Tonight the game plan was to go to Rack'Em, enjoy a fun night listening to a rock band, and survey firm black territory. But like I said last night, some things just don't go according to plan.
First off, I really, really hesitated going anywhere. I was tired and dreaded the idea of a five mile walk to Rack'Em. But I remembered that it was always the nights that I just didn't feel like going but went anyway that I always have the greatest times. So I dragged my lazy butt out of my bedroom and went to Rack'Em.
When I got there it was... disappointing. The band was a cover band, but they were alright. The place billed as Cape Coral's party destination for 4:20, but there were maybe 15 people there, and the band was outside.
I like a fun loving, rocking crowd and I like the band loud and wild inside. I was very at a loss. So, I ordered a beer and sat down to drink it. While there I ran into a few people I knew, but there was simply no excitement, so I went to The Royal Key Bar.
I had been lying low since the events I recorded on this blog last week. I was happy to learn that the bar manager was not there, and that the bar tender from that post had actually worked there today.
The bartender working tonight is someone that I had only ever met once before, and it was very pleasant getting a chance to speak with her tonight. I salvaged what would have been a disappointing night by spending my time at the Royal Key and getting to know that bartender.
Maybe there is some hope in salvaging this black territory. The bar manager is obviously at this time a white piece, a white bishop I am guessing, but he is in black territory after all.
In the end, I had a great night and I am glad I went out. I have committed to going back Friday, and buying the bartender dinner. I am looking forward to it.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Sometimes it just feels like Zugzwang
It's not really zugzwang, where any possible move will put me in a worse position. But sometimes it seems that everything I attempt just makes things more interesting.
I was planning on attending the banquet today. Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men and all. I checked my bank account about an hour before I was to leave and found that all my money had vanished.
No, it was not an accounting error. It was a mix up with the bank. I ended up having to skip the banquet as I attempted to get the whole thing straightened out. Luckily the money should be back into my account tomorrow morning. Should be.
Sometimes it just feels like Zugzwang, everything I do puts me in a worse position.
My plans for tomorrow include a rock and metal show at Rack'Em. Visiting a little black territory. But if I can't touch the money in my account still... well, I do happen to have a few dollars in cash, but it will be a night of light drinking.
I was planning on attending the banquet today. Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and men and all. I checked my bank account about an hour before I was to leave and found that all my money had vanished.
No, it was not an accounting error. It was a mix up with the bank. I ended up having to skip the banquet as I attempted to get the whole thing straightened out. Luckily the money should be back into my account tomorrow morning. Should be.
Sometimes it just feels like Zugzwang, everything I do puts me in a worse position.
My plans for tomorrow include a rock and metal show at Rack'Em. Visiting a little black territory. But if I can't touch the money in my account still... well, I do happen to have a few dollars in cash, but it will be a night of light drinking.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Pawns, demons, coffee, pizza, and a banquet
Today I gathered together some of the students from two different schools and met with them at Dunkin Donuts (black territory) and then for pizza.
It's always an enjoyable evening with the students, but they can get a little out of hand at times. They are going to end up getting me kicked out of Dunkin, I can't afford to lose more territory!
There were at least two pawns present, perhaps up to four. My pawns are getting younger. But in chess, as in life, the game must go on! How can anyone predict who will become a major player in the years to come? I can make guesses and hope, but there is no certainty.
On a totally unrelated note, Deneth, the demon that lives in my laptop, gave me back my novel today. So I can continue working on it. This is a happy day indeed.
Tomorrow one of the schools is having a banquet. As of this moment I am planning on attending, although I am still working out some of the logistics. The sponser of that school is young and pretty Spanish teacher, I'll make every effort to attend! But don't be fooled, I would be more than pleased if a certain photographer were my companion tommorrow night.
Pawns, pawns, pawns. Cross the board!
It's always an enjoyable evening with the students, but they can get a little out of hand at times. They are going to end up getting me kicked out of Dunkin, I can't afford to lose more territory!
There were at least two pawns present, perhaps up to four. My pawns are getting younger. But in chess, as in life, the game must go on! How can anyone predict who will become a major player in the years to come? I can make guesses and hope, but there is no certainty.
On a totally unrelated note, Deneth, the demon that lives in my laptop, gave me back my novel today. So I can continue working on it. This is a happy day indeed.
Tomorrow one of the schools is having a banquet. As of this moment I am planning on attending, although I am still working out some of the logistics. The sponser of that school is young and pretty Spanish teacher, I'll make every effort to attend! But don't be fooled, I would be more than pleased if a certain photographer were my companion tommorrow night.
Pawns, pawns, pawns. Cross the board!
Sunday, April 17, 2011
White Territory Grows
So, yesterday night, after the wedding and all had quieted down I decided that I was bored and wanted something to do. There was a Metal Show down at Rack'Em that I should have gone to-- never hurts to check in on Black Territory-- but I chose to stay closer to this side of town.
I had been meaning to check out Hustler's for some time and several people had suggested it to me. So I decided to give it a shot.
Hustler's was not the place for me.
For starters, I enjoy the live music at Rack'Em. Hustler's has no live music. Which is actually great, because the music that Hustler's did have was of the hip hop variety. I skipped out on a metal show to listen to hip hop? God love me, I shoulda just shot myself.
And I have never seen so many people working at the bar. I swear, half the women I saw running around that night were waitresses. My experience with bar waitresses has been generally positive, but these were... not nearly as friendly, outgoing, and well... fun... as most of the waitresses I have had the good pleasure of getting to know.
I think Sarah was right, it's a different kind of scene when you are enjoying not only drinks but music. You sweat and bleed with those people, there is a deeper connection. Not at all like what I experienced last night.
So, the White Team can keep Hustler's. I won't be going back anytime soon. With the Royal Key becoming contested territory at least I still have Rack'Em.
And Dunkin' Donuts. That place is solidly my domain.
I had been meaning to check out Hustler's for some time and several people had suggested it to me. So I decided to give it a shot.
Hustler's was not the place for me.
For starters, I enjoy the live music at Rack'Em. Hustler's has no live music. Which is actually great, because the music that Hustler's did have was of the hip hop variety. I skipped out on a metal show to listen to hip hop? God love me, I shoulda just shot myself.
And I have never seen so many people working at the bar. I swear, half the women I saw running around that night were waitresses. My experience with bar waitresses has been generally positive, but these were... not nearly as friendly, outgoing, and well... fun... as most of the waitresses I have had the good pleasure of getting to know.
I think Sarah was right, it's a different kind of scene when you are enjoying not only drinks but music. You sweat and bleed with those people, there is a deeper connection. Not at all like what I experienced last night.
So, the White Team can keep Hustler's. I won't be going back anytime soon. With the Royal Key becoming contested territory at least I still have Rack'Em.
And Dunkin' Donuts. That place is solidly my domain.
Saturday, April 16, 2011
A new pawn? Maybe
So today was my mother's wedding. It was lovely, and I am a sucker for romance in the best of circumstances. The best moment of it all for me though was that I got to dance with my daughter at the reception. She and I shared the first dance together.
She was wearing a spring dress, with multi-colored polka dots. She is such a charming, pretty, and smart girl. I might be a little biased =)
Well before the wedding I was talking to my mother and asked (I was really joking at the time) if I could bring a date. My mom quickly and forcefully said no. Even though I was jesting, I was surprised at her swift reaction.
I later learned that it was because my ex was going to be there.
I asked my mother if there was going to be anyone there around my age that I could potentially, you know, dance with. My mother advised me that the only non-attached girl around my age would be my new aunt. I saw nothing wrong with the idea of dancing with my step-aunt. My mother seemed exasperated that I would consider such a thing.
So the wedding came and I was surprised to see a very pretty, young woman there. My mother never even considered the photographer... And I can't really blame my mother, she has known the photographer since the girl was four years old. I guess the fact that she is now eighteen never crossed my mothers mind.
It crossed my mind,
Initially I said, in front of the girl even, that she was too young for me. Then I considered that I was meeting her at a wedding of two people that have a 14-15 year age difference. Suddenly our age difference didn't seem so large.
I made efforts to converse with her and discovered that she is into the arts, going to school, and planning on pursuing a career in the arts. She was really sweet and agreed to "save a dance for me."
Unfortunately at the reception there were a grand total of three dance songs and she was taking pictures. When she discovered there were no more dance songs she apologized for missing our dance. =(
Before leaving she came to me and said her goodbyes, I gave her my card. We shall see if anything comes of it. I think there may be a new pawn here. Yay!
She was wearing a spring dress, with multi-colored polka dots. She is such a charming, pretty, and smart girl. I might be a little biased =)
Well before the wedding I was talking to my mother and asked (I was really joking at the time) if I could bring a date. My mom quickly and forcefully said no. Even though I was jesting, I was surprised at her swift reaction.
I later learned that it was because my ex was going to be there.
I asked my mother if there was going to be anyone there around my age that I could potentially, you know, dance with. My mother advised me that the only non-attached girl around my age would be my new aunt. I saw nothing wrong with the idea of dancing with my step-aunt. My mother seemed exasperated that I would consider such a thing.
So the wedding came and I was surprised to see a very pretty, young woman there. My mother never even considered the photographer... And I can't really blame my mother, she has known the photographer since the girl was four years old. I guess the fact that she is now eighteen never crossed my mothers mind.
It crossed my mind,
Initially I said, in front of the girl even, that she was too young for me. Then I considered that I was meeting her at a wedding of two people that have a 14-15 year age difference. Suddenly our age difference didn't seem so large.
I made efforts to converse with her and discovered that she is into the arts, going to school, and planning on pursuing a career in the arts. She was really sweet and agreed to "save a dance for me."
Unfortunately at the reception there were a grand total of three dance songs and she was taking pictures. When she discovered there were no more dance songs she apologized for missing our dance. =(
Before leaving she came to me and said her goodbyes, I gave her my card. We shall see if anything comes of it. I think there may be a new pawn here. Yay!
Friday, April 15, 2011
J'adoube
The translation of this particular chess term is common enough that I am going to not translate it for you. If you don't know it and are that curious, a simple Google search will give you the answer. I don't think I have ever seen this term without a translation immediately following it.
This weekend is going to be a busy one. So much so that I decided to not go to the show at Rack'Em tonight in favour of getting to bed before midnight (I have ten minutes!).
So with this preoccupation on the commotion around me, it may be a good time to J'adoube. What life doesn't need this once in a while? Socrates said that the "unexamined life is not worth living."
My life though reads like a novel. Right down to the dramatic irony thing. I will say something and in a day or two something will happen to underscore or prove my point. It has always been this way.
Remind me to release happy thoughts into the air from now on.
I will win the lottery. I will win the lottery.
At any rate, as I go to bed at this terribly early hour my thoughts are focused on J'adoube. I am well overdue to make adjustments to my life.
And I need more Black Territory. It's time to push to the center board and the midgame.
This weekend is going to be a busy one. So much so that I decided to not go to the show at Rack'Em tonight in favour of getting to bed before midnight (I have ten minutes!).
So with this preoccupation on the commotion around me, it may be a good time to J'adoube. What life doesn't need this once in a while? Socrates said that the "unexamined life is not worth living."
My life though reads like a novel. Right down to the dramatic irony thing. I will say something and in a day or two something will happen to underscore or prove my point. It has always been this way.
Remind me to release happy thoughts into the air from now on.
I will win the lottery. I will win the lottery.
At any rate, as I go to bed at this terribly early hour my thoughts are focused on J'adoube. I am well overdue to make adjustments to my life.
And I need more Black Territory. It's time to push to the center board and the midgame.
Development in "Black Territory"
This weekend is going to be a busy one and I won't be able to get out of the house and go to a show or bar like I usually enjoy doing. So I went out for a "short walk around the block" and ended up walking five miles to the Royal Key Bar.
It's never a dull night at the Royal Key, and usually there are many great reasons for this, but tonight the excitement came from an unexpected source.
You see, the Royal Key recently acquired new owners. With their new owners came several new staff members. One of these new staff members was made the bar manager.
And he was somewhat tipsy tonight. Maybe a little more than tipsy even.
One of the bartenders who had worked with the previous owner came up to the bar as I was sitting there silently over my drink and asked the new bar manger about his schedule. This bartender had not yet been told when he was scheduled to work.
I would have expected that the manager would have given him his schedule and that was all. But as I said, the manager was intoxicated and instead went into a hostile lecture about how he was new and didn't know how much business to expect and therefore could not make up the schedule.
His tone was hostile, and loud. In the middle of the bar, where the patrons, myself included, could overhear the entire conversation. He could not have known who was listening and hearing all this. Finally, in exasperation the bartender got up and walked out of the bar, calling the manager a dick as he walked out-- never having been given anything resembling an answer concerning his schedule.
While the bartender was outside the manager kept talking about him-- still loudly so that the entire bar could hear. "He is best friends with the old owner and isn't part of our team." "I don't want him working anywhere near me." "I can't wait to let him go." Things of that nature.
So... my question is... how is it appropriate to say these things in front of customers? Is his being drunk any excuse? This was a place I enjoy hanging out, but suddenly I question if I should ever go back.
The story doesn't end there though.
The bartender came back inside, having wisely stepped out to cool his head. The manager suddenly said things like "I don't dislike you" and the such, a reversal of attitude from moments ago. They sat down and the bartender tried to do just what I would have expected, talk about past business and what can be expected so that the manager would have something to go by when making the schedule.
The manager exploded-- again loudly enough for the patrons in the bar to hear. "How do you know my sales numbers?!" He demanded.
Now, from what I hear this guy has been the manager for all of four days. The bartender though has been working at this bar for months. The bartender SHOULD know the numbers-- at least anyone halfway paying attention to their job would.
From there the conversation between the two quieted a bit and I turned my attention to other things, rolling several things around in my head.
This couldn't look good to any customers in the bar. Even the other employees seemed tense. This also couldn't be the image that the bar would want to project, heck, even I am considering returning to the bar.
The bartender left, and I... well, I found other things to occupy my time. The whole thing though left a sour taste in my mouth. It is a good lesson in how employees need to act with maturity and responsibility when representing their business.
And I, I may have lost some Black Territory.
It's never a dull night at the Royal Key, and usually there are many great reasons for this, but tonight the excitement came from an unexpected source.
You see, the Royal Key recently acquired new owners. With their new owners came several new staff members. One of these new staff members was made the bar manager.
And he was somewhat tipsy tonight. Maybe a little more than tipsy even.
One of the bartenders who had worked with the previous owner came up to the bar as I was sitting there silently over my drink and asked the new bar manger about his schedule. This bartender had not yet been told when he was scheduled to work.
I would have expected that the manager would have given him his schedule and that was all. But as I said, the manager was intoxicated and instead went into a hostile lecture about how he was new and didn't know how much business to expect and therefore could not make up the schedule.
His tone was hostile, and loud. In the middle of the bar, where the patrons, myself included, could overhear the entire conversation. He could not have known who was listening and hearing all this. Finally, in exasperation the bartender got up and walked out of the bar, calling the manager a dick as he walked out-- never having been given anything resembling an answer concerning his schedule.
While the bartender was outside the manager kept talking about him-- still loudly so that the entire bar could hear. "He is best friends with the old owner and isn't part of our team." "I don't want him working anywhere near me." "I can't wait to let him go." Things of that nature.
So... my question is... how is it appropriate to say these things in front of customers? Is his being drunk any excuse? This was a place I enjoy hanging out, but suddenly I question if I should ever go back.
The story doesn't end there though.
The bartender came back inside, having wisely stepped out to cool his head. The manager suddenly said things like "I don't dislike you" and the such, a reversal of attitude from moments ago. They sat down and the bartender tried to do just what I would have expected, talk about past business and what can be expected so that the manager would have something to go by when making the schedule.
The manager exploded-- again loudly enough for the patrons in the bar to hear. "How do you know my sales numbers?!" He demanded.
Now, from what I hear this guy has been the manager for all of four days. The bartender though has been working at this bar for months. The bartender SHOULD know the numbers-- at least anyone halfway paying attention to their job would.
From there the conversation between the two quieted a bit and I turned my attention to other things, rolling several things around in my head.
This couldn't look good to any customers in the bar. Even the other employees seemed tense. This also couldn't be the image that the bar would want to project, heck, even I am considering returning to the bar.
The bartender left, and I... well, I found other things to occupy my time. The whole thing though left a sour taste in my mouth. It is a good lesson in how employees need to act with maturity and responsibility when representing their business.
And I, I may have lost some Black Territory.
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