Posted by Destructo on January 08, 2009 at 01:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
Posted by Destructo on December 29, 2008 at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
So, I get talked into joining my sister-in-law's family secret santa deal. She has about a million cousins who mostly live in Canada. She tells me that it is an "economic downturn" version this year and that the limit is $20.00 (U.S.). I think, what the heck. One of the cousins uses this website to generate secret santas and we all get a super secret e-mail from the generator-thingy. Of course, the generator-thingy doesn't give me a secret santa gift recipient and I soon realize that I'm the only person who doesn't have one. After two more tries [and about 200 e-mails between the cousins that I'm "cc'ed" on] I finally get assigned a person. We then all get a bunch of e-mails telling us to send in our list of 3 items we would like our secret santa to give us. I get harassed a couple of times because mine isn't in the right format. Finally, I get it right. [I'm not even talking about the difficulties in coming up with 3 potential gifts that are under $20.00 in value that aren't just gift cards.] The compiled wish list is distributed and I link up my person with what she wants. I see that she wants a particular book so I order it online with Amazon and get free shipping. Because I saved a couple of dollars on the shipping, I throw in some giftwrap to be Santa-like. Phew....I did my part. Now all I have to do is wait for my secret santa gift to come in the mail. Sort of exciting. What will it be? [I was hoping it would be the t-shirt that says "Boring" instead of "Nascar" in the typeface and colors of the Nascar symbol.] This morning I'm over at my brother and sister-in-law's house visiting my little niece before she goes to day care. My sister-in-law leans over and says, "Oh yeah....I'm your secret santa." Hmmmmmmmm. Then she tells me that she's going to "combine" my present. .....what?..... Wait a minute.....I'm not getting anything in the mail and I'm getting some sort of "combined" present? That sounds an awful lot like an unfortunate kid who has his or her birthday on the same day as Christmas. [Yes, shout out to you Mark and Toyia.] I also believe that to be a BLATANT VIOLATION OF THE SECRET SANTA CODE BOOK! First, you do not tell someone that you are their secret santa until AFTER you give them the secret santa gift. Second, you do not take advantage of the secret santa deal and thwart your secret santa duties just because you happened to pick someone who lives down the street from you. I had to send my gift to Chicago for Christ's sake..... Finally, what you're basically saying is that I GET NO SECRET SANTA GIFT this year. I go through all of that e-mail hell to receive....nothing. Why couldn't I have got one of the cousins? They would never have pulled this crap. I've been totally gypped. ARRGGHHHHHH.
Posted by Destructo on December 19, 2008 at 05:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
1. There is nothing better in the world than getting a hug from a little kid who loves you. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the kid in question (my niece Hannah) is the most wonderful, brilliant, beautiful child in the whole world and everything she does demonstrates her genius-level intelligence. 2. Exit 208 off the 10 Freeway has the cheapest gas between Phoenix and Tucson. I don't know why this happens but the "Pride" station and the "Flying J" seem to compete with each other at that exit. It is noteworthy that both are real-life truck stops and that the "Flying J" apparently has some type of queue for the shower because they are always making announcements about certain showers being available. 3. It is a mistake to think that Dillinger Days might be better this time if you drink some Bloody Marys during the show. If I hadn't gone with Terri Kessler and had a few drinks, I wouldn't have been able to laugh off the inappropriate breast-grab I got when we took a picture with one of the actors. [Dillinger Days is an event where the citizens of Tucson re-enact the capture of John Dillinger in their town...I'm serious.] 4. I'm pretty tough. I can do a lot more pushups and sittups than I ever thought I could. I can also do way more stuff than most pro baseball players. I know....that's not saying much. [Did you see how fat the Phillies were that year they won the series? Yeesh. The only exception that I know to this observation is Kyle Rogers. Granted, he's the only pro baseball player I know well enough to be able to call my friend and he is in awesome shape and could kick my butt from here to Sunday. Fortunately he hasn't done that yet....Oh yeah...he could also knock my head off with a pitch. Thanks for allowing me to live Kyle.] 5. Renting an apartment in Phoenix is much more expensive than commuting between Tucson to Phoenix. I also missed my Tucson house too much. 6. A lot of old people go to Coldplay concerts. Me not included, of course....because I'm really young still. 7. My family is pretty cool. I marvel at how my parents put up with me and my eclectic thinking as I grew up. I don't know if I would have been as tolerant. I know there was a lot of head shaking at that time. I mean....what possessed me to decide to go to West Point? It hasn't stopped as I've gotten older either. I'm still doing bizarre things like quitting my job and moving out to the desert. These poor people have put up with a lot and I love them for it. 8. Never feed a cat that comes to visit your house unless you plan to commit to feeding that cat for the rest of your life. Also, the cat's little orange face will peer into your bedroom window in the morning if you forget to fill its food bowl. 9. My windshield is a rock magnet. I've been hit by at least 5 rocks and have cracks all over the thing. I'm going with the theory that its the car and not me. Fortunately I took USAA's offer for a no-deductible windshield replacement insurance option. 10. I have a good life. This is a repeat from last year's lessons but its true again. I'm fortunate to have good friends who put up with my weirdness, accept all of my lengthy e-mails and rants and who smile and nod at what I consider funny. I'm definitely blessed. Thank you.
Posted by Destructo on December 19, 2008 at 05:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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