I've been "off" on my weekend early risings for a number of weeks, but it appears normalcy has returned. I woke up before 5:00 a.m. today. I'm still wandering around in my bathrobe, but I've been productive thus far, having done the dishes, cleaned up the kitchen, made a pot of coffee, and done a bit of reading from a several-years-old issue of Family Handyman. Not that I am one, understand, but wish I were.
So, now I sit at my computer, ready to share my thoughts with whomever happens upon this blog. But, first, I have to share an experience, one that I'm having right now. I believe I smell wood-smoke, but it's rather faint...except for the occasional 'blast' of odor that quickly dissipates. I wonder what it is? I lowered the thermostat, as it was a rather uncomfortable 83 degrees in the house (the thermostat is set to allow the house to warm during the day...and apparently we do not have the weekend morning setting just right), but cannot imagine the air conditioner giving off an odor of wood-smoke. Hmmm. I'll just have to be wary.
Two of my employees had bad experiences this week. One, the newest hire, got a call early in the week that her house had been burglarized...utterly ransacked. The thieves got away with televisions, digital cameras, clothing, shoes, etc., etc. and left the house a wreck. Clothes were strewn all over, drawers were emptied onto beds, kitchen cabinets were emptied onto the floor. From the sound of it, the burglars made an unholy mess of the place. My employee and her husband spent the remainder of that day and the next cleaning up...and looking for their dog, which had been let out by the thieves. Fortunately, they found the dog at the pound, delicate paws injured by thorns, but other than that, shaken but safe. Apparently, the neighborhood has been the target of burglars of late. Now, my employee has a new alarm system for the house.
The other employee went home Thursday to discover her apartment had been flooded when a pipe burst in an unoccupied apartment. Water was several inches deep in her place. Aside from the carpet, she reported that a leather sofa had been ruined, along with various other pieces of furniture, and much of her clothing had been damaged...and she had no renters' insurance and the apartment complex owner, an investment cooperative, was claiming no responsibility and no liability. Greedy thugs who manage and invest in the organization should be drowned in their own piss, if you ask me. I know, you didn't.
My wife and I have been discussing where we should go, if anywhere, over the Labor Day weekend. We plan to take off the Friday before, so we'll have another of our rare four-day weekends. We've considered using frequent-flyer miles to go to Boston, to Memphis, to Nashville, to New Orleans, to Bermuda...but the flight schedules are unattractive to us and we're not sure we want to devote a chunk of time to dealing with airports and airplanes. We've talked about driving to Little Rock to visit the Clinton Library, but the drive over isn't particularly appealing. We've talked about staying home and behaving like tourists. While the latter is the most likely scenario at the moment, because it's the least expensive, I'm feeling the need to do something decadent, like rent a villa somewhere...a place with a pool...and sit, relax, and sip cool drinks, with absolutely no agenda. I've never done that. It just sounds appealing at the moment.
Something that doesn't sound so appealing, but was actually interesting to watch last night as I took charge of the television remote, is learning to ride rodeo bulls. I stumbled across a "reality" show in which various celebrities (none of whom I had ever hear of...but one was a Baldwin brother...of the Daniel, etc. variety) were given several days of instruction on riding wild bulls. This took place at Ty Murray's ranch near Stephenville, TX. For those who do not know it, Ty Murray won the "World All-Around Rodeo Champion" title seven times. I did not know until this morning, when I looked up Ty Murray on Wikipedia (I guess because I live under a rock) that he is in a long-term relationship with country singer Jewel. Anyway, I watched a good half hour of the show before I gave up to do something else and, to my dismay, I found it really interesting. Apparently Ty Murray made a bucket-load of money as a rodeo cowboy and continues to bring in enormous sums in product endorsements. I've decided I am willing to do product endorsements that are appropriate to my field, association management. Maybe I should contact companies that sell gavels...I could endorse the gavels that board chairs are given to commemorate their years as "leaders" of the associations for which they volunteer. Or maybe I could endorse printers, since I do so much business with them: Monster Mega Quikprint: they're the only printer I'll use. When I need something printed, I want it done by a company that's as committed to professionalism as I am. I'll wear the look of an earnest businessman, no smile on my face, just a talking head, spouting the facts. Ka-ching! That'll be $375,000 for the endorsement, please!
September 18 is the first day of my conversational Spanish class. While I've been unable to register online, I have been assured by the instructor that I'll have books, CDs, etc. when I arrive for my first lesson. Now that I'm dreaming about Nova Scotia as a refuge, though, it occurs to me that I should, perhaps, take a course in Maritimes English (or a specialty course in Eastern Canadian dialects). If my memory of Halifax is correct, I should probably take a course or two in Gaelic so I can sing along to the Celtic rock bands that inhabit the clubs downtown. Actually, my Spanish might be a better entré to get to know Nova Scotians...maybe.
Enough of this drivel. I need more coffee...and a big glass of tomato juice, livened up with several dashes of Tabasco sauce and celery salt. Together, they'll awaken me from this stupor!
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