It's my 2 cents damnit!

I don't get upset very often. It's just not my nature. I like being jovial and making people laugh (or groan). Today, however, I got upset. In my typical style, it was a full 20 minutes after the event happened that I really began to steam, so not much I could do. Here's what got me hot under the collar:

We went to Culver's for lunch. After my meal, I indulged in a Concrete Mixer for $3.98. I give the teenager behind the counter $4. He then asks if I need the 2 cents back. Stunned, I state yes I would like MY change back.

So, here is what set me off. There were no "Give a penny, take a penny" bins. There was no donate to charity sign. This kid just wanted me to leave the 2 cents behind so he could pocket it. WHAT THE HELL?!?! Yes, it's only 2 cents, but who the hell is this snot nosed little punk to think he can just pocket it. You want a job with tips, don't work at Culvers! The use of the word "need" is especially offensive. No, I don't NEED 2 cents, but it's MY FARKING 2 CENTS!!! And what exactly is happening to this 2 cents? Are you going to use it to buy your girlfriend something nice, like 1/2 an M&M?

The more I think about it, the more steamed I get. So, I'll end with this: Lauren starts swim lessons tomorrow. I can't wait!

Band Meme

Saw this making the rounds and thought I would try it.

1. Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random

The first random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.

2. Go to Random quotations: http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album.

3. Go to flickr's "explore the last seven days" http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days/
Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

So, please welcome the newest hit band, Karura, playing songs from their debut album "Is it's own punishment".

Best Headline of the day

Obama wins Oregon; Hillary loses 3 oxen fording the river, and 2 members of her party have dysenteryAh memories.

It was nice quality time, til it wasn't

Lauren has a little bout of pneumonia right now, so she and daddy had a day home together yesterday and today. I worked from home, but we managed to fit in some quality time.
Yesterday was lunch at the Cow and Ice Cream Restaurant (aka Colonial Cafe). I think I have found the perfect dessert buddy. Better even than Misss You Can Have the Ice Cream on the Molten Chocolate Cake. We topped off our lunch with a PBF Chipper replacing the peanut butter cup on top with mini M&M's. The sundae stands about 7 inches tall and Lauren, bless her heart, limits her entire experience to the layer of whipped cream and M&M's on the top. How great a dessert buddy is she? As I worked my way through the chocolate and chocolate chip ice cream with hot fundge and peanut butter sauce, Lauren opined

You can have the yucky stuff, daddy

Not only does she let me eat the good stuff, she thinks I'm a hero for doing it!!
Today, I asked if she wanted to go anywhere for lunch.

The CASTLE RESTAURANT!!!

Ah yes. The Castle Restaurant (known as the Village Squire to you and me Gus). On the way there, she realized what awaited.

Daddy, at the castle restaurant, they have POPCORN!!!!

Indeed they do have popcorn. And it is tasty.
With all this quality time, Lauren must have figured she was long overdue on making daddy look like an idiot. We had one more stop before heading home to get some supplies to fix a sink. Off to the hardware store we went. As we get out of the car, Lauren decides it's much too warm for jackets so she takes her off and asks me to do the same. I had to agree (it was pretty warm), so I took off our coats, put them in the car, locked it, and we went in to get the stuff. It was upon walking out that I realized what the pipsqueak was really up to. My keys were still in the coat. In the locked car. Great! I was able to get in touch with a locksmith friend to open the car, but that wasn't enough humiliation for the angelic looking imp. No, she had to let EVERYONE who walked in and out of the store know that daddy had locked us out of the car. Not just one or two people. EVERYONE! The twinkle in her eye and smirk on her face let me know this was no accident. She had set me up. And this was her time to remind me who's boss. I was never happier to see my friend then when he got there.
Next time, we're walking babe.

URGENT ACTION NEEDED

Today, I get one of those scary emails about a recall. Surprisingly, this wasn't a spam, but a legitimate notification. More importantly, this recall affected the infant carrier we bought last year. I was very concerned so I read carefully what was wrong with the carrier and what I could do to fix it.

So what was the big problem with our carrier?

The phone number for the NHTSA on a sticker was incorrectly listed, so they had to issue a recall and send people a new sticker with the correct number. Boy am I glad they issued that important safety recall!

The Deal Hunter Strikes Again

Score one for the internet!!

4 tickets to Baltimore, 1 rental car for 4 days: $695.

Not bad. I do, however, wish the trip were for a better reason.

Want to Feel Old?

First the good news: New X-Files movie coming out July 25th! Current Title is "The X-Files: I Want to Believe".

Now, the bad news: The first X-Files movie was released 10 years ago. TEN!!! WTF!!! The series premiered SIXTEEN YEARS AGO!! Suddenly, I feel the need for a walker.

Source: http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/04/16/film.xfiles.title.ap/index.html