Just Tripping Along The Freakazoid

I ended up getting some things done this weekend much to my amazement. Looks like I may be teaching Physical science for Cumberland County College this summer (yes I am nuts). Managed to get a bunch of chores done including starting to work on my front yard - still a-ways to go and of course there is the wild jungle in the back. Also got to do something I really like with someone on Sunday - although that is still a depressing subject (I wish things were different and could work out in a perfect "take things to next step level" and that I had the guts to find out one way or the other although I know things are wayyyy to different and this other person would never think of or be interested and why ruin what you got for something that ain't happening and damn if I could find a person just like her I'd not be lonely and be happy and....... blech...) and yes I am such as dweeb on that particular subject as my sister tells me, but then lonely is the lot in life. But at ...

There is something, not surreal, but a word like that sitting watching 5 - 9 year olds play T-ball. It is wonderful when the kid hits the ball and then runs after it grabs it, gives it to the other team then heads for the base :-D Or when a kid in the outfield stands there spinning and spinning and spinning and then falls down dazed..... Of course there are plenty of moments with 12 kids all running across the field after the ball and such. After I recover from my T-ball experience I am hoping to catch my favorite cover band tonight and then I have a ticket to see Lez Zepplin (a female Led Zepplin and more cover band) tomorrow. I made it through the presentation Thursday - whew - it went so-so. Talking about curriculum at 4pm thursday when many are taking Friday off because of the three day weekend is tough - but I made it through. The person who is the director of the program and I spoke a bit before the meeting and it was interesting listening to him. He teaches lasers and physics...

Vegas – lots of fun Well everyone finally got in last night – we only walked around a little. As I was waiting for them to arrive – I occupied myself for over 30 minutes and only spent 2 quarters. How you ask (well you may not be asking but if you are still reading then I swear I heard you say how). The hotel we are in has this horse racing game – it has five plastic horses and they go around a track with random speeds and run a race. You bet on which two horses will come in first and second. I won over 60 quarters but ended up playing them all. But it was a nice long time to keep me occupied. Today we walked all over – we started at Mandalay Bay and I've got some good photos and I got this cool surfboard necklace. The we headed up into Luxor and the Excalibur. That was fun. I played a dart game and won a bunny – hurray. In New York New York I was playing this dice game and ended up winning 31 bucks – gooooo me. We then hot Aladdin and stayed around for the indoor rainstor...

OK quick update for now – I'm in Vegas – flights were ok – first one was delayed because of rain and I ran but made my connection. Then I waited in the world's longest taxi line – no shit. I have never seen anything like it I swear it had 7 wrap around lines and took me as long in the line as the cab ride did. It was like a Disney amusement ride line or something – lol It was fun watching as new people got in line and realized how f*ing long the line was - their comments and looks were awesome and fun The cab driver was nice – chatted away – he's from Brooklyn but been out here 22 years and loves it – commented about all the new developments and such. Staying in the Frontier – the casino whose front sign proclaims… BEER DIRTY GIRLS MUD WRESTLING 1.99 MARGARITAS BULL RIDING Yes my kinda hotel – lol I got here first waiting for the others to get in – I think we are hitting Fremont Street tonight. Not sure… should be fun – and yes my sister has already made me promise to...

Man i love playing pinball - after walking some (made two and half miles today) on teh boardwalk, stopped in at the arcade to catch a few games (played Lord of the Rings this evening) - I do enjoy playing - just put on my headphones and music (This evening's selection included The Like) and go for bumping, flipping and keeping that little steel ball moving. It's really nice sometimes to have something moving forward and going and not thinking about anything but having fun and that little steel ball.

A former student of mine just Im'd me to let me know that a student from the same class she took from me was killed this Friday in a domestic altercation. The student who Im'd me I think needed to talk (I can appreciate needing someone to just talk to and work through things) and went over a lot about the class and her classmates and staying in touch with people and other things (the student that was killed was one of the better students in the class, an older woman with 2 kids, 3 and 13, was very out going in personality and worked at an alternative high school and was always very busy and participated in the extra credit stuff - including a field trip which the student that IM'd me also went on - that was a great trip and I even have a blog entry somewhere about it...). Some Mother's Day for that family :-( fuck I hate when the world reminds me of how many nasty crevices are sprinkled through out the good things. Although this also makes me pause and realize for all I...

This week has been a whew and glad it is gone and over week. Got back form the conference and worked to catch up on work – still lots of projects but slowly starting to get almost a pinky finger above water – lol. The atmosphere at work is still odd and off due to the changes in administration (such as my boss retiring), the contract negotiations, in-fighting in staff, rumors and the gossip mill on overtime (I swear it is churning out so much shit we will soon have the highest mountain in the world in our school's backyard. Of course it will not be made of granite but of crap, hot air and such…. I did get a piece of good in amongst the bad, unsure and unmotivated news – I got my letter at work that I have, pending contract negotiations of course, been offered a contract for next year. That means I have my job for at least another year – hurray. Of course my job is such if they really wanted they could cut my job at anytime and such but hey at least I got a renewal for a year. ...

Had a good day. I started out catching the train into downtown and got my ticket for the 2:00 Culture and Commerce architecture tour. Then I walked all the hell over until the tour. Ended up stopping at Portillo's and got pizza. Yesterday I had this awesome Italian Beef and cheddar with sweet peppers on the side croissant at the same place. I like that place and need to go back just to try the polish sausage and other menu fare. Today was warm and most completely awesomely gorgeous. Yesterday I froze my butt off. Chicago is like bi-polar or schizoid or something in terms of the weather – lmao But walked around and got these cool pewter mystical figures to add to my collection. I almost got a dagger for my dagger collection but I was good. But what I got will go along with my other souvenir, a bracelet from the Field museum (it is Egyptian hieroglyphics for the word friend). I like to get bracelets or a ring or necklace when I go somewhere; then I can say my body ornamentat...

Ok so Saturday was a good day trip wise – mediocre mood wise – so it means the teeter-totter of life was balanced slightly higher in the good direction – hurray. Started by sleeping in – not setting the alarm – and that is such an unusual event for moe. I realize I set the alarm a lot and keep myself on a certain schedule – not always so much like a planned, anal schedule (I am quite scattered-brained and forgetful) but I am also moving type schedule and always have something to be done. Which is still true during the trip but I have been not setting the alarm – and will not set it when I go to bed tonight either… but alas back to setting it for Monday to get up to go :( So finally when I did get up I took my trip on the train – YAY! I actually only did into main downtown and did not ride on the loop train but still – and it was cheap and easy and what I will do tomorrow. I then went on a walking architecture tour – which in an unplanned (see trying not to schedule) move I will go i...

A side note about yesterday before on to today – the three other teachers wanted to walk Michigan Ave (the place with tons of shops) – well they got into it and knew the stores and clothing and really were trying things on and some even bought some – but I felt so out of place. In the one store while they are looking at dresses and skirts and outfits I found myself interested in this multiple tool in one (with a cool stapler, scissors, tape measure and other gadgets) Another clothing store I looked around but then headed out and ended up standing outside listening to some street musician. One store in the mall I realized I was standing around much like the other guys who were drug into the Anne Taylor's Loft. I actually went out to stand at the mall railing and people watched – I actually wrote a little drabble story based on that (which I will try to post later as soon as I find the brochure I wrote it on – lol) I mean I did like looking at some things and stores and Michigan Av...

Still going strong at the reading conference and Chicago but things on mind and busy as always. Yesterday enjoyed a day at the conference and then the conference people through this gala – they transformed the Navy pier into the different neighborhoods of Chicago. You could walk through and eat and watch entertainment. In one section they had fortune tellers and the teachers I was with wanted to go. So I asked since I was so lonely would I find someone (hey this was free and they brought in serious tellers what the heck) – she gave me some nice things to think about and was honest (as she said "You will have to kiss a hell of a lot of toes before finding the right frog that turns into a princess" – yes her words not mine she got that I am looking for the princess not a prince – go figure :) so I have work but hope – so where's my princess already?) The evening ended with a live band, dancing and it was a nice time. Today more conference and meeting authors and trying ...