Vacation: All I Ever Wanted

Sorry for the lack of updates but I was on vacation last week and working in Elgin for a couple of days the week before. So, here is a brief rundown of the last week or so.

Friday, 6/17 - I was in Elgin working on bank merger crap. I knew ahead of time that I was going to be there late so I was able to procure a hotel room for the night, as I had to be back there at 7:30 the next morning. They provided beef sandwiches for dinner and we got to work. As it turned out we finished our work early and everyone headed to a bar around the block from our hotel. The corporate card was out, (not mine as I never want one of those) and I put a couple away and headed back to pass out in my room at the luxurious Hampton Inn of Elgin.

Saturday 6/18 – I did make it in at 7:30 but I was pretty useless. I had a jelly donut and got to work. After awhile I forgot I was hung-over and plowed through the rest of the day. They bought us stale deli sandwiches for lunch and we got out of there around six o’clock. It is an hour drive so by the time I got home I really wanted to just grab a quick bite and go to bed which is what I did.

Sunday 6/19 – My mom and step-dad took my brother and I out to eat for our collective birthdays. Mine being the 23^rd and Vince’s being the 13^th. We went to Capri, which is usually a slam-dunk, but I had a bad meal. I have had their Vodka sauce a number of times and it has been out of this world. Unfortunately, it really sucked. As a matter of fact for the first time in years I sent a dish back. What I got in return was not any better and I chocked it down vowing to never order that sauce there again.

Monday 6/20 – I started my vacation with a phone call in the morning that our new fridge was being delivered. We had bought one the week before from a Sears Outlet in our area. So, I had to hurriedly transfer all the contents of the fridge into some coolers and then back into the fridge once it was delivered. I then grabbed some lunch at Duke’s and decided to head to the theatre to catch Batman Begins. The movie rocked and gave me hope for the new Batman series as this blows away the Burton film from 89.

Tuesday 6/21 –I had a dentist appointment so, I headed over and got a check-up. I found out my usual dentist who has to be at least sixty was in Iraq. So, he had a filler dentist in the office. He was real young but, nice. I mentioned I was a Cub’s fan and he then proceeded to talk to me about the team while he was doing his thing. I guess the fact that all I could do was mumble a un-huh to everything he said was good enough for him. I then farted around the house and grabbed some a soup and salad from Dominick’s for lunch. Later that night the wife and I went to Billy Boy’s where I had the worst Gyro I ever had in my life. I then put in I Heart Huckabee’s, which might be one of the worst movies I ever sat through.

Wednesday 6/22 - I headed to Menard’s and bought all of the supplies to build some shelves in my garage. I purchased some bracket’s the shelves, a level and some screws. I then started putting them in using the new electrical drill I got from my Mom and Lou for my birthday. In the middle of doing this project I grabbed a sub from Sub City. With the help of the wife I got the shelves done and headed to my softball game. The team had been playing much better but we picked the worst week to have a real clunker of a game. We got our ass kicked 13-4. I went 1-3 and after being on a hot streak with the bat found myself back in a funk. I hit the Castle (the bar that sponsors us) and then headed home for the evening.

Thursday 6/23 – It was my 36^th birthday. Birthdays get less and less special as one gets older. My wife was kind enough to spoil me by buying me a new bag for work, a mirror that does not fog so I can now shave in the shower, and gift certificates to Best Buy and Borders. The Best Buy certificate was burning a hole in my pocket so I went there and blew it on some DVD’s. I picked up Snatch, Anchorman, and Casino. I then headed back to Dominick’s for lunch where I grabbed a ham and swiss sandwich and a salad for lunch. Joyce came home and took me out to dinner for Ribs at the Pit in Hickory Hills. My friend Wally called and invited me out for some beverages at Totino’s in Orland. I had a couple and played about ten games of Bag’s. At some point the bar turned into The O.C. as we were the oldest people in the bar by ten years. As if I needed another reminder of how old I am.

Friday 6/24 – I had plans to do some work outdoors’ but it was hot as hell out so, I limited myself. I went to the batting cages to work on my swing a little. I then went to Jewel to and grabbed some of their chicken. I did the dishes and cleaned up some messes that I had made during the week and when Joyce came home we went out and grabbed dinner at Ichiro a Japanese restaurant in Orland. Joyce being a Sushi fan really liked it. I thought it was all right but I think I ordered the wrong thing. We then went home and relaxed for the evening.

Saturday 6/25 – I went to the Cub’s-Sox game at the Cell. I expected the worst as the Cubs have been playing like crap and the White Sox just don’t lose. I got there early at partied with my posse on the grassy knoll in the parking lot. We grilled some Italian sausages and had a couple of beers. I went in to watch as Aramis Ramirez hit a first inning grand slam and Greg Maddux pitch a good game, which led to my beloved Cub’s beating the Sox. Of course this did not stifle the idiot factor of Sox fans but I will post my thoughts on them at another time. I went back out to the parking lot and waited for the traffic to die down with my posse. I eventually headed home where my wife was waiting. She needed me to drive her to Melrose Park, where her mom was, (her Mom takes care of an older lady there) so that she could get a hair cut. Not wanting her to drive there by herself at 8:00 I did so. There I met Mary a nice old lady whose dog Carson seemed to be infatuated with my right leg. I kept trying to discourage Carson but he was in love. Eventually I rebuffed his advances enough and was able to read the book I brought and head home.

Sunday 6/26 – Sadness set in as I realized I would have to come back to work. It was brutally hot but the wife and I still decided to hit the Hickory Hills street fair. All in all it was pretty lame and we got out of there after about a half hour of dying in the heat. We grabbed lunch at Billy Boy’s and this time I played it safe and grabbed a grilled cheese. We headed home and I watched the Cubs beat the Sox again and I finished putting some chairs together that Joyce had bought at Target. We were both tired and not wanting to cook I grabbed a pizza from Fasino’s while Joyce ate some Tai food. I watched the new episode for Entourage and went to be sobbing knowing I would be back here today.