Squabber McCheese's bowl of dry food has been full for awhile, and he acts like he's hungry, so yesterday I bought some moist food.  turkey primavera (sp?)...he didn't touch that either.  again, tonight, he's rubbing around on my ankles like he's hungry, and there's the two bowls of dry and a bowl of moist sitting right there, not being eaten.  alright, well I bought one of those variety packs, so maybe he'll like the tuna primavera?  yup! he's scarfin' it down good! "Fancy Feast Elegant medleys; tuna premivera".  there. now I'll remember the name next time I need to make a shopping list.  I'll give the other flavors to the cool hippy lady.  her cat's will eat anything (or so she says).

looks like the paperwork went thru for the Kid's car, now I need to send a pic of my license and a stool sample to verify that I'm a real human, i guess? (yeah, no stool sample; that part was just for fun).  oh and worse case scenerio Kid, let me know if you need help before the bank takes it back. I'll see what I can do to help. we don't want both of our credit to hit the crapper (wow!  stool sample and crapper in the same paragraph).

otherwise, nothin' new under the sun...looks like we may have a 3 day holiday weekend comin' up, but won't know for sure until they tally our numbers tomorrow *crosses fingers*

ok, now we're gettin' somewhere. I assumed the salesperson (of the Kid's car) was a lady named Saquoya, being she was the one who contacted me via email to begin with...today, I finally get a message (too late for me to respond to, having had to get ready to go to work) from the person who had set it all up. turns out the paperwork that he had sent me wants me to put a signature on the "buyer" line (aren't I the "co-buyer" or "co-signer"?) if I sign the "buyer" line, won't that mean that the title would have my name on it, making it hard for the Kid to insure and what-not?...I'll call on it tomorrow and see if I can straighten all this out.  I may have to send it all back and have them re-write it, so I'm not the "buyer".  I don't need to buy another car, I just wanna co-sign for it. (ok, you get the idea). did I mention I hate filling out forms?

Thursday, Mark (work bud) needed a ride to pick up his car from the shop (it needed a new water pump), and for my trouble, he buys me some fajitas (mmmms!).  turns out they could have been the last fajitas I ever ate, when I took a bite too big to swallow. it was the weirdest sensation, because I could breath, I could swallow, and I could talk, but the food was just stuck. I didn't panic, 'cause that would've made things real bad. instead I ended up punching my throat sending the food back up (here's hoping your not eating whilst reading this). I was able to contain the contents, re-chew and re-swallow it. it was rather embarrassing.  it's been since I was a kid since I pulled this goofball act. it was just a reminder that no matter how good the food tastes, I better take the time to chew it first.

Sunday (my only day off) Brian (room mate/fungicidal maniac) asks if I could help him for a half an hour? shit! I tell him "as long as it doesn't have anything to do with cars, I'm in".  turned out, it had to do with cars.  he wanted help going to the junkyard and hauling out a passenger door he needed for his Ford Exploder.  ok, but let's make it quick, I wanna see the last round of the Fed-Ex cup playoffs.  it didn't take long. we even had time to take off the old and put on the replacement before the first tee off. (Adam Scott won.  Tiger almost made the putt for the final playoff, but just missed).  afterward, I meet Mark (work bud) at Winding Creek for the front nine...it was fun!  nice night (other than a little windy).  we even finished all 9 before it got dark [awesome!].

we worked again last Saturday.  here's hopin' we have next Saturday off (being a holiday weekend, and all).  I drank me a four pack of "Brother Benjamin IPA brewed with honey" last night (10.1% by volume).  holy crappage! that's some wicked strong India Pale Ale!!  I play me some 'Battlefield 3' (I think it's called...free download for PS3 network members).  awesome game! I'm coolin' it tonight on the beerses, and going to bed early, so I can figure out this car paperwork tomorrow morning sans a hangover.

let's see, what else...nope. nuthin'. bye.

I haven't heard from the Kid, since I filled out them forms Monday night, as to whether I was of any help in buying his new (used) car....afterwards, I get a call from them the next day as to what car on the lot I was interested in.  no, I was filling it all out to become a CO-signer.  she said she didn't put two and two together, and said she'll pass it on to her manager. k.

kinda overdid it on the beer drinkin' after work Monday, so last night, I went to bed early, drinking nothin' but water (sometimes I like to surprise my liver).  this morning I did some quick shopping for work lunch food, then had me some roasted chicken unt tator salad for breakfast.  now, I gotta get ready to go to the stalag  work.

alright, that's out of the way...I hate filling out forms, but it wasn't as bad as I thunk. I was asked to co-sign for a loan (which goes against everything I stand for, but know the Kid will do me right...right? right.) for a car, that sounds like a hell of a deal!  it's not cool to loan/co-sign on anything for anyone, especially to relatives, but what the hell, I only gots me one kid, and he's been way cool in the past about buying his own cars and paying for his own college, and  what-not. he's a good kid! (HI Kid!).  having said all that, here's hopin' I even qualify to be a co-signer, being I have me a goodly sized car payment already.  my credit is good, so let's hope for the best...and I think this will be a good way for him to build better credit (guard it with your life...it'll help you along the way!) I hope this isn't too personal to share.  nah, we all need help once in awhile, right?  yarp!

"In each life, a little squank must fall. But this is balanced out by bouts of groove-chicken-ness." -Hoohah

wise words indeed!

I wake up to a gigantic crash coming from the kitchen.  I jump up and ask if everything's alright? Brian says it was Squabber.  seems whenever Brian shakes the little kitty treat container, Squab' will come runnin' from anywhere within the wood-panel submarine. it just so happened that the six empty beer bottles (i had dranken the night before) where in the direct path of the sprinting feline.  after making sure the cat wasn't dripping redness,  I said "Squab always did like bowling on Sundays", looking over to see if he got a strike (nope, he left the 7, 10).  since I was awake, I completed my mission to buy and install a new car battery, and along the way, remembered that one of my headlights was burnt out in my shrimpy truck, buying/installing them too. then, it was a day filled mostly with slack, drinkin' a sixer of punkin beers (after hiding my car keys from myself) and watching the last rounds of the Solheim Cup (basically the women's version of the PGA's Ryder Cup).  USA lost [again].  yesterday was pretty much a warsh, since I had to work (I know! the first weekend work in a month...let's hope that doesn't escalate). I guess, the extra cabbage will help a bit, come lot rent time (which is coming up here soon).

it feels good having both vehicles in running order.  Brian's mom (the cool hippy lady next door) has a new room mate, so I gotta quick find a new home for my truck. I was storing it in her driveway...Brian makes the suggestion of putting cars three wide in the two wide style driveway.  alright. so the wheels hang over into the grass a little on both sides, but I think this will work. but, it kinda now looks like a used car lot. oh well. It'll work for now, until a better plan is concocted.

Mark (work bud) tells me that he doesn't wanna hit the links Sunday, while we were talking at work, yet he texts me, on Sunday, asking if I want to play .  I completely missed his text during a good power-nap....next time.

alright, the apocalypse should be here soon.  we have a meeting at the stalag, which was completely out of the blue, letting us know that we're to be getting bonuses from now on.  first, it's 8 hour days with weekends, now bonuses?! our first 2 bonus pay-outs will be in November ($250 for May/June/July quarter, and an amount to be determined for August/September/October...).  wow! I guess I gotta stop calling it the stalag if they're not gonna keep treating us like prisoners anymore.  the place has really shaped up over this past 6 months. now, a bunch of peeps came to rely on the huge amount of OT we used to do, but I'm diggin' every day that goes by that's not a 10 or 12 hour work day. let's see how long this all lasts

I see Mittens today at work. I knew it was a day that I'd see her, so I bring her a bunch of Rosie's stuff (a blanket, her winter coat, some left-over flea stuff, etc..). she has a couple 3 dogs of her own, maybe she can use some of this stuff that I'm just storing...I guess it's a way to let go. I miss her a ton! she was a good dawg! ...alright, I gotta write about something else, before I start crying.

my car still sits in the drive mit a dead battery.  maybe I'll get my shit together and replace that battery here soonly. I'll mark it on my calender, to be fixed in the month of 'Soonly'.  I check out youtube vids to see how to yank that front quarter panel off to get at the damn thing...it looks easier than ever with the right tools.  the vid says it takes a good 20 minutes to complete the project, which means it'll take me an hour and a half.  it should be fun [or not?]

 work posts their summer picnic to be held in October.  isn't that a bit late in the year for a summer picnic?!  maybe not. we'll see.

let's see.  what else. nuthin'! should get me some sleep...maybe one more beer first

after I get a text from Mark (work bud) to meet him at the clubhouse (Sunday night), I jump in my dune buggy (mit Rosie pooper clubs) only to have a completely dead battery.  then, I grab the clubs and head to the shrimpy truck, throw the clubs in the back, only to irritate a flock (umm) of bees.  dammit! after brushing many of them off (happy, at this point, that I put a loose sweater on), I jump in and make it down to the clubhouse on time.  we play the yellow course (the golf course has 3-9 holers; the yellow, the blue, and the white).  by the time we got to the 8th hole, it was amazingly dark.  I lose two balls in the darkness before giving up.  the sprinklers were going full blast as we were walking back.  the clubhouse, at this point was closed (I guess they trusted I'd give the rental pull cart back...and I did). it was fun, but next time we'll have to start an hour earlier.  this is the second time I've played this golf course, and still haven't completed a full 9 holes.

have you ever worked with someone who always argues about completely unreasonable things?  we have a guy, we'll call him George ('cause that's his name) who is that guy.  his reasoning is completely skewed about everything under the sun.  I caught him arguing with the boss about how he should be able to do nothing for the last half hour of the day...I thought he was joking, but then he really lays into him with his warped reasoning.  he's beyond arrogant, and of course, everything he says and does is upright and correct in his eyes.  today, the assembly line went down, and most everyone just stood around.  there's a ton of stuff to be done, from cleaning up, to restocking the line, and/or jumping on a sub-station and build motors we desperately need, so we can continue to make parts when the line goes back up.  I jumped on a sub, and after watching every one else (sans Mark, who was taking out the recyclables) stand around and do nothing, I started hollering at 'em. now, I'm not the boss, I get that, but since the boss isn't around, the children had to be reminded that they're still getting paid.  anyway. George starts ripping into me for a good 1/2 hour about "what will 3nd shift build if we build all the motors?", along with every other lame brain rant he could think of.   I just stopped hollering and did my thing.  reminding myself that I'm not the boss.  anyway. long story, longer; we ran out of motors, just as I was trying to convey to them that would happen if they didn't help on sub-stations.  I let him have it when we ran out...he comes back with a lame excuse after wondering why I was hollering at him. one day he'll get a damn clue, meanwhile he'll keep screwin' off like he owns the place I told him I don't even wanna talk to him anymore. he's bad news.  this isn't the first encounter I've had with this guy. my day's are so much more pleasant when he works the other end of the line, so that's what I'll have to attempt to do. he's not worth getting an ulcer over. I just wish half these peeps that stand around and work hard at doing nothing could see the value of everyone pulling their own weight. I can only hope that one day we'll get a supervisor with a spine (shyeah! whatever.)

yet another weekend off...that makes 4 (I think?) in a row.  I told Mark (work bud) earlier in the week, that if we had another weekend off, I'd go to church with him (jokingly indicating that there is a Gawd). he agrees, but wants to stand far enough away, so as not to get hit by the same bolt of lightning that does me in.

many hours spent watching the last PGA major of the year.  Tiger and Michelson (no. 1 and 2 in the world) aren't even in the running, they're so far down the leader board. Jason Dufner, Adam Scott, and Jim Furyk are currently leading (after the 3th round), but that could easily all change with today's round.  it's pretty fun!  a little weird at the same time, because I really ought to be out there in the nice weather swinging clubs instead of watching.... I get Mark's (same work bud) text too late.  he wanted to golf Saturday night, instead of Sunday (as we agreed during work). oh well. I'll catch up with him next weekend, if he doesn't wanna golf tonight.

otherwise, slack, power-naps, revisit Crysis (Playstation 3), watch more golf, and more episodes of "it's always sunny in Philadelphia" (season one, starting from the first episode on Netflix)...it's a damn hoot of a show!  Boston Market for lunch (3 piece dark, with creamed spinach and sweet 'tators for sides. mmmmmmmms!).  damn, now I'm hungry...best go make me some oatmeal

I just woke up to the sound of a toilet seat slamming.  that guy will never learn.  room mates, what can ya do?

earlier today, Brian hollers at yet another Verizon manager over the very product he telecommunicates on, trying to get yet another phone replaced or repaired. it's becoming a running joke. I guess if you want the biggest head aches, send a huge amount of money toward a two year contract deal with a company that thrives on giving you the best half-assed service and product.  meanwhile, I'm on my third tracphone (within the past 8 plus years) and maybe only had to deal with them once (maybe twice).

the name of the golf course is 'the links at rolling meadows' (texting the wrong person to find out...hi deeds!). it's an all par 3, nine holer here in town, that starts out with a bang!  a huge pond betwixt you and the flag, with a condo along the right side. we both gave many balls to the golf god, just trying to find land, hollering "practice swing" as their water seeking projectiles (you guessed it) sought water. each hole has a pond or a swamp, but it was only the first that almost made both of us want to take up bowling instead.  it was fun! the weather was most pleasant, my swing (accidentally) found a couple three excellent (mostly lucky)  shots overall. he, being the guy who's been golfing for a good 15 years, actually lost more balls in the lakes than I did (I had to feel good about something, being he mostly kicked my ass score wise). he wanted to make the last hole interesting, so he wagered a buck on it. I won that hole (another small victory to boost my confidence)!  I feel a lot less tense with each game. I've got a LONG way to go, to beat Tiger, but I'll keep practicing....  I told him, next time, we'll have to wager a buck on every hole.  I'm up for losing a bunch of money.

I got a couple things (besides that round of fun) done this weekend. got my hair cut, I had a stair well to cut in half (for my future back door stair way project), hooked up my new dryer after a good couple of runs to the hardware store for the right gas line adapter, hooked up my neighbors dryer (yep, my old dryer for the new neighbor across the street). it was kind of funny. the new neighbor lady's parents were there too, and the mom, prob'ly in her seventies, was playing the way domineering part, jumping in, getting in the way, speaking frantic Japanese (?), helping Brian's mom and I haul the thing into the trailer. I just backed off and let her take charge.  it only took a couple of minutes, once in place, to hook up the gas, the vent, and plug it in. let's see, otherwise, I mostly slacked, and watched Tiger win the latest PGA tourney, drank some coldey's and found a couple bad movies on Netflix. Brian grills up some brats and what-not Sunday afternoon. Brian's mom makes some deviled eggs for the meal (good gawd, how I do love me some deviled eggs!). it was a relaxing weekend!

that's about it. the news not worth reporting, from the wood-panel submarine, for the first weekend in August...now, back to bed.

Brian (room mate/ soft ball champion) throws me rent ($150 of it) on Thursday, I deposit it quickly, before he asks for any of it back (as he has in the past), and then another $60 on Friday, of which I'll deposit tomorrow, right after I get my haircut.  my new dryer came in, but just before the delivery guys came, Brian's mom asks what I'm doin' with the old dryer.  I tell her I'm having the delivery guys pick it up.  she asks if it works? then tells me a story of the poor Asian lady who just bought the place across the street from her.  seems she has an overtly controlling husband that she's trying to escape from, and currently has a warsher, but no dryer. I call the delivery guys and ask if they pick up the old as part of the sale, or do they just pick it up to get it out of the way for the new? and if the latter, is it possible I can keep the old for the neighbor lady without breaching the deal?  they were more than cool with that, in fact, they helped move the old dryer from my house to hers [thank you Best Buy delivery guys!!]. tomorrow, I'll hook up the gas, and vent hose, and see how the new dryer works.

Mark (work bud) wants to hit the links on Sunday.  it ought to be better than groove-chicken! he tells me of a golf course here in town that has all par 3 holes.  I thought ALL golf courses had "regulation" 3, 4, and 5 par holes...who knew??

yet another 2 day weekend off from the stalag (that makes, what? 3-2 day weekends in a row off)...it's like a damn dream!  I haven't had this much time off since...who knows when?