Author: Justin

Random Friday

As I sit on my porch, listening to the rain, I’ll kind of write a debriefing of my night.

I left work around 7:00. I went to A’s house for a little bit. She had dinner, so I planned on waiting until after I left. Around 9:15, I arrived to a social event in a bar to which I’ve never been.

It didn’t take me long to get bored there. Basically, I was hungry, and when I’m hungry, I can’t socialize or relax. So I went to Calhoun Square to find some food and ended up with a small snack.

I was thinking about going home, but I knew if I didn’t “go out”, I’d probably get antsy later. So I headed back to the bar.

It was a new bar and was pretty cool, but really crowded. That’s why I left – I originally intended to get food at the new place, but they didn’t really have service (do they even sell food?).

I met several new friends. A couple guys, a couple gals, and I saw a couple people I haven’t seen for a while. It was good., and no one carries grudges, which was good and knowing so let’s bygones be bygones. At least for me.

Another friend was nearby, so I joined him for a drink at another bar. Eventually, I left him to drive to another place in Uptown called The CC Club (yes, another bar). Definitely not my kind of place, but it was cool. I would totally not fit in if I wasn’t with my buddy.

We hung out there, and before I knew it, it was 1:30. Time flies.

Tomorrow is a ballroom event I might go to. It’s at 8:30, but I can do those kinds of things (not get much sleep) because it’s not tax season!

Goodnight!

Fall Busy Season Celebration

On April 15, I went to Bar La Grassa and Freehouse with Lesya. It was an awesome time!

The spring deadline is great because if you have clients who are being a pain,  you just extend, and everyone’s okay with that.

In the fall, there is no extension. If a return is filed 5 minutes late, it’s an automatic 5% penalty.

This year, for me, 10/15 ended at around 11:40. My celebration involved going to the only fine dining open after midnight, getting a McFlurry, going home, and watching a movie (side note: Reasonable Doubt is a pretty badass movie).

But my Friday I had “off”, so naturally, toured potential offices for my business.

In the night, I misunderstood my friend and thought we’d hang out, so wasted it waiting for her to get back to me. While waiting I cleaned part of my house.

I’m now having dessert at BWW and watching the end of the Wild game.

 

Reverse Stalking

Several years agoI developed a new technique I called “reverse stalking”. I’ve used this technique, and I’ll just say that it does no good but takes a lot of time.

At that time, I liked this girl, but it didn’t happen, and I was stuck on her for a bit after it didn’t work.

At this time, my Sunny Spirit blog was substantially unknown. Me, being who I am, I still emailed her. I’m sure I told her about my blog because I remember promising to nor put Google Analytics on there so she could view it without my knowing. I never did because I was certain she was smarter than that and would just see it in the HEADER.

But okay, I didn’t have a job so had a lot of time. I never used any analytics, cause I keep my word. BUT I was on the up & up on technology in the early 90s, when the Internet was invented.

Talk to any computer person, while Windows (or whatever GUI you’re using) is nice and gives a lot of options, MS DOS is where you go to do big jobs. Everything is still very DOS driven.

The internet is similar, in that its old infrastructure is still there. So while I didn’t have any analytics, I still had raw IP Address logs.

Before you knew it, I refreshed my IP numbers and could tell when someone visited my blog from Verizon in Saint Paul and Minneapolis. Even smaller cities like Shakopee or Eagan had unique IP addresses.

It was a very strange time for me. The thing that would’ve helped me best is if I just calmed down, but I couldn’t.

Then I got busy and stopped caring who visits my blog.

I think this illustrates an interesting point about today’s society. There is tons of information available, but it’s absolutely necessary that no one search too hard. I think that would kill it.

Point is, just let things be, and everything will be more natural and everyone happier.

Cheers!

 

 

Running Crazy

I had a most interesting 5K on Saturday night.

It was actually kinda crazy but mostly fun. “Fun at a 5K?!” you ask. Yup, it’s possible.

It was truly interesting. At the Nation Night Run, it’s not about the run. I’ll tell you about it.

I met A there, and we checked in. On the way to the start line, I introduced her to an old friend from back in the D-Days named vodka-Red Bull.

We then went to the starting line. Many of you know that I’m bad carrying liquids because I walk like a troll. That’s not the case when I’m “out”. For whatever reason, when I’m holding an adult beverage and I’m walking quickly, not a drop spills.

One look at my shirt will tell you that is definitely not case when drinking while moving fast. But I can definitely run while holding my drink.

Eventually, we got to the first music station. There was a DJ there, and we just danced in the crazy lighting.

Eventually, we left and went further on the course. Now the course was interesting. It was at Canterbury. We started on the horse track, but being less lazy than horses, we kept going, eventually running around the stables and various machine shops.

We went to another dance station. The whole 5K took a long time – possibly two hours (I wasn’t tracking time, and there was not a running chip in our numbers).

Well, at the third dancing station, I got a Saga, A got an EPA. THEN WE DANCED.

Okay, we kept going after a while, and then there were outhouses along the course…. with a 20 minute line! (For those who don’t normally run 5Ks, they usually take around 30 minutes and have no outhouses/booze)

We finally got to the end, where there was a giant after party. We stayed and danced there until it was over. A was jumping around like a maniac. I was getting tired and starting to question my usual bottomless, youthful energy.

It wasn’t until the second to the last song that I realized the problem. The music they were playing all night was mostly electronic techno. Basically pop songs with a techno remix.

I thought I was a tired old man….. But then they played Roxane by The Police, and I was spazzing around like my normal self. It turns out that Iwas not slowing down because I was low on energy, but I was slowing down because of my age. Apparently, I prefer good music.

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The Woman for Me

I don’t know who is the right woman, but I do know about her.

She may be someone I already know (or am talking to her every day but need to spend time with her to know her), or perhaps I have yet to meet her or meet her again.

I read an article and thought, “Hell yes!” It was written for a female audience, but I identified with it in some ways.

Capture

Now, I’m going to say I’m a ‘Goddamn Warrior’, but the article describes me and, the reason I’m writing, the woman I think would be right for me. In short, someone who’s stubborn and crazy. I’ll run through some quotes:

“When it comes to taking bets on your heart, he is going to be high stakes—all the way.”
I have usually done this, but I just need a woman who won’t hold back either.

“This warrior of yours will crave your strength, and your intensity.”
Most women feign from intensity. I love when I have a conversation, and the smiles get bigger and bigger and quicker and quicker, as if it’s leading to some kind of conversational climax.

“[He] won’t be someone that you can manipulate or play with as you have in the past.”
While I’m a high stakes kind of guy (above), I’m terrible at playing games. Some people play games to slow down the “getting to know you” process. My subtleties have a shelf life of about a week.

“The difference is, unlike the others, he isn’t going to be scared off.”
Talk to women I’ve liked. I don’t scare, I don’t quit, sometimes to their distress….. (as in “just stop calling/trying to rendezvous”, not “I filed a restraining order”).

“Don’t try to run this time.”

If she runs, she shouldn’t run too fast because i should be able to catch her. But she should run, meaning 5Ks. That’d be solid fun.

“[He needs to know you’ll] still be there when he craves his freedom and ventures off into this world for a bit. You won’t always need to follow him, just as he won’t always follow you.”
I’ve become a very independent person, and it’s best if she was too.

A woman can be stubborn, and that’s fine. She doesn’t ever need to lose or give up. As the Piano Man explains:
She never gives out
And she never gives in
She just changes her mind

Life is awesome.

P.S. I’m a fucking warrior. I don’t need to numerate my badassness.

Renaissance Festival Future

Ren Fest 0

There seems to be confusion about what’s going on with the Minnesota Renaissance Festival.

Is this it’s last year? Is next year? Will prices go up even more?
I spoke to an insider and have the answers.

First of all, no, this is not the last year. One of my clients is a partnership that has very strong connections in the leadership, so not only did I get several tickets to visit, but I also talked to Gregory, the man who is in charge of the partnership, and this is what he said:
The Ren Fest will definitely be there for the 2016 season. The lease on the lad expires after December 31, 2016.

Ren Fest 1However, the developers are looking at other land, and he said the most likely parcels are within 15 miles of the current one.

Further, the Ren Fest will buy the land, instead of leasing it.
More importantly, he said that should lead to such non-Renaissance luxuries such as running water and electricity. I’m pretty sure the electricity will be for things like ovens and credit card machines.

He told me more interesting things about the Fest itself. He said the shops are actually owned by the merchants. As such, one of the considerations the festival is making is how much to comp people for their shop.

Ren Fest 2Gregory told me that some shop keepers have been there for over 30 years (it opened in 1971), and see the move as a natural end to a good run.

Naturally, this makes room for ‘new’ and ‘innovative’ Renaissance artisans (quote because it’s the Renaissance, folks. There’s nothing new about it).

He told me that as buildings and shops needed replacement, for the last 5 years or so shops have been build with kind of a detachable fou
ndation.

He assured me that the Renaissance Festival is not going awayanytime soon, so we’ll all be able to go to it and see what we love.

Ren Fest 3

Civilized in Saint Paul

Yes, you heard that right. I am one of the few residents of Saint Paul with a civilized mailbox.

First of all, let me describe:

20150919_120239-1_resizedIn fancy neighborhoods, like Midway, the mailman or mailwoman walks up to each house and delivers mail at the front door into a slot. About 70 years ago, someone decided it would be a good idea to deliver it to the front of the house, not necessarily the door. It was more insulated.
That was a great idea. In theory, Let me show you a futuristic computer graphic of this concept:

Mail1
Red is the outside slot. Mail is easily taken from the inside.

Unfortunately, this makes the mail slot have a very low capacity.
Well, our postal couriers, being the clever folk that they are, plus they don’t have time to figure out every single house, like to find a magazine, roll it up (or fold it in half), and stick the letters, client checks, and whatever else you have, and just jam it in the slot. Another technical schematic is needed:
Mail2So I had the task of making it bigger.

It must have been installed before the house was finished, because there was a large metal box in between the walls.
First ripped off the front slot. You can see the top of the metal box.

20150919_120245_resizedHere;s what the inside looked like (sort of):
20150919_120336_resizedThe wall was in the way:
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You can see the metal box in the prior picture, If you can’t, it’s better in this one:

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Now to make the replacement. For a couple days, mail just went into a basket that I set on top of the insulation to help guide mail onto the floor (it rarely caught it)

20150919_134137-1_resizedAt the store (Saving BIG Money, as one can only do in Midway), I got materials to make a new, bigger, better mail slot (I call it a “mail box”). I needed wood, trim, paint, a hinge, and a knob. I was looking at knobs and saw the perfect one. I loved everything about it.

Except I was looking to spend $2.50 on a knob, so I chose something a little more boring.

 

In the end, with a little fanagling and lot lot of help from my Dad, I had a quality finished product so I can finally have a good mailbox.

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Problem for three yeas solved! Thanks for the help Dad!

Oh So Happy

I just had an awesome night at the American Swedish Institute tonight.

The ASI is a big mansion. Tonight they threw a big party they call Cocktails at the Castle.
I went to it with one of my ballroom dance friends, Meredith. I knew there was dancing there, and I knew she’d be up for some random dancing, which she totally was. And yes, she’s just a friend.

There was a concert – a guataring duo, on the Veranda (pictured)

The Gothenburg Combo
The Gothenburg Combo

It was rock ‘n’ roll theme, but they had some really good music. Naturally, there was a room in the mansion dedicated to ABBA (a band from Sweden, btw).

I started the night with a 25% charge on my phone and forgot my charger. That’s why I don’t have many pictures.

But some of the details were just super fun!

There was a tent there called The Dance Shanty.
Initially, Meredith danced with me in there. We did some swing dancing and a little disco. It was just big enough to do them, so we did. Not for too long. Then we explored the mansion. We saw a really cool aeralist on a string performing. Meredith said she used to do that sort of thing, too (cool).

Aerialist

Eventually, she got tired and read in a quieter area upstairs. Then she just let me buzz down and have fun.

HumanMarionetteHgSo I did. There was a human marionette. It was so cool and fun! I’ve ever really seen it done like this.

Then I went into the Dance Shanty again. I’m incredibly happy right now. This is awesome because everyone else loves it. I mean, I’m just myself. and when I’m happy and having fun, I’m a total goof.

I was in a state I call “shit-full-of-energy”. Maybe it’s because of the music, maybe it’s because of the wine, but I could move fast.

Anyways, I was dancing like a super happy energetic person (“silly, goofy spaz”), and everyone loved it. I can’t explain what happens, but when I look at someone, they return my look of cheerfulness. We hang out, often dance together for a little bit, then I move on. I’m just there to have fun, not make connections (even though I got a couple of business cards). The Dance Shanty was packed, meaning I just jumped around with everyone else. Although, there is usually room for me to do a quick spin (read “spaz” above)(I love my shoes because I am very agile in them. They’re business shoes, bought because they have smooth leather souls and allow me to move).

Eventually, Meredith came down because I told her she had to check it out. Initially, we went into the Dance Shanty for a little bit. Then, as we were going to leave, there was awesome music in the front area. At the point, I was in my essence, so she told me I could go dance for a couple songs. And I did, and people loved dancing with me. Again. Definitely a weird night!

I love that place. In general, I’m going to get more involved soon.