9.7.99

    Labor Day Weekend was splendid. I got nearly everything done that I wanted to get done. Saturday, I wrote my journal entry in the morning and then T. and I went shoe-shopping. First, we went way out to Northeast Portland to an Adidas outlet. At least, we thought it was going to be an outlet. However, a quick scan of the $75 and up shoe prices told us otherwise. I don't feel the need to give Adidas that much money. Why would anyone? So, we left and ate Popeye's for lunch on the way home.

    Of course, this meant that we still didn't have shoes. So, we made a stop at G.I.Joes. I don't really like G.I. Joes. It's a sports/outdoors/auto store which means that their selections are not always that great. Their prices can be questionable, too. It's a fun place to poke around in once in awhile, though. I did find a pretty comfy pair of Nike cross-trainers for $55 and T. found something for $60. I also got a half-price women's World Cup soccer shirt for $9 and a fleecy, zipper front sweatshirt with hood and pockets for $24. I wanted a pair of shorts but there was nothing attractive for less than $24. I don't pay $24 for a pair of sweat-shorts.

    Afterwards, we went over to a friend's house for dinner and then out to the baseball game. I got tickets through my work so they were free but pretty cheap anyway. The game was fun but I barely watched any of it. There were a couple of good plays, some bases stolen and one kid popped in the mouth from a fly-away ball. The four of us consumed much beer and hot dogs and peanuts.

    Then we went to the Shanghai Tunnel for $6 pitchers of Pabst and the strangest, yummiest kind of nachos we'd ever had. The Tunnel is a place I found back when I worked at Oregon Live. It's not just a hole in the wall but a hole in the ground. If you don't know what you're looking for it's not always obvious where the door is. You walk in to what looks like a three-table restaurant which looks like the front to a Chinese Speakeasy. You head to the back of the restaurant and down a winding staircase to find the bar and poolroom. It's very dark but surprisingly friendly. I'd been to it a handful of times before and it had never been too crowded. However, on a Saturday night apparently it's packed.

    Sunday was a day of getting things done after sleeping in. I worked up some mock-ups for my mom for her new business cards. I tidied many things in the apartment and scrubbed the bathtub and sinks. I cleaned the cat box and brushed the cat. I took a walk. It was all good.

    Monday things got even better and I really think that a three-day weekend is the way to go. T. and I played frisbee and then attempted to fly a kite. The kite we have is pretty standard and not very exciting. We bought it a few years ago when we were wanton, unmarried, college kids on a trip to the coast. We couldn't get it to fly. This time it flew but snapped its dowel on a particularly tough landing. Very anti-climactic. So, we tossed a lacrosse ball around for awhile until T. complained of being cold. My right arm feels cranky today from the lacrosse, though.

    When we got home I made the grand announcement that I would be eating lunch, followed by reading a chapter in my book, followed by an hour nap and a hot bath. T. was looked suitably shocked at the breadth and depth of my goals.

    After bath and dinner of yummy, T.-made meatloaf, we went to see Sixth Sense. The theatre was packed but T. and I got there early and nabbed a prime spot. The movie was really, really, really good. It was frightening and sad. I guess that would be a weepy creepy. I don't know if there's ever been another weepy creepy in the history of movies but maybe this will kick off a new genre. Both Haley Joel Osment, the little boy, and Bruce Willis are excellent. There were a few moments where the boy's behavior was a little over the top but I can forgive it. I think the standout performance has to be the boy's mother, played by Toni Collette. She provided a reality balance to what was going on in the rest of the movie. The twisty ending is good and I didn't see it coming at all. T. saw it and tried to spoil it for me by telling me but I didn't understand what the hell he was going on about so I missed it. Sheesh.

    Go see it if you can. Beware, though, I was a little jumpy afterwards. I kept expecting ghosts to pop out of nowhere.

    I got an amusing email the other day. Apparently, while I was still in Los Angeles, I must have applied for a job at the Statesman Journal for their online content coordinator. It had to have been at least February when I applied. I just now get an email saying that they're ready to do interviews and would like it if I would come in. Are they kidding me? I don't think I will ever understand the business that operates like that. It's just not fair to the applicant to keep them waiting eight months. I guess they figure that it doesn't hurt to inquire after me. After all, I'm either unemployed and looking or not. Feh.