Locked Out

Andrew had a make up soccer game tonight. It was a make up for one which was rained out - but we need the rain so I wasn't upset. We played Saturday and at halftime it started pouring and Matt and I were soaked since we only had one umbrella between us, he ended up using his chair to cover his head. My friend, Anne-Marie was there getting soaked as well. Both our purses were drenched and the game was finally called before the start of the 4th quarter.

So when I was at Andrew's game tonight and felt the first of the raindrops I told Matt I was headed to the car and would wait it out there. No way I wanted to be soaked again, nor have my purse dripping wet. Well, it never really started to rain hard and about the second quarter it stopped even misting so I left my purse in the car, grabbed my phone and keys and locked the car and returned to the sidelines to watch the remainder of the game.

It was my turn to bring snack and Andrew already had the cooler with drinks but I had left the chips in the car in case of the aforementioned rain. So towards the end of the 4th quarter Matt went to get the chips. When he returned I asked for my keys and he said he didn't have them. I told him to stop joking but he really didn't have them, they were in the car, the LOCKED car. He asked sarcastically if I had a spare...so I answered sarcastically that yes it do, it's in my purse in the LOCKED card. Then my sarcasm turned to anger and I said other things, which I won't print here.

I called my mom to get the number for a locksmith. She offered to come get me to take me home to get the spare, but the spare is in my purse in the LOCKED car. And the keys to my house are in the LOCKED car. She said she'd take to me to a Honda dealership and have them get me another key...except that my proof of ownership is in the LOCKED car, along with my house keys to show any other proof of ownership and all my money. So she finally gave me a number, I called and they wanted $35 for the service call and then $195 for the labor. Yikes, never mind.

So I called the Norcross Police, they won't do it. I called my friend Tina, her husband is a Sheriff's Deputy with Gwinnett County. She didn't answer. So I called my friend Cindy, whom I hoped would know someone in Norcross who could boost a car. I was totally willing to pay a criminal $20 to break into my car. Anyway, she got Tina who got her husband and finally luck was on my side. He was in Norcross serving warrants, so he and another officer came over. But neither had tools. However, he called a wrecker service for me and they charged me $55 which was way cheaper than the locksmith.

So, about an hour and a half after the game ended, we finally got back into our car. It's no fun being locked out. The good news, Andrew's team won the game 4-0. And yes, I have apologized to Matt.

Duped

Wednesday, the 26th, I had tickets to the Hawks game (compliments of some long hours I have been working). Anyway, the boys, a girl from work and I headed to the game. Because of the recent tornado and construction downtown we opted to take MARTA. Upon arriving at the Doraville Station we proceeded to the machine to purchase our tokens. MARTA no longer issues tokens they have the Breeze Card...which was new to me, but nonetheless I figured we could handle it. A man, dressed like MARTA employees was standing there and asked what he needed and offered his help. We said we needed 4 round trips or 8 one-way passes. Someone mentioned we were headed to the Hawks game. He told us to follow him as he had our tickets. So he scanned us through the gate, handed me four tickets and asked for $16. My brain had already calculated the cost to be $14 but figured he was getting some handling fee. Like an idiot I paid him and in a flash he was gone.

Now, if you didn't know MARTA had Breeze Passes now then you likely don't know you have to use them to "tap" out or leave the station when you arrive. So we got to Phillips Arena and were stuck inside the MARTA station. Do you know where the machine is to buy tickets? Yep, on the other side of the gate we were stuck behind. We were in MARTA prison, forced to ride trains forever. Sure we could go anywhere the trains went, but we could never leave...it was like Hotel California of MARTA.

Fortunately a very nice MARTA policeman came along and we explained out dilemma. He laughed but let us out and told us to find him when the game ended and he'd let us back in so we didn't have to pay additional money. The Hawks won, we had a great time and got back home on MARTA without paying any more money, thanks to a couple of other MARTA employees who opened gates for us.

Although I felt like an idiot I thought it was a good lesson for the boys to realize that you can't trust everyone, but there are still people out there willing to help when you are down on your luck.

Bracketology

That's what ESPN calls the March Madness NCAA Basketball Tournament. The boys and I are doing a Fantasy bracket via Yahoo! We've each picked winners in all of the games and when it's all said and done the one with the most points wins. What does the winner get? Well, if Andrew wins I owe him $5 and Matt has to take out the trash 5 times for him. If Matt wins I owe him $5 and Andrew has to do the dishes 5 times. And if I win...I get a 10-minute massage from Andrew and $5 from Matt. Anyway it ends I'm a winner...either I get a massage and money, or I get to watch one child appreciate the chore of the other. And the best part - we are all doing something together. I love college hoops!

They're Blogging like Flies

Dropping like flies didn't seem quite for me to introduce yet another blogger convert. I'm taking full credit for this one as I have been bugging Kim to get to blogging for months. So check out life with the baseball/softball loving Dowell clan at Who's on First?

Political Correctness

In thus an election year, I thought it best for me to post some important information on political correctness. So relax and take a break from deciding if you should "go bitch" or "go black" (sorry for the language but I so loved hearing that on Saturday Night Live - I nearly shot diet coke out of my nose) and be either entertained or chagrined by the following tips:

HOW TO SPEAK ABOUT WOMEN AND BE POLITICALLY CORRECT:
She is not a 'BABE' or a 'CHICK' - She is a 'BREASTED AMERICAN'.
She is not a 'DUMB BLOND' - She is a 'LIGHT-HAIRED DETOUR OFF THE INFORMATION SUPERHIGHWAY.'
She has not 'BEEN AROUND' - She is a 'PREVIOUSLY-ENJOYED COMPANION.'
She is not an 'AIRHEAD' - She is 'REALITY IMPAIRED.'
She does not get 'DRUNK' or 'TIPSY' - She gets 'CHEMICALLY INCONVENIENCED'
She does not have 'BREAST IMPLANTS' - She is 'MEDICALLY ENHANCED.'
She does not 'NAG' you - She becomes 'VERBALLY REPETITIVE.'
She is not a 'TWO-BIT HOOKER' - She is a 'LOW COST PROVIDER'

HOW TO SPEAK ABOUT MEN AND BE POLITICALLY CORRECT:
He does not have a 'BEER GUT' - He has developed a 'LIQUID GRAIN STORAGE FACILITY.'
He is not a 'BAD DANCER' – He is 'OVERLY CAUCASIAN.'
He does not 'GET LOST ALL THE TIME' - He 'INVESTIGATES ALTERNATIVE DESTINATIONS.'
He is not ' BALDING' - He is in 'FOLLICLE REGRESSION.'
He is not a 'CRADLE ROBBER' - He prefers 'GENERATIONAL DIFFERENTIAL RELATIONSHIPS.'
He does not get 'FALLING-DOWN DRUNK' - He becomes 'ACCIDENTALLY HORIZONTAL.'
He does not act like a 'TOTAL ASS' - He develops a case of 'RECTAL-CRANIAL INVERSION.'
He is not a 'MALE CHAUVINIST PIG' - He has 'SWINE EMPATHY'
He is not afraid of 'COMMITMENT' - He is 'RELATIONSHIP CHALLENGED.'
He does not show his 'CRACK' – He has 'REAR CLEAVAGE'

A Real Writer

Ok, this fellow left a comment on my blog so out of curiosity I checked his out. Mail Call was the first of his posts I read and now I am hooked. So, check it out, but be warned, it's lengthy and heart-wrenching.


**UPDATED 04/11/2008**Thsi guy removed his blog, so guess he doesn't really want to be a writer after all. SORRY!

A New Convert

I'm sure Deanna had more to do with this conversion than I did, but whatever it was be grateful. My friend Angelee now has her own blog. Get her insights and some inspiration here Garner Antics

Are You A Good Apple?

My friend Kim sent this to me. I so loved it I thought I would share it with whomever reads my random thoughts:

Apples & Wine

Women are like apples on trees. The best ones are at the top of the tree. Most men don't want to reach for the good ones because they are afraid of falling and getting hurt. Instead, they sometimes take the apples from the ground that aren't as good, but easy. The apples at the top are thinking something is wrong with them, when in reality, they're amazing. They just have to wait for the right man to come along, the one who is brave enough to climb all the way to the top of the tree.

Now men...men are like fine wine. They begin as grapes, and it's up to the women to stomp the shit of out of them until they turn into something acceptable to join with for dinner.