Elementary School Reunion

This title was probably more apt a couple of days ago, but I only thought of it tonight. People I haven't thought of or seen in years are randomly finding me on Facebook. I'd never really lost contact with Melissa, at least not since high school. I went to high school with Russell, though I didn't know that, or him, until college. A couple of weeks ago, a girl I went to elementary school with added me as a friend. Friday, I think, a guy from elementary school added me. I knew him pretty well way back then and had bumped into him a couple of times during high school, but it's still a little odd to find all these people after so many years.

Yesterday: I didn't really do much during the day. I think I mostly watched TV and surfed the interweb - standard time wasting. Sheena was having a going away party at 9, so I headed out there sometime after 8. I was the first one to arrive at Bartlett Lanes, designated party spot for the evening. Garrett was next with Sheena after him, and only about 10 minutes after 9. David and Christina got there pretty soon thereafter, and the four of them started bowling. I had no strong desire to bowl, so I sat out the first two games. Lee and Jennifer got there about as the bowlers finished up the second game. The three of us decided to bowl a game while the other four bowled a third game. About the time we were finishing our last frame, Melissa showed up. She had family obligations and wasn't sure she was going to make it at all, but I know Sheena was glad to see her. Melissa was headed to dog sit in my neck of the ghetto, so she followed me around on the interstate back this way. Apparently, that was only the start of her evening, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Today: Again, a lazy day. I handled some errands with my dad that took us out around Collierville. He also wanted to look at the new GM pickups, so we stopped at the GMC dealership there on Poplar in Collierville. I looked at some of the new cars, many of which seem to have a strange new feature. On the side of the engine compartment, there are small chrome pieces, which, upon inspection, have a grating that seems to lead to the engine. I'd wondered if they were purely decoration or served a purpose. My guess now is that they allow air that comes in through the front grill to escape along the side of the vehicle as well as below and through the area between the hood and the windshield. That arrangement probably cuts down on some of the air resistance from air coming up from the hood and hitting the windshield. I can't imagine it saves all that much, but I guess it's worth it. I hadn't noticed the contraptions until a couple of days ago, now I see them on cars all over the place.

Tonight, I met Melissa at the McAlister's over by my house. She was finishing up her dog sitting, and it seems the only place we can meet is McAlister's or Chili's. Always seems to work out that way, at least. She had to write a paper for a class Tuesday, so we didn't spend a ton of time there this time around. She did tell me how the dogs seemed to really like playing mind games with her all night long. I think she said it was after 3 before she finally got to sleep, then the dogs woke her at 8:30 to go outside. Doesn't sound fun to me, either.

I've been working to finish up the book I'm on right now before my new book comes out. That's supposed to be Tuesday, but that doesn't mean the "book" "store" in Tullahoma will have it. The nearest real bookstore is in Murfreesboro, and it's a tough call as to whether it's worth the drive to have to book on the day it comes out. Tough call. I need to finish this one first, either way. It's already later than I intended it to be to get back to reading. This is a pretty good update, especially compared to recent ones, so I'll leave you with the promise of more tomorrow.