heights

Weekend Update: We're so cool, we go out to all of the places

Walking back from bumping bar Royal Oak Bar and Grille last night, I said to J "we don't ever go out...is this all because you are leaving." He said yes and no, a little yes because he is leaving and a little just because there are a lot of people in town this week. Thursday evening we went to Hugo's on Westheimer, known for it's cricket dish and bangin' margaritas. The group was comprised of Gonzalo, Kyle (a friend from college), Sara (a friend from Hess), Aaron (a friend from Hess and former roommate), myself and J. It was an odd mix, especially at a place that encourages plate sharing. It went well though and everyone seemed to get along. I had to go home after dinner for Family Conference Call, but I hear that the party moved on to J's house where hours of dominoes were played (so this is an ATM thing?).

Friday night, a friend from my work invited J and I to go to Underbelly, another highly rated Montrose area restaurant. My friend knows one of the bartenders, so we had the privilege of receiving special treatment, including a gratis plate of charcuterie. Afterward, J and I went to Interstellar - which is THREE hours long. In my opinion a lot of the movie was been there done that kind of stuff, but J loved it. I fell asleep about hour 1.5, but J poked me in the ribs until I woke back up and was able to finish the (long) movie.

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Saturday, J and I had set aside to go to his cousin's wedding. So, we packed up and headed out toward Lufkin. We were about 1.5 hours into our trip when J thought to call his mom to get the exact venue location.

...

Well, turns out the wedding was actually four hours in the opposite direction and J had gotten confused on city names. So we turned around and went back home. I made J take me to the Galleria, because I wanted to go somewhere in my pretty dress.

Sunday we met up with some of J's colleagues at a bar called Anvil in Montrose. I learned that not all engineers are as fun and sociable as J is. Also, no amount of money makes an awkward guy less scared of women, but he'll spend all of his money on fancy cars and clothes to try to compensate.

After all of this we were both super done and J dropped me off.

It was a great, busy weekend.

Weekend update: It's just a can opener

Can or Can't Opener Sunday I kept my word and met up with a group from my church to play soccer.

Nothing makes me realize how unfit I am like praying that I was chosen for the the Shirts team in Shirt versus Skins and then trying to hide astonishment at the chiseled ab-ness of some of my fellow parishioners (there's something hot and unholy about that).

While huffing and puffing up and down the small soccer field, I started doing what any cake-loving kid would do and began dreaming of the meal that I would eat later that evening. Of course, it was going to be healthy. A lean protein like fish or shrimp.

After it got too dark to play, Aggie and I drove to the HEB to pick up some food stuff. I've heard before that you shouldn't go grocery shopping hungry or after a workout and I understand why. Everything looked like a flipping jelly doughnut. And I was wanton for a jelly doughnut, you-know-what-I'm-sayin. Anyway, I got this crazy idea as I walked into the store that I would make my meal for less that $10. Activate anxiety. Activate Mission Impossible music.

I'll buzz through the shopping part as it wasn't exciting. I settled on shrimp (to be turned into baked coconut shrimp), rice and fiesta bean salad blend in a can.

I was at J's place doing laundry, so I knew that I was limited in my cooking tools. I knew that he didn't have a can opener. That's a lie. He has an electric can opener and I've battled that thing before and decided that I wasn't up for fight it tonight.

So, I bought a $2 manual can opener.

I brought my bounty to the shortest checkout line (for once in my life I was able to stand in the 15 items and under line). The cashier's look screamed, "I play Dungeons and Dragons, wear ironic graphic boxers and live with my mother." You know, male, low pony tale with hair parted straight down the middle and small glasses. Looks like he might program software in his downtime.

I finally got up to the front of the line and the guy began checking out my stuff - er, groceries. As he comes upon my can opener, he says "oh this won't do."

I returned a small, strained laugh.

"Yea, I know."

It was a piece of shit-can-opener. I was well aware. The type of can opener that you through against the wall after you mangle a can lid into a murder weapon. If you're laughing, you've been there. We all have.

It was this can opener or the $15 KitchenAid. And that shit would have blown my budget. And (of course) I've got my KitchenAid can opener at my house.

"I mean," he said, "I used to work in a restaurant and I had this boss that every two weeks would buy me a new can opener (what the heck is ponytail guy doing with can openers?). And this just won't work. It won't last."

"I just need it to open one can," I said, realizing that I had boob sweat stain prominent on my University Democrats shirt. A thrill, I'm sure.

"Oh, it'll do that for sure. Probably 20 cans. But not much more than that."

"That's fine," I said. Paid and carried out my shrimp, other stuff, and less-than can opener.

Thanks for your concern HEB guy.

Other Stuff This Weekend

J was out of town in Chicago with his sister. She was in charge of planning the trip and did not invite me. Okay. I see how it is.

I had a church leadership retreat Friday and Saturday. Came home carsick as all get out Saturday and slept until Sarah Neill (who was watching Aggie) knocked on my door and woke me up (and the litttle dog jumped on my bed and really woke me up).

Sunday I had church and gardened. And then played soccer and did laundry at Jarrod's place. It wasn't until hours into my laundry doing that I realized that the heat on the dryer was turned to low and finally understood why my clothes wouldn't dry.

Water under the sink

Ever wake up with an "it's going to rain today" headache? That was me this morning. I've been trying out this new alarm SpinMe, which requires that I get out of bed and spin around twice to make it stop making noise. It's meant for people who have trouble getting up in the morning. Like me.

Anyway,  so I was off to a good start. I was up so early, in fact, that I had time to clean up the kitchen a  bit before GoTime.

So I went under my sink to grab a scrubby sponge to clean off the stove. And discovered the bin that I store my cleaners in was filled with brown water. Yep. The same bin that was filled with brown water last week when I called Ye Old Landlord.

And that's the same sink that she texted me about last week and said was an "easy-peasy" fix when the plumber came out.

Not so easy peasy. It's still leaking. And now, the bucket overfloweth and I have a big mess.

So, I went from zero to 60 mad.

And J chose this time, this early morning, pissed off time to say,

"This is why I don't want to buy an old house."

Hanging with friends, helping out neighbors

J and I went out with my Flow-Cal colleagues tonight because the receptionist is leaving our office for greener pastures.

Over pizza, I got to talking to my friend about giving back. OK, I told her I was getting tired and needed to get some sleep because I was getting up early, but whatever, we got around to the topic.

She told  me that she was on a giving-back kick as a part of a self betterment thing she'd been doing since the New Year. I'd say seven months of success is pretty successful resolution, right? She said that every time she goes to the grocery store she does two things: she brings recyclable bags (because we waste so much plastic) and she picks up one of those pre-packaged Houston Food Bank bags. She said she figures that with the money she saves with her grocery loyalty card, the $7 or so it cost to buy the bag is negligible.

I was really moved by the conversation. I think what I came away with is that I can do something to help. Even when I'm busy or broke, helping people gives me worth and confidence and on some days, perspective.

Some friends and I (even J came!) had the opportunity this morning to give some time to the Heights (my hood!) Interfaith Ministries Food Pantry. They were celebrating their 50th year of serving the community and we were chosen (or I chose...) to man the clothing giveaway booth.

Performing this service was really neat. There's something about giving people the clothes that they will wear or the food that they will eat. There's something about giving without asking questions, about respecting someone's autonomy and dignity.

As time went on our piles of clothes would swell with donations, then shrink as people claimed items. But all throughout, some items, particularly some decade-defiant garments like the ones we're wearing in this picture, stayed behind. Why?  Well, I think I figured it out when four tween girls lept at the opportunity to bag a trendy lace top - people, all people, want to look good. They could have been shopping at the Galleria and it wouldn't have been any different. I think we'd all rather go naked than look like fools.

I remember one time seeing a Goodwill billboard that read, "donate what you'd want to buy." That's tough for me as I tend to want to hold onto my stuff with a death grip. And it's a tough call. But I can say that at the couple of places I've sorted clothes, we trash clothing with rips and stains. Also, just toss that old g-string and matching bra, really. Though I really do wish that I'd gotten a picture of my friend Dan wearing that blingy-bra. That woman was either drag queen, a stripper, or someone who really liked to dress up at home - the bag was full of similar items. It was like a 1994 Victoria Secret fire sale.

When we were unloading things from the storage unit today, we pulled out a car seat. Before we could wheel it over to the giveaway area, a young mother came up and asked if she could have it for her son. Yes, of course.  I can't know that woman's struggles, or why she needs assistance to buckle up her son, but I can be the one who puts that in her hands.

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You're never too old for a Daddy Story

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This weekend was a rare treat. Dad was in town because Shell deemed it necessary for him to man a booth at the Grand Prix. Because Dad came in town, Todd and Nick drove down from Baton Rouge on Saturday evening to spend the night. Bonnie and her boyfriend Kyle also drove in from Katy.

It's so good to be around old friends. Bonnie and I have been friends like junior high and she knows me an my family really well. When we were in high school she would come over for dinner for a meal cooked by Dad, so this Saturday wasn't much different.

Dad cooked his famous pizza with cracker crust. After we ate we sat around my apartment telling stories about growing up. I'm happy to share this time with Nick and Kyle because I think they get to know a side of their plus ones that maybe you don't get so much with newer friends. Also, I always love entertaining and filling the Norhill House with love.