Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Hold Your Glass Up, Hold It In

Stinky took this photo of me before we went out for dinner tonight. She didn't use a flash, so my skin is looking a little on the red side. Maybe I can stand next to all the orange people who have been fake tanning for Spring Break and we can try to make a rainbow.

Today was better in general. I got my car back, even though it cost me money I didn't really have. I don't drive all that much, but there are kids to cart around and groceries to get, so I really need my grocery getter.

While I was tooling around picking up Stinky, I missed a call from my friend Colleen. I called her right back and she said she was in Cedar Rapids visiting her mom in the hospital. She didn't want to impose, but she really needed to get out of the city of 5 smells and not eat hospital food and maybe get drunk. She wondered if it would be possible to hang out. I told her to come down and eat dinner with me and Stinky and I would be happy to get her drunk. I'm a really good friend that way.

We zipped back from the store, and since Colleen didn't want to make decisions, Stinky was the decider and said we should go to Micky's to eat. Colleen's been going through a lot lately, and she was a little disoriented, but that just meant I had more to tease her about. We ate and since she's a junior high counselor in an inner urban school in NYC, she got out of Stinky that she did poorly in a couple of her courses. Ooops. Stinky loves Colleen so much, that she couldn't even be mad at her. I'm sure she'll resent the hell out of me when she receives her negative reinforcement, though.

In the end, Colleen was really too out of it to drink. So, we called it a night and went home.

I'm sure you'll all be thrilled to know that I started my taxes tonight. I couldn't get very far, because I needed to get on the computer and Coadster was already on writing a paper. Hopefully, I'll have all tomorrow evening to get them done. As always, wish me luck.

I did get to have a long phone conversation with Erik tonight and that was great. He's been kind of busy the last couple of days, so it was good to even be on the phone with him, not really saying anything super deep.

19 comments:

rel said...

Churlita,
Ya, it's funny how somethings slip when you're just talking along with someone and...oops it's outta the bag.
D. picked up some here-to-fore unknown (by us) juicy tidbits about J. and his first marriage just by listening and not even probing.
rel

Anonymous said...

Glad to hear about getting the grocery getter back.
You are the good friend in that you wanted and tried to get her drunk. Though she was not up to it, you still made the effort.

Anonymous said...

PS, I am glad you specified the flash was not on or I would have thought that maybe you had been "tanning" in a malfunctioning tanning bed.

Mr Atrocity said...

OK, if you're red and you know some tanorexics who are orange I can probably fill in the role of blue given the complete lack of sunlight I've experienced recently. Just a few more colours to go. Anyone seasick or hungover we know who can do green?

NoRegrets said...

I can't blame my red/pink face on lighting... lucky you. :-) You look great of course.

Tara said...

That's a great photo of you, with or without the flash. Looks like you were ready to hit the town for wining and dining. It was good that your friend got to get away from the hospital and unwind with you and Stinky.

DJSassafrass said...

I miss Mickey's too...and getting drunk and Mickey's! I am cruising through IC a couple times this month (ever so briefly) and now it is settled that I will have to stop at eat there.

Brando said...

the city of 5 smells

LOL, so true. I remember the first time I saw the "City of Five Seasons" sign, I suggested the fifth season was Ennui.

Sorry about your car. Brake work always breaks the bank. Now I know why Fred Flinstone used his feet.

Princesse Ecossaise said...

When a friend in need wants to get drunk and you provide the drink, that makes you a good friend in my book!

Also you are very photogenic, you're a 'yummy mummy'!

laura b. said...

Sounds like a fine evening that was both fun and useful!

I hope your friend's mom will be out of the hospital soon. It is a very depressing environment.

booda baby said...

That was nice, to visit Micky's. Sigh. That was about as upscale a bar as I'd ever go to.

russ said...

Hello , this is Russ M.. Me ,Vince and Ken were trying to figure out who you are. There were some clues in your story about us in alsip but we have no clue

Churlita said...

I'll answer Russ now and everyone else later, kay?

I used to live on the street directly behind Ken K. I won't give out my name and expose my secret identity, but my nicknames were Flea and A rat (which is my name spelled backwards. Paul Racine had another nickname for me but it wasn't very nice. My brother was in your grade. Does that help at all?

russ said...

That would be ridgeway. Now I know how is Bill doing? Does he still live in the area

Churlita said...

Exactly. He's a financial analyst and lives in Madison. He's still as feisty as ever. What are you guys doing now? That all seems so long ago...It's so cool that you found this.

russ said...

Vince is a sprinkler fitter I do sheet metal and Ken is a mailman.
I still hang out with them. Sometimes Eric flores is with us.
You'll be happy to know the "bain" of your existance Mike Smolek is in and out of jail. Does Bill still talk with John Ruff

Churlita said...

That's great that you all still hang out. Mike was only the bain of my existence in jr high and we were all little shits back then. I don't think I would have predicted any of those careers for you. I figured you'd be a hockey player or something.

Bill talked to John in college, but I think John was a little more into church and my brother was into drinking back then. I don't know if they've spoken since.

russ said...

Please tell Bill we said hello.

Gotta go later

AlienCG said...

Sorry to interrupt the conversation, but I'm inserting a comment here.

It's always nice to get your car back. It helps for such tasks as getting groceries and kid picking up.

I hope your friend is in better spirits soon. I know you tried, though.