I chose to intentionally hit someone with my car last night

SPEAKING of thugs. The other night during my break at work... around 2:30am... I went to a 24 hr gas station to get some coffee and a pack of cigarettes. It was a stressful night. Coworker tension, another death, general unpleasantness. You get the deal. So I do that. It's really alive for that time of night, which was surprising-- lots of VERY drunk people walking the streets, which apparently was because this is right after all the bars and clubs close in that area. So I finish up at the gas station and leave, but as I'm driving away...

Five or six young punks (late teens early 20's) who were very clearly drunk and MESSED UP surrounded my car in the middle of the street when I was trying to turn at a light and were giving me trouble. One of them had a long blunt object and was making it clear he was putting some serious consideration into smashing one of my windows. They're talking a lot of racial crap. They're black. I'm white. I'm pretty freaked out on the inside, but pretty sure that freaking out on the outside would turn me into a victim pretty damn quick. That whole self-fulfilling prophecy crap. So I don't respond to any of their bullshit, but crack my window and say, "Either you move, or I run you over." This ellicted a wave of crowing and "excitement" as expected, and also as expected most of them moved out of the way. Except for one, who was particularly messed up and aggressive... annnnnd, I hit him with my car. Yeah, I know right. I keep having to repeat that too, "I HIT him with my car...??!?!" Granted, not hard or anything... this was from a standstill, mind you, and I was trying hard not to hurt him, but yet to accelerate fast enough that it was clear I would hurt him. And well... I really would have. He certainly could have gotten out of the way had he wanted to-- he just chose to play chicken and lost. He was fine and all from what I could tell afterwards. It did knock him down, though I think part of that was just cuz he was drunk. He got back up immediately to canter after a little ways and shout some obscenities with his friends amidst their laughter, but yeah... it couldn't have been pleasant. Pretty unfortunate, all and all. Pretty crazy.

Soooo yeah. That's my story. I think now I'm gonna try and forget it ever happened. I just hope no one in the future ever happens to ask me if I've ever hit someone with my car... that'd suck...

New Apartment!

Yeah, so we're moving again. A mere 3 or 4 months later, you inquire? What the? Yeah. I know. I feel the same way-- talk about a whole lot of work. But I think we need to be someplace where the noises of the night don't routinely involve excessive sirens and gunshots. It's worth it.

My tone lacks fervor, I realize... we ARE really excited about the new place, it's just that all the work, finances and details involved in yet another huge life transition are still a bit daunting. This new place in addition to having heat included, onsite laundry, fun local places to go that you feel comfortable walking to, a fantastic view, and a deck on the roof besides for more viewing pleasure (all of which this current place lacks), it will also save us some time (it's alot closer to work/school for both of us), and likely money too. Oh, and we've never observed any thugs over there.

It's located downtown on the east side, two blocks from Lake Michigan near the Marina. We're on the 7th floor, and there were fantastic breezes up there when you open the window, plus it's way brighter because the brick of the neighbor's house a mere 5 ft away doesn't block the light like with our current residence. Nice. Also, it's less than a mile from Columbia St. Mary's Hospital, where I'm in the application process for several positions including in the Med/Surg, Labor and Delivery, and Burn units. At least one of those positions also would enable me to work the same amount of hours (with higher pay), but in 3 nights a week instead of 4... which would be the difference between night and day next school year. I'd be NOT working more nights than I would be. HELLOOoooo SLEEP!

So basically my present future is bursting with opportunity, potential, and brightness... it's just up to me to get the rallying energy together to go for it. I'm quietly optimistic at present with brief flashes of doubt, worry, and indecision. But I suspect in the near future I'm likely to get pretty damn fired up and excited about everything as things start happening... and I can't wait.

Scramble

Lately I've been OBSESSED with playing Scramble on Facebook. Yeah. I know. Facebook applications SUCK. But seriously... Scramble is... sigh. So nice. It's like a generic, online version of Boggle. I love zoning out into the world of words and just getting all intensely focussed on one thing. One thing that doesn't have a myriad of "what ifs" and other possibilities attached to it. Either you see a word, or you don't. No life-altering decisions. No consequences. Just friendly competition, and the possibility of winning (unless you're playing Krista.. she routinely skools me).

Day before yesterday I even discovered that I don't have to be hindered by my lack of a mouse. You can just type the words in and press enter! That really helped my scores. Also, they have "live games" with random people you can just jump in at any time, no strings attached, and practice. I like to refering to it as my "training." But really it's just another excuse to focus my mental energy that would otherwise be expended on worrying into something less.. destructive... when it's not my turn with the friends I'm actually playing with.

I recommend Scramble as a piddly activity to kill stress for anyone going through a rough time with minutes to spare where they want to turn their brain off. Plus, I'd be willing to assert that it's far more productive/less damaging than a more passive form of killing time or distraction like TV viewing or something lame like that.

So yeah. That's all I have to say about that. Scramble. Just do it.

my new favorite thing to say:

Pain is weakness leaving the body.