Hoping For Better Than The Best

      March Madness once again! My bracket is already not looking very good. I like keeping an eye on it. It’s something to do. People are talking about it. It helps me relate, and have something to talk about. I had to turn it off. I was attempting to write this while it was on, but it was too distracting. I’ve been doing this in silence for so long now, that it was too much stimulation. It’s weird to think I used to “have to” have something on in the background, and now I can’t. I thought, since it was “just” sports, that it wouldn’t be a big deal. It was. I’m not even sure why I tried, because, like I said, I’m not really that into it. I like seeing how the tournament works out, but the individual games are not that important to me. My wife likes watching, but to me it’s just a competition, and I’ll watch competition. But apparently, I don’t need to have it on in the background as I write. And now I know that. And knowledge is what I seek. I also feel a little weird doing this on a Friday. I meant to do it yesterday, as usual, but I just wasn’t feeling it. I had to drop my car off at the service station yesterday. My “check engine light” came on. I took it to my mechanic, he said all the codes he received were about the transmission, and recommended a local transmission shop that he trusts. If he trusts them, I trust them. My registration renewal came with a Certified Smog Check requirement. So I have to pass smog, which means the car needs fixed. It drives fine, so I hope it’s not too bad. The lady at the shop said the best-case scenario is $2,800! Yikes! Worst case is $4,800. I hope it’s better than the best. I just had it redone about 6 years ago. This feels jacked up. And they won’t know for a couple of weeks! Hence, I was in a weird mood yesterday. I just want it fixed.

     Last weekend was a bit of a blur. Saturday, we went to another friend’s 50^th. They had a block party. It was pretty cool. They live on a little side street, and got the permits to block off the street, so we could all just wander around the neighborhood. There were 3 or 4 people turning 50, so they had a blowout. There were bands, kegs, a food truck, and lots of people we knew. This was a very similar group of friends that we were with at the 50^th party 2 weeks ago. It was nice to see them all again. It’s funny because until now I never really knew how old any of them were. I’ve known them all for over 20 years, so I knew we were close, but I didn’t know how close. Turns out they’re all the same age as my little sister! It’s been weird spending 2 weekends celebrating people born in 1974, and my sister not being there. She doesn’t know any of the people anyway. I just think she would’ve gotten a kick out of it. She seems like an old lady compared to my friends. It’s weird. I could’ve definitely brought her to the party last Saturday. However, she is on a cruise with my parents. That’s what she wanted to do for her 50^th. A cruise to Hawaii. The same cruise they did about 2 years ago. Except this time, they got to leave from San Francisco. I thought it was weird. The same cruise! Cruising to Hawaii seems lame to me. It’s all ocean! No fun ports, just ocean. I know everyone has their thing, but it seems odd to do the same thing for your 50^th. And with our parents! Those are like her friends. It’s a little sad. And she thinks it’s weird that I don’t get it. I’m a little afraid to see what happens to her when they pass. She is going to be devastated! I hope she’s able to cut the cord.

     St. Patrick’s Day was pretty fun. A little too fun. My wife did not make it to work on Monday. Woops! Luckily she woke up on time to call in and let them know, so she’s not in any trouble, but still, calling in sick on the 18^th of March?! Come on. People must’ve known. She didn’t get any backlash, so that’s good. We went over to our friends Trish and Lincoln. We don’t get to see them very often, even though they only live a mile from us. They’re both in the hospitality industry, and are usually both working weekends, so you know how that goes. St. Patrick’s Day is the one day we usually get to hang out. We’ve been doing it for years. Although, this was the first time since 2019. So, we had a little back up going on. Lincoln is a chef, and so having him cook is pretty awesome. He always does up the corned beef and cabbage. It was a delight. They had it at his stepmom’s house. We had been there before, so we knew people, I just thought it was weird to have it at someone else’s house. When she was done, she drove the four of us back to their house, where things get a little fuzzy. Hence, this week started off weird. And you know how that goes. I did all my Monday stuff on Tuesday, and so on. Now my wife’s sister is in town! Yay! So that’s what we’re doing for the next 2 days. In about an hour, we’re going to visit. Yay! Her sister’s alright. She came down with a friend who wants to scout colleges for her daughter. They didn’t bring the daughter, which I find odd. But apparently, this woman has never left the county she grew up in. She’s never been on a plane, never been in an Uber, nothing! So, she wants to do those things before her daughter has to. I guess it makes sense. This might be another weird weekend. And then next weekend’s a gig, and Easter!