Author: bob

I don’t know why, but the demise of the Crystal City Underground (where I work) fascinates me. Perhaps it’s because the place is dominated by the most marginal of retail stores yet the least worthwhile seem to be the ones with the most staying power. Since the last update, the following stores have left: B. Dalton, Kraven’s deli, The Dutch Lady, Like On TV, the store that sold earrings to prostitots, and whatever used to be between the Village Cobbler and The Engraving Store. Mad About Bears and Puppet Heaven: both still around. I marvel at the demographics that make Taco Bell an unsustainable business while any place that sells statues of dogs is a guaranteed hit.

The best part about Coinstar, after fattening your wallet with bills and the satisfyingly loud noise of money-meets-machinery, is all the reject change that the device spits out. I can’t help but wonder what story lies behind the migration of 22 euro-cents from the Old World into the penny tray of whichever stateside cash register housed them before they wound up in my pocket. The river of money is a marvelous thing. And I got a wheat penny too.

Well now that Tech’s been knocked out I don’t have to care about the tourney anymore. Good luck NC State!

Last weekend I finished up painting my bedroom. I’m not really happy with the color though: I was expecting something a little darker or more silvery than I wound up with. Something a bit more masculine. The color Hemingway might paint his bedroom between killing a bull and drinking a tumbler of rum straight up. But instead I have this light pastel blue. So I may just repaint it another color while I still have all my furniture moved out. What does the bluesterror readership think?

Here is my living room. I like it except for the clash with the existing wallpaper.

Now 23-14. Told you I suck. Best games of yesterday were the upsets of Syracuse and Kansas, and the best shot of the night was Vermont’s Sorrentine’s three ball from another zip code. Tech won! ACC is undefeated in the first round. After watching Duke struggle in the first half against Delaware St. before pulling away, it occurs to me that they are a much weaker team without the helping hand of ACC officiating. Too bad I picked them. If they both make it, the UNC game will be interesting.

I am slowly painting my bedroom. Sunday night I did the wall prep, taping, and a coat of primer. Last night I painted half of the walls. That is, two entire walls, not the top or bottom half of four walls. The silvery blue color looks pretty good dried, and most importantly, it covers the lovely heart-laced border. In the meantime, I’m sleeping in the guest bedroom. It’s fun: like going on vacation without really going on vacation and still having to go to work.

After one official night of play in the tournament, my bracket is sad. Including the play-in, I am 10-8 (one loss next round for Pitt). One 5-12 was already an upset; the other three games happen today including the all-important GW-GT. Should be exciting. I’ll be updating my earlier post to reflect missed guesses, not that it really matters since I’m not in any pools.

Yesterday was St. Patrick’s day. My people appreciate your drunken perpetuation of stereotypes.

Here is my ACC-heavy bracket for the tournament. I always suck at these.

Continue reading “NCAA picks”

Bring it on Osama!