Grilled Cheese Aspiration

So I'm playing Sims 2 again. It's a total time suck. I recently discovered Grilled Cheese Aspiration. A Sim with grilled cheese aspiration has wants and needs almost entirely based on grilled cheese sandwiches: Eat grilled cheese, influence someone to serve grilled cheese, make grilled cheese for so-and-so, talk about grilled cheese, serve grilled cheese. Their new greatest fear, which is equal to the fear of fire is to eat a bad grilled cheese. Another fear is to have a bad conversation about grilled cheese.

If only life were this simple. I sometimes wish I had the ability to become interested in something, and devote myself to learning that one thing until I mastered it. This never happens with me. My interests constantly change--I typically become completely obsessed with an idea of something, learn how to do it very basically, and become interested in something completely different. This means I do everything (at best) mediocre, and nothing fantastic. I've made simple quilts, simple crocheted pieces, simple knits, simple cross-stitch, simple clothing sewed with sewing machine, I'm an okay artist, I play very little banjo, I've done a little backpacking, I do all sorts of crafts so lousily that they break the second I put them down because I'm too impatient to learn to do them correctly, I buy exercise videos I only try once, buy things I'll never use again. Tiring.

To go in a completely different direction--the Mission Flea Market here in San Antonio is open on Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays. Don't people have jobs? I went past there today on the way to work and noticed that the parking lot was just as full as it is on Saturdays and Sundays. Maybe if the flea market patrons would get jobs they WOULDN'T HAVE TO SHOP AT THE FLEA MARKET!!!

I wonder the same thing about our library's patrons sometimes. There's this one redneck family that always comes in on weekdays, in the middle of the day. Like the whole family, extended family, and Grandma. The men are all super skinny, the women are all fat, they all have snaggle teeth, and they all smell. One time I was talking to the women and they asked, "Do y'all have any audio books about birds? I think Grandma would like to listen to it while she's driving." I said, "I doubt it, but let me look on the computer. Did you want CD or cassette?" They looked at me like I was retarded and responded, "it's for the CAR." Because apparently in hillbilly world, CD players do not exist in cars. Didn't I know that?

So I think I'm going to get back to playing Sims.

Spread the love (of grilled cheese).

-Rachel Felis silvestrus catus

Parking Lot Bloggin'

I'm sitting in my car, blogging away. While ago I was playing Sims. There was intermittent driving involved. It's hot in here, but I feel SO lucky to have a parking spot today at work. Lately our parking has been overflowing into the HEB parking next door, due to the high turnout of early voters visiting our branch.

I had "executive coaching" this morning--which really mean that a nice lady explained to me the meanings of the numbers on my Birkman test. It was revealing, but I don't think I learned anything I didn't already know. That left me at Central Library at 12:00, when I didn't need to be at work until 3:15. So I got some Wendy's and played Sims in my car (they can be witches now!). I support the use of double punctuation when there are parentheses present, and there is a dire need. Sims as witches=dire need.

Someone was trying to sell their truck camper, but it said "canper" instead. In two spots. How do you even pronounce that? Learn English much?

I also succeeded in losing $10. Don't ask how, but I accomplished it. Maybe it'll turn up. Maybe it's just jumbled up lost under the seat of my car crying for help. Oh bother.

I walked around Target for a few minutes, until I realized my money was gone, and led a hasty retreat. No use being tempted to use the debit card. Then went to McDonalds because I knew they had wireless interent. I didn't know they made you PAY FOR IT!? You have to pay $2.99 for two hours. At the library we just give it away, like everything else. Screw McDonalds. The greedy bastards.

Okay, I have wasted enough time. I'm going to go to work now, and screw around for 15 minutes. Blah.

-Rachel

Menger madness

I spent last night at the Menger Hotel. My parents had a gift card for a free one night stay, and so I went to see the room, and unexpectedly ended up spending the night there on the floor.

I was trying to do a little ghost-hunting, but all I really succeeded in doing was getting ghosts stuck in my head which lead to a fitful night's sleep. Oliver and I roamed the hallways searching for the elusive murdered maid, Sallie White, who is "frequently" seen by guests. No luck with that, but it was really neat to stay in a historic hotel for once--meaning a hotel, and not Motel 6. I loved roaming up and down the corridors looking at the little nineteenth century decorative moulding, and sitting on the deliciously old-fashioned furniture. We even sat in a foyer (yes, foyer) and played cribbage at about 1 AM. The hallways were deliciously creepy, creaking wooden baseboards underneath ugly flowered hotel carpet. This will sould oh-so-cheesy, but the air had a thickness to it. It really felt haunted.

Before the roaming we went out to eat at the hotel's restaurant (muy expensivo, but we had a bad-ass coupon). I was so excited because the waitress told us that the fireplace mantel crafted in the 15th century, and was imported here from England (supposedly there was a spirit attached with it). I am amazed by things that are old, and since I have never been out of the good ol' USA I have never been in the presence of anything that OLD. I had to touch it. I had to. Hopefully there is no spirit residue on my hand. My hand has history on it!

And before that--before Oliver and I arrived at the hotel, my parents were taking a nap. They said that while they were sleeping it felt like a cat jumped onto the bed, or someone sat down on it. Of course there was no one else there. Spooky.

Next time I'll try the Emily Morgan Hotel--also reputedly haunted.

First Post

So I considered starting a blog first because I like to write, and second because the San Antonio Public Library system is encouraging (with the bait of a mysterious raffle prize drawing) employees to complete this "23 Things" learning program. The purpose of the program is to get library personnel used to dealing with some of the new digital information sources. I thought to myself, "I could start a blog, I might get a prize." Later I thought to myself, "do I really want people at work to know what I'm thinking?" The answer came as a resounding "HECK NOOOO!" echoing through my cranium.

So I'm starting a blog, a blog which will not participate in the 23 things program.

Let's see: About me. I'm a 24 year-old engaged soon-to-be graduate student of the library science persuasion. I'm currently working as a library assistant. My only child is a 3 year old miniature schnauzer named Rufus (even though he isn't red). I am living with the parents, and desperate to move out. I embarked on many fabulous vacations in the past year and a half since I graduated from the University of Texas at Austin: I went on a caribbean cruise, a few days at Big Bend National Park, a month backpacking the Appalachian Trail, a month living in a tent in Colorado (there wasn't much hiking involved). I am looking forward to more adventures in the not-so-distant future.

Now I'm spending my time becoming domestic--lusting after the three H's. Husband, Home and (H)offspring. The third H can wait for about 4 to 5 years.

Last night Oliver dubbed me "Lilo" because I get so interested in off-the-wall pursuits. I am really looking forward to my "Bollywood Dance Workout". Oliver asked, "why don't you get a video about regular dancing...so we can dance at our wedding?" Good point, but seriously, isn't Bollywood style sort of regular in India? Food for thought.