Katamari and an upset stomach

I picked up a new game yesterday - a quirky little Japanese game called Katamari Damacy. It's interesting and kinda fun - but I started to get queasy after playing it. I thought it was the circling type movement of the game's character, but it may have partially just been me as well. I'm still not at my best today, but I'm doing a little better.

I got new neighbors last weekend - they seem like a nice couple. Weird getting used to having people living on that side again - the walls are kinda thin.

Car is making a weird noise - I suspect the brakes. Yea.

Still pretty quiet here at work - but I should get back to it. I'm trying to work on some projects that I've been putting off, but it's tough to stay motivated.

back to work...

taxes, insurance, and a check from AT&T

Did my taxes the other day by phone - at least the federal one. The state had the wrong pre-printed label, so I did that one on-line. And hopefully fixed the School District tax problem I had in the past.

Got another call from my insurance company about the claim - they are essentially saying that they can't tell who's right - so each person's insurance will cover their own repairs. I need to call them tonight to find out how this will affect my policy - and my "no-accident" discount. It's still annoying.

I switched my phone service a while back and I still keep getting a credit statement from AT&T. So, I called them today to get a check issued - talked to Marge. I think we talked - she had a very strong and undetermined accent. What I was able to extract from the phone conversation was that they would issue me a check and I should get it between 30-40 days from now. 30-40 days? Wankers.

Fairly busy days at work this week - kinda stressful, but I'm keeping up with it.

Been experimenting with some polymer clay at home - cool stuff. I think I'm ready for a big project.

Guess that's it for now - time to get back to work...

ex-roomate

So, I'm sitting there playing a video game at home - and the doorbell rings. I figure it's my next door neighbor returning a DVD of Resident Evil 2 that I'd loaned him. Instead, it's my former room-mate. I invite him in and he breaks down - just loses it as he apoligises. I gave him a hug and he just keep saying how sorry he was over and over.

After a bit he got a hold of himself again and we sat down. We tried to catch up a bit - but it was awkward. He invited me to dinner at the restruant where he works and we talked a little about our families.

The phone rang and I glanced at the caller ID and said I'd call them back - instead, he told me that he had to go. So, he left and I answered the phone.

It was weird. Weird, weird, weird. All these months - no contact. Then out of the blue...

And it's good. I'm glad he stopped by. And I'm glad he felt bad - in a way. Maybe he's learned something from it.

But I felt myself being so inwardly cold. Detatched. I went through the wringer when all this went down and I've had to put a lot of stuff behind me. Do I really want to start things up again? And a mental inventory shows that the the "trust bucket" is bone dry. Can you be friends with someone that you don't trust?


I don't know the answer to that one. I guess we'll give it a whirl. The little voice in the back of my head is cynical and tells me I'm being set up. The magic 8-ball agrees.

But, if I don't give him a chance - an I being untrue to myself? I'm a nice guy and I care about people. I don't think I want to let my fears change who I am and how I act.

So, forgive = yes. Mostly. Forget? Nope. Means I haven't learned anything.

Maybe the cynic is winning after all. And who's to argue with the magic 8-ball?

More later - time to go back to work...

more car stuff and spam

Another call from my insurance company yesterday. I called them back and they wanted to get photos of the cars involved. So, I told them where the car would be today and they said they'd send someone to take photos. Interestingly enough, they didn't ask for a work phone number. So, if they can't find the car, what are they going to do? This whole thing has got me really pissed off. What a huge waste of time and resources. I'm tempted to just ask for the amount of the damages and just pay it myself -even though it wasn't my fault. It would be worth it to me to just end this. And I wonder how much worse this whole process would have been if there had been real damage or if someone had gotten hurt.

I remember back in high school they showed a slideshow before prom to discourage drinking and driving. Set to Phil Collins music, it was graphic and gruesome. I think it would have just as effective to sit us down and make us go through all the paperwork of an insurance claim - and all the phone calls. Can you tell I'm really annoyed?

In other news...

My ex-roommates mom called me last night. She said she's been trying to get a hold of me for awhile now, but I'm either gone or on the phone. She hadn't left a message, so I don't know what the deal was there, but this time I was home and not already on the phone and we talked for a bit. She said she'd call me one of these days to invite me to breakfast some weekend - which is nice, but a little odd. I'll have to see how it goes and if something is up.

Slightly overcooked (fired), refrigderated, and then microwaved spam tastes a little like bacon. Just in case you were wondering.

early morning

I woke up at 2:00 am this morning with a sore back. Looks like I'm going to have to break down and get a new matress. Can't take many more of those kind of nights. I got dressed, went downstairs, and played video games until it was time to go to work. It's 8:30 now and I'm already feeling the lack of sleep hitting me. I might even nap when I get home today - and it's really unsual for me to even suggest such a thing.

(wait)...

Okay, sorry, had to stretch. Man, I'm really out of it. Suprised I can still type.

Strangely enough - my back feels fine. I suspect it's the futon - that thing has mysterious powers. It's primary abilty is to instantly induce a nap in anyone who lays down on it. Seriously. Could be that it made my back feel better to get me to lay down on it and thus take a nap. Sounds a little sinister.

Well, lots to do today - time to get back to work...

the saga continues

So, yesterday afternoon I went to the police station and picked up a copy of the police report. It confirmed what I'd told the officer - so I went home feeling a little vindicated.

There was a message on the machine from his insurance company claims office - which is also the same company I have my insurance through. I called them back and they recorded my statement about the accident. After the recorded part the woman told me that she was troubled by the inconsitancies - I said I was stopped and he hit me - he said the opposite. She said that it would most likely be a shared claim, with each of our insurances being hit for a percentage - since it wasn't clear who was at fault. She suggested that I contact my agent to get things rolling there, even though there was no damage to my car.

I was a little ticked at this since it was pretty clear to me who's fault it was - but I called my agent and got things started. I joked that he must not have seen me in my bright red four door car - she laughed and said her husband got hit in his F350 red truck by someone who claimed that they couldn't see him.

We talked for a bit about what would happen to the claim and that it most likely wouldn't affect my rates very much, if at all. Still, there goes my flawless record. Wanker.

Got a busy day ahead of me - starting off with a meeting in few. So, back to work...

Annoyed beyond all rational thought

I rarely get mad about things - life's too short, you know? But I get annoyed. All the time. And this time, the line between annoyed and enraged was very very thin.

So, I'm pulling into the parking lot to get some new comics - it was, after all, a Wednesday. Which everyone should know is new comics day. I stop about 1/2 in the drive cause there's a guy backing up. Why he's backing up into the entrance is beyond me. Apparently, he doesn't see me (I'm in a bright red, four door car, so I guess I was "stealthed") and though I put it into reverse there was nowhere to go except back into the street. Before I can hit the horn, he's already hit me.

So, he pulls forward (what he should have been doing in the first place) and sort of gets out of the way, but not really. I pull into a space and inspect my car - no damage. Not even a scratch. I go over to his car and we note that the left rear panel is popped loose. I get my insurance card out, even though it wasn't my fault - but he insists on calling the police. So, he goes to find a phone and I write down his liscense plate number. He comes back out and stands by his car.

Eventually the police arrive and when the guy doesn't start talking, I explained the situation (even though he's the one that called). I tell the cop that I was starting to pull in, stopped, and he backed into me. The other guy, when he finally talkes, makes it sound like I ran into him. Wanker. The cop gets our info and then goes to report it in. The guy asks for paper and a pen so he can get my info - which I provide. The cop comes back in the middle of this and the guy is still talking. The officer gives us each his card with the report number and says we can get the report from our insurance agent. The guy wants to know if I need to write down his info - but the cop and I just look at him before I explain that it will all be in the report. We thank the offier and the guy shakes my hand - saying "he's sorry this had to happen".

So far, I've still got my cool. It wasn't my fault, no damage to my car, and the officer seemed like a sharp guy, so the report should reflect that the old dude ran into me.

Finally, we go our separate ways - which in my case is the comic book store. And then, horror of horrors, they don't have the ones I collect in stock.

Son of a bitch.

I could have been home, playing a video game. Instead, I try to go to the comic book store and get hit by an idiot.

This morning, I called my insurance agent about getting a copy of the report. She reacted as though I'd just asked her for a cheeseburger and fries and had no idea why I was told to call her to get the report. In hindsite, yeah, I guess it was a little odd, but they can look up pretty much everything else so I figured that would be easy enough. She suggested I call the police department and I spoke to someone in records about it - they confirmed that I could pick up a copy today. If it reflects what I said happened, I'm in the clear. Otherwise, it'll cost me to have the panel on his car popped back into place. (really, that's all there was to it).

I'm glad no one was hurt. And if my flawless driving record had to broken, I guess it's better that it's something small like this.

But I'm still annoyed. Still very, very annoyed.

And now, still no less annoyed, I get to go back to work...

grrrr...

sort of out of sorts

Mild headache this morning...

You know, I've heard that Eskimos have over a hundred different words for snow. I should do that with my headaches - since I have so many of them will all sorts of different levels. Everything from mildly annoying to a full blown thermonuclear barf-fest. I need to make a list, I think.

Work yesterday was very sucky - huge things went wrong and the forces of darkness conspired against me. I really need to start acting on all those death threats I hand out - getting way behind.

Hmmm...looks like I forgot my watch today. Maybe that why I'm so out of it. Kinda tough to be the master of space and time if you don't even have a watch. Granted, I could just look at the computer, the phone, or turn around and look at the clock hanging on the wall behind me, but where's the fun of that?

Well, I guess I should get back to work...you can sense my enthusiam, I'm sure.

car show and the Wookie

Went to the Cleveland Car Show last weekend with one of my friends. Had a pretty good time - though I'm really bad at judging cars or comparing the relative features on them. I've been once before and like last time I was amazed at how much some of these cars cost - and how little they seemed worth it. It was cool to see the new Cobalt - the replacement to my current car, the Cavilier. Not as many concept cars as I would have liked - and the food was really expensive - but still a good time.

Also, in case you didn't know, last Friday was "Take your Wookie to Work day". Photos:


Back to work...