Atlanta
Well, I've still found no reason to like Atlanta.
To be fair, I'm actually in Peachtree City for training. But my drive through the city was less than stellar. I was on track to make it here in a little over 4 hours when I hit a traffic jam downtown.
Make that 6 hours to get here.
More later.
Tuesday, June 21
Tuesday, June 14
I went to Showmars to pick up some lunch the other day. There was a lucite collection box on the counter next to the register. It said that an employee there and his wife were expecting their baby July 15th, but the baby was born June 11th, and passed. They were taking up a collection to pay for the hospital bills.
It struck me as so, so sad that I almost cried right there. Can you imagine the pain, the horror, of waiting so long for that little tiny life inside you to arrive and to be with you and a part of your family? Making happy preparations, setting up a nursery, buying baby clothes, well-wishes from family and friends... And then having all that destroyed so quickly? And THEN still having to pay for the hospital bills. No small bundle of joy to bring home from the hospital. Nothing but hurt and tears and stitches and scars. And then not having enough money to pay for all that pain.
I gave them $1.11, because that's all I had left.
It struck me as so, so sad that I almost cried right there. Can you imagine the pain, the horror, of waiting so long for that little tiny life inside you to arrive and to be with you and a part of your family? Making happy preparations, setting up a nursery, buying baby clothes, well-wishes from family and friends... And then having all that destroyed so quickly? And THEN still having to pay for the hospital bills. No small bundle of joy to bring home from the hospital. Nothing but hurt and tears and stitches and scars. And then not having enough money to pay for all that pain.
I gave them $1.11, because that's all I had left.
Thursday, June 9
Things I hate about people # 42+E(8):
People who wear flip-flops as shoes on the way to work.
People who can't pick up their feet while they're walking to work wearing flip-flops.
All the way to work they walk behind me... Half a mile of --scutch--scutch--scutch--scutch--
People who think they're better than everyone else. (Ironically enough.)
I realized yesterday I don't actually hate people as much as I purport. The weird thing was how this occurred to me. I was watching people walking in front of me as I was going back to work with my lunch food. People of all shapes and sizes. Women, men. Nice looking casual-business friendly people. No one that was annoying or snooty or stupid. General, unassuming public. It was actually kind of nice. And I realized that's the majority of the people I encounter every day. And then I happened to notice the panty lines on a woman who was sort of middle-age-ish, but not unattractive. And I realized, I like the kind of women who bother to wear underwear, especially the kind of underwear that they could care less if everyone sees them, and not because they're particularly sexy. My mother used to say, "They're clean and they're paid for." That's about all that matters.
Then I got to thinking what should bother people and what shouldn't, and what you should care about other people thinking about you, and what just doesn't matter.
Things I can't stand that people do:
putting on makeup/brushing hair in public
looking at themselves in every reflective surface they pass
complaining about their food in restaurants (especially when it's excessive)
rudeness to service-people
nearly running over people crossing the street
stealing parking spaces
cutting people off in traffic
vandalism in all forms, even as little as picking at corners of signs
littering anywhere
smoking with no regard for others
Things that are important to me, or actions that I like when I see them:
most are personality/character traits (blah, blah, blah)
manners
positive dispositions
emotional strength (but not too stoic)
kindness to animals
overtipping servers
holding doors
giving up seats to women or old people
letting the women off the elevator first
pulling the car to the side of the road for a funeral procession
smiling at strangers
saying "thank you" to bus drivers
letting cars into traffic
Also, I was in the "mall" area of my work building today, and there was a boy who was separated from his parents. He was walking around sort of whimpering the way kids do when they feel like they may be lost. In front of me was a young business man, who if you didn't know any better you would think wouldn't care about what was going on in front of him. But as he was passing he slowed down to watch, and took an interest in seeing what was going on with that scared little kid. When he finally saw the kid's dad come out of the store and bring him back in, he turned around and went on his way. But I was touched by his interest.
Unfortunately though, in this day and age, I was struck by the momentary flash of "pedophile," but I like to think I live in not so nearly a cynical world as all that.
People who wear flip-flops as shoes on the way to work.
People who can't pick up their feet while they're walking to work wearing flip-flops.
All the way to work they walk behind me... Half a mile of --scutch--scutch--scutch--scutch--
People who think they're better than everyone else. (Ironically enough.)
I realized yesterday I don't actually hate people as much as I purport. The weird thing was how this occurred to me. I was watching people walking in front of me as I was going back to work with my lunch food. People of all shapes and sizes. Women, men. Nice looking casual-business friendly people. No one that was annoying or snooty or stupid. General, unassuming public. It was actually kind of nice. And I realized that's the majority of the people I encounter every day. And then I happened to notice the panty lines on a woman who was sort of middle-age-ish, but not unattractive. And I realized, I like the kind of women who bother to wear underwear, especially the kind of underwear that they could care less if everyone sees them, and not because they're particularly sexy. My mother used to say, "They're clean and they're paid for." That's about all that matters.
Then I got to thinking what should bother people and what shouldn't, and what you should care about other people thinking about you, and what just doesn't matter.
Things I can't stand that people do:
putting on makeup/brushing hair in public
looking at themselves in every reflective surface they pass
complaining about their food in restaurants (especially when it's excessive)
rudeness to service-people
nearly running over people crossing the street
stealing parking spaces
cutting people off in traffic
vandalism in all forms, even as little as picking at corners of signs
littering anywhere
smoking with no regard for others
Things that are important to me, or actions that I like when I see them:
most are personality/character traits (blah, blah, blah)
manners
positive dispositions
emotional strength (but not too stoic)
kindness to animals
overtipping servers
holding doors
giving up seats to women or old people
letting the women off the elevator first
pulling the car to the side of the road for a funeral procession
smiling at strangers
saying "thank you" to bus drivers
letting cars into traffic
Also, I was in the "mall" area of my work building today, and there was a boy who was separated from his parents. He was walking around sort of whimpering the way kids do when they feel like they may be lost. In front of me was a young business man, who if you didn't know any better you would think wouldn't care about what was going on in front of him. But as he was passing he slowed down to watch, and took an interest in seeing what was going on with that scared little kid. When he finally saw the kid's dad come out of the store and bring him back in, he turned around and went on his way. But I was touched by his interest.
Unfortunately though, in this day and age, I was struck by the momentary flash of "pedophile," but I like to think I live in not so nearly a cynical world as all that.
Tuesday, June 7
Bizarro dream du jour...
Craig and I drove up to a strip mall that looked much like the one where I used to work in Raleigh. He got out to go to the grocery store. I got out of the car to wait for him, and I realized that Kevin Smith was filming "Clerks 2" there. Kevin came out of the storefront and I realized I had a question I wanted to ask him. He looked a little different, because he was dressed in his Silent Bob clothes, and he looked like a live version of the Clerks cartoon Silent Bob. I couldn't remember the actual question I was going to ask him, so I went and said hello anyway. Then I told him that Craig and I were really interested in knowing when he was going to film the shots with Jason Lee in them. He pulled a photocopied schedule out of his pocket and looked it over, then showed it to me. On it were a list of cities and dates. He circled a handful of them and said those were the ones. I asked him if I could have a copy, and he said no, he couldn't give it to me; I would just have to remember it. The only cities I remember were a bunch in California, and Toledo OH. I thanked him and went to find Craig.
I don't really remember much else out of that dream except that somewhere in it, Darren Millard tried to get me to cheat on Craig with him, but I wouldn't do it.
Craig and I drove up to a strip mall that looked much like the one where I used to work in Raleigh. He got out to go to the grocery store. I got out of the car to wait for him, and I realized that Kevin Smith was filming "Clerks 2" there. Kevin came out of the storefront and I realized I had a question I wanted to ask him. He looked a little different, because he was dressed in his Silent Bob clothes, and he looked like a live version of the Clerks cartoon Silent Bob. I couldn't remember the actual question I was going to ask him, so I went and said hello anyway. Then I told him that Craig and I were really interested in knowing when he was going to film the shots with Jason Lee in them. He pulled a photocopied schedule out of his pocket and looked it over, then showed it to me. On it were a list of cities and dates. He circled a handful of them and said those were the ones. I asked him if I could have a copy, and he said no, he couldn't give it to me; I would just have to remember it. The only cities I remember were a bunch in California, and Toledo OH. I thanked him and went to find Craig.
I don't really remember much else out of that dream except that somewhere in it, Darren Millard tried to get me to cheat on Craig with him, but I wouldn't do it.
Monday, June 6
Well, Craig has to work this Friday and Saturday, when his acutal birthday is, so I decided to take him somewhere this weekend.
The only place I could safely do given the time frame was within 5 hours or less, so I picked something like the place I used to live. (At least I'd know where to go and what to do.)
We did get to see things I hadn't before. We went to the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, which I hadn't been to because they completed their renovations in 2000, and I lived in Charlotte by then. We also went to the NC Museum of Art, which I'd been to, but of course there's always new exhibits.
First of all, Hampton Inn (at least the one we stayed in) is now amazingly great for the price. I've never stayed at such a nice place that wasn't an actual HOTEL. They've gotten some kind of new marketing people, so all their items are "styled" and modern. Great amenities, great service, and reasonably priced! Lots of nice little touches, like a lap desk, a microwave, a fridge, hair dryer, iron, good smelling toiletries, big soft pillows, shower curtain that bows out to give you more room in the shower, and a free hot breakfast every morning. I highly recommend them.
We ate at Denny's for breakfast the first day, because we missed the hotel breakfast serving time. So here's some pics I took while I was waiting for our food.
Then we went to the museum. I've never seen a place that uses trompe l'oeil so effectively. (The pictures on their website really don't do it justice...) They have these great rooms that are made to look like various areas of NC, like the coastal plains, and the piedmont forests, and the mountains, complete with stuffed animals and models of plant life. They're really beautiful and amazing and lifelike.
They have some excellent dinosaur skeletons, including this head that you can touch.
There's a pretty solarium that has some giant dino models with fake pterodactyls flying around the ceiling.
Craig loves teh dinos:
They also have this amazing tunnel thing that's made to look like those tubes at the aquarium that you can walk through, and the sharks swim overhead. Except this is filled with FAKE prehistoric creatures, and NO water!!! You'd never know it just to look at it and walk in there. I wish the pictures did it justice.
The last place was the Arthropod Zoo, which is just like what it sounds. I took this one picture for my (little) sister because she loves ladybugs.
And that's about it. I didn't take any pictures at the art museum today, because they don't really let you. But it was really cool to have a different person's perspective on things. Craig pointed out some things he noticed that I never would have on my own. It was tons of fun.
Then we were both exhausted, so we came home. :)
The only place I could safely do given the time frame was within 5 hours or less, so I picked something like the place I used to live. (At least I'd know where to go and what to do.)
We did get to see things I hadn't before. We went to the NC Museum of Natural Sciences, which I hadn't been to because they completed their renovations in 2000, and I lived in Charlotte by then. We also went to the NC Museum of Art, which I'd been to, but of course there's always new exhibits.
First of all, Hampton Inn (at least the one we stayed in) is now amazingly great for the price. I've never stayed at such a nice place that wasn't an actual HOTEL. They've gotten some kind of new marketing people, so all their items are "styled" and modern. Great amenities, great service, and reasonably priced! Lots of nice little touches, like a lap desk, a microwave, a fridge, hair dryer, iron, good smelling toiletries, big soft pillows, shower curtain that bows out to give you more room in the shower, and a free hot breakfast every morning. I highly recommend them.
We ate at Denny's for breakfast the first day, because we missed the hotel breakfast serving time. So here's some pics I took while I was waiting for our food.
Then we went to the museum. I've never seen a place that uses trompe l'oeil so effectively. (The pictures on their website really don't do it justice...) They have these great rooms that are made to look like various areas of NC, like the coastal plains, and the piedmont forests, and the mountains, complete with stuffed animals and models of plant life. They're really beautiful and amazing and lifelike.
They have some excellent dinosaur skeletons, including this head that you can touch.
There's a pretty solarium that has some giant dino models with fake pterodactyls flying around the ceiling.
Craig loves teh dinos:
They also have this amazing tunnel thing that's made to look like those tubes at the aquarium that you can walk through, and the sharks swim overhead. Except this is filled with FAKE prehistoric creatures, and NO water!!! You'd never know it just to look at it and walk in there. I wish the pictures did it justice.
The last place was the Arthropod Zoo, which is just like what it sounds. I took this one picture for my (little) sister because she loves ladybugs.
And that's about it. I didn't take any pictures at the art museum today, because they don't really let you. But it was really cool to have a different person's perspective on things. Craig pointed out some things he noticed that I never would have on my own. It was tons of fun.
Then we were both exhausted, so we came home. :)
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