Television Thoughts

Yesterday, I went home sick at lunch. I spent the rest of the day sleeping and watching TV. It always seems like such a fun thing to go home sick, but it sucks. I mean, you feel like shit, right? Anyway, I had already been planning to watch Must See TV last night for the first time in months. I used to watch or tape it every week, along with at least 3 other shows. But I have to say, after watching TV for SO LONG yesterday, that I am really glad I shook that habit. These days, Alias is the only thing I won’t miss and being on a Sunday night, it doesn’t seem so sinful. Plus, it is a social event since so many of my girlfriends like it. I guess my point is that TV just isn’t as amusing to me as it used to be. The whole time, I was thinking there must be so many other things that were more worthy of my time. Even watching an old movie or something. I dunno. I keep saying that I am going to get an antenna service or the lowest cable package soon. Not because I want cable, but because I want my basic channels to come in better. But maybe I shouldn’t. I don’t want to get sucked back in.

Congratulations Andy!

A few months ago, I started talking to my 8th-grade boyfriend again. We had gone to school together from kindergarten to sophomore year in high school. I even remember copying off of him while we colored in Mrs. Newberry’s kindergarten class. Copying on coloring? If his little boy had on blue pants and a green shirt, my little boy would have on green pants and a blue shirt. Hey! I was FIVE!

Anyway, other than randomly bumping into him on a street in Barcelona a few years ago (REALLY), I had completely lost track of Andy. Then I saw his mom at church on Thanksgiving and gave her my e-mail address. Since then I have gotten to hang out with him a couple times when I have gone home. I even helped him pick out a new guitar. He’s really supportive of me finishing my album and even arranged a Quad City release party of sorts for me this summer, which I will explain below. In the meantime though, we play a lot of phone tag.

Andy works fulltime for the Quad City Swing baseball team. They are a farm team for the Twins. He’s both the head groundskeeper and manager of baseball operations. This year, they completely renovated the stadium, and tonight is the first game to be played there. Andy has been working 16-hour days for weeks trying to get everything done. I swear he is practically opening this stadium single-handedly. Well, maybe not, but I doubt they could have done it without him.

Here’s the picture on the front page of the Swing website this morning. Caption below. I just can’t help but think it is the cutest thing.

Thursday, April 29, 2:00 a.m.: Swing groundskeeper Andy D. proves that it’s never too early to start getting ready for Opening Day.

My QC release party, July 14: I get to play at the stadium on the party deck an hour before the game and then sing the national anthem! In between plays, he said they will play songs from the album and even put on the big screen that it is for sale. Not to mention that I will be recorded and broadcast on that 40-foot screen while I play. How cool is that!

So Andy, thanks for being so supportive of me. And HUGE congratulations on making it to today alive. The Swing is lucky to have you.

What I Love

Today has reminded what I used to love about my job. Not only did I get to take photos this morning, but also this afternoon, I played backup to the Show Me St. Louis reporter and cameraman while they filmed a feel-good story about one of our teachers winning the “Hi Gorgeous” Oprah award.
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Don’t forget to click on the link to keep reading! (I put this because a sweet someone, who shall remain nameless, didn’t realize that there was more to the entries. Since I extend mine all the time, I just wanted to make that clear.)

Through the Lens

When I was hired at my job, my major responsibilties were pretty clear cut. I was the writer. I wrote the press releases, yes, but writing full-length stories for our publications was my focus. I also took photographs to accompany the stories. This put me out in the schools a lot. And I loved it. The way the kids would want to cheese for the camera and chase me around to ensure I captured them on film. So endearing.

Shake Your Booty: Cinco de Mayo

I am in the studio with David tomorrow night and will probably buy a ticket for myself to Javier Mendoza Band’s Cinco de Mayo show at Blueberry Hill on Saturday night. Should I grab tickets for anyone else? They are $7. They also will be available at the door that night, but this annual show usually sells out. Tickets can be purchased prior to the show at BBH as well. If you don’t know the band, I highly recommend checking them out. They are tied in my top 4 favorites. Just love them to pieces. Warning: I will be dancing the whole time.

A Guilty and Embarrassing Pleasure

Suzanne blogged about guilty pleasures, and I am forced to admit one of mine while celebrating a huge feat regarding as-yet-unsaid pleasure. Podracer. Yes, I own an N64 and while I like other games, I am addicted only to Podracer. I am aware that cheats are available, but I am trying to win without them. Pathetically, over the last several months of playing, I haven’t even cleared two out of the four levels of races. But last night, after at least a month of unsuccess, I passed race 6 on level 2. Yay for pathetic little me! The trick was switching to another pod. And yes, I am an embarrassingly bad video gamer.