HAPPY NEW YEAR

New Jeans

You ever buy a new pair of Jeans that you liked and now all of a sudden every pair of Jeans you already owned seems worn out and Ill fitting?

my submission: escaping the rat race (i honestly submitted this on wednesday morning but it would not appear on the blog)

The threat of violence hung in the air like cigar smoke in the backroom of a bar, all Bunny could see was the glint of moonlight reflected in their eyes, and the siloette of their shaven heads. "fuck off city boy" was the last thing he heard before the fist connected, and everything went white*. When he came round an old couple and a mix breed dog were standing over him, looking concerned, "are you alright love?" said the woman, "yeah, yeah" said Bunny standing up and brushing wood chippings off his Paul Smith suit. The first thing he thought upon looking at his face back at his flat was, what will they say at work?- it wasn't often anyone in the marketing department came in with two black eyes and a swollen nose. He wasn't exactly alpha male of the office, what with Patrick naming him 'Bunny' (due to his prominant front teeth), and his lack of anecdotes on the usual monday morning 'who i banged on the weekend' roundup. Thus Bunny didn't fancy going in and facing the questions, the sniggering behind hands and the inevitable call to Patricks office for a 'quick chat'. Patrick (MD) seemed to be holding more 'little chats' since they moved into the new office on the thirteenth floor of the Scitheon Building, maybe the magnifisent view was increasing his already bloated self importance (all Bunny could see was Craig's rapidly balding head bobbing around at the desk in front). The Scitheon Building was the tallest in the country- they'd used carbon graphite instead of concrete in the construction, reducing the weight, so allowing them to go higher.
It was too late to take holiday time off (that had to be applied for three months in advance, and ok'd by patrick), and if Bunny phoned in sick he'd either have to tell the truth, or try coming up with something that would give three weeks off (he thought the bruising and swelling should've gone by then). So fuck it he thought, "i've had enough of Key demographics and consumer surveys and craigs bald patch and being shown peoples new cuff-links and power point presentations and the whole fucking deal" he screamed inside his head. click went the mouse as he booked tomorrow mornings flight to Rio de Jeneiro- it was carnival time in Brazil and he was going to be dancing in the streets.
24 hours later a delirious looking man who used to answer to Bunny was stripped to the waist, waving his hands to the samba beat while the sky emptied rain and electric charge down onto Rio. 2000 miles away Patrick was leaving the fifth message on Bunnys answer machine, while watching a different storm roll in from the east. He could see the lightening arrowing down to the earth, the storm was almost above the Scitheon now. He hung up the phone as a spectacular fork of light hit the building, conducted through the carbon building, and as Patrick put the phone down, the air turned electric, and everything went white.

*in my experience when you take a heavy blow to the head everything goes white, i am just guessing about what happens when you get electrocuted.

Life Outside the Rat Race Essay Contest

Well, well, the gangs all here. I can see Lynlee is going to be a fine addition to our little society. There's just one thing, we have some invisibloggers don't we. Those whose names appear as contributors, but from whom we never hear? You know who you are. I offer up this chilling challenge to every single contibutor to this blog, new guys included. An essay. An anecdote if you will. A personal recollection. Whatever. Just make it funny and interesting, and no work stories unless its really funny. Lets say, oh about a page single spaced. The best essay, to be judged by an objective party will recieve the mysterious No-prize. Lets say one week from today, all entries due. I know what you're thinkin': "Pete, we don't all have copious free time like you do, I'm not writing a stupid essay!" Well, I say: "Nuts to you. We got into this business for one reason only...for my entertainment. So write for me Monkey boys... and girls, write like the wind! Just use that hour you spend everyday watching the scraping picking your toe nails and watching skinemax for something useful this time."

IT'S A SHAME

It's a shame that my first post has to be so...Hostile.
So the invasion has begun. If you currently live in, have ever lived in, or live in the vicinity of Pasadena, you know what I'm talking about. Oh yes, I mean the out-of-towners. Regardless of whether they are here for the dumb ass parade or the kick ass football game, they are still in my way.
Can I just mention that the other day it took me thirty minutes to get from 1st and Huntington in Arcadia to the Boat. Are you serious!? Thank God the boat has large cold beers with no line. Half an hour! What is that like two miles? Then yesterday I was almost involved in a head on collision when a man turned the wrong way on a one way and headed straight for me. The passenger was a kid, most likely the man's son. The kid just covered his mouth and his expression pretty much said it all. He looked slightly scared, but mostly embarrassed. Kid, you should be embarrassed, your dad is an idiot. There are street signs for a reason, and they're universal. Get it together people!
I'm also waiting for the invasion of the Texans for the big game. They'll all be here to watch their precious Longhorns get their asses handed to them by my awesome Trojans. I can't wait. I can almost smell their "I'm better than you attitude" in the air.
I understand that I may appear to be slighty angry, but I just needed to rant.
So, until next time...

Here's a view from Echo Mountain taken with our new Digital Camera we got for Christmas.
Here's Me at the Echo phone. Yell into this and a few seconds later you get multiple echos from the canyon below. Apparently, I have leaky nipples.
Here's Lauri at the railroad ruins on Echo Mountain.

Just so you know I might get a little annoying with this new camera. I think I might start a new blog just for photos so you can have the option of experiencing my adventures graphically.

The Good Times are Killin me

There was a great article in last year's edition of The Best Science and Nature Writing. It was all about introverts and introverted behavior. As it turns out, I am an introvert. Some of the symptoms? I do not enjoy meeting new people. I cannot be the center of attention. I find most social situations mentally draining. This last symptom surfaced big time this past Christmas day. After socializing all day with family and friends, I was assailed by an overwhelming urge to kick everyone the fuck out of my house, or my parents house as it were, and sit quietly for about an hour. I just couldn't listen intently, look people in the eye, answer or ask questions anymore. This isn't to say that I didn't enjoy the holidays, because I did. i just have to take my social gatherings in measured doses.
Anyway, so me and Lauri went hiking today. Actually we went to the boat because it was raining and then it was clearing when we came out of the boat so we figured we better go hiking. While hiking I realized that my stomach had been full since wednesday. I longed for a sense of emptiness in my belly, a chance to digest. So I'm officially fasting, I think through tommorow. I need to detox. As we were starting down from Echo Mountain, we overheard a group of parents calling Sherriff's search and rescue because they had lost two of their boys. Night was closing fast otherwise I might have volunteered to wander the trails around there to look for them. But then again I've been hking while the Sherriff's helicopter is looking for people, it quite a sight and those guys know what they're doing so I was confident the boys would be found. they were adolescents and probably just wandered off temporarily. I was looking forward to seeing that helicopter again, but the sherriffs were slow to mobilize, when we got to the bottom of the trail an hour later, there was no helicopter or searcha nd rescue team, only a black and white with a sherriff on the radio. As we drove down Lake the SAR jeep was just getting to the trailhead. I hope everything turned out okay. Seeing that brought back and old itch though, how awesome would that job be? Just hiking around the mountains, loking for people. I could get down with that for sure.

Monday night and a CD...

Hey everybody I was just at work and figured I might as well blog instead of staring at the clock or spending too much money on iTunes. So here I am.
This weekend marked Christmas as you all know. This Christmas was different than any other I have experienced before. This Christmas was not spent with my family. Unless you have been living under a rock you should know my parents live in Alaska and I unfortunately now having a full-time job with no vacation days spent the holidays here. Don't cry for me though I had a great Christmas Eve at Tim's house and a great Christmas Day with the DeClerks and the others who joined us for dinner and what not. So even though this Christmas was different than any others I have had. It was by no imagination a bad one or even slightly disappointing. Just thought I should let everyone know that. Anyway so last night after I got home I talked to all my relatives and wished them Merry Christmas and all it was typical. I also called some of my friends and wished them a Merry Christmas either in person, voicemail, or text message. So now until next year Merry Christmas time to move on to the Party of the Year New Year's.
So yeah New Year's is quickly approaching, do you know what you're doing yet? I don't yet but I am sure whatever I do I will have an awesome time. Worse case scenario I get toasted by myself on New Years but I highly doubt that happening(fingers crossed).
Today was super busy at work. I didn't really expect it to be but I was none too happy to realize it would be and while I am here till 10:30 with Kristian. Everyone else had a half-day. Can you believe that bullshit? Man I am getting screwed. Anyway so I have just been here reading EW's Best of 2005 issue and checking out other Best Of Lists on the Internet while taking calls from annoying people who don't understand anything about the computers they work with almost every day. It can become grating people.
So inspired by Pete making a CD I decided to totally steal his idea and make my own CD. Now while many of you probably don't respect my musical taste. This one is not all me. I actually while checking out the Best of lists I took some of the albums they had listed and took a song I liked from them. Now while some of these songs I already owned some I am now listening to for the first time right now. I must say so far I am impressed with my taste. So I realize I will not get you all clamoring for my CD like you clamor for Pete's creations but that is OK. Pete does have better taste in music than I do, there I said it. But just in case you do request one. You will receive an eclectic mix, kind of, of what I think are some of the Best Songs of the Year. Not the Most Popular so unfortunately no Gwen Stefani "Hollaback Girl", Black Eyed Pea's "My Humps" or D4L's "Laffy Taffy" which coincidentally happens to be one of the worst songs this year and possibly ever. So anyway gimme a shout if you want an eclectic mix of songs you may have heard of and some you may not have heard.
Alright folks this is beginning to become an overly long post and nobody likes those, especially when I start to ramble. So I am cutting it off here and am going to focus on something I haven't thought of yet. So Peace Out y'all and Happy New Years!!!

A Holiday Message

Peace on Earth.

Good will Towards Man.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

seasons greetings y'all

Greetings merry people of the west, hope everyone has a great christmas and new year, may nothing but good news arrive at your door.

Loaded God Complex

Who says one man can't make a difference? On friday I wrote a letter to Senator Boxer calling for her to start impeachment hearings against the president and today she's on CNN announcing that that what she's going to do. I AM A GOD!

Mayhem

I'd like to start off this post by saying THANK YOU to all of you who came to my birthday night out. It was awesome! I got drunk (which is the main goal right?), and i got a drink spilled on me by some random drunk person. Fun times if you ask me.

I've been busy finishing my Christmas shopping this week, but other than that it hasn't been to exciting. On Saturday i had one of my last physical therapy sessions. Then i went to work that night. It was some Chinese Christmas concert. One of the oddest things i'll remember from that show is when a Chinese woman starting singing Feliz Navidad. I don't think i'll see that again in my life time. Then Sunday was my day off. I was going to go shopping all day and not come home till i was done! Well the day started off wrong when i woke up at 1pm. Not exactly hitting those early bird sales was i? After calculating the amount of money i could spend i hit the road. Now i fully expected to deal with crowds at the mall and the parking lot...but it was INSANE. I have never seen anything like that. I went to the Santa Anita Mall. For those of you who know this mall, i was in a car line that started at the freeway. So i stuck it out thinking that it was a huge exaggeration of what was really to come...it wasn't! I finally made it to the mall enterance near JC Penney/Race Track. I was going to park in the "boonies" section to avoid all people but that was jam packed. Everything was jam packed. I looked for a spot to park (along with everyone else) for almost 30min then gave up. If i tried any longer i would have flipped out. So then i got in a car line to get out of the mall. I can't imagine what the inside off the mall looked like and gathering from the view outside i bet things weren't pretty inside (clothes and shoes and children...everywhere!!) Pete called during this mess and asked me to work that night (see "Ode to Randy and Lauri") I figured i wasn't going to be shopping, so i might as well make some money. I went to work to help Pete. It went smoothly. Then we (Randy, Pete and I) went to Applebee's for late night happy hour. Pete was all wound up from the day. We all ended the day relaxed though.

I'm gonna be taking Friday off of work. I wanna relax. Plus a 4 day weekend ain't bad. Maybe i'll go to the beach, it is like 80 degrees here. No white xmas here in California!!

The Bob Loblaw Law Blog

does anyone watch arrested developement? if yes then you'll understand the title to this post. if no then you need to cuz that show is so damned funny! mondays at 8pm, channel 11.

it was good to see everyone last friday! it has been a long time since i've been out with you guys. and it turned out to be a night of firsts: i'd never been to the chalet or the buc before, i'd never shot a 'scooby snack', and i've never had my hair stroked by a random woman (that i can remember). anyway, i'll try to make it out more than "every other month."

sad news from megan's parents: their dog, charlie, died this past saturday. i guess he was stumbling on his walk the night before and wouldn't eat or get up after that. saturday morning they found him dead on his little bed :( poor guy... i'll miss him. he was my buddy.

work has been draining... i'm so over this place. if lauri and i aren't bored sick then we're pissed off at the retards we work with. and we just found out that another coworker is pregnant. it's getting a little gross now.

(hey pete, i'm compiling a list of new music for you to check out. you'll have it soon.)

Ode to Randy and Lauri

You ever had friends that you can call and be like, I'm in trouble and I need help and they drop everything and come down and help you out. Well I do. We had two sold out shows back to back on sunday and after the first show, i was convinced that the people I was working with were so fucking incompetent that felt I had to call out the big guns. I call Lauri: "I'll be there." I call Randy: "I'll be there." No bitchin' no whining, they just came down and worked the show with me. Needless to say, that shit went off like motherfuckin' gangbusters. So thanks guys, you saved my ass.
I'd also like to celebrate Randy's triumphant return to the Civic Auditorium even if just for one night. Every step on the auditorium floor was like a stomp in face to that hateful bitch. They'll never stop us motherfucker.

My weekend

Hey people it's Sunday and I am just here at work as per usual. I was just sitting around listening to my iPod and thought I got nothing interesting to say why don't I post that to the blog. So here I am.
Come to think of it this week has actually been a tad bit interesting. Well only the tail end really. My Saturday and Sunday which to normal people is Thurs and Fri.
Thursday - Today my brother left to Alaska for a few weeks(like2) and it was Lauri's birthday. So on Thursday after taking my brother to the airport I drove down to Sunset Beach to meet Tim, Emily, Lynlee and Katie came later. What we basically did down there was drink and eat. A good time was had by me, except for the whole sleeping thing but I won't get into that. Needless to say a Full bed is not nearly enough room to accommodate 3 people that is all I am saying about that.
Friday - Today we celebrated Lauri's birthday. We went out to the Boat for dinner. I didn't eat anything though, I just drank. That happens more often than not. Oh well what are you going to do. So everyone who was anybody was there for the most part, certain people had other obligations and what not so...you know. One person who I was really glad actually made it was Lauri's sister, Sheila. I hadn't seen her in like years. Not really that long, duh, but it had been a while. Maybe she can make it out here more than every other month? So anyway Friday night after the Boat we went to The Chalet, saw six shooter. Then we took Lauri home cause she was done. Pete, Sheila and I met some others at the Buc to finish off the night. All in all I had an awesome time on Friday and I just wanted everyone to know that.
Saturday and Sunday have just been typical days at work. I did buy some Christmas lights yesterday but other than that they have been pretty uneventful. Anyway I am going to go get something to eat now cause I am hungry and bored. So that'll give me something to do. Alright y'all it was fun but I am out. Remember... Happy Holidays!! and all that other stuff.

P.S. Nothing in this blog was meant to offend anybody or embarrass anyone either. Just in case.

Well, folks...our president has broken his oath of office and in doing so had violated the law. President Bush's announcement that he authorized the National Security Agency to spy on American citizens is a clear breach of our fourth ammendment protection against illegal and unwarranted search and seizure. In his oath the president swears to uphold the Constitution of the United States, not to use executive authority to trample it.

What are you prepared to do?

Here's a suggestion, write your senators and congressmen and express your disgust. Here's the Links.
http://www.house.gov
http://www.senate.gov

King Aslan and King Kong

Hey what's up peoples from ALASKA. I was just here when I forgot to give some movie reviews. I caught King Kong and Narnia L,W,W before I left. They were both really good. Both had a great story. Special effects were great. Acting was done well too. When I saw Narnia I expected a kid movie and that's what I got. But I even enjoyed it too. So much that I'm reading the rest of the books now. Now King Kong I was really excited to see this movie with all the critics hailing that it was great. So I expected a lot out of this movie. I got most of it. I din't get everything I expected But I still thought it was good. Narnia I have to say was more enjoyable. But King Kong had more action which kept my interest. The story in King Kong I thought wasn't that good. Narnia was a good story once you say it's a fantasy with elements of magic and abandon reality. Well I have to help make cookies I'll blog later. Happy Holidays!

Solitaire

Does solitaire help with memory skills? My memory is totally shot. I'm not sure how it happened or when it actually got bad, but it sucks. According to books that help with memory, i need to be less stressed, exercise more, get more sleep and play games. So does solitaire count? I've been playing so much solitaire this week its ridiculous. This week has gone by very slowly and the only thing keeping me busy is game after game of solitaire.

Tonight my pals and I are going out to celebrate my birthday, which was yesterday. Its gonna be awesome! Yesterday Pete and I went out to dinner and i got my presents from him. Sheila gave me some cool stuff too. By the way, one of the gifts Sheila got me was from Yankee Candle Co. Its lotion and its the best smell in the whole wide world (as far as lotions go). Its Clean Cotton scent. It smells like a dryer sheet. Oh man its incredible. And it smells the same when used too, not just from the bottle. Ok enough about that. So yeah, partying tonight. Everyone should start getting pumped up starting........now! See ya there!!!!!!!

So long and thanks, for all the fish

Hey so, I can't find any new music that I like. What are you people listenin' to, and can I borrow your CD's? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. (no country or polka please)
On another note, I broke down my fish tank the other day. I just decided that a fish tank requiring monthly maintenance was too much responsibility for a 29 year old man. Fear not for my remaining fish, they are now living happily in Lauri's slightly smaller but much cleaner tank. I still get to see them on weekends.
Thats it, no real news from me.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LAURI!

Update

Hey y'all. I told you I would give you an update on the apartment when I knew more so here goes.
I went to daqy and saw the apartment. It's nice, it feels a lkittle smaller than the one I have now but that could just be me. It does have a nice little patio that would be cool. and a nice setup between the kitchen and dinig room. Like separated. I can't explain it well but it's cool. Now the price is not $900 as quoted by the old lady yesterday. It is an even grand if they don't refurbish it and to tell you the truth it doesn't need to be. It is 1100 if they do refurbish it. SO I am going to say leave it alone. I have the applicationsright here in front of me. I am going to fill it out tonight and have my brother fill his out and then drop them off in the morning and ask how long I have to wait to get a response. Hopefully not long. A new place would be a great Christmas present to myself.
So anyway that is about it I just wanted to update you on the apartment happenings. Besides that just typical work stuff. So rather than boring you I am going to get outta here. Peace and keep you all in the loop. LATERS!

The Birthday Boat

Lauri's Birthday is coming up and we'll be getting together Friday to celebrate. We're gonna meet up at the boat around 6pm. Where we go there will be up to Lauri. So Come to the boat for some birthday cheer. WOOOHOOO!

End of the Year

Yesterday i had my dreaded end of the year review given by my boss. It actually went pretty well. He had nothing negative to say about my job performance throughout the year. He did however have something to say about me, personally. He told me i needed to relax. He said that i get too angry and stressed out about things around here. Its a stressful job. I told him that i couldn't exactly go skipping through the hallways all the time. He said, "i don't think you like your job" and i said, "do you like your job?, its a job, no one likes to work". That's right i said it. Well to make a long story short, he's concerned about me. Give me a freaking break. He just wants to make sure i don't call in sick to work to often. He may be perceptive on some things but on other things, he's oblivious. Sheila is in right now with him getting her review. He's most likely saying the same thing to her. We have a tendency to freak out a lot here and he's finally catching on as to why. Oh then he asked "where do you see yourself and the company in 2 and in 5 years?" NOT HERE! I wanted to scream. But i didn't have a PC answer so i have to get back to him, and he wants to get backed to. In other news, Pete and I went to the movies last night. We saw Syrania (is that how you spell it?). It was ok. I thought there were too many different stories to follow. That's just me though. I haven't finished my Christmas shopping. Oh and speaking of Christmas. On Sunday was the annual work xmas party. We went to the Coco Palms, formerly called Copacabanna. It was fun. Sheila drank lots and just talked and talked and talked. It was funny. We played games and gave our Secret Santa gifts. It was your typical work xmas party. But back to shopping. I haven't finished, i've barely started really. I'm waiting to get paid on Thursday. Then Sheila and I have to go crazy cuz we have to ship gifts to our parents soon, very soon! Well i think i'll wrap it up here. Sheila is still in her review, i think it's coming up to an hour now. That could be bad, or good, i don't know mine was kinda long too i guess. Anyways, have a good day!

Apartment & Stuff

Hello everyone. I am just hanging out at work and thought that blogging would be a great way to use my time of not doing work effectively.
So today before work I went to check out that apartment in Sierra Madre that Pete and Lauri had told me about it this weekend. So when I got there I went and knocked and the landlord's door, I guess...? It was an old woman, a very old woman(off topic why is that apt. Landlords seem to always be old). She said if I wanted to I could come back later this afternoon and look at it if I wanted to. Obviously this was not an option due to the fact that I had to go to work at . SO I asked if I could come by tomorrow at the same time and take a look. She said the person should be there so to come by. So my apartment visit was pushed to tomorrow. I found out that supposedly the rent is $900 which I find hard to believe and am much more inclined to believe Lauri and Pete's quote of a grand. But who knows we'll see, right? No pets allowed which doesn't matter cause I don't have any so non-issue. So anyway I have to go back tomorrow. Just thought you'd be interested.
Today at work was more or less uneventful. We had a lot of shipping though. We ship out replacement parts to stores when their shit breaks. For some reason today we had a lot, but whatever. Other than that exciting tidbit just been answering calls and listening to my iPod. Listening to my music at night is such a lifesaver. So that was my work I could tell you more but I would bore even myself.
So Alex is off to AK this Thursday he is going to be gone until the 29th I think. So it'll be a "Blue Christmas" for me. Hahaha. Sometimes I am so not funny it's scary. Anyway that was just a little info for everyone so you can mark it down on your calendars.
Well I guess that's it I just wanted to let you know about the apartment visit I will be sure to post tomorrow and keep everyone updated on my apartment adventure. Yeah so uh... Later.

Busy times in the land of the Dragon- i have been working an almost normal monday to friday type of schedule, which i havn't done for over two years, but i'm actually enjoying it. between the working i've joined the 'welsh coast surf club', performed for the first time with my drum group ( it wasn't technically perfect but we got everyone dancing and i guess that is the most important thing), been reading about 3 books a week (i'm like a screaming black hole sucking in all literature around me), painted my Bass a rather tasteful combination of purple and orange (Timmy D- your picture is next), and this week i'm going to sign up as a youth worker at a local youth centre type place which was set up by a woman whose son got hit by a train while tripping on acid.
Has my 100 beers plaque been put up in the crown yet? i think it should have a grand unveiling, with a little draw curtain and speeches by local dignitaries, or am i being a bit self important? anywho, a copy of my debut album (if i get round to making it) to anyone who can name the band/song this lyric is taken from- "it's easy to laugh, it's easy to hate, it takes strength to be gentle and kind"

The Long Goodbye

Its 1:39am and I'm up because I ate a bag of cheetos with my dinner and it gave me diarrhea. I'm telling you this because we're all friends and I believe that we can be honest with each other. Also because diarrhea is funny. Its also funny that I had to run a spell check on this post to see if I was spelling diarrhea correctly. I wasn't.
It wasn't one of those variety pack bags of cheetos, but it wasn't the full bag either, it was one of those 99cent jobs that you might find at a liquor store. Anyway, I thought it was only the flaming hot limon variety that did this to me, but apparently not. I used to laugh at people who said they couldn't eat certain foods because it messes up thier stomach. Now I am one of those dudes. I have to now swear off eating cheetos, which is a shame because I like cheetos. I like the fact that you get more cheetos in a bag than you would, say, baked Lays. I also like the durability of the cheeto. When you get a bag of BBQ Potato chips you get three whole chips and a bag full of crumbs. Not so with the cheeto, the cheeto is durable, the cheeto is strong, the cheeto could be made of asbestos for all I know as long as they put that cheese powder on it, thats all I ask for in a snack food.
Across the street from where I work they sell thse sandwiches that I like to stick cheetos into to make them crunchy. No use dwelling on the past I guess. Well, goodbye cheeto. You were a good friend and a good snack product of dubious ingredients and origins when I needed you.
I haven't had to visit the bathroom yet while writing this and thats encouraging, but I know this isn't over yet. After all, it was the 99cent bag you get at the liquor store and not the little bag from the variety pack, this could be a long goodbye.

Freakin' Weirdos and People Who talk to you while you pee.

I've always held that a good quarter of the population is just this side of sane and that another quarter is jst the other side of sane. When you see three thousand people a day as I sometimes do in my job, imagine how many of them are freakin' wierdos. The nutter that I ran into today wasn't even at my job, he was at the market across the street. I was in line at the checkout, and I always choose the wrong line, and this guy comes and stands right next to me. Not behind me or slighty askew of me, but right next to me. At first I thought he was trying to cut in front of me and if that was going to be the case, I was going to jail that night because I've had just about enough of that lately. But no, as I moved forward he moved up wit me. When I came to the register he was standing so close to me that I could feel his breath on my ear. When the cashier greeted me, he greeted us, saying, "How you guys doing tonight?" then he asked, "is this together?" as in our groceries. I said no, paid and went on my merry way. So was he just one of those that are just on the other side of sane? Was he a sociologist doing an experiement on social norms? Or was he some dirty German with no sense of good ol American personal space? German would be my guess, I hate those dirty Krauts.
Then we got the guys who talk to you while you're urinating. Got one of those today. He wasn't even in the stall next to me, he was a few stalls over, but he has to say Hi, even though was doing my manly duty of staring straight ahead. When your in the bathroom, junk in hand, just shut up. Just don't say anything. Lest you get grouped in with the nutter at the supermarket.

You can all keep the gay jokes to yourself by the way. Jeff, I'm looking your direction.

Saturday

I noticed nobody usually posts on the weekends. So I figured hey post on the weekend. So here I am posting on the weekend. Unfortunately I don't have much to say though, as usual.
Work is pretty slow and annoying today. Lots of people having replication issues and if you really are interested in what those are? Ask me and I will more than gladly tell you all about them. But I am not gonna bore you in this blog. I can't wait to go home, not gonna dwell on that though.
Last night Pete, Lauri and I went out to El Torito for happy hour which was cool. Then we relaxed at my house for a bit then traveled to The Crown to meet up with friends and have a good time. I think we accomplished those goals. I didn't get drunk which is good sometimes. I had a nice little buzz though so that was cool.
So Lauri and Pete were telling me about this cool little place in SM. An apartment for only $5 more than I pay and nicer. I am definitely checking that out very soon. Not that I don't like my little Arcadia place cause I do. But change is good for the soul, right? I think so.
OK seriously I got nothing to talk about and this blog has got to be boring you people to tears right about now if not earlier. So everybody have a great day whenever you read this or a great night. Just great in general. Bye now.

Just Released! New Mixed CD

Here are some lyrical highlights of a new mixed CD I just made entitled "Songs You Might Not Know...But Should." Subtitled: " For contemplative moods only." This is not a party CD

"I'll sit and wonder at every love that could have been if I'd only thought of something charming to say"

"I'd like to go the distance, but not one of us is gonna, you see no one is wise enough to turn this ancient boat around.."

"Gonna find another place, maybe one I can stand"

"I'll be in my basement room with a needle and a spoon and another girl to take my pain away"

"talkin bout what we gonna be when we grow up, I said "what you wanna be?" she said, "Alive""

"All those I respect and trust, I guess they were just kiddin'"

"I'll be here when it all gets weird"

"please don't confront me with my failures, I have not forgotten them.."

Intrigued? All this and more on my new CD. Who wants a copy?

work ethic: a thing of the past

it's only 10:15am and i'm so irritated by all the lame brains i work with! little miss jennifer took the day off because of a cold. a cold! take some damn sudafed and get your ass to the office. i guess that pisses me off because i'll end up covering the phones for her this afternoon. amber, the baby who had a baby, is back from maternity leave on monday. and the worst part is that our company christmas dinner is this sunday night. so i'll only have one single day of coworker-free life in a two week period. ugh.

speaking of our company dinner, i can't believe you aren't coming, pete. that makes me sad. but what's really sad is the fact that a free dinner and open bar couldn't even get you to go... lol.

i've seriously neglected my obligation to blog. but i was inspired this morning when i opened the page to see alex and randy had posted! so i'm back.

Finally Mileage and Scrubs

Well this whole week I've been busy if not working buying presents for people on my christmas list. Let me start from the beginning.... MONDAY I worked on the David Fincher film Zodiac but now called Chronicles. It was just so-so. I was hyped cuz I love David Fincher movies, The zodaic killer sounded like a coolsubject, and David Fincher upgrades his extras. But that didn't happen nothing really happened. I waited til I was finally called on set and did nothing. But one thing happenedthat was wierd and cool. I had to walk past the actor and keep walking til the director said cut. So i walked and didn't hear him say cut till I was all the way on the other side. Now it was at Ontario Airport I literally walked from Gate 1 and 2 to the exit. Then they said reset I ran to get back but only got halfway and the 1st ad is all stop all right turn around and start there. The next take was a mess up and i got closer to my original but still didn't get there. The 1st stepped in again and then I heard a guy behind a tv say it's all right just get back in time and I went to my original start mark. The guy behind the tv was DAVID FUCKING FINCHER. I didn't mess up again. But the fun didn't stop there when we were waiting to be checked out the drivers were last after 100 people. They only hadone person checking out people and he was so slow! This fat old guy who looked like Wilford Brimley started talking about how he better paid for mileage for driving to ontario. He was I'm gonna call sag I want to be paid for mileage, i'm gonna call sag i want to know how far ontario is from the studio, Im gonna call sag how much is mileage. I was sick of it. I said we could get out sooner if we had more than one slow person checking people out. They should have a PA help. Wilford talked again PA's cant sign people out I'll call sag and they'll tell you. I was like whatever and went to the restroom to kill time. Finally I was checked out and yes we were paid for mileage. It was 6pm and kinda didn't want to work so I called My Call -in service and said to check before after saying that 5 minutes later they were wondering if i wanted to work "Scrubs" Now for all you other extras say Scrubs is the best show to work on. The crew is laid back, they feed you good, the actors are cool, and there are couches in holding and you could watch movies (holding is where you stay til they need you for the scene). So I said I would work it. TUESDAY Well all of that is true. I was a orderly so I could throw fun in. It was fun and for lunch Steak! Steak for lunch and it was real steak and so good also fresh made pasta. When we were about to shoot Donald Faison was shouting wrestlers I don't know why but he said a bunch and said Come On Guys so I shouted some out and he was like good job (they were mostly older wrestlers). The old doctor said some really old guy that we never heard of and explained him to us and said he busted people all the time. Donald said that still happens with guys like Raven ( who is crazy and blood is gauranteed in every match). He then said wrestling Fake HA! Later on I was called by my Call-in service and booked me on scrubs again I was like yes! WEDNESDAY got there and had some pancakes changed in my wardrobe and waited. The PA didn't pick me for the first scene and mostly everybody elsewas picked. I talked to my friend Reggie and said i think Josh (The PA) doesn't like me. He said Naw! it's just one scene. I was like yeah. So I waited and waited and waited. The people had rest and I always asked if they were done and they said no. It was lunch at 1:45 they still weren't done. The scene was 4/8 of a page. But they had some stunt well woohoo. Anyway they got done at 3:30. Then all of a sudden the PA pointed to me after talking to the 2nd AD. I was picked to be a maintenace man and friend of the big janitor guy. Only 3 other people were also picked. Also the 2nd Ad asked if I could come back tomorrow. Thank you Krista (the 2nd AD) but as I was gettin done changin Josh is all Hurry up getting dressed and I did but they didn't even need me right then. But I was finally used and it was great. Ok after that scene the PA said I was wrapped I was ok one scene whatever. To double check I asked the PA if I was working Thursday he said call central it was 6:30 central is closed. I asked again he said call the message box (where you call to get info about your show you are booked on). I said the call time change box or the info and he said call the box. I was getting frustrated and I returned my wardrobe and they asked If I am coming back I said Probably. So I just assumed from what Krista asked me. It turns out I was. But I needed my call time. So I asked Josh and he said Check the Box I got my voucher signed said thanks and walked out frustrated. I had to call my call-in service and get my call time cuz it never said on both boxes. They called back and said 5pm I was like WOW! Oh wait The box just told me my call-time and it was changed to 7 pm. What am I gonna do with all that time? Anyways I love scrubs and hope to be a regular and it's okay if the PA doesn't like me cuz The 2nd AD does. Soon everyone will!!!! HAHAHA!!!! Especially WHEN i become FAMOUS!!!

I thought cuz Tim said everyone should say nice things to people on the blog I thought I should say nice things to everyone:
Pete- You are a really smart and great friend. Really funny too. Finishing college.
Lauri- You are the coolest girl I've ever met.
Tim- You got a nice body (i'm not gay) and is funny sometimes. Fishing college too.
Randy- You are my bro. You know I love ya. You have always watched over me and kept me safe and on my toes.
Sheila- When I see you you are cool (just kidding) except the cool girl part I guess it runs in the Cuypers blood.
Owen- A cool guy I wish I got to know more. Your blogs are so good and poetic.
Tom- Welcome to the blog. Another funny DeClerk. Smart guy. Finishing college also.

I said the college part cuz It's important and I just quit maybe I should go back...
hhhmmmmm....... NAAAHHHH!!!

Two new quotes

I found these two quotes in a book my parent gave me when I graduated from College. I am just posting them for the heck of it they aren't exactly thought provoking or even that good but I am bored, so

• We are all born originals -- so why is it so many of us die copies?

• Though no on can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.

There you go, enjoy or don't. I don't really give a fuck.

Hmmm...

This title is appropriate because I am thinking about what I can possibly write about and I got nothing. It is sad that my life is so unfull of adventures and just interesting things in general that when I get on this blog to tell you what's new, I can't think of a single thing.
I finally caved in and bought some Christmas tunes for my iPod. You know tis the season and what not. I haven't done any X-Mas shopping yet but I think I will get started on that this week and finish up next week. I don't have many people to buy for.
Ummm...work has been normal I guess. I just come in, do my shit and hang out till it's time to hit the road. It's not too bad, I get a lot of hours without having to do much work. They probably think I am lazy, yet I am pretty sure I have the least amount of open cases so they can kiss my white ass. Just cause I know how to get shit done efficiently is no reason to be mad at me, right?
Nothing on the girl scene so I will just skip over that one.
I think I might take a walk tomorrow. Maybe instead of driving to the mall I will walk. It's not too far it'll be good exercise. If I decide to leave the house which at this point is up in the air.
So I have started to make up like a fake week kind of. I figure that this is now my Friday night because I have tmw and the day after off. Those are like my Saturday and Sunday. And then on Saturday my new week of work starts so Sat is really Monday. It's not really interesting, I know. But I am running out of stuff to talk about and I still have 2 hours left.
Alright well I have bored you enough by now. So people I know it's the holidays and people tend to get frustrated by the masses and maybe even down on humanity. But lets try to keep upbeat and not kill the supid retards who are over running the world.
Happy Holidays!!

24 days left

Looking at my blotter this morning i saw that there are only 24 days left in the year. Then we start all over again. That's the bummer of it all. This morning i had to go pick up a co-worker at the local auto body shop. He was haggling about the price and afterwards i had told him to go to Marcos. He actually remembered Sheila talking to him about it and he plain forgot. So he'll go next time i guess. I am super over due for an oil change, i wouldn't be surprised if my oil light went on. Ok i'm exaggerating about the light coming on, but it's still been to long. Plus it dawned on me that i got my new tires last year around this time and i've never had then rotated. I'm just asking to break down somewhere. Today Sheila and I are doing more shopping during our lunch break. Yesterday's trip was pretty successful. I have to work tonight, its Warren Miller time again. On monday i took the day off. I was stressed out. I even got a cold sore from it. I felt bad not coming in on a monday and leaving Sheila to deal with it but i was not in good shape. Then on Monday...wait i have to back track. On Saturday Pete discovered that my toilet tank had a crack and it was leaking water everywhere. So i went to my manager and he said that nothing could be done until Monday. So monday came and they put in a brown toilet with a white lid. Everything in my bathroom is white. Not to mention, this brown toilet is much smaller than my old one and you can see on the wall all the different paint colors the bathroom has been over the years. I asked the manager if he had the white paint but i guess he doesn't. My bathroom now looks ridiculous. Pete and I went looking for apartments for me and nothing is affordable. I called a couple of places nearby and around town. Its all expensive and they aren't anything special either. So the search continues. And my gynecologist has retired. It hasn't been a good week for Lauri. Sheila's kitty is doing great after she had been snipped. Gretel is nice and calm now. Its starting to snow in Texas. My mom and Leslie said it was sleeting. My mom took our family dog, Millie, to the vet today for a routine checkup. She's getting old and i guess she is getting cataracts. Poor baby! Well this was an interesting blog. I covered many topics, and in no particular order either. But that's what's been happening in the life of Lauri!

http://wakazashi.blogspot.com/
Check out the second post on this blog. Its a Star Wars Gangsta rap video. It is Hilarious.

oh where oh where has my little blog gone

i don't like what this blog has become. everytime someone posts, someone else has got some damn negitive thing to say about it. so everyone think of something nice to say about someone else in the blog. thank you.

My Comic Book Conundrum

In and around 1990 right after the time when the Tim Burton Batman movie came out, I became interested in Comic Books. I was told that not only were comics an enjoyable read, which a lot of them are, but that they were also a good investment. I was led to believe that someday I could sell my collection and make tons of money. So I was not only a reader, i was a collector. If a new title was coming out and they offered four different "collector" covers, I bought all four. Yep, four copies of the same comic. When the X-men came out with a new title around '92 they were issued in plastic bags with a four different collector cards. So I had to buy all four, plus one that I could open and actually read. All on the promise that these things would skyrocket in value after some years of careful storage. Bags and boards @ 15 cents a piece, to keep your comics in near mint condition.
Here's what I've recently come to realize: The period I was buying comics was the height of the comic book collecting craze. The publishers were very aware of this and were printing millions of copies of these comic books. We all know what happens when a market is flooded, don't we? Thats right, the value goes down. And believe me, the comics I bought 16 years ago have not appreciated one cent in the seller's market. Oh sure, I have a few titles that might fetch me a few dollars over the cover price, but what am I going to do with the other 1000 comics I have? No one wants the damn things and more than likely, no one ever will.
As my tastes have matured I came to realize that, as with everything, 99% of comics are crap, and boy did I buy a lot of crap.
Know anyone who wants a bunch of worthless comics cheap?

December...

This time of year is exciting and it sucks at the same time...for me anyways. The whole month of December is the most stressful for me. Here's why: First off its cold. I hate being cold. I like the seasons and i'd be pissed if it weren't cold, but i still don't like being cold. And i don't like being cold when i have to get up early in the morning. I'm not a morning person. Actually i'm not a night person either. I'm my best between 11am and 2pm. So its a very small time of the day when i'm actually eager to do something or go out. But i'm straying here...Also in December is my birthday. I only like to remind a couple of people of my bday. I don't like attention. If everyone else forgot, i wouldn't mind so much. As my birthday rolls near i remember how i'm getting older and not much better. I haven't really done anything exciting in the past year and then i think about how its gonna be the new year in a few weeks. Ah its horrible. And then there's the dreaded yearly review at my work. I'm constantly talking about how work sucks but in December it all comes to a head and i get a raise and it has to last till the next December. I've been complaining tons about work and my life these past few months and i think Pete is sick of it. I understand, no one likes a broken record. He's sympathic of course but he also reminds me that things aren't that bad. I have a working car, two jobs, a nice place to live, etc. A conversation like that usually will last me a few good days, till i sink back in to depression. Yesterday Pete and i hung out. We went driving and i wanted to know where we could go to see some wildlife. I ended up driving into the depths of Altadena where sure enough, we saw wildlife. A coyote! It was good enough for me! On Monday i had a physical therapy appt. Apparently it was cancelled and they had my wrong phone number. Needless to say i was inconvienced. I have another appt. today. Its acutally my first real appt. The first time i went was an evaluation. This time its working out. woo hoo free gym! Sheila's kitty Gretel is getting spayed tomorrow. Poor baby. I haven't seen Gretel in a while but Sheila says she's getting big. Hey did you notice that even when you refresh the blog its adds a number to the bottom. Lame. i think we should take it off. I have got to start Christmas shopping, I have to!!!!! See...stressful. Ok i'm gonna stop now.

A day without a television

Are you ready for a magical journey of the heart and soul? Thats great. Better go somewhere else because I'm just gonna talk about my usual shit. The fact is I wouldn't even be wrting this if there were something decent on TV. Right now on the Starz action channel is a movie called In the Year 2889. It seems to be a really bad zombie movie of some kind. I caught a scene where they were giving some guy recovering from an injury some food and he said "i don't want that, bring me some raw meat." The problem with direct TV is that all the cable channels are on eastern time. So If I'm trying to watch TV at midnight, I'm watching stuff thats intended to be seen at 3am.
I made a pact with myself not to watch any TV today. It didn't really work out but I did better than alot of days. I woke up, made some coffee. I had to clean the coffee maker because my mom lets it get disgustingly dirty. I solved the daily Sudoku puzzle to get the old synapses firing and then I checked the blogs...for about an hour. I'm obsessed. Then I decided I should go for a hike. I suited up and hit the trail. Here's the problem. And I'm venturing to a level of honesty thats really going to sully my reputation and I know Lauri is going to be shaking her head, but hey anything to keep this interesting. So here's the problem. I wear boxer briefs most of the time. I'm not the thinnest dude around and I have a problem with the ol' inner thighs rubbin together so I find a nice pair of boxer briefs keeps me from getting what come to be known as "the rash". So when I suited up I decided not to change my underwear from the day before (there I said it) After all there just gonna get sweaty and then I'd have to put a new pair on again. The problem is that boxer briefs get stretched out ofter a day of use, and their no longer snug. So here's waht happened. I'm hiking, and these fuckers are bunchin up somethin fierce. I've got some privacy out on that trail so I'm able to make adjustments along the way. but goddamn if those things weren't riding up every 2 minutes. I felt like I was wearing a fucking diaper. Well I had my ipod on and I'm keeping a nice pace, but I can't get my mind off how uncomfortable I am with these underwear all up in my junk. So I had to turn around, I couldn't take it.
So I went home and dusted off the last of the turkey sandwiches. And I did watch CNN while I ate. Most of the rest of the day was spent reading. I'm re-reading Johnathan Strange and Mr Norrell. I'm picking up a lot more this time around and find myself liking more this time around. At about 4pm i got antsy and decided to take a walk to make up for the aborted hike. I was gonna go out and come back, but i ended up taking a roundabout route to Lauri's where I played GTA San Andreas for about an hour until Lauri got home (Grove Street! What?)
We went to Claim Jumpers for dinner. We drove around Pasadena for a while, seeing the sites singing to the ipod. Did laundry. And that was about it.
I'm tryin to think about some other stuff to blather on about, but I really can't. Maybe I'll read for a while. Maybe i'll sit here and listen to more music. Right now The Who is playing Behind Blue Eyes. Favorite line from that song: "My dreams they aren't as empty as my conscience seems to be."
So i'm gonna do that thing again with the song lyrics, so feel free to tune out now.

Failure
Stuck on you
"Thought I'd drop you easily, but that was not to be. You'd burrowed like a summer tick. ...Turned my nights to sleepless itch."

So i wrote a complaint letter to Blockbuster, but they never got back to me so I'm never going back there again. I'm a Hollywood video guy now, they're bound to piss me off sooner or later too. And I can't do the independent video store thing. I'm gonna be screwed altogether. Bitter and alone with no movies to watch.

Greenday
Give me Novacaine
"Drain the pressure from the swelling, the sensation's overwhelming."
I know this is supposed to be metaphor but it reminds me of my root canal.

No Doubt
Simple Kind of Life
"Not only in love, I was obsessed."

You think that dude from No Doubt ever thinks "god I wish she would stop writing songs about me!" ? Even that song Cool from her solo album is about him and shes been married for like years now. Obsessed is right.

Jack White
Great High Mountain
"once I stood at the foot of a great high mountain that I wanted so much climb. And on top of this mountain is a beautiful fountain that flows with the waters of life."

The Proclaimers
Over and Done With
"This is story of watchin a man dyin, the subjects unpopular but I don't feel like lyin,"

This song is in BottleRocket when Dignan steals that car that breaks down. Its a good song to end a mixed CD with

Wyclef
Yele
This song is in French and I don't understand a word but the guitar is amazing.

Did I go too far in telling you about my underwear dilemma? I don't think so. according to the new sitemeter its just us friends that visit. I'm kind of pissed that I can't think of anything good to talk about. Alex was gonna call me tonight to see a movie called Kiss Kiss Bang Bang but he never called. He was probably working. Did you guys hear that he could have gone on an audition for, hang on...

Tim Eriksen
Am I born to Die?
"soon as from Earth I go, what shall become of me? Eternal Happiness or Woe, must then my portion be?"

Led Zeppelin
Battle for Evermore
"the dark lord rides in force tonight, and time will tell us all."

An obvious reference to LOTR, and not the only one in this song.

(cont.) A japanese beer commercial. He didn't say which one. His agent said if he got it he would have to go to Japan to shoot it. Just think, he could have met his own Scarlett Johanson and had some life changing experience. Anyway, he didn't take the audition. See, this is the fairly interesting things that happen to him, but that he never cares to share on the blog. He figures anyone who reads it, can just be told verbally. I figure I'm a better storyteller in written form so I blog. Each word is agonized over.

Elvis Presely
Blue Moon
"you saw me standing alone, without a dream in my heart, without a love of my own."

I started to like this song when I heard it in Joe vs. The Volcano.

Lynard Skynyrd
Tuesday's gone
"I don't know where I'm going, I just want to be left alone. When this train ends i'll try again"

I discovered this song in Dazed and Confused and frankly like it better than Freebird.

Guns n' Roses
Estranged
The interesting thing about this song is that there are lines cribbed from other songs. Lets see if we can spot them.
"with all the changing seasons of my life" this is from Landslide by Fleetwood Mac
"you don't talk so loud and you dont walk so proud" this is from Like a Rolling stone by Bob Dylan.

alright thats enough, thanks and goodnight. Or good day.

Music News and Such

So it's Monday. Not a lot going on here at work obviously because here I am blogging. I only have a few cases and they can wait till tomorrow I feel. The phones aren't ringing at all so basically I am completely useless right now. Except for sitting listening to my iPod and downloading songs here and there. I rule!!
So I have been on a Country kick lately. I don't know I never really liked Country before like a month ago. Now suddenly I really, really like it. I found it kind of weird. I do like that a lot of the songs are about drinking there are also a lot of songs about heartache and what not. I don't know it may be a phase but I don't think so. Whatever though you probably are saying to yourself, "I don't really care about Randy's musical tastes." That's cool.
More music news: One thing I don't like about iTunes is the fact that some albums you have to buy to get one good song. I recently ran into this. The soundtrack to "Elf" has a really good song by Zooey Deschanel and some guy, they do a duet on "Baby it's Cold Outside". I really like this song. So when I went to download I was halted by the fact that to get this one song that I like I had to purchase the whole album. Granted $9.99 is not a lot for an album but if all you want is one song it is a lil pricey. Eventually I caved in and bought the whole album and came to discover it's not total crap but besides the one song I wanted nothing memorable or massively worth repeat listening. I feel the draw of iTunes is being able to buy one or two songs off an otherwise forgettable album and not feel gipped. Oh well another life lesson learned.
Yet more music news: Sorry but I am at work with nothing to do but listen to music and download stuff. I am thinking about starting to buy Christmas music. I mean the season is drawing near and a few Christmas songs here and there wouldn't be bad. If it sounds like I am seeking approval it is because I am. Downloading Christmas songs seems like not something I should be doing. Isn't that for girls and stuff. Not attempting to be sexist or anything but guys in general aren't really supposed to be into downloading Christmas songs, right? If I am wrong awesome, but somehow I think I am not and if I start downloading Christmas songs I will be viewed as less of a heterosexual male. So I am going to wait for opinions on this before moving forward on the whole Christmas song thing.
Alright that's it for now, I guess. At the rate this evening is going it could very well be a two post occasion. So for now I will bid you all adieu. Talk to you later. PEACE!

Dumbasses

Have you heard about these dumbasses going around smashing up liquor stores in Oakland? They say the the Liquor stores are a blight on the community and therefore need to be destroyed. This is as dumb as trying to vote down a Walmart from building in your community. The answer to all these problems is so simple in a freemarket economy...Just don't fucking shop there. If you don't like liquor stores in your community, don't buy liquor from them. Trust me, if no one buys it, no one will sell it. Same thing with the Wal mart, if you don't want one in your community, don't shop there. The problem isn't with the stores beig there, its that people actually use them. I understand where the frustration comes from, I think it sucks that poor communities have liqour store on every corner and I think it sucks that small business gets pushed out by Walmart, but these are just symptoms of a larger problem. Poor people want to get drunk to escape from thier crappy lives and poor people want to buy cheap goods because, well, because they're friggin poor and can't afford anything else. Of course, once a Walmart goes up everyone will start working there for poor people wages and the cycle continues. Don't shop at Walmart, they sell crap anyway. And if you don't want a liquor store on the corner convince yourself and your neighbors not to shop there. Bustin up someone's business is a crime even if they are selling liquor, pornography, or $40 DVD players.

And thats that

I don't know what to write but I don't want to go to bed either. I was going to write a political rant on my Essays blog about why the left is losing so much political ground, but I think thats gonna require too more synapses than I have at my disposal at the moment.
I'm still having a pretty pleasant Thanksgiving weekend, despite having to work. Last night we went to a little get together at the Gooler back house. That brought back some memories of underage drinking. Now that I think of it, I think I might have been the only overage drinker and had to do lots of beer runs. Anyway, things have slowed down there, and it was a very chill night, which was nice. I really didn't want to go, but Lauri talked me into it and I had a good time. I heard people were gettin bucked up on thursday night at the Fuckineer but I missed that. I can't get drunk after thanksgiving, hell I can barely move. I just stayed in and played video games and enjoyed myself thouroughly. I work again tommorow morning and will be chillin in the evening. Maybe more video games. I still haven't had any desire to get drunk since the last time, I think it scarred my brain. Oh sure I've had drinks since then but its been strictly for show.

Funny Stuff

Go and Watch this, its funny.

While we were all enjoying our Thanksgiving weekend a cultural icon has left this world. In tribute, I'd like to share just a few things that I learned from Noriyuki "Pat" "Mr. Miyagi" Norita.

"Must Learn balance"
"You Karate no...safe. You Karate yes...safe. You Karate guess so....Squish... just like grape."
"Look Eye, always look eye"
"Man who catch fly with chopsticks, accomplish anything."

These are but a few of my favorites. Despite, Karate Kid III and the Next Karate Kid, you will be missed Pat Morita.

white russians and white fields

Last night saw the first snow fall of the winter, which i experienced first hand when i left my friends house at around midnight. With a belly full of white russians, i lent into the bitter northerly wind, gritting my teeth as the snow swirled around me. When Wales awoke this morning it was to a blanket of perfect whiteness- dont you feel slightly guilty about stepping out and ruining the perfection?

Thanksgiving Eve

You know that sublime song from the 40oz. album Scarlet Begonias? I just found out that its a cover of a Grateful Dead Song. Boy am I late to the game!
Well, feelin pretty good today. Day off. Thanksgiving eve as I call it. Its gettin a bit stormy outside, so thats promising.
I don't know where we'll end up tonight, or what we'll end up doing, but it feels like a good night for some fellowship doesn't it? Here's my idea of the perfect thanksgiving eve: A large dimly lit room, cold weather outside, a fire in a fire place, a little music, a little beer, maybe a pool table, and good friends. That would just about hit the spot. Any suggestions?

I belive it's Thanksgiving Day tomorrow, so i'd like to wish everyone a happy/merry/thankful Thanksgiving day (i'm not sure of the correct procedure) it seems like a good holiday to me- all the over indulgence of christmas, with the present giving. laters.

Harry Potter Review

Alex Randy and I caught the new Harry Potter tonight. I only made it through half the book before other stuff caught my interest, but I can say that from what I did read, the movie is a very stripped down version of the book. Its very Peter Jacksonish, if you will. Most of the nuance and character development is thrown out and all of the action is kept. Despite this, whats left is a very watchable movie that looks great. Its the scariest of the Potter movies so far and Lord Voldemort scared the crap out of me, though I really don't understand how Harry defeated him this time and why no one seemed all that worried that he was back. I guess I should have finished the book. Head over to The Essays for some social commentary on King Kong.

Yes or No & Thanksgiving

Hey everybody what's going on? It is odd I always start my posts with a question like that since you really can't respond. How you are as I am writing this might be entirely different then how you are when you read this. Oh well.
So tomorrow was one of my days off. But my manager asked me if I could come in and work tomorrow because he had some people going out to set up some additional POS's for the more busy stores so they can be ready to sell, sell, sell this holiday season. So I was like Yeah sure I will come in tomorrow. I mean money is money, right? But then I found out one of the stores they were setting up an additional POS in was none other than Santa Anita Fashion Park which I live like a block away from. So instead of having to come here tomorrow I just have to go to the mall and set up a POS system. Pretty cool.
Yes and No. Yes because I don't have to come here and sit in the office early in the morning. I get to drive down to the mall and set up a computer system in a store comprised of primarily female workers and female patrons. Nice deal, right?
No because technically speaking I have never set up a POS system by myself. I have watched and helped a coworker do one and I have built one at the office but those aren't fully completed POS's those are just to make sure we have the parts and to program them. So I kind of look at this as a test. He seemed like he didn't want me to go but I live a block away how could he resist. So I am thinking if I can pull this off without needing much or any help that will go a long way in helping me to maybe actually go on business trips in the future as well as proving that I know what the hell I am doing and not just the token. So it will be interesting. I am very nervous to say the least. I think I'll be fine though...
So Thanksgiving is on Thursday how exciting. Not really though Thanksgiving is cool it is basically a reason to eat a lot and watch football and see members of your family that you don't normally see. I am glad though that I do have a place to spend Thanksgiving because if I didn't have the Declerk's I probably wouldn't even have turkey on Thanksgiving or if I did it would be some nasty Denny's turkey or something. Anyway I just wanted to thank the Declerks for taking me and my orphan brother in and feeding us turkey and making us feel welcome. THANK YOU!
So now before I get too sappy and start crying or something. I am going to get on outta here and listen to my iPod before I leave work to go see Harry Potter. Peace out. In case I don't post before then. Happy Thanksgiving.

Chronicles of a Dry Friday.

Ever wonder what Fridays would be like without beer? Well friends, i can tell you they are very strange indeed. When I went to Randy's on friday last I made is clear that I was in no mood for boozin'. The very thought of beer was still turning my stomach a bit. Plus I had made a silent agreement with myslef to lay off the sauce at least until thankgiving when I would re-evaluate the situation. (you have to be careful about setting deadlines like that, at the end of the period of sobriety you feel you want celebrate the accomplishment. Celebrations like these often end in alcohol poisoning.) Anyway, so we waited for Alex to get home, and when he did he could barely put his stuff down before he was into a game of Smackdown vs. RAW 2 for the PS2. So after a prolonged period of Alex swearing at the game (something about long pin counts and too many reversals) we decided to go to dinner. We went to Paco's for Mexican food. The food was gos and so was the service for the most part. Randy cursed us as sissies for not ordering beers with him. ("You guys suck!" I think were his exact words). We went back to Randy's and played a little Star Wars Battlefront 2 for the ps2. One of the most frustrating games ever invented I might add. Alex and I were so inept at it that Randy actual dried from laughing at us so hard. Lauri who had to work that night, joined us at about midnight. After that we went home. That was it. Was I glad not be hung over the next day? Sure was. But is this post anywhere as exciting as the last one? I doubt it. Where are the drunken schemes? Where's the danger, the suspense the intrigue?

happy birthday Sheila!!!!!!

I got me another complaint

The last CD I bought was the Kings of Leon new album. Guess what came with the CD. I nice little computer program that prevents me from transfering the CD onto my iPod. I am fucking pissed! I bought a music CD that should be mine to do with as I please, you know, like the 200 music CD's I bought before that? I've admitted that internet music piracy is probably wrong and I don't do it anymore. But goddamnit, to make a freind a copy of my CD's? Or to listen to that CD on whatever device will play them, shouldn't be able to do that little fucking thing? So now I have this totally fucking useless CD that I paid too much for to begin with. If I want to listen to the music on my current player, i have to re-buy it from itunes. FUCK THAT. Are we past the days of buying a CD you've heard good things about and then finding the really ggod track that no one knows about? Hell half my collection is tracks like that.
I'm telling you people corporate America is bending us over and screwing us with no lube and our pants on. Kings of Leon was the LAST CD I'll ever buy! Take that your greedy fucks! Steve Jobs is only greedy fuck thats getting my music money now.

belief in a cruel god creates a cruel man

...several haggard, blank eyed men sit, huddled around a fire. they beat on their round wooden drums with increasing volume and intensity- what is this? have i stumbled across a lost neanderthal tribe? sadly, for evolutionary science, no. this is the 'eco-dysci african drum group' and i'm their newest member. it dont half hurt your hands, but when you're in that groove your mind goes blank- its almost meditative i suppose.
apart from drumming, i have been reading quite a bit, and found out the following interesting titbit- the following 'sins' are punishable by DEATH, according to the bible: birth control (gen, 38:10-11), homosexuality (lev, 20:13), psychic counselling (chr, 10:13), remarrying after divorce (matt, 5:32), overeating (psalm, 78:31), working on saturdays (deut, 31:15), disobeying parents (deut, 21:20-21), making fun of bald people (kings, 2: 23-24). i dont actually own a bible, so i havn't been able to check these out. i guess it's lucky Bush can barely read or he might start thinking of some more interesting ways to erode your human rights.
also today was my first day back working as a librarian, so expect more of Owens fun facts!

Getting Old

I'm getting old. I mean that has to be the reason right? Radios are too loud, people are too loud, things bother me so easily. I'm getting grumpy. Unless things are done correctly and in an efficicent manner i get super rage. So it must be that i'm getting old. Not to mention i'm forgetful and am constantly saying "what?" to everyone. I have bad knees and am joining older people in physical therapy. I am not in touch with the latest fashions or the newest electronics. All i want to do these days is not work, vacation, and sleep. I am running out of patience towards everyone. I hate stupid people............I really don't know where this blog is going or what my intentions were in the beginning of the blog. I'll stop this topic. I just wanted to say a couple of things is all.

Next week i only have to work three days. Then its Thanksgiving. I'm working all weekend at the civic and i think the next weekend too. I'm gonna burn myself out real quick. Maybe i'll back out on a shift. Ok i'm not going to bore you all anymore. I'm starting to sound like Randy here. ;)

The Video Game Conumdrum

I know there are only three of us that care about this topic on the blog, but I gotta vent. The video game industry has a serious problem. Its not keeping up with the current technologies. Huh? You say...but bear with me.
I like to play video games. I don't like to buy video games. A playstation 2 video game costs $50 dollars upon first release. I'm not saying that that's a bad deal necessarily, after all a good game can be hours and hours of entertainment. The problem is: How do I know if a game is good before I buy it? Here are my options:
I can rent it.
This is almost a non-option. The rental industry (Blockbuster, Hollywood video) have yet to take the game industry seriously. When a new game comes out, they buy one or two copies of it, and its usually not available for months. literally months. I have a hunch as to why this is the case. See when you buy a game, your object is to beat the game. On a game that isn't that long, you can beat it in the rental period (I did this twice with Gof of War) and then you don't need to buy it. I'll bet the Game Industry is charging a lot for the rental places to get the games in their stores so that gamers are encouraged to buy not rent. Services like Gamefly (online rentals) cost 22 dollars per month. Its cheaper to buy, unless you can find 5 games a month to rent, I couldn't.
I can read the video game magazines.
They have both previews, reviews and demo discs. They also cost $10 an issue. It would be cheaper for me to take my chances on buying games.
I can watch G4 tv.
G4 has a couple shows that review video games. Xplay for example. The problem here is that their programming is so eratic, you might catch a show from 2 years ago. Plus most shows have preview of games that the reviewers haven't played yet so you don't really know if the games any good when it comes out. By the time they get around to actaully reviewing the gameplay, I've probably already played it. Not only that, but the shows seem to be addicted to a 3 out 5 rating so games are always given an average rating, which tells me nothing.

Like books, movies, and music: 99% percent of video games are crap. How do I separate the crap from the good stuff without having to spend $50 a pop and without having to wait a year to play games?

The best laid plans...

Friday started off with good intentions. I intended to maybe go on a short hike to start the day right. You know, burn a few calories so I would feel better about myself later. Well it just didn't materialize. Then I went to Randy's at about one o'clock. Again, with good intentions. I wasn't going to go out and I wasn't even really planning to drink I thought maybe we could just goof off and play some music and some dominoes or cards. Well, I forgot the dominoes and lets face it, playing cards with Randy and Alex is trying at best. When they're up they're all smiles, when they're down they're all insults. And Randy will not allow the pace of the game to be slowed by conversations, thats when he starts in with all his funny funny nicknames, and tells you its your turn three times in a row. Like he'll call you by the brand of your t-shirt or by the soda you're drinking. HA! hilarious. I digress.
The seeds of dissent began to grow. In my mind I was in conflict. For a while it was fine. Alex had rented a new game we watched that for a while. When it turned out to be one of those games that are only fun for one person, things began to slow. A change began happening in me. "Where would this day go", I thought. All the recorded TV had been watched. All the DVD's had been played out. I knew one thing, i didn't want to spend too much money, i didn't want to go the Crown or Claim Jumper's or any of the old places. I started to panic about a night of boredom and Alex asking what we were gonna do every five minutes. Things went from bad to worse when Alex's. Then an idea began to start to take shape. Don't ask me where it came from, because I don't know... I thought to myself, how can I get all things I need for a Friday night like chips dip and beer and not go out. It occured to me that I knew how to make salsas and cheese dips. Not only would this stem the tide of our craving for snacks, but it would also be an activity that would take time and stave off the growing panic. I threw it out there. We settled on cheese dip. I suggested Velveeta, ground beef, tomato also know in my house as Chili con queso. What we settled on was Velveeta, Hormel Chili (no beans), and salsa. And lets not forget, lets NOT forget. A 24 pack of PBR $10.99 with our Ralph's card. I'm not going to say we weren't tempted by the 18 pack of Miller lite bottle's for $11.99 because we were. But we're not amatuers and we know the value of four extra beers for one extra dollar. In the end, I think it will be that same sense of value tht will ultimately prove our downfall, but I don't want to give too much away too soon. So we headed out with our mission in our mind. When we returned this situation had gone from bad to worse. Like troops returning home from war, met by hordes of spitting hippies, we had expected the reception of returning heroes instead we had a door slammed in our face. It was Alex's bedroom door. He was in the throes of agony over his Xbox having just taken a shit on him. He was in no mood for chips, beer and certainly not a prepared cheese product dip. We pressed on. I had been where he had been. My PS2 had taken a shit on me just months before. (he'd been bragging that his Xbox had never given him one problem. Karma can be a motherfucker).
Well, as Randy has previously stated the chili con queso was heavy on the queso and not so much on the Chili. Of course, Alex blamed me for not buying more chili because he was so damn pissed. The night was doomed. The only way to save it...Beer. Lots and lots of Beer. We laid into that PBR like parched men crossing the Sahara.
By the time Tom called, we were on the bottom layer of that two layer box. Lauri had arrived and all notions of staying at home had been pissed into the toilet.
We met Tom and Danny at the Crown with the intention of going to the Chalet from there. Yes, the one who didn't want to spend any money was now seekng out the most expensive drinks in town. Such is the influence of that insidious brown liquid known as beer. One drink at the Crown and we were on our way... to the Chalet. I can sum up waht happened at the Chalet only in brief statements because the memories are a little hazy now and are just a collection of images. Most of what I do know is reconstructed from eye witness accounts. So here we go. Stella Artois. Irish Car Bomb. Stella Artois. Walk Lauri to car. (Lauri's leaving could be trouble). Back to the bar. Finish Stella Artois. Blurred images. Some sort of shot. Tom saying, "she bought us shots because she likes us.." she being the six shooter bartendress, and the reason the Chalet was overflowing with dudes that night. Danny doesn't want his shot. Pete does and drinks it, his second, before anyone can stop him. Projectiles from Randy's covered mouth, splash on Pete. Better Pete than one of the many dudes there that night. Exit the Chalet. Driving on the freeway home. Randy and Alex, asking Me questions or perhaps just talking amoungst them selves, wither way I'm getting upset. I yell, "I can't understand what your saying so just stop talking." Somewhere in thier alien talk I get that they are trying to ask me where I want to go. "Lauri's!" yeah let her deal with this mess I've become. I entered the Chalet a sensible man and left a lobotomized lump who no longer had control of his higher faculties, like language. I don't blame the Chalet though. It was all the fault of our overblown sense of value. It doesn't matter what you do afterwards, dusting a 24 pack is gonna lay you low everytime. Well, I go to Lauri's and immeadiately went to a very...very...very dark place. All solids, liquids, and prepared cheese products were immeadiately expelled from my body. You can imagine Lauri's joy to see me. (She got flowers on Sunday when I had reagained control of my body.)
As you can imagine. Saturday was spent vommiting, dry heaving, vomitting and dry heaving again. When I threw up at 9:30pm Saturday night, I was begginning to think they punishment didn't fit the crime. Lauri can tell you about my hangover cylce. I believe its punishment from God and not actually a result of extreme bodily abuse. Oh and I forgot to mention the part where I woke up on Saturday morning, in addition to the hangover, with a left knee that felt like it had been hit with a baseball bat. No one seems to know how this happened. I have my theories. Maybe I fell coming back to the Chalet after walking Lauri to her car. I would have been alone and wouldn't have remembered. Maybe I twisted it while kneeling over the toilet for like two hours. Maybe Lauri actually did hit it with a baseball bat after I had passed out for the night as punishment for showing up incoherent and expelling my innards at her house at 1am. Lord knows she would have been justified.
Am I proud of these events? No I'm not. Did I have fun that night? If I did I don't remember. Did I learn my lesson? Time will tell. Did it make a pretty good story? you tell me.
I started off with good intentions.

Wow I really did nothing today!!

Hi everybody what's going on? I am just sitting here at work, it's 5PM on a Sunday and I have my days off coming up. That's right I just had Thursday and Friday off now I am getting Monday and Tuesday off. I think it is part of a conspiracy to not allow me to get ahead on my work or maybe the less they see of me the better. Maybe they are tired of the round eye.
So anyway yeah I have two days off. I really don't know what to do on a Monday and Tuesday but something will hopefully open up for me. Well what else is going on . I don't want to make my post boring.
A quick comment here:

• Sheila I am so sorry for making that lame-ass stupid wisecrack about your cat. After typing it out I realized how stupid and mean-spirited it was. I apologize.

Ok I had to say that because I don't want Sheila to not be cool with me anymore.
I bought some Jolt Cola remember that stuff. Well I bought twelve of them and they come in these really big cans. 24 oz. I think. I had two this weekend to wake up before work and I must say for the most part they worked. Although today better than yesterday, but yesterday I don't think much would've helped. Too much drinking the night before. So anyway about the Jolt, I think I made a good investment, Pete. I do not believe it was a waste of money and yeah whatever.
Gosh I wish I had more to write about. Last Thursday I hung out with Tim, Alex and Lynlee(hope that's right). I got way too drunk way too fast but I did have 4 large High Lifes at The Boat. Then we went to Claim Jumper and had 2 pitchers. By then I was pretty much done, but according to Tim their night had just begun as what can only be referred to as a whirlwind trip around Pasadena drinking. I unfortunately went home and passed out by like 10PM lame I know.
Friday we went out but drank beforehand and needless to say I got pretty trashed Pete said he yelled at me in the car but I don't remember that so I forgive him. I had an issue with regurgitation but it was only a bad burp, you know what I mean.
Alright I don't have much more to say I hope everyone has a great week this week and stray tuned for my exciting recounts of Monday and Tuesday days off. I am sure it will be riveting.

white trash stripper blues

"how big is your your dick?" asks the girl sat opposite me, it's my first night back in Plymouth and i have attracted the attentions of a young stripper called claire. she was probably what you guys would call "white trash", and seemed to find my hysterical laughter at comments such as "i've been smoking since i was ten" charming, rather than offensive. luckily (for me at least) her apocalypticly drunk friend started screaming and shouting at people, causing the removal of all of us from the bar. Then, with textbook timing two police cars roll up and decide to get involved. i took this opportunity to slink away from the scene, and when i looked back they were both sat on the floor in handcuffs. the rest of the week was spent surveying the emotional wreckage of my ex-flatmates' lives in the wake of my departure- i dont think they want me to leave the country again, they cant be trusted.

Life with no XBOX

Well I've gotten through my first day with no xbox. If you don't know the story on friday I was going to play a game and then a problem came about that said call customer service. So I did and that didn't help. So then they said i would have to get it repaired and they said it would cost 80 bucks. I said forget that cuz I was just gonna trade it in and probably only get 70 bucks toward my xbox 360. So I'm losing money if I got it repaired. But later that night Me and the gang went to the crown and then chalet and it was all fun till randy threw up. So today I kept busy by watching tv including football. Tomorrow I have some pro football but no games really peak my interest. So I need to do something with some friends or I don't know what might happen. I'm scared!!! Someone call me up tomorrow to make sure I'm fine. Hopefully I can get some work to keep busy and make money to get my xbox 360 and other things (wink wink Nudge Nudge say no more say no more). I'm gonna try my hardest to remain calm, cool, and collected. Lates!

New Crown Playlist

I just created a Crown Playlist on my iPod. Tim asked if we were coming into the Crown on Wed. night and could I bring my iPod. I wasn't prepared to have my musical tastes laid bare to the world and not all the songs are appropriate for a bar setting. But now I have a playlist that I think will satisfy. So, Crown City Brewery, should you need it, my iPod is at your service.

Diplomacy

I'm just going to take this opportunity to remind everyone that blog is a form written communication, and that in written communication there is the explicit and the implied. The explicit is simple and obvious and the intention is clear. When I told Randy that his posts sucked that was explicit, my intention was clear. Then there is the implied. The implied is not so simple, while the underlying message can be benevolent, we must remember that the nudge and the wink are a part of oral discourse. And while the facetious cannot be neglected from the written word, the subtlety is sometimes lost in such brief communications. While such miscommunications can be forgotten between friends from time to time, we should remember that some of our members live IN the rat race and read the blog very early in the morning, before the faculties of appreciation have hit full stride. I beg this be considered before rashly hitting the "publish" button on posts and comments. 'Nuff Said?

34 Open Cases and I Can Still Find Time to Waste

What is up my people? Just chilling at work thought I would contribute to the blog. You know it's the right thing to do. Well I was looking at the new posts and I would like to officially welcome Owen to our little blog. Cheerio chap(do they actually say that).
Anyway I see Lauri has had enough and she isn't going to take it anymore. Right on sistah!! I wish you the best of luck in finding another job although I am sure that with your experience and skill set you won't be out of work for too long. So enjoy the time off while you got it.
What else is going on...I see Pete told you about the Applebee's experience. I unfortunately was not actually in the restaurant at the time, maybe I was in the bathroom. Anyway I didn't actually hear the server say all this. If I had I would have been quite a bit more vocal about what bullshit this was. No I wouldn't have who I am kidding I would have been the last person to say anything. I was very disappointed though I was looking forward to a few beers and maybe some wings or something. Eh, what can you do?
Alex is starting to sound a little depressed. Cheer up buckaroo. You haven't been doing this for as long as you think you have and stay strong. Plus you get to spend like 2 weeks in Alaska chilling figuratively and literally. So stop complaining.
Tim I know you think Katie is crazy but I don't know. I think maybe she is playing this whole Idaho thing on us. You know like lulling us into thinking she is this girl from Idaho...I just lost my train of thought. No biggie I don't think I was going anywhere with that.
Sheila wassup? I feel like I haven't seen or heard from you for a while. Oh wait that's right I haven't. Well I guess it's not entirely your fault only mostly.
OK now that I have pretty much said something to everybody I am going to read a book while I sit and listen to my iPod. It should be pretty fun...
Oh wait I forgot about Pete, not really. I just talked to him last night. But dude you keep it real over there at the Civic. I know that place gets on your nerves but you have a kick ass job and you are my hero. The wind beneath my wings.
PEACE OUT HOMIES!! AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

A decision has been made!

After many years of thinking about it and saying that I'm going to quit my job, I've never done it...until now. I am making plans to quit my job. I've come to the realization that no matter how much money they pay me, I'll never be happy. When I give them my two week notice I hope they freak out. I think they will. Of course we all hope that the bosses freak out when we leave. Maybe they won't even care. And if that's the case, great. Even if they freak out and give me a raise of $100,000 a year, I still won't stay. This place sucks. So I'm saving my money, getting a cheaper place to live, working hard at the civic and then I look for a new job. I see myself escaping around Feb or Mar. I can do it, I know I can. I'm young, I don't have kids or a mortgage. I can and will do this. If any of you know of any places available to live or work, let me know. This is the year of change!! Look around for a moment......people we know are changing careers, getting healthier, moving, getting married, having children, graduating.....Its all happening so fast and I don't want to be left behind by the change train. Wish me luck! :)

so the plane decends down through the clouds, and through the rain flecked windows i see London spread out beneath us, like a vast study of grayness. my over inflated expectations of service staff caused by california are quickly blown away. two disinterested 18 year olds man the bus terminal office. they view me with derision, before half-heartedly selling me a ticket while voicing their cultured opinions of the current music scene- "i fuckin' luv maroon 5 i do". i head west through the wind and rain, and hear comments like 'worst storm in living memory' being thrown around. i get back to my parents house and open the local news paper to be greeted with the headline 'Man, 28 "forgets biting policemans crotch". i dont leave the house for three days. on the sunnier side of the tracks, last night i went to see folk/punk singer/cartoonist jeffery lewis, and i prononce him this weeks winner of the 'owen griffiths' god like genius award' .

Addendum to Thursday night

I got so caught up in going on about Thor the other day I forgot to tell you guys how Me, Randy, and Alex got kicked out of Applebees on thursday. We were gonna hit the late night happy hour from 10 to 12. We got there at 11 and when we went to sit down the waitress told us that they were closing and that we had missed the 11pm close time. I looked around and saw a bar full of people. I told the waitress that the sign said midnight and she said they were closing early due to renovation. I saw no ladders, exposed drywall, or underpaid immigrant workers. What I did see was a waitress who didn't feel like opeing another tab and used that "renovation" excuse to get rid of us.
Its my contention that if we had been 6 foot tall thin metrosexual types that we would have immeadiately been offered beer and blowjobs. But since we were short (except for Randy) unshaven, and dressed all scruffy like.... We got the boot. Lauri thinks I'm crazy but I say that appearance has a lot to do with how you get treated out in the world. More on this later...

Alcoholic or Genius?

So I went hiking today to Mt. Echo. Its a three mile hike to the ruins of the Mt. Lowe Railway house. Anyway, I was coming down from the top and I pass this guy whos coming up. He's got a bottle of water in one hand and large can in a brown paper bag in the other. It could have been one of those Arizona teas or something but I had my suspicions. Keep in mind this was at the top of the trail and he looked like he had been running. He wasn't some bum or truant. Sure enough he passed me on the way down with his water bottle and an empty tall boy (24oz.) of Coors Light. I have a couple of theories about this mysterious hiker. 1. He is a raging alcoholic. 2. He's a damn genius. What could be a better motivator to move your ass up the trail than trying to get there before your tallboy gets warm? I'll let you be the judge.

I'm Tired

Hey guys what's up another week done. Hope this one is better than the last. I'm so tired of being an extra. People I know you will say work hard so you don't have to be an extra but I've been doin that. No auditions but who knows maybe I'll get something when I least expect it. I just kinda wanna pay my own rent and stuff. I'm glad my dad pays but I don't want him to keep paying out of his wallet. Cuz he will noy be there forever. I came to this thought when I worked on friday on a higher rate job $90 for 8 hours but we only worked for like 5 hours. So that was cool and there were not a lot of extras and the people were cool. It was for Spike TV for some video game show. But the last scene was wierd we were all doing regular activities that gamers love like I was playing Badminton. But we are supposed to see some monster from some unknown bloody game and it's so sickening that we throw up. Yes vomit so to achieve this illusion we had to drink warm spagettio's but mostly juice doesn't that sound yummy. So when I did this I almost threw up from the taste but I gagged through it and spat it back out like I was supposed to do. Now I think I've done everything I can do as an extra I think I've worked on every show I can. Now I've done everything with this throw up thing, the half nude, dance like an idiot, and more things. But hopefully it will be done soon.

P.S. Welcome Owen and sorry my first post with you on the blog is me complaining and crap.