A Monday Off

Had a nice morning, and then was all set to spend the afternoon at the lake.

I got in my car at 1:30, turned the ignition key, and...

...nothing.

AAA came by and the guy said it was most likely my starter (and not the alternator, because there wasn't even any clicking). Ugh. Lovely, a pricey car repair, that I can't even afford until my bi-weekly paycheck this Friday. At least Jean Marie is being kind enough to lend me her truck for the next two nights.

CRAP.

So instead of the lake I made Ragu & angel hair pasta (and later, coffee milk & cookies), and watched several hours of "The Office" (Season 2 on tv, and Season 3 on Netflix). Dammit dammit dammit. DAMMIT!!

Rainy Day Off

It rained off and on all day, and was supremely humid.

I went on a quick drive to Starbucks around 3 pm to grab coffee beans (Organic Yukon Blend - a medium roast) and a free large dark roast.

Around 11 pm I had the Pukwudgie Session IPA from Down the Road Beer Co. in Everett, MA. Unremarkable. I drank half of it, then grew tired of it. Beer from a can: ugh.

Got some good shots of Chumble on the counter, too.

Things and Stuff

Special things I have bough lately:

1. A coffee mug from my favorite local coffee house, Union Coffee Roaster in Ayer, MA
2. The 20th Anniversary Ravenclaw Edition of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone". The original (British) version of the first book.
3. A new pair of selvage denim from Brave Star Selvage. Something new and fun to break in this summer and fall...

Hubbardston House

Hung out at J & Stacie's rental in Hubbardston on Sunday night after work. Steak, various Ballast Point Sculpins (Aloha in a bottle: good! Grapefruit in a can: not so good...), glow sticks, sunset, moon & Venus, etc... What a great way to spend a post-truck Sunday.

Ant-Man and The Wasp

I went to Dad & Ma's to pick up Ryan and Cooper to go to the Gardner Cinemas to see the 2:00 showing of "Ant-Man and The Wasp".

What a great movie! I love the big spectacles that are the "Avengers" and "Captain America" movies, but it was cool to see a more street level, low-stakes film for a change. Paul Rudd is a great Scott Lang, and Michael Pena was a lot less annoying this time around. Also, it was fantastic to have a happy ending (Thanos *snap* in the mid-credits aside). I'm so glad I saw it on the big screen.

Lazy Saturday

I got out of bed at 9 am at Chumble's insistence. I had cereal, coffee, and 3 cranberry oatmeal cookies from Union Coffee Roasters (I bought them, and a mug yesterday). I watched "Bewitched" (not bad, not awesome, but pleasing enough for a morning viewing).

The middle of the day was tv, online, more tv, and mac & cheese and ground beef for a late lunch (2 pm). I watched a WWI PBS special, and flipped around the channels a few times. The weather was fantastic for the first time in weeks! Sunny, 70's and dry. Chumble was in heaven, enjoying the outdoor smells & sounds instead of the noisy a/c for a chance.

At 5 pm I bounced up out of my chair, then packed my cooler & backpack, and after a quick stop at Kappy's for beer & ice, I headed down to the lake. No one else was there - SWEET! I stayed until 9 pm, and during that span I drank three beers (Two Hearted Ale, and American IPA from Bell's Brewery in Cormack, MI); listened to my iPod; watched all of the power boats, floating porches and jet skis blast over the water; dozed; and did some floating and photography. Sadly, the batteries in my digital camera were dying, so most of the photos came out darker than real life. But what a day! And for good measure I food shopped at Hannaford on the way home.

4th of July

I worked 8a - 4p. It kinda flew by.

I went to the lake 6p - 8:30p. Good to see the family (parents, and Sarah & Jon's crew). Too many big fast boats on the lake, and too many loud neighbors blasting crappy music.

I don't have to be in to work until 4p tomorrow. Sweet.

Heat

It's been in the high 90's the last few days. Sunday (yesterday) I had to unload truck from 1 - 4 pm in the heat. I drank almost 4 bottles of water! Today I stayed in all day. I discovered around 5 pm that the water had been shut off. What the hell? So I wasn't able to shower. Tomorrow will be a bit less oppressive (by a few degrees). Thankfully I don't have to work until 1:30, so if the water isn't back on by morning I can shower & do laundry at Dad & Ma's...