Big Daddy Gouda

I bumped in to a Facebook friend at Cumbies last week. After we exchanged pleasantries she asked me a question I’ve been asked about 15 times over the past month, “So what’s up with the donut girl?”

And I deserve to be asked. I realize I kind of left everyone hanging when I initially posted the story about a month ago.

Well, long story short, I found out she was young. I’m not talking jailbait, I’m taking in her early 20s

That kind of turned me off a bit. Only because it’s my belief that people in their early 20s have a TON of living to do. A lot of parties to go to, a lot of places to travel, a lot of random people to hook up with. And, the last thing a cute 20 something girl needed was a 33 year old reporter who lived alone with his dog. That’s what I convinced myself anyway. And hey, it was an easy out. An easy way to avoid asking her out and an easy way to avoid rejection.

Granted the few people I told this information too were not very sympathetic. They told me it was a lame excuse and I should still just go for it. Alas, my mind was made up and I pretty much put The Donut Girl out of my mind.

On top of that the DD where she worked was starting renovations and closed for a week. I started getting my coffee elsewhere and the cute girl I knew from the donut shop was turning into a nice little memory that I blogged about once upon a time.

Fast forward to today (Sunday)…..

I went to Apple House Quik Mart on the top of East Main. Yes, it’s kind of out of my way but I needed gas and I was up to 30 cents off with my Price Chopper Advantage Discount.

After I payed for my fuel I took two steps from the cash register to the in-house Dunkin Donuts. And, of course, there she was.

The Donut girl was working the drive up window. She glanced over and saw me at the cash register. A huge smile crossed her face, my knees got weak and my heart skipped a beat.

“Walter!,” she said, sounding more excited to see me than I prolly deserved.

She glanced out the drive thru window, seemingly checking for a line. Then, even though there was two other employees working the floor, she left her position and  came over to wait on me.

She had changed her hair. It was darker. I wanted to say something but I thought that might seem weird, so I simply ordered my coffee.

She accidentally grabbed a bit of my finger as I handed over my money and I swear i got hit by lightning. That may sound odd but that’s really what i felt like. It was fast it only lasted a second but it was definitely noticeable.

She seemed flustered as she counted back my change. She messed up the amount. I jumped in for the save. “Just give me $3 and keep the coins,” I said.

She smiled awkwardly and turned red. I stuffed the money into my pocket, thanked her by name and bolted out of the apple house.

I felt a bit foolish, like  I had made an ass out of myself but didn’t know why. Maybe she sensed I was uncomfortable and that, in turn, made her feel odd.

Eh, who knows. All I know for sure is that come tomorrow morning I will once again be driving out of my way for coffee.

Ugh….help.

“To thee open arms of the sea….”

As some of my Facebook friends may already know from my status updates I got sucked into VH1′s 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s countdown the other night.

To be perfectly honest I have a HUGE soft spot in my heart for all things 9os. The songs, the movies, the TV shows, the news items, etc etc.

And I think I know why. Simple really. Because in the decade known as the 90s I was a kid. A naughty adolescent, who developed into a punk teenager and eventually, I like to think, kind of an okay guy.

For people my age, the 90s were our 60s. Like our parents can tell you where they were when the Beatles landed, or for the moon landing or when Woodstock was happening, us 90s kids have similar memories of that decade.

We know where we were the first time we heard Smells Like Teen Spirit. We know where we were when we heard about  Kurt Cobain’s suicide. We remember how shocked yet not shocked we were when OJ was found NOT GUILTY.

The first time I heard Teen Spirit was in drafting class my freshmen year of high school. I found out Kurt Cobain died as I walked into our kitchen and it was announced over my grandparents ancient radio. I learned (ahem) Oj was innocent as I washed up in the bathroom at Keene State College….

I felt really attached to the 90s. That decade feels like such a part of me. Even in the days before the cell phone and iPod I felt much more connected with the world back then. Much more a part of it. I understood it more.

Every song on the radio I knew. Every movie in the theater felt like it was made just for me. When a politician spoke he didn’t want my parents vote, he wanted mine.

Memories that will last a lifetime all happened in the 90s. I went to high school, I fell in love, I lost my virginity, I learned  how to drive, I experienced death when Grampy died, I got drunk,  went to my first concert, all for the first time in the 90s.

Hard to belive the 90s have been GONE for more than 10 years now. So far removed but as I stated, when I hear a song from that decade it takes me right back.

Here are my 10 fav songs of the 90s.

10. Mr Jones by The Counting Crows

9.Man on the Moon by REM

8. Enter Sandman by Metallica

7. Hey Jealousy by The Gin Blossoms

6. No Rain by Blind Melon

5. Alive by Pearl Jam

4. Smells Like Teen Spirit by Nirvana

3. Sabotage by The Beasty Boys

2. Walk On The Ocean by Toad

1. One by U2.

My Top Movies of the 90s

10. Scream

9. Amercian Pie

8. As Good As It Gets

7. Saving Private Ryan

6. American Beauty

5. The Fugitive

4. The Matrix

3. Good Will Hunting

2. Forrest Gump

1. Shawshank Redemption

10 Random Things About The 90s

10: Seinfeld

9. Friends

8. Bill Clinton

7. Oj’s White Bronco

6. Michael Jackson the white guy

5. Pearl Jam

4. The Simpsons

3. The Meadows Music Theater

2. Birth of The Internet

1. 1995

What a difference a day can make.

Friday night I was complaining because I didn’t “party” enough anymore.  Sunday morning I woke up with a headache, dehydrated, wondering who was going to give me a ride to the bar so I could pick up my car.

I didn’t plan to go out. I really didn’t. My Saturday was all mapped out from the time I got up in the morning: Grocery shopping, quiet dinner at home, followed by whichever movie happened to be showing on HBO or CINEMAX.

However, when I got home from Stop&Shop Charlie was over visiting his mother (my landlord) and he brought Grayson. We sat in the back yard, had a few beers, smoked a few cigs and watched Grayson play. Chuck told me he was cooking steaks on the grill later on and to come on over. Well, I can’t refuse steak….

The night at Chuck and Keely’s was fun. Good conversation, great food and a warm fire to top off the night. Around 9:30 I was getting ready to head home when my awesome Blackberry rang. It was Jamie. Her and Jay were considering going to the Tavern to meet with Fife who was in town.

It took a  small amount of arm twisting but within the hour I was bellied up to the bar, flirting with beautiful woman and talking sports with dudes. I had planned on stopping at the bar for A drink but ended up closing the place. Just like the old days.

As I stated earlier I woke up a tad hung over. As I prepared to walk Andy and start making calls to find a ride to my car, Tai pulled up out of the blue to drop off a belated birthday gift and offer a ride to my whip in Litchfield.

So yeah, good things happened this weekend and I didn’t expect them to. Maybe that’s why I had so much fun because I had expected to basically DO nothing. But don’t get me wrong. I was content with “nothing.” I was happy just to have a few days off from work and relieved that the weather wasn’t blazing hot. I suppose the fun times I spent with food, friends and booze was just icing on my otherwise mundane cake.

Am I the only one who thinks Jennifer Garner is really really hot? I bet her hair smells like strawberries.

When I say I’m going to party like it’s 1999 I mean business.

Afterall, on Dec. 31, 1999, I attended one of the greatest parties in the history of the world. It was held just off the UCONN campus at Walden Apartments. It was absolutely crazy. About 30 people showed up. Booze flowed like water and other things were consumed like candy.

Because of the pending millenium and because most in the apartment hadn’t seen each other in a while the night was filled with an energy that was impossible to ignore.

I still remember everyone counting down from 10 at midnight and then BAM! Happy New Year. On cue Prince’s 1999 played over the stereo and everyone sang along and danced. It was fun. It was awesome.

Truth be told my life was one big party from the time I turned 17 to right up around 30. House parties first, then when my friends and I hit the legal drinking age a whole new world opened up. A world of bars and party bands and the Hartford nightlife created a whole new mayhem that I wasn’t even aware existed.

I’ve had some hangovers in my lifetime that felt like true death. Many morning were spent hugging the toilet as I prayed to god in between heaving. Promising that I would never drink again if he’d make the pain stop, only to break that vow the following weekend, or the next day…or sometimes even hours later.

Now the parties and even the drinking are so few and far between that that part of my life seems less like a part of my life and more like some crazy dream I had once, if that makes any sense.

Some friends at work a having a party Saturday night. Our intern is going back to college in NH and he’s throwing himself a goodbye party. The evening will consist of a little house party, followed by some bar hopping. Most of the sports guys are in the early to mid-twenties. I really don’t think I could hang but I remember when I was that age I was just like them. Partying at someone’s house till about 10 then going to a bar till 2, then back to the house till we all passed out on couches and floors.

I seriously don’t think I could do it. I’m sure by the time it was bar time I’d be ready to hit the hay, or even worse, starting to catch a buzz and then worrying about things I never worried about in my 20s. Like being hung over in the morning or being able to find my way home later on. Back in the day, the NEXT day just didn’t matter.

I was supposed to go out tonight.  I had an offer to meet up with some friends in Danbury. I had an offer to catch a few beers with an old work colleague. I had an offer to go over a friend’s house in Litchfield. But I did nothing….

I got stuck in traffic on the way home. Instead of arriving home at 7, I got home around 8. I was moody and sweaty. No A/C in the car. By the time I woofed down some leftover pizza and walked Andy it was 9 o’clock. After taking a semi-cold shower the last thing I wanted to do was leave the house. Instead I put on some comfy clothes, plopped down in front of the tube and haven’t moved.

Not gonna lie. I feel a bit pathetic. Granted I’m relaxed but I don’t think I should waste opportunities like I seem to do so much. Last week I went to a picnic Saturday during the day and went to a friend’s house that night. I had a few beers but by no means did I rage.

I can actually count all the times I’ve RAGED since turning 30 on one hand. Road Race Weekend last year. A few parties at Jamie’s. And that’s pretty much it. Is that sad or is that just part of life?

I dunno. But it’d be a whole lot cooler if I did.

33 is not a Birthday that you’d call special. That’s reserved for 16, 18, 21, and 30. Those are the “special” birthdays, I suppose.

But….

For a birthday that is supposed to be ho-hum, held on the second worst day of the week besides Monday, I must admit, today was a really great day.

I got some great phone calls and texts from out of the blue which made me feel good and the crew at work threw me one hell of an office party. I can only pray the photos never make it online.

However, the best part of my day? It may sound cheesy but it was the Facebook Love!!! I hope i’m not breaking some “guy code” by saying this but I was TRULY touched by the messages I got today.

Say what you want about Facebook but if, on one day out of the year, it can make you feel half as good as it made me feel today, then my god, it’s worth it.

I heard from people today that I haven’t heard from in years. A decade even. It was great.

It’s no secret, as fans of this blog may remember, I’ve always made somewhat of a big deal out of people’s birthdays. Remember all the birthday roasts I used to do? Holidays are shared with the world but birthdays are the one day where you alone are entitled to feel special and THAT should definitely be taken advantage of.

Thanks again for all the “Happy Birthdays”

And now, some answers to various Bday remarks made today on FB:

• I’m living on Red Mountain Ave, Sara
• Yes, Marcy, I did do something stupid. I wore an extra small prison uniform at work
• Sorry Heather, 33 is too old to go out during the week
• Beka, it was great to see you too
• Thanks Cullen, it does feel great being an Uncle
• Yes CC, I too, am glad that my parents had unprotected sex in October of 1977
• Paige wants an update on the Donut Girl. Hmm. Saw her this morning before work. Found out her name. That was the only question I asked of her.
• Yes Sherry, we should get together soon
• And, to respond to the most common sentiment expressed to me today: Yes, it was a good one!

And here below is my favorite gift of the day:

This post could very easily have been called The Craigslist Girl, but that sounds a bit creepy, and, the last thing this story should exude is creepiness. Henceforth, The Donut Girl.

About two months ago my mother gave me her extra air conditioner; a GE 5,000 btu Cooling Machine. Needless to say it beat the crap out of the clunky old A/C unit I inherited from my father. But since it still worked I decided to put the old unit on Craigslist for $30 rather than junk it.

A day later as I was watching TV my phone rang. A girl with a sweet voice was inquiring about the air conditioner. She had but one question, “Does it work?” I told her yes and she immediately said, “I’ll take it!”

She planned to stop over the next day and pick it up around noon. I didn’t think much of it. I’d been burned by Craigslist before and over the years I’ve had a lot of folks say they were coming to pick something up, never to hear from them again.

So, the next day around noon, I grabbed Andy the puggle and we went out to the front yard to see if the girl with the sweet voice would actually show.

At 12:10, when I was about to go back inside a girl came walking down the road. She had parked in the lot adjacent to my house.

“Are you Walter,” she asked, her voice sounded sweeter in person. Shit.

She apologized for being 10 minutes late. Apparently her relief at work was late, which in turn made her late. I believed her. She was still dressed in her Dunkin Donuts uniform and carried that cheesy tan DD visor in her left hand. She was short. Blonde hair and as she got closer I couldn’t help but notice her big blue eyes.

She smiled at Andy and we made the short walk up the driveway to the garage where I had put the old AC unit. We made small talk. Mostly about Andy. She thought he was cute. I thought the same about her, of course I didn’t say it, though. As we walked I thought how desperate she must be for an air conditioner. Granted, it was really hot outside but she didn’t know me. And here I was, some strange craigslist dude walking this cute girl into his garage.

“Nice,” she said, as she looked it over. “So $30?”

I was ready to bargain with her, I was ready to let the thing go for $20. Before I could answer she held out a $20 and a $10.

“Good deal,” she said, with a big grin on her face.

Before I could say another word she bent over and attempted to pick the thing up.

“It’s heavy,” I said.

She attempted to lift.

“Nope. Not gonna happen,” she said, laughing.

“I’ll tell you what,” I said. “If you don’t mind holding on to Andy I’ll carry it to your car.”

She eagerly held out her hand. I handed over Andy’s leash. We made more small talk as we walked to her car. Damn this thing was heavy. I just prayed my pants didn’t fall down as I was carrying the AC to her car. Thankfully, at least today, luck was on my side. They stayed up.

I loaded the AC into her car and she thanked me as she handed over my dog. I again held out my hand and said thank you. I got that funny feeling in my stomach as we shook hands. And then….she was gone.

I thought about her off and on for most of the day. So cute. So polite. And Andy seemed to like her too. The next day I thought of her a bit and by the third day she was pretty much gone from mind.

About a week later I pulled up to the Dunkin Donuts drive-thru window on East Main Street. As soon as the window opened her pretty face, big blue eyes and warm smile greeted me.

Before I could say a word she said, “Hi Walter!”

Shit! She remembered me. And you know what. For the life of me I couldn’t remember her name. I knew her face, remembered her sweet voice but her name escaped me. I covered though.

“How’s the AC treating you,” I asked.

“It’s great,” she said. “Thank you so much.”

For the next two weeks I made it a point to go to the DD on East Main in an attempt to see her. Sometimes I did, sometimes I didn’t. But when I did, it was really neat. She was always uber friendly and, if I didn’t know any better I ‘d say she was happy to see me.

A week went by and nothing. Then Friday, I saw her again when I stopped at Dunkin for my morning coffee.

“Nice to see you,” she said, as I pulled up.

We made the usual small talk until the line formed behind me and I drove off.

And that’s that. While I enjoy seeing her, I feel like these nice little encounters are somewhat torturous. I think I should just ask her out and get it over with. If she says no, then I’ll never return. I mean, come one. There’s only about 20 Dunkin Donuts in Torrington. But…But. What if she says ‘Yes’. There’s still month left till Labor Day. Plenty of time for that classic Summer Romance.

There is only one problem. When I think of saying, “Hey, wanna go out some time?” I want to vomit. I am absolutely terrified to do it. I feel like sending a friend up there and asking her, “Hey, if any of your customers asked you out what would you say?”

Ugh, just writing this post about it puts a knot in my stomach.

My 33rd Birthday is Tuesday. Maybe the Great and Powerful Oz will send me some courage.

It’s a time in my life I may never forget.

It was this past February during a record cold spell. You remember that right? The temperature barely got out of the teens for about a week. And at night, much worse. The temps hovered around zero and more often than not, would fall below when the wind picked up during the night. People stayed in. No one wanted to leave their houses. Bars and movie theaters remained empty as people wisely chose to hunker down at home rather than make the short walk from their front door to their car. I was no different.

It was a Saturday. Shortly before 7 p.m. I checked the gauge on the oil tank. It was less than a quarter. When I checked early that morning it had been just under half. I had blown through a quarter tank of oil in less than a day. But that wasn’t the scary thing. The worst part of this was what lay ahead. There was no way the oil would last through the night when the temps were colder.

I called Dad and explained the situation. We put our money together and started making calls. It wasn’t long before reality set in. It was the weekend and no oil man wanted to come out in the freakish cold. The few who actually answered the weekend emergency line wanted to rape us for oil. $2.49 a gallon. 100 gallon minimum, plus a $125 emergency delivery fee. We didn’t have the money. Dad was retired and I was a broke journalist.

A glimmer of hope came from one oil man who called us back after we left a message on the ER hotline. He seemed a bit drunk so I wasn’t sure how much stock to put into his advice but we were desperate. He told us to go to the gas station and fill up a portable gas can with diesel fuel. He said that should do the trick till monday when the fees come down and oil companies are actually open all day. Hmm. Well, after 10 minutes of internet research Dad and I were on our way.

Our first stop was the garage. Luckily we found a five gallon gas can. We didn’t bother washing it out. It cost $15 to fill it.

The memory of my father and I filling our oil tank with Diesel fuel will be with me forever. It was blustery cold and dark. The wind stung as it whipped against our faces. It took both of us to dump the fuel into the oil spout: One to hold the can and one to steady the  funnel. Smelly fuel splashed about recklessly, covering our clothes and the ground below. Andy barked inside - a mixture of curiosity and worry.

All in all we made three trips to the gas station and back. Then three more the next day. We spent the last of our cash on the actual oil delivery Monday morning. I almost cried when I was awoken at 7 a.m. that day by the rumbling truck on the side of the house. I would find out later that dad had begun making calls to oil companies at 6 a.m. I was broke, I still smelled of gas but I was warm…..

Much has changed since February. The big money sucker of a house is long gone. I’m a bit more comfortable now, both financially and in my living quarters. Andy, who was more than just a dog but a true companion during those months seems happier now too, with his own porch and doggie friends downstairs.

 I stepped out of my apartment both yesterday and today, sweating before I completed the 20 foot walk to my car, stopping only to glance at the thermometer hanging on the fence.  85 degrees at 9 a.m.

I may be in the minority here but believe me when I say it:  This record-breaking heat wave does not bother me. Not one god damn bit.

Good Evening Everyone.

MIDDLETOWN - Apparently West Hartford reporter Justin Klokzko does not understand why pitchers are such horrible hitters,  arguing that they should be able to hit what they themselves dish out.

LITCHFIELD – In a move that could have serious ramifications when the school year begins anew in September, Colin Pratt is reporting that there are no more pencils and no more books. Whether or not the items were victims of budgetary cuts has yet to be determined.

FLORIDA – Nicole Tarullo is watching Intervention and she is crying. The waterworks allegedly began during the previews for Monday night’s episode. We can only hope she has a box of Kleenex handy.

CONNECTICUT - Kayte Handlewich Bendtzen will attempt to make it to bed early tonight. We wish her luck.

ROCKY HILL – Ashlie Dranginis has lost her cat as she is set to move back home to Litchfield tomorrow. The missing feline has reportedly been lost since Friday and while there are no suspects her one-eyed dog Tessa has been labeled a “person of interest.”

NEW BRITAIN – According to Amanda Stasonis the sun is shinning in the blue sky. We are asking readers to take her word for it as experts have stated looking up at the sun could cause severe damage to ones eyes.

FLORIDA – Stephanie Powell has made a salad for dinner along with a mulit-grain pizza. However Powell never actually ate the salad but a crisis was averted when Powell decided to work out following dinner.

CONNECTICUT - Reports out of Bethlehem indicate Krista Modine suffered a food-related injury after getting hot sauce in both eyes while biting into a buffalo chicken sandwich. Officials at the Franks Red Hot Company could not be reached for comment.

WASHINGTON DC – Those wondering when Leah Wu’s acute fashion sense began can rest easy. Wu herself confirmed through photographs Monday that it began at “a young age.”

LITCHFIELD - Reports coming from Meadow Street indicate Meridith Shafter has fallen into a deep depression since returning from Lake George. The source of this sadness has yet to be named, though unconfirmed sources indicate it has to do with her lack of a place to night swim.

BOSTON – Falling into the “No Duh” category, Jin Lee is reporting it’s warm out.

LITCHFIELD – Following in the footsteps of TS Elliot, Carrie Newton Copeland has decided to disturb the universe.

BREAKING NEWS:  After what was admittedly his best leg workout ever, things took a turn for the worse, according to Gordon Falcetti, who says his thighs are devastated.

NORTHFIELD - And finally, some sad news to report out of  Northfield. According to former college Professor Mike Dobos, “Nothing is ever good.” We can only hope, America, that Dobos is wrong.

So, that’s the Facebook news. To quote Russ Tanguay, “Good Night.’

When I checked my stats page today I was happy to find that a few people are still checking the old blog everyday. Not that there’s anything new to report but, it’s still there, hanging out in cyberspace…waiting for some lovin’.

Here are the top 10 reasons I don’t blog as much:

10. After five years of this shit I’ve said all there is to say.

9. How can I compete with all the exciting Facebook status updates?

8. It’s hard to write a blog when the dog is licking my toes.

7. Watching America’s Got Talent is a better way to spend my time.

6. I no longer feel comfortable writing in such an open forum. I mean, what if Mary Jo, the hot clerk from court, finds this blog and discovers what I’m really like.

5. After 5 years this blog has gotten sooooo popular that i’m finding myself uncomfortable with all the fame. I finally know how Kurt Cobain felt.

4. Blogs are so 2003!!

3. It comes down to one simple character flaw: I’m lazy.

2. I’m too depressed because Julia and KC no longer comment on my posts.

And….the NUMBER 1 reason I don’t blog as much:

How can I blog? My computer is in a pawn shop, i don’t have the cash to get it out of hock and I’m not desperate enough to blog on my Blackberry….or am I?

I am the first person to admit that I don’t blog as much as I used to. Hey, if it were up to me I’d blog each and every day. Trouble is, my schedule.

I arrive home every night during the week between 7/730.  Then it’s time to walk the dog, feed myself, feed the dog, shower and finally, when I actually sit down, it’s usually 9 and the last thing I feel like doing is blogging. Yes, I would like some cheese with this wine, please. Gouda, natch.

So, lets take a moment and play catchup.

• Keely had her third son. A boy named Oliver. He’s cute and really small. When I went to visit him, soon to be 3-year-old Grayson met me at the front door and asked, “Uncle Walt, are you here to play with me or the baby?” …..”What baby,” i replied before we busted into a “Yes Game or a No Game”.
• Jamie and Jay returned to the land of parties with a groovy Memorial Day weekend picnic. A great return to form: Beerpong, whiffle, great food and tons of beer n booze.
• The Summer Movie Season has been underwhelming.  A month into the season there have been no blockbusters (like last years transformers) or surprise hits (like last years the hangover). I actually read in the paper today that less people are going to the movies this summer than the last two years. Could 80s nostalgia revive a slow box office? Yep, A-Team movie and Karate Kid remake both open this weekend.
• I’m entering the third week of the murder trial I’m covering at work and still no verdict. The jury has been deliberating since Thursday. Now it’s just annoying.
• A man came to my house last week to buy my broken washer. He said he could fix-it up. As he was leaving, after paying me, he (seeing my yankees hat)  asked me if I knew why Mariano Rivera is the best closer of all time. I said, “Because of his nasty cutter.”…..”That’s  part of it,” the man said. “But the real reason he’s so good is because he put his career in the hand of Jesus Christ.”……My God, thanks to Craigslist there was now a Jesus Freak in my kitchen.

So that’ about it. Not much,  I know.

Road Race weekend is upon us soon. I can’t imagine for one second it will be as crazy as last year. Celebrating Phil’s 30th on Saturday night followed by Brian and Mere’s annual rager Sunday left me hung over for three days.

No one that I know of is turning 30 this Saturday and Bub and Mere have decided to take a year off from the party hosting duties,  so I anticipate this year will be a bit mellow-er.

Who knows. Maybe I’ll skip the weekend festivities and see an A-team/Karate Kid 80s double feature.

Must Remain Focus….You Fool!!!