Brief moment of downtime

1. We have yet more snow on the ground! I mean, it is just ridiculous. It may still be February, but we have really seen enough. I'm ready for some upper 40's for a change.

2. Made quite a few purchases this weekend. Brought a hi-def webcam at Target for just 30 bucks, I think it's a pretty good deal. I like Logitech products, they seem pretty reliable and easy to use. Come our next Skype chat, I hope Miss Nona likes looking at me.

3. Went to see "The Grace Card" last night, a movie that has received very little promotion, probably due to the Christian nature of it. But as a film, I thought it was a compelling story and the actors were pretty solid. I'm sure most non-Christians who see it will sneer at the spiritual message, but that's their deal. I think it is a solid pick to see. I do wonder why the women get all the clever lines to say and the guys are mainly jerks. Maybe that's just the way the world is!

4. After Dec headed home, Jacquie and I grabbed dinner at Wok n' Fire. Thank you St. Charles for 25 percent off. We started with some coconut shrimp with an orange-chili marmalade type of sauce. Five skewers of golden shrimp came out stacked high surrounding, the ramekin of sauce. Great crunch to the shrimp, but it was just a standard coconut shrimp with a little curry for kicks. The sauce made it good though. Jacqui had some kind of curry bowl and I went with Bangkok garlic pepper stir-fry with steak and fried rice. I enjoyed it a lot, but I think I would prefer the Szechwan.

5. I slept till 8:30 this morning, knowing I have a long night in front of me. I grabbed a workout, my second to last at South Barrington Club. I went over to Bally's and between the concrete floor and dirty locker room, I knew I wasn't joining. So I hit Xsport fitness in South Barrington and I liked the facilities a lot. They had every machine I would want, plus a few things I had never seen before. Ab machines and some sort of bell I can't recall the name of. The locker room was nice, but I think it's lame they can't have soap or deodorant. After a lot of hesitating, I signed up for 30 days for 20 bucks. In all fairness, I would have hesitated anywhere. When you've paid nothing for your gym membership for four years, the thought of spending money at a gym makes your palms sweat just a little. But the general manager is cute and is from Geneva. That was probably my deciding factor...No, the bottom line is I get what I pay for at a gym. I think if I have to spend ten extra dollars a month, for a better workout, it is worth it.

6. Got home and found out the Rangers traded for defenseman Bryan McCabe. All they gave up was a third-round draft pick and Tim Kennedy, who never even sniffed the big club. I think for the rest of the year, it is an excellent pick up. A booming shot, size, a good hitter, and a veteran presence on a young defense, I think the Rangers are a more formidable team as the NHL season winds down. Certainly, I give them a better chance to win a round in the playoffs.

7. The Mets lose yet again to Atlanta. Nice to see they are already in mid-season form.

8. The Knicks sucked last night. How can they lose twice in one season to the Cleveland Cavaliers? They let other teams score more frequently than Paris Hilton on a weekend binge. Let the Carmelo bust talks begin...

9. After a year of searching for the file, I was finally able to download the American Wolves entrance theme music. Every time I hear it, I can't help but bop my head up and down, walk a little faster, and scowl. It so pumps me up!

10. Leaving for Chicago Ridge in just one hour. Ring of Honor's 9th Anniversary show. Gonna be awesome!

Can creativity emerge from boredom?

Not totally sure if it can, but I'll take my chances that something will come from this post.

1) This week at work was one of the more challenging ones I have faced in some time. It wasn't one huge thing, it was all these little issues that kept popping up. It felt like a bunch of little gnats gnawing away at my flesh. Monitor resolution, computer viruses, sudden trainings, webex seminars, the reports taking a long time to load, finding out of my best friends is leaving the team. Just a lot of stuff that wasn't desirable.

2) Good to see Amber for the first time in almost 18 months. I waited for 30 minutes at CPK as she finished up work. The conversation started slow, but got better as the night went on. And I must say...the new spinach/artichoke pizza is a stellar addition to the menu.

3) Found a spot in a spot on Friday afternoon. I hope it's not a big deal.

4) I am so ready for Ring of Honor's 9th Anniversary show next Saturday night. I have been feeling bothered that this show doesn't seem to be getting promoted very well. But announcer Dave Prazak was just interviewed on Jonathan Hood's radio show on ESPN 1000 AM. That is nothing short of awesome. I would love to see 1,000 people for this internet PPV show.

5) So Borders and Giordano's have both filed for bankruptcy. Both these places are in the same strip mall that is five minutes from my house. And across from those stores is the Charlestowne Mall, which houses the Sears that will be going out of business this spring. Yep, I would say the St. Charles economy is not exactly thriving right now.

6) But that economy may get some help this week. Restaurant Week runs from Wednesday though Sunday. 25 percent off 30 restaurants. I'm not sure where I will go, but I would like to try a new spot. Maybe a Thai place...

7) Thank you Mom for that 25 dollar gift card to Jiffy Lube. Between my oil change, air filter, and new wipers, my total bill would have exceeded 100 bucks. But hey! I still get my coupon for my free minnow car wash at Jaws, saving me three dollars.

8) I saw True Grit. It's not often we see Westerns made nowadays. All in all, I thought it was good. Hailee Steinfeld did a tremendous job as the young girl, hell-bent on avenging her father's murder. As for Jeff Bridges, it feels like his character in Crazy Heart just changed jobs from musician to sheriff. The setting was fine, the story compelled me, the music was ok. I would recommend it.

9) My free South Barrington Club gym membership has nine days remaining on it. Still wagering what my best option is going forward...

10) I cannot keep watching these hour-long hot dog specials. I'm leaving for Scooby's in a few minutes!

Reminisicing tonight

I had to post this whole song with Valentine's Day. Thank you Bill LaBounty and Beckie Foster for writing it and thank you Steve Wariner for recording it.

The Weekend

Couple of days isn't a very long time
Why can't I just walk away, I used to be good at goodbyes...
Out on the water...under the stars...
I let the moonlight play a trick on my heart

You had some fun for the weekend
But I'll be in love for the rest of my life
You took me out to the deep end
And I fell right over I didn't think twice
I finally got something worth keeping
And if I can't have you tonight....
At least I had the weekend

The radio plays the sound of the waves rolling in
the smell of the night sure can get under your skin
Just for a moment...I held you too close
Now I'm all out of time and I don't want to let go

How much can happen in a night or two?
I guess its all depending on your point of view....

You had some fun for the weekend girl
But I'll be in love for the rest of my life
You took me out to the deep end
And I fell right over I didn't think twice
Finally got something worth keeping
And if I can't have you tonight
At least I had the weekend...