Post One Hundred Thirty One: Dammit

Remember my post from yesterday? My flight out of Monroe was canceled about five minutes after I finished typing it. The perfect end to a perfect couple of days.

Regardless, instead of staying the night in glorious Monroe I quickly proceeded to Avis and rented a car one-way to Dallas. It's typically about a four and 1/2 hour trip but since it was a rental I made it back to Dallas in about 3 and 1/2. Drive it like you stole it, indeed.

Of course, once I got back to Dallas I had to go to the airport, return the rental, wait for the bus to take me to the terminal, then wait for another bus to take me to my parked car. I got home past midnight. Augh.

But I'm now at home with my family. I'm tired, but I'm home. All's good.

Post One Hundred Thirty: Here I Sit

I am wrapping up my trip to glorious Monroe, Louisiana, where I defended two of my clients' depositions in Katrina-related litigation. It has been a long two days.

I flew in yesterday morning only to have American Eagle lose my fucking bag. I was one of five people on the plane (and it was a prop-plane, not even a jet!), and I arrived at DFW airport at least an hour before my flight. Jesus, the flight was actually late leaving DFW and they still failed to get my bag on the G.D. plane.

Unbelievable.

Anyway, I have now completed the defense of two of my clients' depositions. At one point I was actually concerned that I would not make my 4:40 flight out of Monroe, Louisiana, particularly when the deposing attorney told me that she normally took the full seven hours allotted on these depositions (and she was kind of cute, by the way). But my clients were well-prepared and avoided the creation of rabbit-trails, so the depos moved right along. I made it to the airport in plenty of time, over an hour before the scheduled take-off.

Well, as I should have expected my flight has been delayed. Twice. It is now scheduled to ARRIVE in Monroe at 7:00 p.m. This means I won't be taking off out of here until at least 7:30, giving me a home-time of about 9:00.

I should mention that my house is almost as big as this airport.

Regardless, I now sit in the Monroe airport bar (and to its credit, it is a great bar with a great bartenderess (in the making you feel at home, talky, pouring cheap beer, and being overall very cool way)). I am drinking beer and I plan to submit my bill to the office. I have a free internet connection. While I might normally be kind of pissed about the whole situation at this point I just don't give a fuck. Flight delays, like lost luggage, are totally out of your hands. There isn't any point in getting too pissed.

Post One Hundred Twenty Nine: Yeah, I'm Going

So Anthrax is having a warm-up gig in Chicago featuring Dan Nelson, the band's new lead singer. His first show with Anthrax ever.

I'm going.

The wife is currently in Asia: has been for 10 days, and will be there for another five. This has left me in charge of the house and kids for the last 10 days, and for another five. All by myself. Getting them up, dressing them, feeding them, getting them to school, picking them up, feeding them, getting them ready for bed, getting them to sleep, then starting the whole thing all over the next day. Not to mention doing all of the laundry, dishes, picking up, and other household tasks (including all of the tasks I normally do, such as mowing).

It's a fucking beating.

So I'm going to Chicago on May 28th for a little reward to me. I've bought my ticket and cashed in a Southwest Frequent Flyer Rapid Reward certificate for my flight.

Some might call me "insane." But fuck it. How often do you get to go see your favorite band begin a new era?

Post One Hundred Twenty Eight: MY Room

I am sitting in my new Sanctum Sanctorum. My wife suggested getting rid of the weight bench downstairs, getting a new TV, and turning the exercise room into a media room.

Needless to say, this didn't take too much convincing.

I now relax in a Pier 1 leather chair and ottoman, and there is a new sleeper sofa next to me if I want to lay down. The 47" Vizio (1080p) is sitting on the new Pier 1 stand across the room showing the Stars beating the Ducks in Game 2 of their Stanley Cup playoff series. The TV plays in stereo, as it is hooked up to my Sony amp piping through two Bose tower speakers.

My XBox 360 is hooked up, networked in so I have access to all the movies and music I have on my "home server" upstairs, and I have a Gold membership to XBox Live now. The kids are sleeping (as far as I know), the wife is in Asia, my yellow lab is sleeping peacefully in the middle of the room, and I currently browse the internet. All I need to do is figure out what color to paint the walls, since the wife has pretty much given me carte blanche on decorating the room.

I think I'm going to put a lock on the door and allow people in by invite only.