Aggravation

So I'm getting out of my truck at the office, getting back from lunch hour. For some odd reason, I glance down at the ground, in the direction of my front tire. I notice something missing--the little valve stem cover (the thing you unscrew to put air in your tire). I glance back at the back tire. Ditto. Gone. Then it hits me--those weren't just the boring black ones that I got for free with the tire, these are little custom ones w/ a blue Chevy logo (like these) that I had bought from a dealership via eBay. Pretty cool, actually--a little custom but not-too-over-the-top touch to my vehicle.

What poor, inconsiderate, non-moral having loser goes up to a vehicle (either randomly or after having "staked it out") and walks around it unscrewing valve stem covers? Obviously I don't check them every day, so I have no idea when and where it happened. Could've been in my driveway. Could've been at Kroger. Could've been at some other random place. It's not so much the expense--I think I'm out about 15 bucks at this point. But it's just aggravating. You work to get what you want, and somebody else thinks they should get it for free (which might explain why I'm conservative).

And then there's the replacement dilemma. I could replace them with identical ones (the "I'm not gonna let them defeat me!" attitude), and hope that they don't meet the same fate (would the same person come back for his 2nd set?!). Or I could put the normal black ones on there and not worry about it anymore. Or I could invest about $25 in an identical set that is "theft deterrant". Who knows. But nevertheless, my cool little blue Chevy logo air thingees are gone. Bummer, dude.

What Happens In (Nash)Vegas....

OK, won't exactly stay in Nashvegas. Namely, buying clothes and stuff for the newest-identified member of the family--our baby. If you have no clue what I'm talking about, head on over to the Russellbaby website (abbreviated version: ultrasound, boy).

Greetings from Music City, USA. Let me just go on record as saying that technology amazes me. As I don't tote my laptop around town, or use it in my line of work for internet-related stuff, I've never really used the "hot spot" wireless internet capabilities in a public place. We love wireless, but it usually involves our living room and couch. Anyway, I am sitting here right now in the lobby of the "Ammenities Center" of Fairfield Resort--Nashville. No wires or cables--just a full battery and a wireless internet connection. Cool stuff.

Today was a full day--we started out around 6:30 or 7, preparing for not only our trip, but Leah's doctor's appointment. So we wanted to get everything taken care of, packed, and in the car so that we could hit I-40 immediately after departing the visit. Which we did. I also made a few calls to let folks know that the latest Russell addition is bred with Y chromosomes, and talked to my step-brother Tony who was about to board a plane headed back to Iraq.

We got into Nashville about 1:00, but our condo unit wasn't ready. Being right across the street from the Opry Mills mall, where do you think we ended up as a way to kill time? You guessed it. One complete trip around the racetrack-style layout, plus a few retail store detours, and we were finished with quite possibly the world's largest waiting room. Then it was check-in, lugging luggage in the 125% humidity, and then quick dip in the pool. Shower, then dinner, then back to the room. One day somebody is going to explain to me why riding in a car is so tiring, but for now I'll concede defeat and admit that it is absolutely the case.

I'm off to the other blog to update, and them I'm off to bed. Good night, John boy.

Random Thought

If an emergency vehicle going one way through an intersection encounters a funeral processional crossing in front of it, who gets the right of way? Does the dead guy get the respect of the emergency personnel, or do the unlucky people in the back of the line get that odd-looking gap because they had to let the fire truck through?

Short Week

You know those short weeks that put you in a good mood? You know, like the week of Thanksgiving, when you're telling yourself, "I only have to work 3 days this week, and then it's a long weekend!" (I'll ignore the mental stress of continuing the Thanksgiving analogy, namely such things as having to entertain a grumpy octogenarian that's a couple of limbs up the family tree from you. Not that I have any of those.)

Anyway, this week is such a week for Leah and me. We didn't really plan a "real" vacation for this year, in order to save all benefit time for any potential infant's arrival (Leah doesn't have paid maternity leave, and my HR director threw me out when I asked about it). As science and the good Lord would have it, we have scheduled aforementioned time for mid-December. But we still wanted to get in a sort of "mini-vacation," perhaps a last "hoorah" sans baby. Cause let's face it--when we use our vacation time for the little one's arrival, there ain't gonna be much rest and relaxation. While the baby sleeps 16 hours a day in multiple miniscule shifts, we're gonna be watching General Hospital, Lingo, and playing hide and go seek with the baby monitor.

OK class, pop quiz time: Where do Eric and Leah like to go, and go often? No, not Victoria's Secret. Nashville! After our doctor's appointment on Thursday morning (which will include an ultrasound and hopefully the all-important boy/girl revelation; details over at Russellbaby.com), we're hitting I-40 East to Nashville. We don't have a whole lot planned, but do have tickets to see super funny Jeff Dunham at Zanie's . I'm certain we'll do some shopping at Opry Mills a time or two (or three or four), as well as take some relaxing dips in the pool (indoor OR outdoor--we do have a choice, you know). I wouldn't mind touring the Ryman, simply because I've never stepped foot in the place, and I've always wondered what it's like to yell "Red Rover, Red Rover, send Little Jimmy right over!" from the stage (if Gretchen Wilson can sing When I Think About Cheatin' from there, surely I can say something!). Sacreligious? Nah. We'll also eat dinner at Longhorn (for one of the best prime ribs anywhere), and possibly eat the heavenly bananas foster at Nick & Rudy's for dessert.

The event calendar for Nashville this weekend doesn't look THAT crazy, unless you count Keith Sweat, VeggieTales, or the 4th Annual Simply Scrapbook & Stamp Convention. Oh yeah, Kelly Clarkson is playing over at the Opry House, but hopefully the teeny-boppers will stay out of my way.

Week End Update

Well, while Jeffery was flying across a few states last week to hang out with his brother, Bradley did a little bit of the same and came to Memphis. Wow, Scott and I kinda led parallel lives last week.....It all started with Mrs. Rice's homeroom in 7th grade!!

Brad flew in on Saturday, July 2. Thanks to the internet, we had kept up with updated arrival times and such. As luck would have it, I didn't have to work Saturday at Kroger, so Leah and I accompanied Mom to Memphis International to pick him up. Brad and I have a really unique relationship--although I don't really break into a sprint and bear-hug him for 5 minutes when I see him, it truly is good to see him, and I hate that we don't get to hang out very much. I guess there's an unspoken love that would only come out if a gun was pointed to our head. Seriously, we're about as different as they come in ALL aspects, and you'd never pick us out of a line of people as being related. But I digress.

One of the reasons that Brad was coming home was because Tony was also coming home (see previous entry). Tony had to go from Kirkuk (Iraq) to Kuwait to Germany to fly to Memphis via Atlanta. So we had NO idea when to expect him. By Saturday, it looked like it might be Monday the 4th. We went back to Mom's and began discussing dinner. We settled on pizza, so we chilled out at Mom's and kinda chatted about things in general.

Not by coincidence, Dad and Mary were in town for the weekend. With Brad's birthday being on the 6th, they had taken the rare opportunity to have the two of them together with the two of us--this SOMETIMES happens on a holiday, but being that they live in Kentucky and he lives in Maryland, it isn't necessarily a given that we'll all see each other at the same time. After lunch, Brad and I met up at the Hampton Inn where Dad was staying, and we visited for a bit. Dad had planned a family gathering, and Brad decided upon Smokey Bones, a place new to the Memphis area, but that had gotten decent reviews from people that have gone. We did a quick trip to the Wolfchase Galleria (I bought some new khakis and a golf shirt, and Leah bought some maternity wear), and then it was over to the restaurant for dinner. I had ribs, and they were definitely good. Not really uniquely Memphis or anything, but then again, they don't claim to be.

Monday, we heard from Tony and he said that he was delayed in Germany, and it would be Tuesday before he got in. We hadn't really planned any typical "4th" activities (fireworks, etc), but decided upon a cookout-type deal at my house. Leah and I needed to go to the grocery store anyway, so off we went. The menu was to be cheeseburgers, and Brad requested Rotel AND Pancho's cheese dip. Freak. And what would summer be without homemade ice cream? We had a good time and ate plenty of food. The highlight of the night? Brad mentioned maybe getting a Dance Dance Revolution game sometime in the future for his Playstation. Oh, you mean, like the one that I have? So we broke out the mat and starting "cuttin' a rug" in my living room. I hadn't really played it a lot since buying it in January, so it was a learning experience for us all. By the end of the night, we had Mom, Brad, me, and even Leah (the pregnant one) doing arrow-directed dance steps. Fun (and sweaty) times.

Tuesday, Tony and his entourage wanted to experience more Memphis stuff, so it was off to downtown to partake of "porkcicles", as my father-in-law refers to them. That's right.....In an alley off of Madison, lies the entrance to Rendezvous. It has been quite some time since I had been there--probably several years ago when Jen and Scott were in town and I lifted a small Michelob pilsner glass. Oops, did I say that?? (Hopefully the statute of limitations is up.) Parking was a bit more of a challenge since the Redbirds were playing, but amazingly enough, we found an unoccupied parking meter (read: FREE after 5:00PM) space on 3rd street, and we were in the door and seated after a brief 2-3 minute wait. Brad and I split a large rack o' ribs, as well as a pitcher of cold brew. True brotherhood bonding at its finest.

Wednesday, Leah and I wanted to chill at home, so that we did. Instead of "calm before the storm", it was more like, "Calm between the storms." She was pretty exhausted from our busy week thus far, so we decided to chill.

Thursday found us eating BBQ for yet another time that week. Brad's birthday is July 6, and Tony's is July 7. This time it was off to Corky's for a bit of a birthday shindig for the two of them. I did NOT have ribs this time--it was a class BBQ pork sandwich and a side of beans. Mom had gotten them BOTH a cake, so two different sets of candles was brought out and blown out by the respective honorees. Brad got lots of loot, which made it all the more interesting in planning for his flight home. I ended up lending him a suitcase for all of his crap, I mean, stuff.

All in all, it was a fun, but tiring week. But Leah and I both enjoyed it. Since moving to D.C., Brad's visits to Memphis have largely been event- or holiday-driven. Let's face it, when he's in town for our grandfather's funeral, you aren't really in a mood to go hang at Rendezvous or grab a beer at his favorite watering hole. I specifically took vacation time from Kroger that week to spend time with him and Tony. Yes, I still had to work during the day, but it still gave us time to hang out--something we really haven't done much of since he moved away. Come to think of it, we didn't hang out much when he WAS here...I must snap out of this guilt-ridden obligation!!!!

Coming to America

As an introduction or refresher course to the Life and Times of Eric Russell, I would like to note that I have not only a brother, but a step-brother. Technically and legally speaking, it would be "ex" step brother, but even though I really couldn't care any less for the ex-step father, the bond between Brad, Tony, and me is still pretty strong and has become more so over the last few months. Anyway, the following post applies to aforementioned step-brother, Tony Mitchell, or, as is now more proper, Spc. James Anthony Mitchell, U.S. Army.

Tony entered the Army Reserve several years ago. We weren't really in contact very much at that time, but Mom did hear the news and I knew about it. He joined a unit in Arkansas, I think, and ended up doing training in several different places, including up in Oregon (I would spout off the names of military bases, but my "military intelligence" is zero). At some point in time, he got wind of the fact that an Oregon unit was gonna get deployed. Now, he was kind tired of the reserve, one-weekend a month gig, and decided he wanted to do a bit more. So what does he do? He orchestrates a transfer to the unit in Oregon. Next stop: the Persian Gulf.

I don't know exactly all the timeframes involved, but Tony has been in Kuwait and Iraq for the greater part of 2 years, I think. Originally, it was supposed to be a 12-month gig. Then 18. Needless to say, he was looking forward to the "downhill" part of this year until he could come home. I think he's tired of 120 degree heat and those wonderful MRE's. And then, an event that will change his life (and his veteran status) forever.

A convoy of 25 jeeps. Tony's was 20th. Suddenly, Tony's vehicle strikes an explosive device. He opens his eyes to total blackness, making him think he's been blinded. Luckily, he hadn't. But his Staff Sergeant, a 40-ish father of 2, later died of his injuries en route to a medical facility (Tony had already performed CPR successfully). Tony's injuries were relatively minor, comparitively speaking--shrapnel to the leg, needing a decent amount of stitches. Had to stay off of it for a few weeks, but he would've given anything he owned to have his sergeant back.

There were MANY times that Tony resented the discipline that (my) mom was trying to teach and instill, but he grew to appreciate every bit of it. He has thanked her time and time again for not backing down. Now, Tony Mitchell, the boy whose birth mother kidnapped him from the church nursery when he was less than a year old, will soon be awarded a Purple Heart. His future wife will be eligible to join the Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Military Order of the Purple Heart. Today, Tony flew home for a 15-day leave. He's got a long list of restaurants he wants to go to and people he wants to see, no doubt with a new lease on life. He's been through more in the last couple of months than I ever hope to, and I respect him a ton for making the choices he did to serve our country.

The phrase "Support our Troops" is so cliche, but it's true. Tony LOVES getting mail, and packages, and longs for small opportunities like phone calls and email sessions. Hopefully by October or November, Tony will be done, through, and permanently on U.S. soil. He's been over there longer than just about everybody in his unit, and it's virtually guaranteed he won't be delayed any more.

God bless our troops, and God bless America. And Tony, wear the Purple Heart with pride--you've definitely earned it, and your country--as well as your brother--is proud of you.