tonyballinger.com

After mostly being cooped up in the house for the last week and a half, I got out into the city for the day. First, I had an interview. I enjoy meeting people, seeing people’s offices, and talking about my work. But I wouldn’t say I enjoy interviews. Interviewing is a lot like presenting a design – except YOU are the design. And if they don’t like it, sometimes it can be difficult to not take that personally. But it went reasonably well, and I headed home to change clothes for an evening with friends.

I got stuck in traffic on the drive home. In the back window of the car ahead of me, there was one of those little dog figurines. One of those where when the car moves and then stops, the dog’s head keeping bobbing, based on the car’s movement. As I thought through my responses to the interviewer’s questions, the dog kept bobbing it’s head – sometimes approvingly, and sometimes disapprovingly. It’s tough sitting in traffic being judged by a plastic dog.

That evening I met up with some friends to go bowling. I picked the place above the Ace Hardware in Lincoln Square, because it’s not of this time. This bowling alley exists somewhere in the mid 70s and mid 80s. The lanes are a little rough, the ball return often doesn’t, the beer is domestic and $3 each. Going here to bowl is a little vacation from your life in 2005.

Afterwards, we went to The Hidden Cove, a karaoke bar on north Lincoln. No, I didn’t sing, but D. did. And he did an incredible job with the two songs he did. Other folks didn’t fare as well, but that’s part of the allure of karaoke – the train wrecks that happen on stage. It’s the same thing that makes reality television so popular today.

It occurred to me as I was sitting and sipping a High Life, that this is the weekend, and I have no idea what next week holds for me. Or next month for that matter. In a way, I’m working without a net now, and that’s a different kind of act. I’m feeling a bit more alive than I have in a while, but not in a "cozy in a warm blanket" way. It’s more of a "driving fast without a seat beat" feeling.

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