Fingernails and Puppy-dog Tails

For your procrastinating pleasure:

Capture the Cat Game

WARNING: Only click this link if you have spare time, maybe not even then.

Today’s Exploit:

Whew, barely made it back. The cat game sucked me in. It’s worse than solitaire or minesweeper. Probably put together. Although I always did like minesweeper.

Speaking of distractions, there was another dog out here tonight, with one of the delivery trucks. It was white with brown spots, and wagged its tail a lot. I was very tempted to go pet it. And it tried its hardest to get my attention, barking and jumping and making a ruckus. But I was so disciplined that I just looked longingly for 3.8 seconds before marching back to my box to study the never-ending march of 1010110001010111001010…

Also, how in the world to people deal with fake fingernails?

I see people functioning with nails as long as my little finger. How do they do it? How do they not go crazy?

I let mine grow for just a couple weeks and I’m ready to go bonkers. They get in the way of typing and texting/making phone calls. I cut myself with the corners of the nails and they catch on everything. And the clicking on the piano, not that I ever get to play the piano anymore but still. And they’re always gross with flour or butter or mud or grease stuck under them.

Gross. I need some clippers. Those super-duty ones.

And a brush, I forgot mine at home.

Melty Butter and Wasting Time

I suddenly want some frozen yogurt.

Today’s Exploit:

I spent the morning reading worthless blogs. But they mostly made me laugh. Some of them made me sigh, so I found new ones to read. I also slept far too much, and learned that I can’t remember the difference between smiling and laughing in Spanish.

Fail.

On a happy note, I made Yeasted Banana Bread yesterday afternoon. It was an experiment. It was also a success. It was mildly sweet and had just a hint of banana and it was crusty and lovely.

Me: Do you want the heel or a middle piece?

Charles: Whichever you don’t want.

I walked to the fridge to get butter and when I turned around he had both pieces.

Later.

Charles: You’re not going to eat anymore of that bread, are you?

Me: Why?

Charles: I figured you’d had enough and I would have the rest.

Me: Oh, I see.

Also, I am currently in love with spreadable butter, the kind with olive oil to keep it softer? It melts when it gets to room temperature. And melty butter is always better than hard slabs. It’s just not quite as dependable to cook with. But I can work around that if I always have melty butter for my bread.

They Stand Too Close For Comfort. Not Just One, All of Them

I started trying to learn Spanish on my computer last night. I remember lots of random words from high school Spanish, but I don’t remember what any of them mean. So far this session I have learned about the black cat, the blue car and they boy under the table.

Spanish interspersed with reading my Portable MBA in Entrepreneurship should keep me busy for the next few weeks. I’m only able to get through 1.7 pages at a time in the book without falling asleep.

Today’s Exploit:

The other night I made a friend.

I gave him TUMS.

Now we are best friends. Every time he sees me he has to say hi, or wave, or do something to get my attention. Tonight he sprayed me with water while washing the BOP.

I’m glad I could help, but this is a bit much.

Earlier tonight, while I was waiting to get back to drilling, I went to the rig floor. Everyone up there had to tell me 5.3 stories about Wyoming/Colorado/Montana. Because for people from the south they are all the same. They even include Utah and Nebraska in this category. Maybe a few others will be added if the particular person I’m talking to has traveled anywhere at all and ever been cold.

Any time these guys didn’t have to lift or pull something they were standing within 4.2 feet of me.

My new friend was within 6 inches.

This is why I hide in my box.

Ooh, Coconut. My Favorite

I tried quail for the first time today. It was pretty good, but it was cooked with Poblano peppers, and onions and bacon, so I’m not sure if I actually tasted the quail or just the peppers.

Today’s Exploit:

A few nights ago Chris and I watched a show that featured a guy climbing a tree to kick down coconuts. Then he smashed it against a rock until the “cork” popped. Then they poured out the milk and began shredding the meat against another rock. Fascinating.

I happened to mention that I didn’t much like coconut, so 3 days later Chris shows up with one.

Charles: Were they on sale or something?

Chris: I saw it next to the pineapple and thought, ‘maybe PJ will want a coconut.’

Charles: Oh, that was nice.

Me: Yeah, thanks. I’ve just been thinking how I wanted a coconut.

Chris: Here you go. (Tries to give me half)

Me: Thanks, but I think I’ll have to pass right now.

Aren’t these guys so nice?

They still regularly call to see if they can get a reaction out of me. And they check that I run every morning. They even watch what I eat to let me know how much I need to run the following morning.

Buck Has a Birthday Party

The other day I was told that I was the only chicken that didn’t have chicken legs. I’m not sure what it meant, but I think it was a compliment.

Today’s Exploit:

The company man has a dog. A black lab named Buck.

Buck is very spoiled. He thinks he’s human. And for the most part he gets treated like royalty.

Buck is also an attention addict. When his person leaves him on the porch to do company man duties, Buck yelps and whines and barks until someone goes over to the porch to pet him. Someone always goes over to the porch to pet him.

Yesterday was Buck’s birthday. There was a big celebration.

His “mom” made a cake, and brought gifts and party hats. When David asked if Buck had to wear the one of the hats his “dad” said yes.

He said that he needed a picture for Buck’s Facebook page.

The Bird is Really Fat

Shawn told me about a new radio station yesterday. It plays Frank Sinatra, Lena Horne, and other such musicians. I listened to it in my car on the way to get groceries.

I can’t get it in my apartment. Stupid radio.

Today’s Exploit: A list

I can’t find my painting of the dancer. Still. It makes me sad.

I made bread this morning.

I also made Tiramisu.

I went shopping for groceries at 2:02 am.

I need a serrated bread knife.

I am going to make Bruschetta this afternoon.

I want a Mac. Probably the extra thin one.

I will practice my dance 18.7 times today.

I want a puppy.

It’s ONLY supposed to get up to 77* today.

I want to plant an herb garden.

I have a bird nesting on the porch light that is about to fall off the wall.

I’m not going to report it until I know the babies have hatched and flown away.

Running Away

For Dad: The Oatmeal.

Today’s Exploit:

While at rigs I run most every day. I like the rigs that have miles of deserted dirt roads to get to. That means that I don’t have to worry about traffic, just an occasional cow.

This rig has a quarter mile of dirt road. Then a relatively busy highway is mo only option for a mile and a half.

It’s frustrating trying to run in the gutter to avoid the constant traffic.

The other day I was pulled over by the local sheriff. The one with the dog.

He told me about the high school track. And that it was open to public. While I generally hate running in circles, I’ve decided that it is better than being run off the road by 18-wheelers.

I have been averaging 4 miles. That is 16 circles looking at the same bleachers and hurdles and stripes. But the track is cushy, and I can gauge my pace easily. Also since I’m the only one there I can even run clockwise whenever I get a hankering. Yesterday was the first day I ran backwards on a track. It was weird. It made my knee hurt. And it was very rewarding.

I think I might do it again today.

My Job is Being Quiet, Alternate Title: I will always win the quiet game

Last night I sat in the trailer and watched TV all night. It was strangely exhausting.

It must have been that time I got up to make macaroni and cheese that wore me out.

Today’s Exploit:

When Dave and Charles and Chris are all in the trailer they’re always telling stories. They tell hunting stories, embarrassing stories, fishing stories, work stories. And they talk about chickens a lot.

Every so often they notice me. The conversations go something like this:

Charles: You haven’t said much, what are you doing over there?

Me: Making a sandwich.

Charles: Just being quiet, huh?

Me: Yep, that’s my job.

Chris: How much does it pay?

Me: Not much, but it’s steady.

Chris and Charles: Hahahaha.

Now every time one of them comes in they ask me what I’m doing, but before I have a chance to reply they say, “Just being quiet?” So I just smile and go on with what I’m doing.

Today Charles was standing in the kitchen, in my usual place.

Me: You don’t look very awake today.

Charles: (nods) I’m just being quiet.

Me: Oh, taking over my job?

Favorites

I met some new dogs this week.

One ran to me and sat on my feet and wiggled with a desperate need to be even closer to me. I ended up squashed against the wall because he was wiggling so vigorously.

The other sat in his car and barked incessangly at me while his person tried to give me directions to the local track, hushing him every third word.

Today’s Exploit:

I reorganized my blog favorites today. I have way too many. I even read most of them on a regular basis.

I have some others that I follow through my blog, too.

I should get orgainzed with them all together. And maybe do some spring cleaning?