A Weekend of Engorgement and Chance Encounters



First, in answer to the most obvious question, I haven't really been doing much of anything these last few weeks. That doesn't exactly excuse my lack of blogging, exactly, it's merely why it hasn't been first on my list of priorities. That said, I'll fill you in on the exciting occurrences of this weekend, then briefly fill you in on the previous...geez, has it really been four weeks since I blogged?

I exaggerate- it hasn't been that big of a weekend, but it started with us (Shelly and I) going to dinner with my coworker Carola and her husband Michael. Originally set to partake of the Townhall Grill, we sadly found it closed due to an unforeseen UNC dinner. Since there are more eatery-type places in Southern Village than you can shake a stick at, we merely walked a quarter block to Merlion. Contrary to the medieval wizarding images that spring naturally to mind, the restaurant is more in the line of Thai food. The conversation inevitably turning to spicy foods, I allowed myself to be goaded into ordering a spicy dish called Beef Curry Basil. I spent the rest of the meal with flushed face and watering eyes, but I'm not a bit sorry.

Following a night of vivid, curry-induced dreams and even more vivid, curry-induced midnight nature calls, Shelly and I got out of bed and did the same thing we've been doing the last four-odd weekends: Watched episodes of Lost. We're past the midway point of season two and still going strong. We're so hooked on the show that the normal, two-day delay of sending a disc back to Blockbuster and awaiting another just isn't working. We've had to make three trips this weekend to exchange discs and get the next four episodes. Fortunately, turning in the mailed copies allow us to do this without spending anything, thus making this addiction slightly less ruinous than most others. But I'm sure, should I pay a scientist to look, he'd find a gene that would make this someone's fault other than ours.

Anyway, four episodes later, Shelly discovered that,whilst 'Lost' in the oblivion of our addiction, we'd allowed our food stocks to deplete. So, two showers and a mad scramble for a set of car keys later, we embarked on a run to Target, where, in the first chance encounter of the weekend, we found Emily, Arturo, and Lisa, who all seemed taken aback by the presence of actual groceries. No kids, this is not your mom's Target, merely boasting affordable prices coupled with finite stocks- no, this is a Super Target, with every need at your very fingertips, provided you have fingers 300 feet long to reach across the store.

Following the Target Triumvirate, as it came to be called, Shelly and I returned home and passed a quiet evening. This morning, however, we were back in action, by which I mean that Shelly slept until 10:30, after which we watched more Lost. Anyway, once the subject of lunch came up around 11:30, Shelly dimly recalled we still had another coupon for Spartacus in the CH/Durham/Raleigh coupon book, so we clipped it and ventured over to lower Durham.

Arriving shortly after noon, my ingress into the restaurant was arrested by the muffled, eager shout of my name. Looking around, I spotted coworker Laura climbing out of a nearby SUV. After brief pleasantries, we parted ways in the lobby and took separate tables (though 'pleasant' might not accurately describe Shelly's mood; I failed to hear her question as to my colleague's identity three times, after which she assumed I was deliberately ignoring her and stormed into Spartacus without me).

Incident forgotten, Shelly and I both ordered the lunchtime buffet, which, before our arrival, was untouched. I don't know what half of the stuff I picked up is called, but all of it was incredibly good.

Appetites satiated, we departed for the U. Mall, where Shelly browsed Southern Season, having received a $25 gift card for her birthday two months prior. Spending a mere twenty-five in that store is on an order of difficulty right alongside finding an interested party for all my waterfowl news or staying awake during a speech by Al Gore or having little Charlotte over without uttering a plaintive, ear-splitting syllable, but somehow my girl managed it.

Leaving there. we made a quick stop by Blockbuster (if you have to ask why, you haven't been paying attention). My inward progress again was interrupted by an eager "Chris!" Turning, I saw Heena, a loan officer at my branch. Since, in my near year of working at SECU, I've accidentally run into someone exactly once before today, this seemed like a very odd coincidence. Anyway, after another brief exchange of pleasantries (this time unbroken by any Shelly histrionics), we picked up our next Lost disc and went on our marry way.

And that's today, really. Hope all that was interesting to you!

Oh, and just when you thought it was safe to go near the water... there's an amusing waterfowl story to tell! Today, while I was leaving the gym, several mallards, recognizing my bright yellow workout shirt, sprinted over to sidewalk and started trailing me. This is understandable, as there's been very little rain and food is probably getting scarce, but still mildly embarrassing when you're walking through a busy apartment complex. Stopping and feinting towards them did little to break their unswerving devotion, to the point where a random girl leaving the complex laundry mat finally laughed and wondered what I'd done to attract such attention. I mumbled something about 'occasionally' feeding them, and then sped back to my apartment. But, unable to resist such cuteness, I returned several minutes later with an old bag of hamburger buns.

By the way, while on the subject of cuteness. If you're reading this, Erika, Sonny didn't just "happen upon" that UNC shirt you found him wearing when you got home! Just thought I'd solve that little mystery for you!

Well, lo and behold! Blogger has a new feature! I can now put movies up on my posts! It used to be you had to post them on Youtube, which I was loath to do, but now I can apparently upload them directly here! Let's try it out now...

Sadly, every single one of them has since moved on...

Alright, on that note, goodnight everyone!