Mission Accomplished

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Days Until I Go Back To School » 14
Big News » Farewell Peter Jennings.

Now, today's story...

Believe it or not, I actually accomplished the few tasks I set out to do today. This is surprising if for no other reason than my plans almost always get derailed by circumstances beyond my control. Well, while circumstances wanted to have their way with me today, I decided to take control.

Or something to that effect.

The goals, as listed in no particular order, were to 1) grab breakfast on the road, 2) replace the cable modem at the Bright House office, 3) go to the bank and steal some money (from my own account), 4) go to the sheriff's office and have my fingerprints done, and 5) take advantage of CVS' three-for-eight-bucks deal on Pepsi.

As geography would have it, the cable company's office was my first stop. It's just north of 60 on Regency and it's not an incredibly large building. Just big enough to house a main office and what assume would be storage for a lot of cable television/phone/internet equipment. Repair trucks making house calls have a big area in the back.

I've been there before and while the parking lot isn't massive, it's never full. I thought I knew what to expect. That's what I get for thinking. All parking spots marked with "Customers Only" signs were taken. None for me. I drove around the building at least four or five times just looking for a place to temporarily store my car. No luck. But no hurry, either.

But the clock was inching ever closer to 10:30 and dammit I wanted a Sausage Egg & Cheese McGriddle. So since my day wasn't running on a schedule, I made a bee line for the nearest McDonald's. I walked in and ordered because in my experience, drive-thru windows call for nothing more than a headache. And I rather enjoy a clear head.

I grabbed my food inside and went back to my car. I was leaving the parking lot when it occurred to me I got bacon instead of sausage. I considered going back in and getting it replaced when I realized, first of all, I don't care. Bacon is as good as sausage in my book. Second, who says I have to park in the Bright House parking lot?

I made my way back down Regency and saw that, while there are no parking lots adjacent to the cable company, there was a great big, empty one across the street. I parked there and did a Frogger to the office. (There's not that much traffic on Regency north of the movie theaters at 11 AM anyway.)

There were a few people in line. I'd guess I was there between 10 and 15 minutes. But again, no rush. As for why I was there, let's just say it doesn't necessarily take a hurricane to screw with the power. The lights flickered Sunday afternoon and then when out. When they came back on, our cable modem did not.

I talked to a BH guy on the phone and he suggested an old-fashioned swap-out. Turns out our modem was an antique anyway and they were happy to make the trade.

If in the future you ever have the opportunity to be manhandled by a lady cop trying to fingerprint you, I highly recommend. Yeah, I think I may have wronged the woman in a previously life based solely on the way she tried to rip off my fingers. Take it easy, chief.

I'm not a criminal or anything. I needed to get fingerprinted for my new job. I guess it's a thing with federal employees. As I understand it, I should be starting my new data entry position with the post office within the next few weeks.

That went off without a hitch, other than to say I was solicited by the Army. A guy cloaked in fatigues sitting next to me in the waiting room at the police station (for reasons passing understanding) couldn't seem to help but heckle me about why I've never considered joining the military. I guess I didn't have a good enough answer because he left me his card.

I'm not good with taking orders and, you know, discipline. Best I steer clear.

On the way home I dropped by the ATM so as to be loaded with cash when making my Pepsi purchase for the month. I kind of like 36 cans for 22 cents each. It feels a lot nicer than dropping a buck in a vending machine. But I digress.

This day, compared with others this summer, was particularly productive for me, which is shocking. If you must know, it was driven by going without internet access all last night. I wasn't sure I'd be able to live through an entire day that way. (The only way I can live without the web is when I'm traveling or already in the mountains. Go figure.)

Far Away: The other day I was yammering on about those Google Maps and sharing pictures of interesting places. Well I thought of a bunch more interesting places to see from the sky. Check them out: Space shuttle launch pad; Niagara Falls; The Golden Gate Bridge; Hoover Dam; Mount Rushmore; and The Eiffel Tower. More later.