*In Jimmy John's* "Where's your bathroom?" 'In the Burger King downstairs!'
Christmas and New Year's have now come and gone -- I hope everyone else's were as pleasant as mine. For Christmas Eve I went and hung out with Elise's family aroundabout the Mankato area, a pleasant experience that afforded me an opportunity to see Elise's extended clan in lieu of a twenty-first consecutive Christmas Eve of awkwardly sitting around my grandmother's house. Christmas Day Elise's parents came by our apartment for a rather tasty little brunch and gift exchange, then we headed to my parents' place for an afternoon of eating far too much and additional giftage. I managed to pick up, among other things:
- A large crock-pot, a gift which I've asked for every year since moving out.
- A blender, something which I've wanted since about fifth grade.
- From Elise's mom, the exact garlic press that I had strongly considered buying for Elise. It was also accompanied by a cookbook called "Garlic, Garlic, Garlic" and a number of actual cloves of garlic.
- Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, one of the finest computer roleplaying games I've ever had the privilege of playing. It's also made by the same team that's working on Fallout 3, hence I've been disabused of virtually any misgivings I once had about them inheriting the franchise.
- A full set of D&D 3.5 Edition books which will be used in an upcoming campaign I'm running.
- Several tasteful articles of clothing, including an actual black bow-tie.
- A new wallet with a clear window for one's ID and a slot perfect for inserting one of those picture thingies.
- A quality flask that holds an astounding 7.5oz.
- A nifty gadget which displays the temperature of a bottle of wine, along with the ideal temperature at which such a wine should be served.
- Several 750ml bottles of high-quality beer.
- A copy of the old-school classic Yukon Trail.
For New Year's Elise and I simply hung around our place and enjoyed fine food, good drink, and the superb company of one another. As anyone living within a few miles of the Stone Arch Bridge (and is not deaf) can attest to, a fireworks display is held there at about 9PM and again at midnight. This display was pretty much perfectly framed by the west-facing window of our living room, so we were able to enjoy the show from the comfort of our own home.
Besides that there's not much else to report. It occurs to me that I've become a boring adult person -- on an average day I work 9 to 5, occasionally go to the gym, have a drink or two, muck around on my computer or watch something on the TV, then go to bed. On a weekend I might cut loose and go to a restaurant, bar, or some sort of talking motion-picture house. Otherwise there's not much to say. On the whole, I'm actually quite alright with this. It seems somewhat counterintuitive that someone who was preparing some months ago to make a long-term move to northern Nicaragua to teach sustainable agriculture is now rather happy working for The Man and living a quiet life, but it is nonetheless the case. I had suspected that a life with Elise, no matter how unremarkable or banal it may seem to an outsider, would be a life well worth living for me (and presumably her) and was not to be squandered, risked, or delayed -- I'm glad that this has been just the case.
I do sort of look forward to returning to life as a student, though. I honestly think that even after a few months out of the educational system, my brain has grown weak in a way that no amount of online crossword puzzles, cryptoquips, or newspapers can truly ameliorate.
This weekend I'll be heading down to Madison to see my dear boy Gurst for the first time in some months. It is our intent to hit most every brewery and brew-pub in the greater Madison, WI region in a grand celebration of quality beer a la Sideways. Since the last few weeks at work have been rather hectic while everyone else was either sick or on vacation, I look forward to my own long weekend and leaving these poor son bitches without someone to answer the phone or write correspondence. So long, suckers!
- A large crock-pot, a gift which I've asked for every year since moving out.
- A blender, something which I've wanted since about fifth grade.
- From Elise's mom, the exact garlic press that I had strongly considered buying for Elise. It was also accompanied by a cookbook called "Garlic, Garlic, Garlic" and a number of actual cloves of garlic.
- Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion, one of the finest computer roleplaying games I've ever had the privilege of playing. It's also made by the same team that's working on Fallout 3, hence I've been disabused of virtually any misgivings I once had about them inheriting the franchise.
- A full set of D&D 3.5 Edition books which will be used in an upcoming campaign I'm running.
- Several tasteful articles of clothing, including an actual black bow-tie.
- A new wallet with a clear window for one's ID and a slot perfect for inserting one of those picture thingies.
- A quality flask that holds an astounding 7.5oz.
- A nifty gadget which displays the temperature of a bottle of wine, along with the ideal temperature at which such a wine should be served.
- Several 750ml bottles of high-quality beer.
- A copy of the old-school classic Yukon Trail.
For New Year's Elise and I simply hung around our place and enjoyed fine food, good drink, and the superb company of one another. As anyone living within a few miles of the Stone Arch Bridge (and is not deaf) can attest to, a fireworks display is held there at about 9PM and again at midnight. This display was pretty much perfectly framed by the west-facing window of our living room, so we were able to enjoy the show from the comfort of our own home.
Besides that there's not much else to report. It occurs to me that I've become a boring adult person -- on an average day I work 9 to 5, occasionally go to the gym, have a drink or two, muck around on my computer or watch something on the TV, then go to bed. On a weekend I might cut loose and go to a restaurant, bar, or some sort of talking motion-picture house. Otherwise there's not much to say. On the whole, I'm actually quite alright with this. It seems somewhat counterintuitive that someone who was preparing some months ago to make a long-term move to northern Nicaragua to teach sustainable agriculture is now rather happy working for The Man and living a quiet life, but it is nonetheless the case. I had suspected that a life with Elise, no matter how unremarkable or banal it may seem to an outsider, would be a life well worth living for me (and presumably her) and was not to be squandered, risked, or delayed -- I'm glad that this has been just the case.
I do sort of look forward to returning to life as a student, though. I honestly think that even after a few months out of the educational system, my brain has grown weak in a way that no amount of online crossword puzzles, cryptoquips, or newspapers can truly ameliorate.
This weekend I'll be heading down to Madison to see my dear boy Gurst for the first time in some months. It is our intent to hit most every brewery and brew-pub in the greater Madison, WI region in a grand celebration of quality beer a la Sideways. Since the last few weeks at work have been rather hectic while everyone else was either sick or on vacation, I look forward to my own long weekend and leaving these poor son bitches without someone to answer the phone or write correspondence. So long, suckers!