My brain is withering away while I'm not in school this summer. This is the first time I've actually thought I shouldn't be wasting a summer away doing nothing. Well, technically I'm not doing "nothing." I'm working around 35 to 40 hours per week, which only barely keeps my head above water 'til the sweet sweet sound of $€₤₣₧₪ comes my way in the form of [STUDENT LOAN]. That should happen 'round August.
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I'm looking forward with great anticipation and furious restlessness-ish (mouthful that) to the release in paperback of Sandworms of Dune, the much anticipated follow-up to Hunters of Dune, both written by the son of legendary Dune creator and author Frank Herbert, Brian (and his co-author Kevin J. Anderson). Finally I will have some closure to this story, which has been lingering in my psyche like an old high school acquaintance at the 10 year reunion near the bar, hoping someone--anyone--will come talk to them.
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I had to take a message at work today, and while taking down this man's name, I was reminded of
[ME] Capel Rugs, this is Jon.
[THE GUY] Hi can I speak to Marie please?
Uh, she's with a customer just now, can I take a message and have her call you?
Sure, my name is Paul Medjiewzcavcrmqrlski.
Ok, [slight pause] Paul--
Here lemme--
Yeah, I need some help--
Yeah, I'll spell it, it's M-E-D-J-I-E-W-
{{during this time I'm in my head attempting to guess at the next letter}}
{{S?}} -Z- {{R?}} -C- {{I?}} -A- {{V?}} -V- {{YES! uh..oops too late}} -C- {{uh..}} -R- {{a vowel?}} -M- {{Damnit!}} -Q- {{Q??}} -R- {{it's still going}} -L- {{And not a vowel to be found...I wonder if it's Polish?}} -S-K-I. {{That seals it}}
Is that Polish?
That's right!
Yeah, I've been there.
Ok--
I'll be sure to give her the message.
Great--
Thanks, have a good one.
This call took approximately 17 minutes.
Well it was funny to me.
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I have adopted a NASCAR Driver! (not to mention a completely different voice--think T. Herman Zweibel--but only for that one sentence.)
His name be #18.
#18 doesn't care what he drives, as long as he's winning. #18 is only ~5 years older than his #, but he knows how to win. Winning is what he has helped Toyota and Joe Gibbs Racing do 5 times this year (plus when Denny Hamlin won, who's also with Toyota and JGR). I don't care that he's with Toyota, I just care that he drives the shit out of his car and is constantly in the mix. He's damn entertaining to watch.
For those of you who don't know, he's also [South Park Southern-Guy Voice] the guy-what-put Junior into the wall at Richmond 3 laps before the checkered, that fucker [/South Park Southern-Guy Voice].
That's important because Junior (Dale Earnhardt's son) is the Anointed One to many NASCAR fans. Lots. Tons. Like, all of 'em. Even me, who rooted for him as he finally broke his 70+ "Cup Points Race" losing streak in Michigan a few weeks ago. Some folks don't like 18, but the fans cheered his victory in Sonoma last weekend, at one of the few NASCAR road races. The kid's a gamer, and he's hell behind the wheel.
Now, if only I could get a #18 sticker for my scooter (which remains nameless), one without M&M's all over it..
