a bridge at lunchtime over the river.
    Game 6 of the World Series was postponed due to weather, so I didn't miss anything by going to the comedy club tonight. One comedian friend offered the last slice of pizza, I said 'thank you' twice to be sure I was heard, which made me sound like Little Caesar.
    I like how I get things crossed off my list eventually, in this case it was a copy request for Emerson Hough papers from being in Iowa City recently. What helped was I got one helper form out and taped it to my laptop, and got out my notes and put them nearby for easier reference. Unsure when they will arrive, but I will like having them. Hard to say what I will like the most, but the materials related to the movie 'Covered Wagon' will be nice, and the ad about Hough's books with a picture of Theodore Roosevelt will be as well.
   I liked driving over by the searchlights tonight after the comedy show, it's fun to find the source. I of course thought of the 'Charlie Brown Christmas' special where Linus said to Charlie 'check those searchlights' when looking for a tree. These lights were in relation to the new Little Caesar's location, and mounted into the back of a pickup truck.

Kelly Clarkson Songs

It was a notable day at work as it meant a farewell to our 'facility czar', who is transferring to Arizona. This was somebody who encouraged me to get a first-ever flu shot 2 years ago, I now get them annually. The food left a lot to be desired, as it was chicken tacos that were really soupy. I preferred eating the shredded cheese plain, there was plenty of it.
    There was an annoying knowitall on the bus in the evening, he kept switching subjects and couldn't get his facts straight about sports and politics (specifically, presidents). It was about the local sports teams and their stadiums, but also the World Series droughts of the Red Sox and Cubs, got them switched around, or even when Babe Ruth was traded to the Yankees. I wanted to say something but I knew better. good chance it will be a while before I have to see this man again. Still makes me think of the Kelly Clarkson song 'Mr. Know it All' since I've known a few. It's the typical they claim to know it all but intelligent people can poke holes into their stories and prove they really don't know anything.
     Liked getting a pizza at a Little Caesar's that opened nearby. I meant to look for magnets with the location on it but thought about it again only after I had left. I had one from two other locations. It's nice to compare them. Noticed how there were some searchlights in the evening, after getting back from the comedy club, which guided customers to the shop.
     During lunchtime I did a walk through the skyway with a group, asked for a map after it was done so I could do the route again later. I may even luck out and find another Charlie Brown and Snoopy statue.