Harold's Shopping Extravaganza

Sadly it was *my* credit card.  Still my muse knows how to find a bargain ... or is it me?

Either way 4 Lane Bryant shirts for $60.00 and yes 3 of the 4 were black.  It's ok - Harold swears it's my power color.  Frankly I think he likes the idea of black = tortured artist.  Either way, it goes with EVERYTHING so that works.  Then he gently reminded me that Jon loves me in camisoles and it was probably time for a sale at Ashley Stewart and wouldn't you know it was?  4 camisoles for $30.00 and wheeee lots of pretties.  I was looking at the jewelry but I really have enough of it and Harold keeps reminding me that 1) I rarely wear it and 2) The Wild Granny left me a ton of diamonds.

....and according to him everthing goes with diamonds.

Nice at at least one of us has decent taste ;) 

The photo says it all

Perception:

One of the cautions and warnings when you start a new job is to stay away from the friendliest person you meet.  They are a leech.  Beware Beware Beware.

...unless that person is me I guess.

I'm not exactly someone who can just sit by and let things happen.  After a point, I jump in a do it.  Most recently with our revolving door next to my office (on either side in fact), I've been the resident tour guide.  I'm already the go-to person for many things from location of items to information on employees (does such and such work here?  you get the drift) to goverment rules and regulations.  However, with the change in staff, I've become the go-to person for them to locate items, locate people, and touch base.

Is it my job?  no.

Have I been a temp before?  Youbetcha.

In the place I worked before this (a retail type store which is closed now), I was tossed at a desk, handed paperwork, signed on the computer, and not spoken with until the end of shift when I was told to come back the next day.  Lather rinse repeat.  This went on for nearly a week.  Then I was a temp to hire but still it took months before I knew anybody and I had to make the overtures myself.  It's a horrible feeling and one that I don't think needs passing on....

So just add The Welcome Wagon hat to my ever growing arsenal and Take That you assumption making magazine article....

....because you just.don't.know.everything now do you?

What a Weekend it Was

I took Harold to the woods over Memorial Day Weekend.  After plying him with (more than) a few Mich Ultras, he started to loosen up and have a good time.  Then he proceeded to tell the cigar smokers that not inhaling is like spitting ... ::sigh::  too bad my muse doesn't have an off button.

We saw friends, made new friends, yelled God Shave the Queen, heard music from old friends and new friends, and generally had a roaring time.  I was officially pinned Lucky M'Crack of the Clan M'Crack and watched our Laird High Chieftan nearly fall off his perch.

Good times.

I also got to hit the pool.  Where Harold's passion is beer, wit, and slightly inappropriate behaviour, mine has always been water.  He pouted off in the corner because we couldn't bring our beer to the pool but brightened up with an offering of Sonic later.

More photos:

Of course it wouldn't be faire if I didn't get a photo of the bartenders now would it?  Especially since they're the ones that helped Harold invent "remote ordering".  I stand in line, wave the mug, and when I get to the front, Harold's beer is ready.  Sweeeeeeeeet.

Now I wish I could just cross-post this blog ... I'm certain there's a way but it's beyond me and Harold ain't helping -- he's whining that we're at work before 5 a.m. and there's perfectly good Sam Adams in the fridge.

....and salt and vinegar chips on the counter.

Hittin The Road

This weekend we make our trek to Lake Anna Virginia to attend The Virginia Renaissance Faire.  While it's a bit of a drive, we've found the positives outweigh the negatives.

• Plenty of places for Jon to sit
• Nice lil pub - and as of two years ago, I invented remote ordering.  I'm standing in line, wave my mug, and my beer is ready when it's my turn.  Sweet.
• A very good friend runs the faire and we always support our friends.
• Sonic in Fredericksburg
• Cheap hotel (in Fredericksburg) with a pool !

So basically we go down early Saturday morning and stay until very early Monday morning coming back early to beat the traffic.  This faire is one of Harold's favorites.  It's in the woods but has clearings to watch the clouds.  Michelob Ultra is on tap at the pub.  It's a fun atmosphere but never too crowded.

As time has progressed - as has the Parkinsons - Jon and I have to make careful choices about where we go and what we do.  Airline travel is no longer an option.  Very long distances in a car isn't much better.  However, knowing we have a hotel to go back to and just relax helps set his mind at ease.  We've also learned that even if we're only somewhere for a couple of hours, the fact that we came at all counts.

Harold's been complaining that I've promised him a cruise for a few years.  With my work schedule (no backup for my job), taking a full week off work isn't possible.  The only cruises out of Baltimore are 7 or 9 day ones.  He keeps reminding me that I've paid my dues and I deserve an entire week off.  I keep reminding him that beer is NOT free.

....and he says "but the sunsets and sunrises ARE - as are the memories you need to savor NOW while everyone can still go.

all 3 of us apparently - 4 if we schlep The Divine Ms Em along.  If I get tired, she can go barhopping with Harold ... but with them two I'm keeping the camera safely with me. 

the photo above is from VARF from 2009 I believe.  Yes it's the sign signifying the pub - as if I couldn't smell Mich Ultra a mile away :)

As promised: Photos

The day was absolutely gorgeous - bright blue skies with big puffy clouds

And VERY sunny.  I have the sunburn to prove it.

Of course there was beer.  Harold wanted more but at $8.00 a glass I limited him to 3.

But look - we had Nachos ala Hard Times Cafe.  Of course we gobbled before I got the photo taken.

Once more the lovely puffy white clouds.  It was a beautiful day with loud music, beer, and a good friend.  What more could you possibly ask for?

all photos were taken 05/21/11 at the DC101 Chili Cookoff at RFK in DC.

I took Harold to DC Saturday

Actually Em and I took Harold to DC Saturday though I doubt Em noticed him.  *I* did though.  With every photo, every song, every OMG are they really wearing *that*? Harold was there.

The chili was interesting.  It's funny when they advertise hot and I'm thinking I'd feed it to a toddler.  In fact I raised Robert on spicy fare so he'd be thinking the same thing.  Cute names though.  I wish I would have wrote them down or taken more photos.

Photos which I'm still waiting to upload from my IPhone.  The service here in the building is as bad as it was there - well almost.  The signal down at RFK was non-existant most times.  That means I missed all the Yep We're Still Here facebook messages.

Music:  fun to hear music which I'm not that familiar.  I've not ventured into the genre of alternative rock but the two bands that stood out for me were Papa Roach and Weezer.  Weezer was just rock with interesting lyrics - very interesting at times.  Papa Roach brought back memories of  early KISS.  A little rough, a little tough, but still oddly enjoyable.

However, Harold wants to know just when boots with short short SHORT shorts came into play?  I swear he snarked in my ear all afternoon...and of course he whined because I only fed him 3 beers but at $8.00 a pop too bad my picky snarky muse that is IT.  I mollified him with a shockingly good Pinot Grigio later in the day.

Then he laughed at me all the way while I struggled up the stairs and thanked the dieties that I had put on a patch that morning forgoing the cigarettes.  Good thing too:  I wouldn't have had the breathe to climb those stairs and hills and walking oh my.

My butt feels like it was paddled but in true Harold tradition "Not in the way you wanted".  HA

Photos later - with the signal in this building probably MUCH later.

Many thanks to The Divine Ms Em for schlepping me - ok US - along.

and not laughing when we simply HAD to have the fritoh chili pie - you can take the chick out of redneckville but apparently you can't remove the redneck from the chick - not entirely anyway.

Blogs and Blogs and more Blogs

That car still tickles me.  My how the times have changed.  This was in 2008 when there wasn't a weekend where we weren't doing *something* - usually pirate related.

Harold misses the pirate adventures.  *shhh* but I really think he misses the beer the most.

I look back and realize I've not taken any photos to amount to in a couple of years.  I blame the Celexa.  Sadly anti-depressants often depress the muse.  Poor Harold.  He was chuckling at Bruno's strategic use of Pussy in the last DWTS.  Music always brings him out and about.

....and Saturday he will get his fill.  Em and I are going to the DC101 Chili Cookoff.  Whoa?  not pirate themed?  nope - just fun and music and beer.

Better remember my camera.

Memorial Day Weekend, I'm taking him down for our annual voyage to The Virginia Renaissance Festival.  It's more user friendly for Jon if a bit more of a drive.  If I ever get my Picasa account up and running, I'll move my photos there.  It seems like everytime we get comfy somewhere online, something odd happens:  denial of service attacks, online photo storage being closed, or just overtaken by events.

On a side note, I've tried to start a Parkinson's blog and it's just too depressing.  Harold's solution?  More Beer !!!