Wednesday, November 30, 2005

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.

Monday, November 28, 2005

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.

Sunday, November 27, 2005

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.

Saturday, November 26, 2005

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.

Friday, November 25, 2005

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?

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

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.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

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.

Monday, November 21, 2005

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?

Friday, November 18, 2005

happy birthday Sheila!!!!!!

Thursday, November 17, 2005

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!

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

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. ;)

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

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?

Sunday, November 13, 2005

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!

Friday, November 11, 2005

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.

Thursday, November 10, 2005

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?

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

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' .

Monday, November 07, 2005

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.

Sunday, November 06, 2005

Welshmen and Nordic Gods

Guess what everyone? It looks as though Owen has accepted our invitation to join the Blog all the way from Britain (Is that in London? Because the word on the street is that you're Welsh, my man.) Anyway, welcome Owen we look forward to your contributions.

So yeah, is it just me or have things been a little slow around here for a while. Sure there was the revelation that Katie is crazy, but I mean, did we need a post to figure that one out? I think not, I mean she is from Idaho after all. As for myself, i still have a job despite the overzealous emailing. Otherwise not a whole lot thats new. We went to Dave and Buster's the other night for happy hour. Tim treated for the most part with his $100 gift certificate. We played some hoops, and some skee ball and some skeeball horse racing (which I kick ass at by the way, one more thing to add to my resume.) Then we went to Randy and Alex's newly renovated apartment (now without wall to wall pubes, magazines and empty beer boxes. Just kidding...or am I?) and drank an 18 pack. What is it about Thursdays that makes me want to fill my body with nothing but Buffalo wings, nachos and light beer? I don't know but it makes friday feel like I want to do nothing but sleep and drink Gatorade all day and we all know thats what Saturdays are for. Perhaps its because Thursday was originally known as Thor's Day, as in the Nordic God of Thunder. And as we all know Thor likes to party. When it comes to showing restraint Thor says: "I say Thee, Nay!" ( any comic book fans out there? No? WHATEVER!) Anyone remember what Thor's hammer was called? Neither do I, but used to know this and it's buggin me so now I have to look it up. Thanks a lot.

...Time Passes...

Mjolnir. It was called Mjolnir. In the comic book it was disguised as a cane when Thor was hiding in his mortal form, he would hit the ground with it and he would be revealed as Thor.

So yeah, what was I talking about? I think I've actually been spending too much time IN the Rat Race. Not like 9-5 or anything but I think it's time to get out of town for a few days. Maybe a random camping trip to San Mateo or Leo Carrillo. Really I'd like to get off the beaten path, but its gonna be cold anywhere outside of So. Cal. I'm gonna check some temperatures see what the world is like Over the Hills and Far Away.
I think thats it for now, I can't think of any funny stories and the Boondocks cartoon is premiering in a few minutes so I'm gonna check that out.
Everyone this is Sheila's New Cat Gretel. Gretel, Everyone.

Friday, November 04, 2005

Katie is crazy

i just wanted you all to know that Katie is crazy. she is siting right next to me and has know idea that i'm writing about her. what a dumb ass. well she is from Idaho.

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

Pete's Reading Rainbow

For those of you avid readers out there I have to recomend a book called Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke. This book kicks ass. I will warn though, its a mjor commitment. The prose is fairly dense and its Just under 850 pages. But it creats a world, history, and characters that are as vivid and interesting as Lord of the Rings. It basically follows the careers of two magicians (more like wizards but she calls them magicians, susing the word as meaning: those who study Magic) and thier quest to "restore English magic.." in the Napoleanic era. Seriously , the best book I've read in a while.

Observation from Yesterday 11/01

A lot of people I work with like to stay past the amount of time they are scheduled for. I find this odd as I like to clock out as soon as my time is up. I think it has something to do with the culture but also some of them have wives and families and I think instead of going home to their wives and what not they would rather stay here and do nothing. Funny, huh. I think I like to leave as soon as my time is up because I don't have these problems. When I am done with work I get to go home not be bothered, watch some TV, drink some beer and eat some food. Not too exciting I am sure. But far better at this point in my life then coming home to a nagging wife and little rugrats running around vying for my attention. This is not to say that I don't want to ever get married or have kids later in life but right now I find it interesting that one guy hass been here since 6:30AM and hasn't left yet. He has a wife. I have been here since 9AM and can't wait to clock out at 6. Very interesting. Hmmmmmm...

I have a bloated goldfish

Over the last couple of weeks, i've noticed that my goldfish was getting a little puffy around the middle. The other day I looked at him and he was so puffed up his scales were sticking out and his eyeballs were pushing out. Now he's lost his ability to swim around unless I try to get him with the net. He's still breathing and eats if he gets near the bottom, but he's obviously not long for this world. Whats my moral obligation here? Should I let nature takes its course or shoud I, like, take matters into my own hands ? Is it okay to flush a living fish? I don't know but I hate see that thing all puffed up and bouncing around the tank.

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

Long Days

Today and yesterday are turning out to be the longest days EVER! I can't even imagine what the rest of the week holds. Its 11am and Sheila and I are already trying to figure out who's going to go home early. There isn't anything to do, at least not for us. The girls are busy though. lol. So we try to do a couple of things thinking that the time will fly by...but it hasn't!! So here we are. HELP US!! Send emails, blog, anything to keep us occupied.

Last night was Halloween 2005!! I didn't do anything to Halloweeny. I went over to Pete's after work and we ordered a pizza that was less than satisfying. Then i passed out candy to two little girls. That was the extent of that. We left to go to the Crown where Owen was finishing up his last 9 beers before he got his 100 beer celebration. He did it!! We are all very proud of him. :)

I recently was given a notice that my rent is going up. I wasn't very happy about that. Maybe $15 or $25 more would be sorta ok, but it was more. $40 more a month!! I like that apartment and all, but i just can't see myself paying almost $1000 for a little one bedroom. I'm not sure what to do. Should i just pay it? Look around for another place thats most likely going to be $875-$900? Maybe pay the same but find a place that's bigger? What i'd really like to do is find a place that's $1000 a month and a two bedroom. Or something similar. No roommates. Perhaps a doggie. I think this is turning into a schkeme. Nevermind. Ok i think I'm done ranting. Have a great All Saints Day everyone!!