Gimme Something On A Stick

I am running out of patience. It's time to get to the state fair asap.

Between the blogs, stories, newscasts and people talking about food - I'm about to go crazy. I'm also thinking about actually stepping up and trying the "ejector seat" ride. Maybe I'm crazy, but that ought to get my blood going. I should probably do that on an empty stomach. The plan is to head there on Sunday - but the forecast is dreary and that's no fun! I just hope weather people are as wrong as they often are.

In other news, camping last weekend was awesome. Pitched the tent, started a fire, slept outside, climbed some rocks, and then drove to Webster, WI to have fun at a cabin on the lake with a bunch of Nancy's co-workers. Went to arguably the most authentic dive bar I've seen, right in the middle of a trailer park. The bartender reminded me of one of Marge Simpson's sisters, and she kept smiling at me funny. It felt weird, especially after I had a shot that I think tasted worse than vomit. There was no molesting to speak of however - thank god - and Nancy and I returned to the cities on Sunday.

Ouch

Would you like to cringe? Just take a look at my foot.

My pinkie toe is in tough shape. A fat man wearing spikes crushed it on Sunday morning in my soccer game. His foot tore through the skin on my toe, badly bruised the bone, and the incident has left my digit swollen and looking rather raw. Though my legs work perfectly well, it's causing me to badly limp because pain shoots through my leg everytime my pinkie toe lightly touches the inside of my shoes. I've caught two people already looking weird at me trying to figure out why I'm walking funny.

Anyone know any good tips to help heal raw skin and avoid pain? For now, my toe is wrapped in gauze and hopefully slowly healing. I'd love to wear sandals at work to avoid this torture everytime I stand up and move, but I don't want to turn into one of those scrubbing looking employees at work. Maybe tomorrow I will succumb. I wish I had a bottle of whiskey at my office.

TGIF

It was a tough week on this project at work, and the weekend is finally here!

Tonight I am headed to the Twins game at the Metrodump with my father. It will be the first Twins game with my dad in a long time, and I really sometimes feel bad about how infrequently we go there together. I've always been very close to my father, and I've realized more over the past few years that the more I "grow up" the less time I spend with him. Until I graduated high school, I probably went to at least 30 college and pro games per year with him from the Gophers, Twins, Timberwolves, and more. I'm just going to try and soak in these chances a little more. They don't happen as often right now, so they're becoming even more special to me.

Chill pills, please

I probably would be scared to actually know how much time I waste every week thinking about sports.

I don't think that's changing - but something about my perspective is. Lately, when I overhear conversations from people talking Twins, Vikings, etc. I hear things like: "What the hell was Gardenhire thinking?" "Torii's hurt, why the hell is he playing?" "Why do we need Brad Johnson; We've got Tavaris Jackson!"

When this happens, I shutter when hearing some people's opinions and feel like I'm being stabbed by a pitchfork every time I hear them. What makes these people think they're experts? Why should they be calling the shots? Geez people, settle down.

Fort Snelling G.C.

I finally made it out to play a few holes on Tuesday. Only my second or third round out in the last months - and god knows it was a rough one. It's a tiny little thing - and tucked in the middle of many dilapidated buildings of what used to protect the Upper Mississippi area at Fort Snelling. The constant buzz of airplanes made it interesting too, since a long drive on the first hole might reach one of the runways at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Ha - I found a security loophole!

My roommate and I took our first hacks. With virtually no warm-up, my first swing sent the ball way right and would have definitely hit another group had a group of trees not stopped it. We struggled for to score very well, but it was cool to take a look at these historic and seemingly abandoned buildings that were largely boarded up, with broken doors, windows, etc. It will be a shame if they never fix up this place.

The round cost us a measly $12, and we didn't need a tee time. Granted - as the barechested and hairy golfer a few holes ahead of us proved, golf ettiqutte is not necessary. It was relatively flat - and if you can ignore the roar of an airplane landing or taking off, I'd suggest trying to play there sometime. It's definitely a good place to learn how to play. After four holes, we joined with a executive compensation lawyer in his 30's who's just learning how to play and he's swing reminded me of a certain accountant I know. I'm pretty sure even $500 worth of lessons and countless hours of practice on the driving range might not be enough to get this guy a handicap under 30.

With the way I played, I shouldn't talk -- $500 might not do me any good either.

I am not rich

For the first time since I was making a $5 allowance, I am finally regularly saving money.

Having jumping amounts of two-week salary amounts (from holding numerous jobs over the last year) has made it tricky to fall into a groove, but I'm finally getting on track. Every two weeks, I kick a little cash over and it's great now to actually feel like I'm not 10 days away from being broke.

I still haven't plenty of school loans to take care of - but I feel there's no rush to pay them off with my interest rates being acceptable. I'm not looking to spend cash extravagantly either and morph into one of those people who live their lives going further and further in debt (like some relatives of mine) without ever saving a dime. But fear not, a big fun purchase is coming -- and I'm thinking it's one of these.

The day is coming - I can't wait. Got any better ideas?