ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

Well now, I've been in and out for a bit here, and my poor little blog has been ignored. Sorry blog. I do have to warn you, that could happen again, at any moment, without warning. It all depends on how ambitious I'm feeling (which, at the moment, may be at an all-time low) and how good of a connection I can get (also very low lately). I apologize in advance. Hopefully after this next week or so, things will be a little more reliable for me.

What have I been up to in the past few days? For starters, today was my last day of work here in town. That was nice, although uneventful. The only thing I really have to do right now is pack pack pack. I'm moving out of my current location on the 31st, back home to Muscatine for a month. But that month will be spent on the go go go, with stops in DC, long layovers in Iowa City and Cedar Rapids (where my brother now owns a house!!!), and possibly a trip to the Ames area and maybe even Minneapolis, if I can swing it. Also, I'll be up in Chicago on Labor Day weekend, there's going to be a Hawkeye invasion as Iowa takes on Northern Illinois in Soldier Field on September 1. I'll be there on the 31st of August for the Cubs game, then hanging out that night and hitting up the game the next day. I'm very excited for it! And maybe if some of my Chicago-land blog friends are lucky, we could work something out to meet up.

Also, the Bix is coming up this weekend, on Saturday to be exact. Mentally, I feel ready. Physically, I'm hoping my mental readiness will carry me. At least this year I won't have to move the very next day. I at least have a day off in between now. yay

I promised some photos of my haircut the other day, and I'm not one to break promises. I just hope you are all ready for it.

First is Flenker on Friday

The shaggy do that everyone has known and loved. But now, it's time for a change. A new phase of my life is coming up, so a new style was needed. So may I introduce to you, ushering in a new era, the New Flenker!!

At first I wasn't quite sure of the new look, but I'm starting to come around to it. It needs to grow out just a tiny bit, but I think I'll enjoy it. I haven't had my hair this short in quite some time (possibly years), so it was time to go back.

I think that's going to be it for now. I have a post started about this past weekend that I'll try to have up some time soon, hopefully tomorrow.

So what if my big Friday night activity involves me struggling to keep my eyes open at 9 o'clock

I just realized tonight that I'm only 15 posts away from #200, so I've started planning out that celebration. You may remember that I did a few things in part of a pseudo-week-long celebration for #100. While I don't think I'll be doing another 100-song list, there may be shorter ones incorporated.

Tonight has been another in a series of rather uneventful nights, I worked until 7, then came home, loafed around, read a little, and will soon be hitting the hay. Tomorrow morning comes early for me, as I will be heading back to work at 7 a.m. But working 7-3 is pretty great, the day goes by quickly, and then there's the whole afternoon at my disposal. Granted, some of that afternoon will probably be spent napping, but there is also the lure of ice cream. A couple ice cream shops are within walking distance, and a number more a (very) short drive away. We shall see how energetic I'm feeling, and how high the temperature gets. (Some of my personal favorite ice cream flavors? Oreo cookie, anything with pecans and chocolate, the apple pie ice cream from Heyn's, Moose Tracks from Whitey's, really, anything with chocolate, peanut butter, fudge, oreo, etc. I'm not too picky) My roommates and I finally broke down and turned the air on, seeing as how the highs are going to be in the mid-90's for the next few days.

Rules for being with Flenker

Set One: Screening Process

To be in consideration, one must qualify according to these standards

• Love of baseball - includes going to at least one MLB game per season, watching many more on TV, and going to other baseball-related events, such as a trip to Cooperstown for the Hall of Fame, Negro League Baseball Museum in Kansas City, college games, minor league games, independent league games, or anything else. Also, playing catch is a must. Total knowledge of the game isn't necessary, as I love to teach baseball. But the ideas should be known. Can be a fan of any team except the White Sox and Red Sox (Cubs fans are ok, but not preferred), but must root for the Royals with me.
  
• Love of music - must be open to a wide variety of music, including but not restricted to jazz, "indie", country/bluegrass, acoustic, punk, hip-hop/rap, folk, funk, classical, experimental, etc. May not refer to Dave Matthews Band as "Dave"; in fact any reference to that band or any other jam band is not suggested. Also must be willing to go to shows.
• Drinking/smoking - both are ok, drinking is encouraged at some points. Smoking is fine, but the less the better, and efforts toward quitting would be totally supported. Must be ok with drinking or not drinking in any given situation.
• Age - 21 to 31, five years either side of my own age. The closer to 26.5 the better. (note: this is not set in stone, but would take some very extenuating circumstances to go below 21.)
• Drug use - generally frowned upon. Past use is ok.
• Must be able to deal with the different drooling dog states.
  
• Brunette hair is preferred, but not required. Red hair is not high on the list, but may be overlooked if prospect excels in other area
• Must be willing to try lots of new foods
• Must live in the same area code
  
• Conservatives need not apply
• A plus if our names can be combined in some clever way, ala "Team Dilldahl"
• In addition to meeting these requirements, candidate must pass an extensive screening process from Haley
  

Should these standards be met and excelled upon for some amount of time yet to be determined, then Set Two of the rules may be enforced.

Set Two: The Wedding (these are more my ideals, but are subject to change, compromises can be made)

• Outdoor setting desired, possibly in a barn or in the mountains
• Reception in the same area would be nice
• A live band to perform
• Guests will be fed with a cook out
• Attire need not be formal, but kind of dressy
• A theme party is welcome, such as a hoe-down if in a barn
• The less traditional the better

Now all of these are subject to change, and rules may be added or subtracted at my discretion

Just a tease

This is just going to be a quick update, I feel like I've been rushing around all day, not doing anything important... It started with the Flenker Bowl, the game in our NCAA Football video game dynasty where the Brothers Flenker face off. I lost by 6 points. Upsetting, to say the least. Then I took a walk, to cool down and just to enjoy the day. After that, I headed home and fired up the grill for some grilled onions (in butter, with salt and pepper) and cheddarwurst. Delicious! And while all of that was going on, I had people calling me, emailing me, and texting me. Mr. Popular! I don't know how it always happens, but I never will just receive one phone call in any given time. It's either none or 5.

Anyways, I wanted to take the few moments I have before I have to start getting ready for work to give people hints about what's to come in the near future of The Politics of Lonely.

Soon (maybe tonight after work): The Rules for Marrying Flenker (this may or may not involve a hoe-down) and my next contribution to As the Coffee Brews (I've been slacking pretty badly there. Sorry H.)
The next few days: the breakdown of some music, including my current favorite song, mix CD's, the introduction of "Vital Flenker" tunes, and more! Also, the next couple of installments in the Unified Theory of Flenker should be coming soon (including observations on couples and why I "fall in love" all the time), my new and improved reading list, and I confess my love for the Boob Lady
On the mind, in the future: more Unified Theory, more music, more sports plans (going to Milwaukee and KC), more awesome. Believe me, I will bring the awesome hard. Watch out