Not Totally Inept

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Monday, July 10, 2006

Who Wants to Know About My Summer Vacation? You? You Over There? How About You?

Last week, I enjoyed a culturally rich, if shopping counts, vacation to Sacramento, San francisco, and my hometown of Chico. I took part in several adventures and was involved in daring exploits which normally occur only in exciting mysterious novels. Notice that I don't directly mention bestiality or cocaine. The reasoning is, my parents might read this, and I'd rather not chance it. And if you mock me for going to Sacramento as part of my vacation, I will put cyanide tablets in your food. Let me be clear on that point.

The Flight

On the whole, our flight from San Diego to Sacramento was without incident. However, upon my 45th perusal of the Southwest "Sky Mall" catalog, it occurred to me that the products were not improving with each subsequent read. Example of a typical Sky Mall product: The "UV Hawk" (TM), which promises to alert you when UV Light is dangerously high. Seriously Sky Mall, thanks for trying to help--but I think I'll know if the UV's were dangerously high by if I die of skin cancer or not. I'm a hands-on learner, always have been.

It's also possible to purchase the Thermo TempCheck-Hawk(TM), a device which allows you to "instantly and accurately check surface temperatures with the touch of a button." Please. If I think something might be hot, I'll put my entire hand on it for 10 straight seconds. After that, I'll judge for myself, in the emergency room if I have to.

The Wedding

Once the flight was over, and I'd called in my order for nine UV Hawks (TM) and three Thermo TempCheck-Hawks (TM), it was time to attend the weekend nuptials. Call me cynical, or call me a sad little shell of a man, but I think weddings are not any good, because that newly wedded friend is now making decisions based on some random person's happiness that is not yours. What could be worse? Weddings are also a thing which can elicit human emotion, if you are a) homosexual, or b) not man enough to squash these feelings into submission, or most optimally, oblivion. Thus, one must be vigilant. I believe the best method is to think about baseball throughout the entire ceremony. This is especially critical during the vows, as this tactic will prevent sensitivity to anything that might be taking place. Maybe instead of cynical, you should call me brilliant, for coming up with that loophole.

San Francisco/Wedding Aftermath

As is often the case, the betrothals of a day earlier left a caustic aftertaste. In order to cleanse the collective pallet, my roommate and I exited Sacramento in a huff, to indicate that we are bad at relationships and do not understand marriage.

Once in San Francisco, it was time for the procurement of unnecessary consumer goods, in vain pursuit of fleeting, unattainable happiness. That may sound depressing on paper, and it is. What's more, my income level is too low to even procure toilet paper, which is not only depressing, it's unsanitary. Anyway. We ran game on two Nordstrom sales girls with low intelligence quotients, earning an invite to their 4th of July barbeque. We didn't go, but I'm sure we would've had the best time ever. I was looking forward to learning more about barbies and tanning, but my roommate said no. He is boring and unmanageable.

The Promotion

Leaving San Francisco for Chico, my District Manager called. You must understand, it was never my intention that this space be used to trumpet my personal accomplishments, but now I think that's what it should be used for. My first (give or take) act of tactless braggadocio will be to make everyone aware that I have been promoted to Magestic Eminent Warlord Manager of Parkway Plaza Hollister, also known in some circles as "a deceptive and unfortunate career rut." Regardless, I believe I'm now in charge of all beheadings, so I would advise everyone to act right. Those cyanide tablets I was talking about before will seem like candy in comparison.

Chico

What can be said about one of the rockingest hometowns of the last 650 years? Well, this for starters: If you want your eyes to bleed out, and your faceskin stretched back grotesquely, as would a skydiver's, or an astronaut's face when he's blasting off in a rocket, then go to Chico. I guess that's the point I'm making. To all current and ex-Chico homies, I say this: You rock with a fury unseen in modern times. Never forget that.

Back to the Nest

On the flight back to San Diego, I read the SkyMall catalog again, and it still sucked. I've gotta stop doing that.

p.s. To all my married, unmarried, or soon-to-be married friends: This blog is pathetic and farcical. Unlike your weddings, which were, and hopefully will be, lovely. And if I ever get married, you can throw stuff at me while I'm up there.

13 Comments:

At 2:52 PM, Blogger heatherfeather said...

can we throw all textures and weights at you during you wedding? like wet, gooey and heavy things like a vat full of ectoplasm?

or are you going to restrict us to light, dry objects like a quart of feathers?

because i vote for the ectoplasm. it'll make for an extreme wedding.

speaking of which, you should get engaged so i can start collecting ectoplasm.

 
At 5:00 PM, Blogger Lisa said...

Erik,

Just you know......I'm throwing gum at your wedding. Lots and lots of gum....

Glad Chico was all you had hoped it would be! I plan on making a trip up there in the not too distant..........

 
At 7:00 PM, Blogger Erik said...

wow, you guys really latched onto the throwing idea, great. i think it means something, but i don't want to know what.

hf, ectoplasm seems fair. i said you could throw stuff, i'm not about to back out now.

lisa-i'm sorry about the gum thing! you only do that kind of thing to people you like, though. does little johnny pull the ugly girl's hair? sometimes, but not usually. i'm sure you see my point.
anyway, i'm glad we've moved past this. no wait... ;)

 
At 11:31 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

i like this post -- categories of stuff happenin' (tho, apparently stuff only happens once every 2 months or so). would never mock going to sacramento for vacation -- chico, yes, but not sac :). actually should've stopped by where i am (nearby), which rivals chico in being a real hip place to visit (actually, chico has probably a lot more action...).

congrats on being promoted to chief be-header (my favorite thing to do at work).

i've had to quit looking at sky mall. things always look so tempting while one is at 30,000 ft. it makes me want to use the in-flight phone and call up right then and there to place those orders.

and be sure to think of baseball during your wedding. it might help get you in the right frame of mind to catch retaliatory items flung at you and your (lucky, i'm sure) bride.

 
At 11:17 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

At your wedding, I'm going to throw the too-cloyingly-sweet-to-eat Desert Assortment jellied candies that I got in Phoenix this weekend. They come in different colored squares: Prickly Pear, Mesquite Bean, and Margarita. The earlier you marry, the softer the projectiles will be.

 
At 9:33 PM, Blogger Lisa said...

Sorry Erik, I just love to needle, needle, needle.........

I shall not bring it up again......

Actually, I think it would be fun to throw those sticky gel hands. But rice is probably better.....

 
At 10:37 AM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I can't believe your roommate skipped the July 4th party with the Nordstrom girls. What a tool!

 
At 11:49 AM, Blogger SoozeSchmooze said...

I sure hope I get to come to the Wedding Erik...I do wonder where it will be...hee hee..I bet you do to?? ;) Glad you had a great trip and could incorporate so many things in it...I was glad to see you in Chico...and find it sweet that you still think of this as the rockingest hometown ever...I know I love living here.. :)hugs Susie

 
At 6:02 PM, Blogger Blogball said...

Erik, I enjoyed your post.
I do like that Sky Mall magazine. You can always bet they will have one of those long pads that you attach between two twin beds so you can turn it into a king. I always wondered how comfortable that would be if you slept in the middle.

By the way I can’t wait to throw something at you at your wedding. I remember at my wedding you threw bird seed at me about 100 MPH as soon as I walked out of the church. Birds are still swooping down and feeding themselves out of my embedded bird seed pot marks. Hey, how about if I throw one of those Thermo TempCheck-Hawk(TM), devices at you. At least you will be able to instantly and accurately check the surface temperature of your new bride to make sure she’s still hot.

 
At 9:57 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

You're cracking me in half.

Congrats on the promo.

 
At 7:49 PM, Blogger particleman said...

glad to see you got a vacation. so when are you buying stock in Hollister's? and when are you gonna marry one of the customers?

 
At 2:16 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I found your post annoying. Not really, but everyone's all "woo, Erik is so cool" all of the sudden, just because you never post and then when you do it's really funny. Whatever.

Also, I'm going to have to disagree with the "Chico is the rockingest home town" sentiment laid down by you and the soozeschmooze person (if that's even her real name.) Chico is hot, bloody hot. And there's only so much coffee/beer a person can drink, especially if you're over 30 and have a heart condition. Totally not rocking. Unless you consider all the cool people who are from Chico. Then you might have a point.

 
At 12:09 AM, Blogger heatherfeather said...

erik, my back hurts tonight.

please repair.

thank you for your assistance.

 

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