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And people buy this?

November 10, 2008 - 11pm

Found at the grocery store the other night:

 

Here’s a close up of the label:

Yes, that really says “MISC SANDWICH MEAT.”  They didn’t even both to arrange it to look sort of appealing.  As a bonus, it was just thrown in the cooler on top of unrelated food.

I’d have to be really hard up before I’d consider purchasing nameless mystery meat.

Babies

November 7, 2008 - 10pm

I was walking to the front of the office this morning, when I noticed a clutch of coworkers standing around the front desk, blocking my way.  One of my coworkers, with whom I’ve barely exchanged a dozen words with since I started here, had her newborn sitting in her carseat on the floor.  She’d apparently brought the baby in to show her off.

I don’t know if you know this about me, but I’m not really a “baby person.”  I’ve never been around them, I don’t want to hold them, and in general I just do my best to remain as baby-free as possible.  Accordingly, my first thought was “Fuck, am I going to have pretend I give a shit about this baby?  And make awkward conversation about diapers or something?”

Fortunately, at that moment, one of the women saw me coming and stepped back to make way.

“Baby,” she said simply, and–in case I’d somehow missed it–gestured at the baby.

“It sure is,” I replied as I quickly stepped around the carseat, the mother, and the conversation. I didn’t even break stride.

I’m honestly not sure what to make of babies.  With no frame of reference (and really poor conversation skills), I have no conception of what I’m supposed to say or ask about them.

“So, you’ve got a baby, huh?  That’s… great.” 
“It’s like having a really complicated pet, right?  Do you let him up on the furniture?”
“Is she supposed to look like that?”
“Does it bite?”

Does anyone teach basic baby classes? Do they cover this sort of thing in birthing classes? If not, I’m going to be really screwed… assuming anyone is dumb enough to marry me, anyway.

Sigh of relief

November 4, 2008 - 10pm

We won.  Sweet Christ, we fucking won.

I convinced Megan to leave the apartment and go watch election coverage at a bar down the street around nine o’clock.  We’d already had a few before we left, as (preemptive novocaine)/(celebratory drinks).

When the news came in, the other side of bar saw their TV first, and began screaming and clapping.  Our side quickly turned to the TV to see that Obama is the next president of the United States.  Drinks were raised, and strangers were toasted.  There was a powerful feeling of good will, and personally, I felt a weight lift from my shoulders.  Our country is finally on the right track.

We fucking won.

The Marine lesbian who had befriended us, Kee-linn^*, informed us that she was heading out back of the bar to smoke a bowl, and that we were coming with her.  As we walked outside, I could heard cars honking their horns in celebration, and people from blocks around screaming.

I haven’t felt anything like this since I went to the Kerry rally in 2004.  The joy in the air is almost palpable.

^*She wasn’t Asian. That’s just a phonetic spelling of what I think her name was.

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