funny looking kid

We met with some former co-workers at the Fox and Hound today. Turnout was
actually quite good, including some people whom we hadn't seen in almost three
years. The Fox and Hound is on the location of the former Waterloo Brewing Company,
which was a favorite after-work hangout of company employees. We sort of missed
the little flaws that lent character to the place, but it was nice to have working toilet
equipment in stalls that had a fresh coat of paint, and cooling fans with misters up
on the roof. :-)

flk.

lyrics for the day:

If I Can't Change Your Mind - Sugar

Tears fill up my eyes
I'm washed away with sorrow
And somewhere in my mind
I know there's no tomorrow
I see you're leaving soon
I guess you've had your fill
But if I can't change your mind
Then no one will

And all throughout the years
I've never strayed from you my dear
But you suspect I'm somewhere else
You're feeling sorry for yourself
Leaving with a broken heart
I love you even still
But if I can't change your mind
Then no one will

Even though my heart keeps breaking
Don't you know that I'll be waiting
Here for you
Then when you return
When will you return
I hope you see I'm dedicated
Look how long that I have waited
If you come back then you will find
A different person
If you change your mind

How can I explain away
Something that I haven't done
And if you can't trust me now
You'll never trust in anyone
With all the crazy doubts you've got
I love you even still
But if I can't change your mind
Then no one will

Someday you'll see I've been true
I'll stay that way until
But if I can't change your mind
Then no one will

flk.

Well, the local TV weather people have to find something else to talk about because
the local temperatures finally hit triple digits today. (I know, I may be a party poop
but I was really hoping Austin could go a whole year without the thermometer hitting
100 degrees. We made it 364 days.)

Yesterday was a really blah day. I didn't feel like doing much of anything. Not sure
whether it was allergies or just plain heat. I did manage to organize some stuff and
got it ready to be mailed out today.

C. and I have also been reading Virginia Woolf's Mrs. Dalloway to try and better
understand this month's book club selection, Michael Cunningham's The Hours
I think I prefer Orlando

Today I went to the post office and mailed off three more 40-pound boxes of books.
Oh, and some comic books to Dave. I really hope they cheer him up.

flk.

The incident with the power going out at Borders reminded me of this incident when I
was about 12 years old. Where I was growing up the book store also sold school supplies,
including all kinds of pens -- drafting pens, fountain pens, all kinds. Anyway, I had been
saving up to buy a nice fountain pen for some time, and I finally had enough to do so. Dad
was supposed to pick me up at the book store at 7:30p.m. and I had arrived there
about half an hour early, so I decided to browse and pass the time. About 7:20,
I went to the counter and said I wanted to buy the fountain pen. I don't
remember which kind it was -- only that it was nice. The lady behind the counter
brought it out and started to demonstrate the features. I was thinking, "Lady, I'm sold.
I said I wanted to buy the thing. I know how to use a fountain pen -- they've made
us use them at school for three years now! Just ring me up already."

What seemed like forever later, she finished the demo and was walking to the cash register
when the power went out. She apologized and explained that she couldn't
ring me up because the cash registers are locked down when the power goes out.
The next time I went back, the pen was no longer there.

The next time Mom gives me a hard time for being an impulse buyer I'll have to
tell her this story.

flk.

Meant to post this last night but the server wasn't cooperating... anyway,
I got up fairly early yesterday morning and had been going all day. By the time
C. and I made it to Borders it was after 9pm and I felt like I was walking around
half-dead. Anyway, C. wanted to keep looking and I didn't really want to. Suddenly
the power went out and the store staff had to clear out the store. As we were
being hustled out, I told C. "See? I tried to be nice and reason with you, but you had
to make me force my hand..." We both laughed.

flk.