Throwing-things-mad, but feeling better now

Ok, so I didn't really throw anything, but I can't think of any other way to describe how displeased I was.

Here's the picture. This year is my 35 year service anniversary with... you know, that place I work for. I'm not sure I want to say the company name 'cause you never know when big brother might be watching. I knew a service award had been sent to my office so I went to work at the office today instead of working from home. I even knew what the service award was... not like it was a big surprise or anything. I just needed to go to the office to pick it up, and I need to go in periodically just to keep my building access card activated. So I get to the office and find the box and indeed it is exactly what I thought it was. Are you ready for this? It's a paper weight with my name engraved on it and the number 35. Granted, it's a fancy paper weight, but a paper weight nonetheless. Then I had a meeting scheduled and had to focus my attention elsewhere which is probably a good thing. As the day went by I would look over at the paper weight occassionally and just think to myself, "really, a paper weight... for 35 years??" On the brighter side, it's a perfect match for the one I got 5 years ago except that one has the number 30... otherwise, they're identical... a matching set. Well, I stewed about this all day long and when I was packing up to go home, I picked up the beautiful paper weight to put it back in its box. In the process I happened to look at the bottom and what do I see but a sticker proclaiming that my beautiful paper weight that I had been awarded for 35 long, faithful, dedicated, hard years was MADE IN CHINA!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Now I'm fit to be tied. Are you freakin kiddin me???? Not only is it just a paper weight, but it's a cheap paper weight from the lowest cost provider!! I couldn't get out of that building fast enough and my poor truck took a little abuse on the way out of the parking lot.

I'm suddenly reminded of some lyrics to a Tennessee Ernie Ford song... "you load 16 tons and what do ya get, another day older and deeper in debt. St. Peter don'tcha call me 'cause I can't go. I owe my soul to the company store."

Now for the feeling better part... jump forward an hour or so. I had already decided that I was going to the gym to take out my frustrations on the machines which is exactly what I did. It was a really good workout and I stepped on the scales before leaving and found that I had lost 4 pounds. Finally, something to feel good about!

Happy in the head and hurting all over

First the hurting part. I joined a gym last weekend (pause for laughter to subside) and went tonight for the second time, this time working with a trainer. I'm sure I told him my age and that I'd never been to a gym and that I needed to start really slow. Apparently, none of that mattered because he pushed me to the limit. And afterwards, he had the nerve to try to sell me some private sessions with a trainer. Let's see, you just ran me through the proverbial wringer, made me feel like crap, and now you want me to pay you to do it again and again. I would laugh but I still feel like throwing up. Daniel, if you're reading this, you'll appreciate this part... the trainer was impressed with my calf muscles. He had me do 50 reps of a certain exercise for the calf muscles and it didn't phase me so a few minutes later he had me do 75 reps and it still didn't phase me. At least there's one part of my body that did me proud and doesn't hurt.

Now for the happy part. I went downstairs for another cup of coffee this morning and went through the dining room to get to the kitchen... by-passing the den where Cohen was playing. When Cohen saw me he toddled (I think that's a word) all the way across the kitchen with arms out-stretched and the biggest grin on his face and just sort of fell into me when I bent down to scoop him up. Memories from 25+ years ago came flooding back, reminding me of coming home from work to be greeted by my own toddling children. Yessir... that's my grandson!