Wasting Time

Where did my evening just go?  Downloaded a game on my iPhone (Royal Match) and before I knew it, it was midnight.  Yikes.  It is highly addictive, and I really need to show some better restraint.  Serves me right for downloading it, but I wanted something new to play while on the plane back to the UK.  This should certainly ensure that 10 hours will pass quickly.

TV Theme Tunes #46

You'll like this ... not a lot, but you'll like it.

Grounded, Again

At the gas station today and noticed a bulge on one of my car tires.  A quick internet search reveals that this is when the tire's sidewall starts to protrude outwards and it's not safe to drive on it.  Judging by the scrape marks on the hubcap, it looks like at some point I hit something sharp to cause this.  God knows when this was and how long I've been driving with this bulge, but I've got an appointment at the tire shop tomorrow.  All I know is that this is bound to be an expensive replacement (I'll probably get 4 new tires since I haven't changed them since I first owned the car).  Maybe it is fortuitous that I discovered this before I head back to the UK, and before any real damage occurred (at least until I get to the tire shop - apparently it can result in a sudden blowout).   Let's hope they can fix promptly.      

Trees

After restricting myself to neighborhood walks recently due to my poor eyesight and not wanting to drive anywhere unless absolutely necessary, I got some new glasses with an updated prescription on Friday.  I don't know how long this prescription will last - hopefully it will sustain me through my trip back to the UK until I get my eyes tested again the day after I return.  But it was nice to take one of my regular evening forest walks again.  Sadly it also means that I will have to go into the office next week.

Equal Pay

I've been watching quite a lot of the US Open tennis going on right now, and they are making a really big deal about the women's and men's tournaments having the same prize money.  My controversial opinion - I don't think it should be.  This is not because I'm sexist.  It is because men play the best of 5 sets in their matches, whereas women only play the best of 3 sets.  Which means that the average men's match is considerably longer than the average women's match.  This difference alone is why I believe men should be compensated more than women at the majors.  Or, a simple solution, make it the best of 5 sets for women as well (and it's not like women tennis players couldn't handle that).    

Filling in the gaps

I've been filling in a lot of gaps in my James Bond trading card collection.  And probably spending way too much money.  Some recent purchases include some Goldfinger relics, and some numbered dual autograph sets.  But I have found myself being outbid in a lot of auctions recently - and not by a small amount.  I've lost out on a Pierce Brosnan autograph (that went for almost double what I was prepared to pay), a Daniel Craig autograph and a Casino Royale casino table felt relic (which you could buy directly from another seller for less - so the bidding war got way out of hand).  There are a lot of other James Bond collectors out there, so the fight for anything half decent on eBay is brutal (and I should probably insure my collection since I think it is quite valuable). 

Beep Beep Beep

The beep beep beep sound that construction vehicles make when they reverse is driving me crazy.  I'm even imagining hearing it long after the sun goes down.  The last few days it's been incessant, as they continue work on the house next door to mine that just got sold.  And if it's not the beep beep beep, then it's the hammering, the generator or some other noise getting on my nerves.  Considering the amount of time and effort that seems to be going into renovating this property, it sure seems like someone is eventually moving in.  I think it has been abandoned and unoccupied since I moved here.  Even when it got sold a few years ago, they started making renovations but gave up/ran of money.  This time it feels different.  So now I'm fearing the worst for how long this construction noise could be going on for, and then what kind of neighbors I could end up having.  I think it's just unfortunate that I'm having to endure the noises because I happen to be working from home right now.  My eyesight is still far from ideal, so I'm using that as an excuse for not going into the office.  That might have to change next week (I should have some new glasses by then - if my new eye prescription hasn't already become outdated).