An Interesting Five Day Weekend

Nothing turns out quite like you expect it to, ya know. Thursday went pretty much as planned. I joined the YMCA around the corner. It was much nicer on the inside than the outside as well as much larger. I got in a good workout and felt pretty good the rest of the day. That night, I went to Dan McGuiness with a couple of co-workers and knocked back a couple of black and tans.

Friday morning, I worked out again, but the only thing I had to do that evening was meet Cindy around three at the airport. Turned out that L, whom I went to high school with, was driving to Nashville to fly to Denver for the weekend and her plane was gonna leave at three. So, plans were made to meet her first for a drink, then put her on a plane and meet Cindy for the drink I owed her (lost bet). When I got the airport at about two, I texted and asked if she was still up for it. She said she wasn't going to be able to work it out, so I wished her a safe trip and settled into Tootsie's for a beer.

It was good to see Cindy. We chatted a bit, she drank her Citron and tonic and tried to take a couple of pictures of us (I think I looked terrible, but I don't blame her skills). I look at my watch and say we should get her to security, but she hits me back with "Oh, there is plenty of time." We finish our drinks and I walk her to the concourse, give her a hug and wave her off to Florida. Let the shenanigans begin.

I'm walking out of the airport when my phone rings. It's L and she asks, "are you still here?" I say that I'm just walking out and she tells me that her flight has been delayed and they are saying that she will miss her connecting flight in Minnesota. They don't seem to sure if it's a weather problem or a mechanical problem. She has decided not to go, because she doesn't want to get stranded. I say "great, we can go do something. Dinner and drinks maybe." That's when things get really interesting. She tells me that the friend that was traveling (but flew out already on a different airline) with her has her car keys. I ask a few questions and not only does she have her car keys, but for some reason, L decided to check her luggage with her girlfriend's, so she has nothing but her phone and her wallet. L says she can probably catch a ride back to Memphis on Sunday. (side note, I suggested getting another key, but she didn't want to strand her friend that was coming back on Tuesday). Being the nice guy that I am, I immediately offer refuge at my house. Suddenly I have a house guest all weekend!

In the meantime, I get a text from Cindy telling me that the entire plane was waiting on her! They were paging her overhead. Nice. I hate to say I told you so, but I told you so. Then she got in trouble for using her phone on the plane. Poor Cindy.

I have to take L to Wal-Mart so she can buy a toothbrush, drawers, make up, etc. It's pretty interesting to see what a woman considers absolutely essential for two days!

It was nice to have somebody to talk to, but the poor girl snores like a freight train. Her little 95 lb frame puts out enough noise to rival a herd of stampeding elephants. We hung out, went to go see "The Informant" (it sucked) and had dinner with a friend of ours and his wife Saturday night. Sunday rolls around and it turns out that her ride to Memphis hasn't come through. Again, being the nice guy that I am, I offer to take her back. She managed to get somebody to meet us in Jackson, which is about half way, so that wasn't too bad. Poor girl. I haven't talked to her since. I hope she got her car back.

Today, I worked out again and went downtown for lunch. A decent weekend, but it just goes to show, the best laid plans of mice and men oft go awry!

Five Days Off

I have the next five days off. Originally, I asked for the time off to go to Florida with the ex, but after she dumped me, obviously I wasn't going. She still is. She's gonna take the new friend on our trip.

Meanwhile, I'm stuck with the time off and no useful way to use it. So, I'm gonna try to come up with some things to do.

Thurs. I think I'm gonna join the Y. It's close, I need the exercise, and it will get me out of the house. Then, in the evening, some folks from work are going down to the local watering hole. I guess I'm in since I can't think of something more constructive to do.

Fri. The only thing I have on tap is to try to catch Cindy between flights and pay her the drink I lost when UCLA beat Tennessee. It will be tricky and not a for sure thing. She is actually on the way to Florida as well to meet up with the ex, her new friend and another friend. Confusing, huh? Cindy is friends with the ex, but has also been a good friend to me since the break up. In fact, I'm probably more upset about the fact that I'm missing out on spending time with Cindy than not getting to go to Florida. Anyway, I need to make some phone calls and see if anybody wants to have a beer or two Friday night.

Sat. I've decided to do the heart walk here in Nashville. A bunch of us from work bought matching t-shirts and are planning on taking our dogs. That should cover a couple of hours. I have tickets to the pre-season hockey game that night, but nobody to go with me. We'll have to see.

Sun. Laundry and house cleaning?

Mon. Ummmm. nothing.

So I guess I need some suggestions, it would be a shame to waste five days off/

What Does She Expect?

We got our season tickets for hockey last week. Originally, she had promised that we would still go to the games together since hockey was our thing. I was skeptical and she proved me right once again. Claiming she couldn't bear to be way from her new friend for three hours (let's see, three hours, multiplied by 23, that's sixty-nine hours in eight months you can't spare for somebody you want to be your friend? ok, whatever) we had to split the tickets. Friday she calls, we split the tickets, a little small talk, she mentions that she misses my Mom. Never mentions that she might miss me. Says she can't come get the tickets that night. She tells me to tell the dogs that their momma says hi. Hey dogs, remember the woman that threw us away? She says hi.

So I sat all weekend with her stack of tickets sitting on my kitchen table. Saturday, she was supposed to come by and get them. Oops, too busy, Sunday then. All day Sunday, no word until eleven o'clock at night. A text saying "Can you take the tickets to work and I will pick them up from you at five when you get off?" Fine. Four-thirty Monday afternoon rolls around, I get a text, "Just leaving hospital, will be there as fast as possible." Five o'clock, Monday afternoon. I'm bushed. I want to go home. Where am I? Sitting in the parking garage waiting for her. Fifeteen minutes late she pulls up and comes to my drivers side window. She wants to chit chat about the parking garage! I give her the tickets and tell her bye. She makes the face she makes when she thinks I've done something wrong. Me, the one that has been inconvienced because she was to busy the entire weekend to come get her tickets. Just another example of how she believes the world revolves around her.

I know this is petty. I know it's a small thing, but it's another example of how she has treated me since this started.

Best Dog In The World

I got a text today from my ex-wife saying that our dog Gabby had died. Even though she hasn't been living with me since 2002, I called the ex and cried like a baby over Gabby's passing. She was the best dog I ever had. She slept next to me in the bed. She never cried or wimpered. She never begged. When I would eat dinner, she would sit there patiently giving me the vulture look, long streams of drool coming out of her mouth, but she never came to the table, never pawed or whined. She loved the water, she would swim for hours retrieving the frisbee that I would throw until my arm got tired. She could sit, lay, roll over, and speak. Should would lay down when I'd pretend to shoot her. She could beg like one of those little prissy poodles, but was all big dog when it came time to rough house or chase the "cover monster." Giving her to the ex was one of the hardest things I ever had to do and if I was honest about it, I would have to admit that I missed the dog more than I did the ex. She had a good, long life, almost 15 years and I know the ex took good care of her. I will remember you always Gabby. Good Bye.

Happy Thursday!

I had the day off and was determined to keep busy. I went by the Sommet Center and watched the Preds practice this morning. I was good to be back in the building. Afterwards, I went to Gerst Haus for a fried bologna sammich and a Black and Tan.Biggest freakin' beer ever! Afterwards, I went by my old work place to say "Hi" to folks. Most of them seemed genuinely glad to see me and wanted to know if I was coming back.

Later that evening the Preds had a preseason game. The fellas looked good against Atlanta, scoring five goals before I left early in the third.But the best part of the evening was the new third jerseys!!! I gotta get me one of these suckers.A day well spent. Hopefully sleep will come easier tonight.

More Hurt

You know what hurts the most right now? She has never once said that she missed me.

*Sigh*

More of the same really. I've talked about it so much, I'm sick of hearing it. I fluctuate between extreme sadness and near rage. Every little thing reminds me of how my situation has changed. I just want to be numb for a while.

I got called back into work last night and I was actually glad. It saved me from my own thoughts for several hours. I just wish this black cloud would lift.

A Long Saturday

I drove up to Knoxville yesterday with a friend to see the Tennessee/UCLA game. It was a quick drive and the first thing I insisted on doing when we got there was stopping by Gus's Goodtimes Deli. My steamed pepperoni and mozzerella sandwhich hit the spot!
My old friend, Gus, (not that he remembers me at all after twenty years) was behind the counter working the steamers. He looked tired and old, which I'm sure he is.
It was good to be back in Neyland Stadium and there were 102,000 fans that agreed with me. The game started off fairly slow with the two teams trading field goals, but then the Vols moved ahead with a touchdown. In the second half the wheels came off, Crompton threw multiple interceptions and the offense was unable to punch the ball into the endzone to take the lead with two minutes left. Overall, a disappointing show by Tennessee and next weeks game against Florida is looking pretty hopeless.

UCLA brought a few fans.Although Cindy was not among them. I guess I owe her a drink, but good luck to her trying to collect! ha!

On another unrelated sports post, here is a sneak peek of the Nashville Predators new third jersey worn by my favorite Preds fan.
It was a long day, but definately a welcome distraction. My Sunday will be spent doing laundry and washing dishes.

One Week

Today is the tenth of the month. There is no rush to be the first to say it, there is no warm glow as I'm reminded of what it means. It's just another day.

I haven't really talked to her in a week. Last Thursday night we were chatting on Face Book pretty late and she invited me over for one last fling before she moved her friend down for the weekend. Even though I had to work the next day, I began collecting my keys and wallet and such. Anything for her as usual.

Suddenly she started typing furiously about a one time mutual friend of ours. I had recently added the friend on Face Book. Immediately the accusations began to fly. She went of the deep end, saying I had stolen her friend, she always knew there was something between us, etc. At first I went into defensive mode, trying to talk her through it. Reassuring her. She kept on and on, each sentence more hurtful and cruel than the last. It confuses me even more because I don't know why she cares. She made her choice. She complains and says "You aren't the only one hurting." Maybe, but I'm the only one that was dumped for somebody else. She can't take that away from me.

This went on for five minutes or so before I reached a breaking point. "I don't have to put up with this anymore!" and logged out of the chat without waiting for a reply. My phone rang seconds later. I didn't answer it. She sent me a text "I wish u wouldn't hang up on me. All I wanted was to give u that one last night that you asked for." Maybe I did ask for another night from her, but I didn't ask to be treated like shit while I'm trying to cope with what has happened to me in the last month. She then texts that "You don't tell people you love them then be hateful." Really?

I spent the next couple of hours talking to a friend, trying to understand why the ex is the way she is. No real resolution, but around one in the morning I was at least calm enough to go to sleep. The next day I deleted her as a friend from my Face Book. She texted me asking why. I told her "I'm pissed. You are not allowed to talk to me the way you did last night. I'm sick of it. Who I see, who I talk to, who I fuck is none of your business." It was the first time in a month that I could find my balls.

She asked me to re friend her. I don't think I can. At least not right now. I know her. She has this compulsion to check up on people from her past. I'm not really worried about her knowing what I am doing, but I don't want anymore drama. Particularly from somebody that doesn't want me. As for me? I really don't want to know how happy she is without me. Why torture myself?

I'm trying to stay busy. I had beers with a buddy last night, I'm going to Live On The Green tonight to see Here Come The Mummys, and Saturday I'm going to the UT/UCLA game. In the meantime, I'm just gonna try to get through the tenth of the month and not think to much.

Inglourious Basterds

I went to see Quentin Tarantino's new film, "Inglourious Basterds" today. It was very entertaining as long as you can suspend belief. To say that the movie is historically inaccurate is putting it mildly, but if you can be entertained without thinking "I'm not sure that really happened" then you might enjoy this movie.

A funny thing happened. Somewhere in the last quarter of the movie, the film burned through. Since the lights didn't come up and the image of the screen looked like it was still showing the movie, just with a white spot in the middle and the edges of the film flapping, nobody moved. I'm sure that everybody was thinking the same thing that I was, "this is part of the movie!" It being a Tarantino flick, I just figured this was some kind of plot device. After about ten minutes, somebody got up and informed the management. I got a pretty good laugh out of everybody sitting there.

I Can't Love You Anymore

This Georgia road is red
The Georgia sky is blue
And it looks just like the sky
That carried me to you
The good Lord up in heaven knows
What I've been going through
And he's whispering to me
That I'll get over you

My angel in distress
You look OK to me
I'll send you my address
When I know what it will be
I could easily stay with you
On your side of heaven's door
'Cause I don't love you any less
But I can't love you anymore

It's Tuscaloosa, Birmingham
Or Baton Rouge
Hell I don't know just where I'm at
To tell the truth
But the good Lord up in heaven knows
What you've been going through
And he's whispering to me
That he'll take care of you

My angel in distress
You look OK to me
I'll send you my address
When I know what it will be
I could easily stay with you
On your side of heaven's door
'Cause I don't love you any less
But I can't love you anymore

My angel in distress
You look OK to me
I'll send you my address
When I know what it will be
I could easily stay with you
On your side of heaven's door
'Cause I don't love you any less
But I can't love you anymore

I don't love you any less
But I can't love you anymore

Getting By

I'm doing all right I reckon. I'm starting to shed some of the habits that I've gained over the last four years and finding the person I was. I talk to a lot more people now, that's for sure. I've spent a lot of time catching up and hopefully a few more people will cut me some slack and have a beer or a conversation. I'm eating better and my days don't seem so harried.

I was a tad disappointed yesterday. I've been hankering' for some decent Cajun food. Hard to find anywhere outside of Louisiana, but you would think Nashville would have at least one joint. A co-worker suggested Bro's not far from my old job and since I was in the area, I thought I'd give it a whirl. My mouth was watering as I pulled into the lot thinking about red beans and rice, jambalaya, and gumbo. Denied! What kinda place closes at three during the week and is completely closed on the weekends? Apparently, most of their business is catering.

Since I was in the area and it was close to quitting time, I called some folks I knew and we met up at the Gold Rush for some chow and some brews. Not the Cajun food I was looking forward too, but the company was infinitely better. What bar has Guinness on tap, but when you ask for a black and tan, offer to make it with PBR?

My golden retriever, Daisy, had some kind of episode yesterday too. She's seven years old and suddenly created a commotion on the floor. It looked like her back half was not under her control. She was trying to drag herself up by her front legs, gouging huge marks into the new hardwood. It looked like her ass was asleep. After she calmed down, it seemed like she had recovered fine. I'm a little worried, she isn't a puppy anymore.

I'm getting better everyday. There is still a lot of hurt and anger, but I keep telling myself that I'm better off and maybe, eventually I will be.