Today

I know I’ve said before that one of the advantages of living where I do is that there is a nice bar on the corner that serves decent food. Today however, the bad part of living where I do is that there is a nice bar on the corner that serves decent food.

Not only is it St. Patty’s Day, it is also the beginning of the March Madness college basketball tournament. Oops, guess I neglected to mention that the bar has 32 wide-screen TVs and promotes itself as a sports bar. Uh huh.

A few years ago, the abandoned factory building across the street was turned into a 100-space parking lot so it wasn’t quite as bad today when I got home as it’s been in years past. And the Berks County Jazz Fest no longer overlaps with St. Patty’s Day as it used to which also helped since the Pike hosts events for that too. Yes, parking is now available within four blocks on days like this instead of the former six.

It wouldn’t have been so bad, had I been able to head home at my normal time. But not today. Oh no, not today. I tried to be nice and order daffodils from the American Cancer Society during their Daffodil Days which is going on now. The ordering part went just fine. It’s the retrieving part that I had trouble with. I thought I’d take a late lunch to go collect them. Um, nope. Not there. Come back later. Okay, change of plans.

After work I had to go to the car place. Howie needed a light socket and lens. I was there last week, same thing, only they had to order it. Got there today and part of the packet was missing. So they had to reorder it. Going back for the third time next Thursday. Yeah.

Back to pick up the daffodils. Um, nope. They’d been delivered. Somewhere else. Perhaps tomorrow because there’s no way I’m venturing out again tonight.

Have I told you that I have a headache from hell? Migraine season has officially begun. And, with the day I’ve had, I think the world is damn lucky no one got hurt.

Back Already

Okay so it didn't take nearly as long as I'd anticipated. Sorry. I still can't tell you anything about it because it's not set in stone yet. And even when it is you'll probably sit around, scratching your heads and saying "Huh? What's the fuss about? What's wrong with her?" Simple. It's something new that I haven't done before and I'm excited.

Speaking of new things...I've recently encountered an individual that captains ships on a for hire basis. This is something I know absolutely nothing about so I'm behaving like a four-year-old asking a gazillion questions. Fortunately, he's a very patient person and is used to the fascination factor. Currently, he's piloting a freighter to a South American country with a shipment of art for a museum. Did you know they send exhibits back and forth by ship? I never really thought about how they get from place to place before so I find that very interesting. I requested pics along the way. Imagine, he won't have much time to take them for me at the really cool places! I have so many questions I don't even know where to begin, which just makes him laugh, but by the time he reaches his home port I'm determined to know all things ship-related.

A follow up, I got my Direct TV hooked up...by the Tweedledee and Tweedledum of satelite installers. Surprisingly, it works. I have my three channels and all is well in the home entertainment facet of my life.

March Madness and the Berks Jazz Fest - Personally, I have no interest in the basketball tournament but many do and that's fine. As for the Jazz Fest, it's a great event in Reading. There are venues scattered throughout the city and always a slew of quality entertainers. Only problem, the bar on the corner. It's a cool place, upgraded several times over the years I've lived here and no longer anything like the dive it was when I moved in. Not to mention the yummy food they now serve. But they have 32 big screen tv's which makes it a very popular destination this time of year. On top of that, they've slowly increased the number of Jazz Fest events they host. Great if I want to go to one, not so great if I need to go anywhere else. How is it a corner bar that's only three row homes wide fills not only the 100+ space parking lot they recently built but also takes up every available spot on the street in a 2 block radius? No wonder there are occasional lines with people milling about, waiting to get it.

Ooh, too much rambling today. I was going to post a preview of Beyond Meddling, the new story I just submitted but that'll have to wait until tomorrow. Whatever your weekend holds, I hope you're enjoying it.