Angie’s Drama

Last night (Wednesday) found Rob and I home for the evening. We cooked a great meal. Meal probably isn’t the right word since technically we just had stuffed peppers but I guess they are a meal unto themselves. Anyhoo, it was my first time attempting the dish and I had found a great South Beach diet-friendly recipe. The dish turned out terrific but between the prep time and cooking it took almost two hours. It just seemed like a lot of work for four peppers. Thankfully there were plenty of Bacardi and Diets to pass the time.

Unfortunately, there wasn’t a new episode of Top Chef last night. They did, however, run back-to-back episodes which let Rob catch up on the season. So, we made it to last week’s “Thanksgiving” episode when our power went out. Damn the rain. Thankfully, Rob has the largest spotlight for his boat and it completely lit the house. We also lit a ton of candles and stared out the window trying to figure out who had electricity and who didn’t. I woke up at 7:00am to the sound of chainsaws-still no power. Finally by 9:30am we had power back. We spent nearly twelve hours without electricity. Ahhh, good times. I have no idea what happened but I can say I’m pretty damn grateful for electricity. Of course, when the rate freeze is lifted you may want to remind me of my fondness when I start bitching up a storm (no pun intended).

I tend to think that I’m a fairly good driver. I’ve gotten one ticket and that was when I was 19 and going 5 miles over the speed limit in Marquette Heights. Seriously. The cop acted like I had committed a felony. On top of that, I once had to get a copy of my driving record for a job interview. I was FREAKING out becuse of that ticket and let me tell you, the woman interviewing me let out the loudest laugh I’ve ever heard because she had never seen a record with 0-9 over the speed limit marked. So, my lack of a driving record and the fact that I have never been responsible for any of the accidents I’ve been in, lends me to think that I’m a decent driver.

The only time I ever get really irritated is when people make boneheaded decisions without thinking-thus, forcing me into a helter skelter state. I’ve now decided that it’s really when people are being selfish drivers or pedestrians that I get upset. Just because I follow the Rules of the Road, why should everyone else have too? Several instances today had me going off on a tangent.

#1) Turning left onto Adams from Liberty with a green light and no oncoming cars, I was forced to stop because the elderly woman with a cane decided that the red palm flashing meant walk and I could wait at a green light. What if someone had cruised up behind me, expecting me to be moving and hit me? Then I would have hit the elderly woman with the cane whose family should really be taking her around to run her errands anyway.

#2) Right after that lovely delay, I had to stop on Adams because a young man decided to cross the street in front of my car which had yet to make it to the light. No really, let me stop MY CAR from hitting you because you’re a selfish a-hole.

#3) On North Street (always-always have a problem on that street), I had to brake because another young man decided to cross the street in front of my car.

#4) Everyone in the parking lot at Avanti’s (Rockwood location) was ridiculous. A parking lot is not the area to go full throttle. Several cars nearly creamed me. They didn’t care. A family-mom, dad and two kids crossed right in front my path without even looking at my car, let alone trying to protect the kids.

I’m hoping tomorrow’s a better day with regards to selfish a-holes but, with the holidays approaching I sincerely doubt it will be. Not looking forward to that.

Okay, I’m not much of a movie person. Yes, I’m a whiz at pop culture and can tell you who was in a particular movie but have I actually seen the movie? Probably not. To be honest, I read so much about them that I already feel like I’ve seen them. I’m really more the type that re-watches movies all the time. I’d rather watch something I know I’ll like rather than risk a couple hours on something that’s iffy. Rob and I don’t go to movies often and we don’t rent them either. We’ve been known to rent something off of Insight now and then but we also have all those premium channels so there are always movie to watch or download. I have two major exceptions this holiday weekend. Bobby and For Your Consideration both opened last weekend in limited release but should be in Peoria this week.

Bobby intrigues me because Emilio Estevez is the director and they shot the movie at the actual hotel he was assassinated in days before it was demolished. It also boasts an ensemble including Martin Sheen (funny how that happens), Sharon Stone, Lindsay Lohan, William H Macy and Anthony Hopkins. Give me an ensemble anytime. Rat Race? Horrible movie but I had see it because it was an ensemble.
For Your Consideration is the new movie from Christopher Guest featuring Harry Shearer, Parker Posey, Catherine O’Hara, Eugen Levy, Michael McKean and everyone that was in Best in Show, Waiting for Guffman and A Mighty Wind. The best movies EVER. They’re the perfect movies to listen to on the portable DVD player if you have a long drive.

Rob had a successful Friday. He shot an eight point buck which he says is the largest he’s ever gotten. He field dressed it (removed the organs) and took it to Alwan’s where shortly, we’ll have tons of deer sausage, steaks and roasts. Rob warned me that the head was in a box on the side of the house. Apparently he wanted to do something with it artistically. Something about the skull and antlers. My jaw dropped when he told me he had to boil it for three hours. No offense, but I’m not about having a deer head in my kitchen. Thankfully, that’s another thing the turkey fryer is good for. So, after boiling the head, he apparently put it in the shed until later. Note to Rob: Check to make sure the door is fully closed and/or there aren’t any extension cords in the way. To me, that in itself is a good story because how many people can say their husband has boiled the head of an animal? But, alas, since our last name is Walker and we always have what is commonly referred to as “Walker Luck” theres more to the story. Rob got back from the store just in time to see Yogi running around the backyard, proudly showing off his deer head. The dog had a deer’s head in its mouth. I could never make this shit up.

http://www.axerecovery.com/
I know several people that could use this.

So, our friend is paying another friend (cash) to stand in line at Walmart until midnight tonight when the Sony Playstation 3 goes on sale. She’s been there since Tuesday morning. Some of you may have seen her picture in the Journal Star yesterday or have heard her interviews with Markley and Luciano on 1470 WMBD. Let me just add that besides the cash she’s being paid, she also has a couple bar tabs available for her use. Really, it’s a pretty good deal for someone with the ability to spend a few days in a chair at Walmart. Apparently the good people at Walmart were pretty miffed by the photo in the Journal Star and the manager proceeded to shout at a WMBD person trying to get a cell phone to Nicole-so she could resume her interviews with Jamie and Phil. We’re not talking massive equipment-a cell phone. WOW. The funniest part of the entire saga is that Nicole is 100% anti-Walmart and here she is spending nearly 60 hours inside of one. I’m pretty sure that after the actions of said manager yesterday, her opinion hasn’t been swayed.

Opening day of firearm deer season. Joy of joys.
I have to admit, it really isn’t that bad since it’s really just one weekend. For a few hours time we may have a stocked freezer of venison. I know everyone’s rooting for the deer sausage this Christmas.

Dear Mr. Big Insurance Company and Large Chain Drug Store,

I know there are so many people out there abusing prescriptions that everyone must be keenly aware as to what is going on. Requesting more than one albuterol inhaler at a time should not be deemed as heretic or an act of lunacy. People loose them, misplace them or sometimes just throw them away. If you have ever watched the movie, “The Hand That Rocks The Cradle” you will see that in several areas of her house, spare inhalers are stored. That makes sense. You never know when you’re going to have an asthma attack and need the albuterol to save your life. I know it has been ten days since my last refill, but like I told you, and my prescription history shows you, I’ve been under the weather. Under the weather usually requires that I hit the albuterol a little more than usual. Going back and forth with me about the fact is kind of redundant since I know I’ve been sick and you can plainly see that I’m currently taking a crap load of drugs-most of which were not approved by said big name insurance company and which I paid out of pocket for. I tend to get nervous, as do most asthmatics, when my inhaler becomes low. Better safe than sorry. I’m not requesting an addictive pain killer, I’m requesting something that can potentially save my life. I’d like to thank you, Mr Big Chain Pharmacy worker, for all your help in this situation. I was so fed up with your back and forth questioning that I didn’t get to tell you that I would pay out of pocket if one of my two Big Name Insurance Companies wouldn’t pick up the tab. Glad to see you have MY best interest at heart. Once again, not a meth-head, not a junkie, not a chick lookin’ for a high, just trying to have peace of mind. THANKS FOR NOTHING.

Growing up, I was always taught to vote Republican. Much of it had to do with my mother working for the Attorney General’s office (when it used to be located at the corner of Main Street and Madison, yes, the old SOP’s and soon to be EuroJacks) and being promptly fired when Neil Hartigan (democrat) came into office. She felt that they had looked up her voter registration and held it against her. I don’t know if that’s true, but there in lies my history of how to vote. Of course, people used to drive around with license plates with a R or D in the corner, so really, how much was secret anyway?
Since then, I’ve decided that I’m more about the individual candidate rather than party affiliations. Rob will vote straight Republican purely for gun rights. I’ll vote for a Democrat if I believe in his/her policy or agenda. Likewise, I’ll vote for the Green Party if I don’t like my other choices.
So, it was disappointing last night to be with Ernie Russell’s party when he made his concession speech. Rob grew up with Ernie as part of the family and I know he really wanted to see him win. Maybe if he would have had more time in the ring, things would have swayed. Favorite Quote: “I love Peoria, I’ll never leave Peoria and by God, I’ll die in Peoria”

Since I spend quite a bit of time driving downtown, I have to say one thing: Please move the damn party bus in front of Big Al’s. At lease once a week, I’m nearly creamed by a car coming out of the alley between the Pere Marquette and Big Al’s. Isn’t there another spot for that thing that doesn’t block all sightlines fromt the alley? Sheesh.