This is either the first day of the rest of my life, or another day of waiting for "the paperwork to go through" so I can move on to my next job.

My money's on #2.

Happy Monday, everyone!

In other news, I see VH1 is recycling their reality stars. Daisy (loser in 2nd season of Rock of Love) has "12-Pack" in her stable of dates-to-be.

Was Frank busy?

Four months ago, I went on this new assignment; one of the reasons I left was to distance myself from my old boss. New assignment was not what they said it would be, and so I plunged into the depths of hell.
Three months ago, a couple of people who were doing my old job decided to complain about my old boss to HIS boss. Nothing happened to him, in fact, he got promoted. So two of them left the company and a third was transferred. And they're putting me on his new team.

I don't know whether to be happy or sad. But as my wife put it, at least I'm employed.

This morning started out OK. I was actually ahead of schedule, so I stopped into a Kinkos to make a few resume copies.

That turned out to be a near-disaster. The nearest spot was right in front, so I made a quick turn, but not at a sharp enough angle. So I stop, and start to back up.

A LOOOOOOOOOOud horn comes from behind. The guy in the SUV behind me, probably still jacked up from the INDY500/NASCAR weekend, hits the horn again, drives about 5 feet, and gives me the old one-finger salute, followed by a short sentence that rhymes with "Look at my oversized ethyl-sucking truck". As I look beyond his cleverly formed digit sculpture, it dawns on me that this child of God probably doesn't have much happiness in life, so I decline to return his salute. He SPEEDS off like they just waved a green flag, probably looking for another car to collide with.

I still made it to work in time. Meetings, problems, discussions, posturings, all the crapola that I get paid to do, happens. I stop to make small talk with one manager, and I ask an innocent enough question, "So how was your weekend?" Turns out she spent the weekend recovering from surgery. Oops.

But as I'm walking out the door, I see my boss walking out the same door. We make pleasant enough small talk, although I find myself choosing my answers carefully, like I'm afraid I'm going to get marked off for failing small talk.

It is pretty bad when the one thing keeping me in this job for the next six weeks is the vacation I already have scheduled for early July. I want my biggest decision that week to be whether to stop in NYC or just wave at it from the Tappan Zee Bridge as I head to Boston.

So how was your weekend?

American Idol is over (or over with) until January. Some interesting cameos tonight. Some major mistakes that they just HAD to redo (it's called a bikini, Ryan. Lots of girls wear them. Some of them, well.)

Weird day today. Spent way too much time listening to people ramble on. Then when I rushed back to the office, I saw a car. On its side. On 395 south, just before rush hour. Not a good sign. A better sign than the day on the Metro, when I looked up from my book to see the handle of a gun, perhaps two feet from my nose.

Forgive me for neglecting you, O LJ. I have not yet given into Twitter, and I need to back away from Facebook for a while.

Not sure how far back it was, when I lamented that I made the enormous mistake of associating a classic rock song with an unrequited love.

It was 1979, she was 14, and so was I. The song was "All My Love" by Led Zeppelin.

Now anyone who listens to "classic rock" stations knows that "All My Love" is one of those songs that shows up in the rotation a bit. Not as much as Freebird or A Brick in the Wall, but enough.

Anyway, our class had a get together last weekend, and there she was - 30 years later. Married, 4 rugrats, but still standing there. And yes, sports fans, I had my first conversation with her in 30 years.

And it went well.

I can't wait for our next chat in 2039!

Ah, closure.

Current Music: "All My Love" by Led Zeppelin, backwards!

Disadvantage #146 of being an adult: You have to be under 12 years old (and under 5 feet) to use a slip and slide.

On a day like today, that's a disadvantage. What was it, 96 out?

Pollen's everywhere. But, I did get to grill twice this weekend. Burgers yesterday, and chicken souvlaki tonight.

And I'm not dreading work as much - apparently, changes are happening above me, and so I might be moving earlier than expected. More to come!

Yesterday was "another one of those days" at work. I posted some rather graphic observations about my boss and coworkers, but took it down almost immediately.

Truth is, I'm stuck here through early July, if for no other reason than it would be tough telling a new boss that I'm taking leave on both Memorial Day weekend and 4th of July.

So, I'll grin and bear it. And give her the teeny tiny report she wants, in EXACTLY the way she wants it, as I put my brain in cold storage.

Reality TV's taken a turn for the worse, so I'm going to fire up the HBO/Skinemax package for a month (free 30 days) and see if they can do any better.

Gotta go - the kids are doing sleepovers tonight, so me and the missus get the house to ourselves.

Kick off your shoes and sit right down...
Loosen up that pretty French gown...
Let me pour you a good long drink...
OOH baby don't you hesitate...

Cheesy, I know, but, why not?

Current Music: Rod Stewart, Tonight's the Night

I'm not sure if this would be funny or just sad...

My HS reunion is the same day as the NORML Worldwide Marijuana Day march in DC. I should drop by the rally, then head out to the reunion, just so I'd have more to talk to people about than "job..." "kids..." "remember when..." "you really don't look any older, save the grey and the wrinkles..."

My track teammates would be surprised anyway. I was pretty straight-laced back then.

Last day of work for a couple of days. Time to throw the kids in the car, and brave the perils of the interstate highway system, for a couple of days worth of visiting the 'rents.

No more walking by that too-big poster of a half-naked Leann Rimes, advertising some Lifetime movie I'll never watch. (Please, people - the look on her face on the poster is more, "Help me!" than come hither).

So, Happy Easter, Passover, or whatever holiday you care to celebrate. Yep, just enjoy Sunday supper, then gather the kiddies and the grownups together 'round the family widescreen to find out if the ancient rocker is going to pick the Penthouse Pet (or the other one) to win his heart. Kudos to VH1 for making Easter extra special this year!

One of my daughter's friends came back with tales of an American Girl store in NYC. Somehow, tonight's dinner conversation turned into, "Can we go?"

Let me think. Weather's still crappy. The location it's in is 5th Avenue (ka-ching!) Nowhere near the trains, and I imagine there's not too much parking.

Then let's talk about what you spend INSIDE.

Finally, I can't imagine we'd go all the way from DC to NYC, and turn around and come back that day. So it's "Let's find a room less than $200, on two days' notice, that's closer than Scranton."

I want do NYC sometime. Just not that way.

NY'ers, help me here. If I end up schlepping the wife and kids up there this year, is there a place with cold beer and ESPN within 6 blocks of that place so I can sit while they pour tea?