Of Moose And Men
The Best Laid Plans Of Both Often Go Astray

Headed up to Baltimore shortly for the Celtic Solstice Five Mile Run. Looks like it’s going to be a cold one. At least it’s not snowing like they first thought it was going to this morning.

Spoke with management this morning, they’re tired of the smoke, too, so it’s now getting packaged up to send off to the cult’s co-op’s attorney for action. I can say I’d not be upset if they moved, or were forced to move. That is an advantage of a co-op, if someone is truly obnoxious as a member, they can be expelled (in effect forced to sell). Given the mark-up since they purchased, and their behavior, no tears will be shed here.

My bedroom is currently airing out because the cigarette smoke from my downstairs neighbor is back. Joy!

My right hand looks like a vampire attacked me – I spilled some hot sauce on it last night and it appears I burned it in two spots. Considering the choice was to either get burned or to spill all of the pot all over the stove, I think I went with the better alternative. But still, it’s annoying.

My voice sounds like I’ve been drinking bourbon. Which would be fine, if I had (and much more fun to start). Unfortunately it’s more likely a slight bit of sinus ickiness. I think I’d prefer the bourbon, but this, too, shall pass.

TiVo taped something called the Hogfather as as suggestion, and I’m dying. Absolutely loving it. I just hope it taped the entire thing or I’ll be sorely disappointed. Any “fairy tale” that starts out by detailing the crimes of jack (of beanstalk fame) while reading it to children is a-ok in my book:

And then Jack chopped down what was the world’s last beanstalk, adding murder and ecological terrorism to the theft, enticement and trespass charges already mentioned and all the giant’s children didn’t have a daddy any more. But he got away with it and lived happily ever after without so much as a guilty twinge about what he had done. Which proves that you can be excused just about anything if you’re a hero, because no one asks inconvenient questions.

I’m very bad at trying to pick gifts for my family. It’s an obnoxious process that taxes my patience. But anyway.

An opportunity may be arising at another Big Government Agency which I may apply for. It would be a step up in responsibilities, and a good career move. I’m not entirely certain if I’m ready for it, but there are extraneous factors which argue for applying now or missing the opportunity entirely. Given my particular specialty this isn’t surprising – a similar situation arose when my current position came open (though I was certainly much more ready to go when that one came open!). I’ve been told it’s going to be posted, so I’m keeping my eyes open, and I’ve asked a mentor (who mentioned the opening in the first place) to keep his ears open for when it’s posted so I can look it over and decide whether to apply.

I don’t look forward to polishing my resume, but that’s simply a necessary evil in the process. To be honest, the possibility is a bit intimidating. But again, this is a now-or-never kind of thing, and I think I want to try for it.

BC and I went out to two NBA basketball games this weekend. The first was Friday, Suns versus the Wizards (he’s a particular fan of the Suns due to a) they win; and b) he lived there)). The second was this evening, due in the most part to his mother, who got tickets to us in the SECOND ROW not quite, but close enough to center court, and I have to say, having to strain my neck to see the big jumbotron thing above us was, well, a problem I could learn to live with.

They didn’t quite sweat on us. But they came damned close. And there was a) a waitress who brought us beer without having to get up; and b) access to a really, really close (and tiny) restroom in which to get rid of the same.

I am loathe to admit it, but I really, really enjoyed it. I still despise (with a passion unsurpassed) the game of football, but after two games in person I am more than ready to reconsider my childhood dislike of basketball. This game made sense, unlike that obnoxious game full of overly obese “athletes” who do nothing other than run into each other. I liked this, and I would be happy to go back, if, that is, BC will talk to me after trashing american “crap ball” while in the bar before the real game tonight.

And if you tell my brother and my father before I do, I will hurt you. I want to see the look of shock on their faces myself.

“If you ever manage to make me pay more attention to this game, my two closest male relatives will go into shock.” – Me (to BC, while at our second NBA game of the weekend).

😉