Melancholy Midnight

top 10 reasons gay marriage should be illegal...

2009-09-16T23:25:00.003-04:00

Oh, the things you come across on the interweb! I thought this was rather hilarious and quite "informative":

Top Ten Reasons to Make Gay Marriage Illegal

01) Being gay is not natural. Real Americans always reject unnatural things like eyeglasses, polyester, and air conditioning.

02) Gay marriage will encourage people to be gay, in the same way that hanging around tall people will make you tall.

03) Legalizing gay marriage will open the door to all kinds of crazy behavior. People may even wish to marry their pets because a dog has legal standing and can sign a marriage contract.

04) Straight marriage has been around a long time and hasn’t changed at all like many of the principles on which this great country was founded; women are still property, blacks still can’t marry whites, and divorce is still illegal.

05) Straight marriage will be less meaningful if gay marriage were allowed; the sanctity of marriages like Britney Spears’ 55-hour just-for-fun marriage would be destroyed.

06) Straight marriages are valid because they produce children. Gay couples, infertile couples, and old people shouldn’t be allowed to marry because our orphanages aren’t full yet, and the world needs more children.

07) Obviously gay parents will raise gay children, since straight parents only raise straight children.

08) Gay marriage is not supported by religion. In a theocracy like ours, the values of one religion are imposed on the entire country. That’s why we have only one religion in America.

09) Children can never succeed without a male and a female role model at home. That’s why we as a society expressly forbid single parents to raise children.

10) Gay marriage will change the foundation of society; we could never adapt to new social norms. Just like we haven’t adapted to cars, the service-sector economy, or longer life spans.

from: http://www.stopgeek.com/top-10-reasons-gay-marriage-should-be-illegal.html

the return...

2009-09-15T20:12:00.002-04:00

Amazing. That's all for today. I'm woefully inept with regards to the art of maintaining a blog. Let's try this again, eh? At least I'm keeping up with my previously stated goal of posting at least one blog a year.

happy pope day, dc!

2008-04-17T15:53:00.005-04:00

So who's a better attraction? The Pope in DC or the Queen of England in DC? Clearly the answer is the Queen (who I did get to see last time she was in town!), but the Pope does have one rockin' bobble head doll! And really, who can contend with a bobble head?? No one. I love the above posted YouTube video -- the Metro transit system pulled this commercial from circulation because it's mildly sacrilegious and mildly hilarious.

This morning his The Pope...well, I like to call him Cardinal Joe -- we're tight -- threw out the first ball at Nationals Stadium and delivered his mass (to 46,000 people). I guess if it was the Dali Lama I would go but Cardinal Joe? No thanks, maybe some other day. I am a little jealous that Andrew got to see the Popemobile. Why can't I have one? He might as well have a horse-drawn carriage...that thing looks so darn silly.

Look who's featured on Brightest Young Things again! Damn, they just love me to death.

See full Short II pictures at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dakotafine/sets/72157604505953805/with/2408618390/

So what is on the bill for this weekend I wonder...we'll see...

tina fey, i would like to father your children...

2008-04-13T02:37:00.002-04:00

I love 30 Rock. It's easily the funniest show on television today. So this weekend was fairly crazy (by weekend I mean from Thursday to tomorrow...so technically it's not over yet). I will have a fair and bi-partisan recap tomorrow...in the meantime, enjoy the wonderful clip from (really) the only show worth watching right now.

wait wait...a female pilot??

2008-04-08T16:25:00.002-04:00

So I was listening to Wait Wait Don't Tell Me on NPR this weekend (actually it may have been last weekend) and their "not my job" guest was Fannie Flagg (what a name!) who was pretty cool on the show. I had no clue who she was and I barely remember the reruns of the T.V. show when I was a kid. Anywho, so after the show (Wait Wait) I googled Ms. Flagg and found this clip where she does a whole first-female-pilot thing on Candid Camera. It's quite funny and I love the reaction of the first guy!

So my new favorite TV show [keyword is 'new', I don't really consider 30 Rock new] is Slings & Arrows. It's a remarkably well-done Canadian (that's right. Canada.) show that is brilliantly written and acted. I remember a few months ago there was this other Canadian T.V. show that I tried to watch but it didn't really turn out to be as funny or original as written (though I didn't really get much success seeing many episodes) but it was ok...it was called Little Mosque on the Prarie.

get your paws off of me you damn dirty apes!

2008-04-06T15:34:00.005-04:00

I have never been a big fan of Charlton Heston's personal life (specifically his gun-crazy ultra-conservative NRA), but he was one fine actor. I pretty much grew up on The Ten Commandments -- I think I've seen that one like 10 times throughout my childhood. I'm not sure, but I actually think that was the first VHS I've ever seen...everyone else thought it was boring (little sisters) but -- despite my fall from organized religion nearing -- I loved those two tapes about a man and his fight against the odds (premonition of Ron's future love of classic movies?). Then The Planet of the Apes. Wow. This movie is so money it doesn't even know how money it is. Who doesn't love a futuristic movie about a man fighting against apes in a far away planet that turns out to be...well, I don't want to ruin it for anyone who hasn't seen it. The last of the Heston's Big Three is Ben-Hur, another standard in film. I've no connection with this one, but the cinematography is sick (apparently that word means "great" now) and the chariot race is of course the highlight. So, here's to you monkey-man -- you will forever be embraced in celluloid as a great hero.

Speaking of movies, There Will Be Blood comes out this week. Now there's another commanding actor that is ALWAYS top tier. I'm not gonna get into my Day-Lewis man-crush, but basically I will be purchasing that DVD.

OOOOH, so Rilo Kiley is on tour. I can never get enough Jenny. Who can?? So...I'll be good and ready for her at the 9:30 CLUB in June.

p.i.n.k. is the new black...

2008-04-05T12:42:00.005-04:00

I had like 5 of these...

Or is it? Well, I'll leave that one up for debate. However, P.I.N.K. is some kinda crazy -- that much is for sure. Last night I went to The District Line (British clothing store in Georgetown) to see Gavin spin for a while and enjoy the open bar...good times! When I got there it looked like everyone was drinking glowsticks, however I was informed that this was a beverage of some kind (that glowed in the dark). So I was told by the bartender that P.I.N.K. is "vodka infused with caffeine and guarana"...and I was like 'ok, sure, i'll try it' so she proceeded to start mixing it with Red Bull. That's when I said 'uh uh, no way jose'...I did the math in my head and it didn't make sense....why would I have a super caffeinated drink mixed with Red Bull ("what, am I going to the moon tomorrow?" - some guy in line behind me)...so I had it with lemonade and it was some pretty sweet stuff.

el presidente de District Line y ron

So the night was pretty awesome (word of the day) and it turns out there were quite a few soccer fans there so I was able to talk shop about teams and Champions League with people that actually knew what was going on (awesome!). Also DJ Tittsworth was really really good, I hope he's around the area sometime again. A couple of us went to Garretts ("Just your typical Georgetown crowded bar chalk full of dbags and dumb superficial rich girls") afterwards and continued to release all that caffeinated energy into the world. Good times were had by all.

My Poor Car...

2008-04-03T01:08:00.002-04:00

Ouch. That looks like it hurt. So, someone...maybe about a week ago or so decided that it was a good idea to run into my car and wreck it. I wasn't there so I guess he/she decided that they would do it without my permission. I haven't been using my car due to a battery problem that I have been supremely lazy in taking care of, so it's been in the parking lot for just barely one week and this happens. Looks like I have some work to do.

In other news, I have some massive updating to do...I'm sure some of you will want an answer to where I disappeared to this time, and I will have one ready...I promise!

Oh, also -- cha ching cha ching! I got my bonus this week. I've been waiting for it all year and it was worth it. Now I just have to plan my summer vacation. Where should I go? I really want to go to Japan (no particular reason, just this yearning), but Ireland sounds so good too. Spain? Brazil? Australia? It's like playing 'Where in the world is Carmen Sandiago', and I'm one of the henchmen, looking for a cool place to hide out for a week.

Testing...testing...

2008-03-07T20:45:00.002-05:00

Wow. Once again, my famous hiatus ends. I wonder if anyone is even still paying attention to this blog. I'll resurrect this wonderous blog if I have a substantial following (i.e. 1 person). Actually, I'll probably do it anyway. SO, anyone out there?

chance...

2007-06-04T14:46:00.000-04:00

So yesturday I after work I was planning on going to see a movie with my brother. I sent a text message to my sister to see what she was up to and she said she was at graduation parties. I didn't tell her we were going to see a movie -- just told her to have fun. I called my brother and we planned to see a showing at 8:30pm. I took way too much time getting ready and being distraced doing nothing at home and I didn't get to pick him until until almost 9:00 so we had to see the 9:30 showing at a different theatre. Now, I live about 25 miles away from both my brother and my sister. There are about 6 movie theatres in between with over 30 showings of this movie that we were going to see between 8 and 10pm. What were the chances that the showing that we went to see was the same one that my little sister decided that she would go to with her friends? I looked at the people in line a couple of people in front of us and realized it was my little sister and I was deeply confused. But hey, it's a small world, right?

BTW my little sister just graduated high school -- congrats to her! Now I have no familiar ties at my high school (brother left in '99, i left in '02, sister #1 left in '04 and now sister #2 in '07)...

the dangers of fast food...

2007-05-31T19:32:00.000-04:00

Every time I think my life is strange people run amok in America and prove that my life is about as exciting as the life of a three-toed sloth...

Wendy’s manager shot over limit on chili sauce - AP

So, anyway, does everyone know who Arch Campbell is? No? Well, he's a regional "star" in the metro area. He is actually the entertainment reporter for the local NBC channel and is pretty much the only on-air critic of the Washington area. Well, was, he retired last year. A couple of weeks ago I was delighted to be invited to a sneak preview of a movie (which I heard he was attending as well) called "Knocked Up". I knew nothing of the movie except that it was directed by the same guy who made "The 40-Year Old Virgin". I actually have never seen "The 40-Year Old Virgin" (shock of shocks to many people!) but I heard it was pretty funny. Well, I got to the theatre and actually was running a little late so I took the first seat I could find as the previews began. Looking left and right I noticed everyone had notepad and pens...hmm...then I noticed a few rows behind me was Arch Campbell. I was a little stunned then realized I was sitting in the row marked "Reserved for members of the Press". It's not like parking in the spot reserved for pregnant women but it was still a little awkward. Anywho the movie was almost completely the type of movie that mindlessly pandered to pop culture, used ridiculous product placement techniques and just basically was made for the masses. The kind of movie I would usually be embarrassed to even say I saw. But it was hilarious. I looked past those flaws and saw that it was just simply a funny funny movie...and that I would see it again and buy it when it comes out on DVD. So I definitely recommend this movie for anyone who liked "The 40-Year Old Virgin" and anyone looking for a semi-mindless comedy.

Time to catch the Championship Final of the infamous National Spelling Bee!

[I just typed all this without my glasses so forgive any syntax errors that were made!]

History of the Hiatus: Part I

2007-05-30T10:21:00.000-04:00

[ October, November, December '06 ]

Hmm...I actually did blog in October and November but I failed to mention a very important "life event" throughout those postings: I moved. Nothing really serious but it's definitely worth mentioning. I left the suburban life I was so used to for the busting downtown city life. I'm still not used to this city but I love not having to drive all the time...except for to/from work (granted that does take up 80% of my time). The main reason for the move was to get closer to work, I was tired of taking nearly 4 hours daily to go to and from work.

Now in suburbia one can park almost anywhere without having to pay for it. Unfortunately that cannot happen when one lives downtown...parking usually involves some kind of ominous meter that strips you of all your shiny coins and limits the amount of time you can spend in one place. I think I received about 5 parking violations in the first month that I moved. Then the next month 4. Then 2. And now none!

The winter holiday season also sees me mostly at work since that's the part of the year when we are most busy. It was no different this year...'work work work' was my mantra. After spending Christmas in somewhat of a lone splendor I worked a few more days, got my passport in order, packed my bags and took a plane to Africa.

[to be continued...]

the long arm of the law...

2007-05-30T09:54:00.000-04:00

So I'm tired of getting in trouble with the police. It's quite unusual but then again so is everything else about my life...I can't imagine that there won't be anything that I haven't done in probably 10 years from now -- every month I experience events that just boggle my mind as to how or why they happened. Oh well, whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger, right??

In the past year I have been pulled over by:

Washington DC Police (ticket)
Takoma Park Police (citation, warning)
City of Gaithersburg Police (ticket)
Frederick County Police (ticket, and umm...arrest)

Don't ask.

Life is currently throwing me curve balls and since I don't know how to play baseball I just keep getting struck out. Ah, but it's ok! I've been through worse and so have millions of other people -- the key is to always learn learn learn from mistakes and move forward...any time spend dwelling on past mistakes is time wasted.

bouncin' off the walls...

2007-05-27T09:10:00.000-04:00

Wow, I didn't realize just how powerfully strong Sparks was. It's not a great tasting drink but I guess one wouldn't drink it for the taste. I think the most clever promotion EVER occurred last night -- free Sparks all night (well...at least until 10pm) at this bar/concert venue in DC. People like free drinks, right? Why not get them hopped up on an incredibly caffeinated beverage that sure to 'give them wings' AND put some alcohol in their system?? Especially if you are having a night of local DJs that are ready to get everyone dancing. I thought about this when I received my tickets for the beverages but I definitely underestimated its effect. Minutes after I took my first two sips I began to feel it. I've never had Red Bull a day in my life but I'm guessing it's like that with the added spark of alcohol. It really was too much for me...my heart was racing and I just felt the uncontrollable urge to dance. As I relayed this to my group their response was "yeah...it's like that". So I danced like there was no tomorrow and so did everyone else...it's kind of like spiking the fruit punch at a party. Except everyone knew it. The aftereffects were indeed what I expected...energy that just would NOT go away. No one could sit still on the Metro and even though it was near 4am no one was tired. Now I like a good sleep after a drunken night of debauchery but there was no way I was going to bed. I made a sandwich and watched TV for an hour before I completely crashed.

Sparks may be good for some people but not for me. Minus the alcohol it should be a great additive to my bi-annual drives to Indiana to pick up my sister from school but otherwise I think I'll leave the stuff alone. Barks...err...Sparks has way too much bite for me.

blistering barnacles!

2007-05-24T23:45:00.001-04:00

It's Tintin's time to take the trip to Tinseltown! I'm not sure how many people are familiar with the comic book spectacular Tintin (and the lovable sidekick Capt. Haddock) but I was amazed and delighted to hear that plans are in the works for not one but three movies. Anthony Lane of the New Yorker brought this to my attention in an article I was reading yesterday and ABC News confirmed it with this story. Not only that but Steven Spielburg and Peter Jackson have signed on to direct at least one film in this upcoming series -- THAT is amazing. First movie should be out in 2009...let the countdown begin!

A Series of Spectacular Events...

2007-05-23T10:44:00.000-04:00

Apparently inspired by Ashley's recent rebelliousness I called out of work yesterday. Ok, maybe not so much inspired by that but by my little 10-year old cousin has sickle cell anemia and is currently enduring a most uncomfortable hospital stay with a high fever. I spent the afternoon with him and when his mother arrived from work I was to depart to a book reading at Politics & Prose (P&P). THAT is where the trouble began.

SCHEDULE: book reading @ 7:00pm.

PLAN: leave the hospital when his mother arrived (sometime around 5 - 5:30), drop my car at home and take the metro to P&P.

Now I do have to mention several fundamental facts:

1. I am absolutely NO GOOD at driving in DC. I get lost as soon as I turn my key and the pistons start pumping.

2. Getting in and out of Children's Hospital is near impossible: it's a maze of streets with no actual indication as to how one is to escape.

3. I have a penchant for luck beyond my comprehension.

So she was running late and didn't get to the hospital until about 6:05pm. In my mind I was attempting to figure out how I intended to get directly to P&P since there was no time at all to drive back home at this point. I couldn't think of anything...I really had no clue how I could or should go about driving and what direction to go. In classic "Ron" fashion I left the hospital and figured that if I attempted to drive back the same way I came I could at the very least get to a major road and just kind of drive in the direction of P&P until I found a recognizable street....

6:09pm - Out of the hospital parking lot and confused...I came in a different way...new plan = drive until I saw the street that I came from.

6:12pm - Nothing yet. Oh! A metro bus has a marquee that reads "H2 - Van Ness / UDC" (P&P is 10 blocks from that location)...thought runs past my mind to follow the bus...oh how foolish! Come now, time is being wasted...must find the road where I came from!

6:25pm - Back at the hospital! I drove around in a big circle (how?!)...getting desperate and short on time...what to do?

6:30pm - Salvation! Another H2 bus ahead...but wait, where is it going? Nothing on the marquee to indicate this...is it heading in the same route or back along to the opposite direction? No time (or way) to find out...new plan = follow that bus!

6:40pm - Cars honking at me as I slow down and pull behind the bus every once in a while...DC can be so mean during rush hour!

6:45pm - Bus flies through an orange light and I get stopped at red! I crane my neck to follow the bus with my eyes...whew...bus gets stopped immediately at next light!

6:50pm - Bus takes several detours through neighborhoods...am I even going in the right direction??

6:55pm - Success! Connecticut Ave! Wave goodbye to my guide and drive along Conn. - just about 10 blocks away...

6:56pm - Reality creeps in...where am I going to find parking?! There is only street parking available and that is ALWAYS full...what a bittersweet ending this is going to have!

6:59pm - One block away...wait...what is that ahead? A car parked right in front of P&P leaving?? My eyes salvate and they dart left and right to make sure there are no other cars attempting to nab my parking spot...I graciously allow the car to enter the street as I take the only spot available on the both sides of the street.

7:00pm - With amazement at the events that just transpired I take the key out and walk into P&P right on time.

Yeah, so that's my life...

Also the book reading / signing was for The Ministry of Special Cases by Nathan Englander. I was really excited to meet him and I had read his collection of short stories a while ago so I was excited to hear he was coming out with a full length novel. It should be a good read!

Return of the King...

2007-05-22T11:02:00.000-04:00

Wouldn't I look so good with a monocle?

Well...maybe not "the King"...but at least a Prince? No? How about Duke...no...Archduke! Perfect. So here we are again, I've come back from a long (understatement) period of inactivity with many stories of courage, adventure, romance, and philosophical enlightenment to tell!

[Synopsis of MONTHS since last blog to follow]

How to murder and get away with it by OJ Simpson...

2006-11-15T23:59:00.000-05:00

So O.J. Simpson is finally doing exactly what some of us thought his sick mind was eventually going to do: confess...but not confess. As I'm sure most of you have heard OJ has written a FICTIONAL (yes. pure fiction.) account of the night of the murder and what he would have done if he actually did it. Yeah. In detail he describes how he "would have" done it. This is one of the most disturbing things that i've ever heard of and it doesn't stop there! Fox Broadcasting has also decided that they are going forward with a movie of his fictional depiction. A movie! I know that FOX is completely unscrupulous and believes that no matter what any publicity is good publicity but are there really no moral boundaries? I can't imagine what his two kids think about their dad making a movie about how he would've killed their dead mother! Also remember that he was acquitted but was found guilty in the civil case? Yeah, it's been 10 years and he hasn't paid a dime on the $33.5 million that he owes...what a world!

In other former-NFL-running backs-related news three time SuperBowl champ Emmitt Smith won in Dancing With the Stars! I don't know ANYTHING about this show except that it pairs real dancers with washed up actors / sports stars, etc. and apparently is the #1 reality TV show. Weird, but that's what America is into right now.

Because I work in the retail food business last week I re-took the test to become Food Safety Certified in Montgomery County (my license is due to expire this year) and I get my results back this week...I can't wait to find out whether or not I get to be among the chosen few. There were lots of questions on the FDA-constructed test about shellfish, and unfortunately I had to leave the training class for almost 2 hours for a store audit and I missed that section completely...so I just guessed all those questions. I didn't realize shellfish were that important to food handling!

Ooh...so tomorrow I'm going to see the 90's alt-rock band Live in Baltimore @ Sonar. The last time I saw them was a few years ago when they had a free show in Rockville and they just have way too many great songs to play them all in a one and a half hour set...it's amazing. And they keep coming out with new material when they could just play all their old stuff all day long!

google: banana hammock

2006-11-10T15:06:00.000-05:00

Results: 464,000
What I learned: "A men's style of undergarment that holds the genitalia in a sling-like hammock apparatus, allowing the meat knot to protrude offensively. Favored by greasy Europeans at the beach, and even greasier weightlifters during competition and posedown sessions." or "A phrase used to break uncomfortable silences or used to break up a hostile argument. [as seen on Scrubs where Cox and his ex wife are arguing and J.D. interjects with 'BANANA HAMMOCK']" (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=banana+hammock&defid=1233514).

google: cats on fire

2006-11-10T00:31:00.000-05:00

Results: 3,790,000
What I learned: Cats on Fire is a very popular name for bands. Along with apparently being the best unsigned band in Finland at the moment (that's according to http://www.onechord.net/cats_on_fire.htm) they are also Maryland's premier acoustic guitar rock duo..."Once you hire cats on fire you'll never have a party without them again" (http://www.catsonfire.com/). Also a "Salt Lake City home destroyed by fire last week (the date isn't actually given...this could've been last week three years ago) left over 30 cats with no home to call their own", so you should go to http://www.caws.org/firecats.html and adopt some or something.

google: bush's last day

2006-11-10T00:23:00.000-05:00

Results: 56,900,000
What I learned: www.bushslastday.com is a very good place to get magnets, decals, hats, mugs, bumperstickers, countdown clocks and t-shirts for the day that many people in our country simple can't wait for. Also apparently about 59,439,413 people did not vote for Bush -- about the same number of the search results...coincidence? I think not! Also, one of the "Top Ten Reasons to Own a Backwards Bush Countdown Clock Keychain (www.backwardsbush.com)" is 1. Wearing one around your neck helps to keep Republicans away and smells much better than garlic.

google: alfred nobel

2006-11-10T00:15:00.000-05:00

Results: 1,990,000
What I learned: Alfred Nobel actually created the Nobel Prize in 1895 as part of his will. He invented dynamite and some credit him with being the father of modern warefare (well...not really modern but what was modern back then). Alfred Nobel manufactured nitroglycerine and dynamite and became extremely weatlthy because of this and yet he considered himself a pacifist.

benjamin gibbard: "election results...

2006-11-08T15:36:00.000-05:00

...are in and Ben Cardin is your winner!". As the lead singer of Death Cab for Cutie made this announcement I literally jumped up and down for joy on the floor of Constitution Hall in front of hundreds of concert-goers. In response to his announcement there was a thunderous applause that lasted into the beginning of the next song -- Soul Meets Body.

Tuesday night I went to see the indie-rock kings Death Cab for Cutie (DCFC) with Ted Leo + the Pharmacists opening for them in DC. It was actually the third time I have seen DCFC and the second for Ted Leo. I suppose I would consider DCFC my favorite band of the 21st century (that sounds so epic) and the concert was especially good because I was able to get tickets that put me 6 rows from the front of the stage. I really like Constitution Hall and have been there for at least 5 concerts, 3 high school graduations (including my own), 2 theatrical performances and 1 speech from the former Secretary-General of the United Nations. And last night I was there on a very important election day!

So Ben Gibbard made the announcement that Ben Cardin won for US Senate and later I found out that Martin O'Malley is going to be our new governor. I'm very happy that now Maryland will to return/continue to it's long tradition of Democratic leadership. Also President Bush announced today that Rumsfeld will no longer be our defense secretary (a week after giving him high praise and saying he would stay for the next two years). OK, that's enough...I'm starting to feel like a political blog...

On a completely unrelated note it would seem that me and a few people have gotten into a mini-war over certain comments involving my favorite NFL player Peyton Manning...

[away message from Jeff:]

Auto Response from JLBritches (1:09:11 AM):

To those of you who don't know Slippery Ron, he's a huge colts fan and an even bigger Peyton Manning fan (has been since his days at UT). It is also a lot of fun to talk trash about those two particular football entities being that they win about as many superbowls as the Bills did in the 90's. However, I really had nothing to say after this more than quality text message he sent me: "Luck doesn't even begin to describe the amazingly superb Peyton. It is written in the book of fate that he who destroys Brady twice in a row will covet Lombardi's treasure."

[my reply to the message:]

Auto Response from TerMyst2 (2:24:17 PM):

Thanks to Thor I have garnered some respect amongst self-appointed "haters" to the future throne. However, a google search for "superbowls bills 90's" includes several results that basically read "Buffalo went to 4 straight Super Bowls from 1990-93, losing everyone." As my brow furrowed from deep thought I realized that UT and the Colts have indeed yet to win superbowls. The Colts have already wrapped up the next four out of five superbowls ( losing only to the matured Eli in a couple of years) and therefore I propose an immediate change to the rules of college football. There's absolutely no reason why UT shouldn't have an automatic wildcard to the NFL playoffs every season. They should at the very least be given a chance...I leave you with this crutial line from Thor:"The winds of fate will thus pass over the colts one again sealing peyton...as the greatest...anyone has ever seen"

[John's reaction to the verbal tug-o-war:]

MrBig1808 (2:24:14 PM): I just want to know who you're buying your acid from because apparently its some good ass shit. Unless the coma you were in a few years back lasted until a few weeks ago and you missed out on the last playoff appearances by your beloved Colts, I can't fathom of a reason other than a sharp break from reality (aka psychosis) that would lead you to believe that not only would the Colts under Peyton ever make it to the Super Bowl, but that they could possibly win 4 in a row only to lose to the second biggest choke artist in the league, Eli. Seriously this is absurd. I guess I could only expect something this ridiculous from you, but it only further solidifies my argument that you require some sort of drug to off set the gross chemical imbalance currently responsible for your most recent skewing of reality.

[my reply:]

Big John - looks to me like we're getting our smack from the same person. That would be the only acceptable response to why you would think that Ronald Wanendeya Makawa would ever be fool enough to support the University of Texas. Put on your bifocals and closely examine Thor's words: "he's a huge colts fan and an even bigger Peyton Manning fan (has been since his days at UT)". Now when I google 'Peyton Manning' and 'UT' I come up with the University of Tennessee, a school where bringing up the national championship would make you the funniest man in Knoxville. It is in my experience that Skins fan do often get so high on a win against the 'Boys that they believe no other team can or will win a superbowl (especially one that's 8-0) except for them. Did Eli make it to the playoffs last year? Yes. Did Peyton make it to the playoffs last year? Yes. Did old man Brunell make it to the playoffs last year? No. Now I emplor you to take the needle carefully out of your vein, not to light that pipe filled with so much greenery, and to wake up and smell reality: You can't talk about flopping in the playoffs until your own franchise makes more than one playoff appearance in five years. And yet we're both in the same position at the end of every season regardless of playoff appearances -- without a ring.

to vote or not to vote...is it even a question?

2006-11-07T18:19:00.000-05:00

I mean really! I'm so tired of hearing about all the people who didn't vote today because they couldn't decide on who to chose or because they aren't educated on the issues or simply because they didn't register in time! This is a democracy that we are in...one of the candidates WILL and that will decide the future of the way our country will be run for the last two years of Bush's term. How hard is it to just go online or go to the library and get informed? Anyone that hasn't voted yet needs to cast their ballot as we've found out in the past EVERY vote counts and no vote is ignored.

[also Election Day should be an official government holiday]

these aren't your daddy's cassettes...

2006-11-04T23:19:00.000-05:00

So I love The Cassettes. They are kind of a big deal and I'm glad they are getting back to touring. Just in case you don't know them they are a (local) D.C. "indie"-rock band. I think the most amazing thing about them is the experimental nature of the music that they play and the varying instruments that each band member uses. The coolest one is definetly Arthur (highlighted above). Here is the bio on him from their website:

Arthur Harrison

Theremin, Vocals, Circuit-Building, Electrical Engineering

Although his exact history is shrouded in mystery, Harrison has been making electronic music and practicing sonic vandalism in the DC area since at least the 1980s and has spent years perfecting his oscillators and theremins. He joined The Cassettes accidently after a brief meeting at a planetarium and a combination of strange events.

Yeah, so can you guess what instrument he plays? No? Well...the theremin is one of the greatest inventions of mankind. Here is a nice definition of it:

ther‧e‧min [ther-uh-min] –noun

a musical instrument with electronic tone generation, the pitch and tone volume being controlled by the distance between the player's hands and two metal rods serving as antennas.

[Origin: 1925–30; named after Leo Theremin (b. 1896), Russian inventor]

It makes a wicked awesome sound and he just looks really cool playing it. It kind of looks like he's pulling invisible strings on invisible puppets over a soundboard. Anywho they are playing on 11/11 at IOTA in Northern VA just in case anyone is around the area...hey, maybe I'll see you at the show, wouldn't that be soo cool?

[completely unrelated information below]
So I had a pretty good night out yesturday with my buddy Charlie...I hadn't really planned on going out and spending a lot but it turns out that it was someone's birthday so I was buying many many drinks. This is because people are generally exempt from paying for anything on their birthday...which leads me to my question of the day -- when in the world do people pay for me? My birthday is the leap year so I actually only get a birthday once every four years. I don't think it's fair to have to wait that long for people to pay for me...I demand restitution for all the years I've missed!

good night and good luck...

2006-11-02T22:17:00.000-05:00

I actually took this picture 9 months ago...wierd. I think I'll post all the facial expression pictures that I have from earlier this year to go hand in hand with each post. So anywho today has been a tired and sleepy day...I didn't get ANY work done at...work. I actually almost fell asleep, which is always a bad thing when you're a manager and you fall asleep in your office and someone knocks on the door and you jump up and the only thing that prevents you from going through the roof is the fact that it's solid and also you can't jump six feet in the air while sitting...I'm not saying this (almost) happened to me but one should always be careful.

So I saw the movie Good Night, and Good Luck last night and I thought it was pretty well done. For all the George Clooney-hating that I do (sorry ladies) the guy does a half-decent job at directing. As it turns out he can actually be a credit (sometimes) for Hollywood. I'm sure he enjoys it more than being on the 20-trillionth season of ER. Speaking of TV shows last night I finally watched Tina Fey / Lorne Michael's new show 30 Rock on NBC. It doesn't really seem very well connected but it can really have it's funny moments. It feels like a comedian's set -- many topics that aren't really connected to each other and funny at some moments...and then just not really funny at all at other times. Anywho I like Tina Fey so I'll watch the new episodes when I get a chance. You should too.

Tina Fey is a commedian...Tracy Morgan is a comedian...Mr. Baldwin is...something else...

2006-11-02T22:13:00.000-05:00

so last month I got into a car accident...not really unusual for me...actually i believe I've made my quota for the year. my life seems to budget me for at least one major car accident each year or two minor ones -- In the last five years I've gotten into three major ones and about four minor ones. In one I had a seizure (first and hopefully my last) and apparently swerved onto the opposite side of traffic and slammed head on into a minivan. In another I hit a patch of black ice and spun many many times in circles until I slammed into a telephone pole. And my favorite one is the one where my empty Sobe bottle falls under my brake (true story) and I can't slow down while going about 70 mph down a highway curve. Instead of turning with the curve I slam into the wall and apparently my car flipped over several times and skidded about half a mile down the road. I say apparently because I actually was in a coma for the next 9 hours. Also the paramedics ACTUALLY pronounced me DOA (Dead On Arrival...yikes) when they got there because I had no pulse. About 5or 6 minutes later they realized I was indeed still alive and had to get the "Jaws of Life" to free me. I've used up all my lives and I really have no scientific explanation for why I'm still standing.

2006-11-01T21:47:00.000-05:00

Beatbot with Ron and Dia (Fallen Angel)...

2006-11-01T21:46:00.000-05:00

BeatBot with Mario...

2006-11-01T21:45:00.001-05:00

Beatbot with Jumbo Slice and Deal or No Deal girl...

2006-11-01T21:45:00.000-05:00

BeatBot with Ipod (or Irod)?...

2006-11-01T21:43:00.002-05:00

BeatBot with Borat...

2006-11-01T21:43:00.001-05:00

BeatBot with BatGirls...

2006-11-01T21:43:00.000-05:00

BeatBot 5000...costume of the night!

2006-11-01T21:42:00.000-05:00

party at the Reef!

Several robots, two troll dolls, and a walking crab...

2006-11-01T21:15:00.000-05:00

...Are just some of the costumes that were found at the Reef last night in Adam's Morgan. There were many really good costumes there and a costume contest. I went as a devil...actually I didn't get the horns until after I got there -- it was really just a matter of luck that there happen to be a pair of Barcardi sponsored horns lying on the ground! I was already dressed for action so it was perfect. My "date" went as a fallen angel (complete with the wings and everything...I never really thought about how much of a logistical nightmare it is to wear a pair of wings at a semi-crowded Adam's Morgan bar)...there were two characters from the cartoon Futurama (one Bender, and one Dr. Zoidberg), two Marios, three (three!) Captain Jack Sparrows, one Mad Max, a little Red Riding Hood, Snow White, and a Tina Turner to name a few. The contest was CLEARLY rigged -- the best "costume" was given to a pair of guys barely dressed as Hall 'n' Oats (yea, uh...google them if you don't know). Hall 'n' OATS! The Beat Bot 5000 robot should have won! Speaking of the Beat Bot 5000...here are some pictures from the evening...

2006-11-01T21:07:00.000-05:00

Guess who I was for Halloween?

I need superglue ASAP...

2006-10-31T19:00:00.000-05:00

How else am I to keep myself from periodically leaving this blog? Last year I tried the Elmer's glue from my little sister's schoolbag and that didn't work (I left this blog for about 4 months) and just earlier this year I tried Scotch tape to keep my wrists locked onto my keyboard and yet I leave the blog for about 5 months. My latest attempt had me using doublesided tape to block my ever evolving brain from making an evasive move and what was the result? Blogging haitus for almost 7 months! Well, after a period of time that can only be described as an "incendiary extravagana of comical hilarity" I'm back. Back for good? Maybe. Back for a period of 3-5 months? Maybe. Back for at least two more posts? Definetly.

Oh, Happy Halloween (NOTE: Last time I blogged the holiday was Passover).

back again for the first time...again

2006-04-15T14:28:00.000-04:00

I win. I bet a friend that I could stay away from any internet activity for the exception of email and Mapquest [the bare essentials] for a week. That's $20 extra in my pocket.

cha-ching.

an american [werewolf] in switzerland...

2006-04-06T08:35:00.000-04:00

the city of louvre!

It's finally time! Tomorrow my friend Matt is leaving for two weeks to go visit a friend of his in Geneva, and along the way visit several places in Europe...mainly Paris and a small country town in Italy. I'm obviously VERY jealous as he's doing what I normally do [the semi-spontaneous travel]. I'd like to visit Paris but with all the riots going on right now that might not be such a good idea. Also I've taken way too many weekends off of work...but I do plan on taking my vacation sometime either in May or June, I just can't decide on where I want to go! It's either visit my brother in London or visit some friends in Australia or Northamptonshire [UK] or just travel to Spain/Italy. I really can't decide. However I may hold off on the vacation until after my big move [June]. Decisions, decisions!

Decisions made easy ---->

You Belong in Paris

You enjoy all that life has to offer, and you can appreciate the fine tastes and sites of Paris.
You're the perfect person to wander the streets of Paris aimlessly, enjoying architecture and a crepe.

What European City Do You Belong In?

send in the [krusty] clowns...

2006-04-05T01:51:00.000-04:00

Oh wait, they're already here. The above shoe belongs to me. Today [at work] my shoe laces broke and I had no choice but to use a bright red (or orange? I guess this is where the fantastical color red-orange comes into play) rubber band to keep the shoe on my foot. I kind of looks clown-ish with my size 12.5 shoe with shockingly different colored "laces" on. Anyway it worked.

Reminds me of the time I was having a serious business conversation with someone at work and just completely out of nowhere my belt snapped. I hadn't touched it or gained any ridiculous amount of weight in the last 10 seconds but it just...broke. I excused myself and realized that I still had half the day to go and there was really nothing that I could do. I didn't find an electric cord anywhere so I used some rope I found to keep myself afloat. What a sight I was...dress shoes, slacks, clean white shirt, tie, and a nylon rope around my waist.

Jimbo: Hey Simpson, wanna trade belts?
Bart: Well, not really, 'cause yours is just a piece of extension cord.
Kearney: Hey, dude, he's ragging on your cord.
On a random note I have to stop being attracted to [and vice versa] girls who are already taken or have "issues" resulting from having a bad/non-existent relationship with their father.

cute pet photos? sure, why not!

2006-04-04T13:22:00.000-04:00

Your Blog Should Be Blue

Your blog is a peaceful, calming force in the blogosphere.
You tend to avoid conflict - you're more likely to share than rant.
From your social causes to cute pet photos, your life is a (mostly) open book.

What Color Should Your Blog or Journal Be?

thank you for NOT smoking...

2006-04-04T12:52:00.000-04:00

Yatzee! Phase I of the DC Smoking Ban has begun...So in January 2007 the ban will be in full swing and I won't have to worry about going to any bar in the District and having to be drenched in aweful second-hand fumes.

Smoking Ban Goes Into Effect Today, Actually <--- click for full text
By Eric M. Weiss
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, April 4, 2006; Page B04

The provisions of the ban implemented today cover the dining areas of restaurants and most indoor workplaces. The ban provides exemptions for outdoor areas, hotel rooms, retail tobacco outlets and cigar bars. In 2007, it will expand to include bars, bar areas of restaurants and nightclubs and will provide an economic hardship waiver for businesses that demonstrate a "significant negative impact."

the Queen of Hollywood...

2006-04-04T12:33:00.000-04:00

Myrna Loy is absolutely stunning. I have to say, I do have a crush on this screen goddess. She plays her parts so brilliantly...she's smart, beautiful and VERY witty. They sure don't make them like they used to...if only a girl like Myrna existed today. Right now I'm watching one of her movies that I haven't seen...as per usual I have a ton of things I have to do today and TCM is keeping me from doing any of them. The movie is Stamboul Quest (1934) and it is directed by the incomprable Sam Wood. It has Myrna playing a Mata Hari-type spy that ends up falling for American George Brent [yea, I know...why would anyone fall for him?].

Wow, she looks really good with her hair up [sorry I don't have a picture to show].

"mushaboom!" or "music update"...

2006-04-04T12:12:00.000-04:00

Looks like Leslie Feist and her crew finally did it. Feist broke through to #1 on my weekly music charts there on the left side of this page. I've seen Feist perform twice in concert before and they were both really quite amazing shows. Leslie Feist has such incredible vocals and a penchant for writing haunting lyrics.

4/6 : John Butler Trio @ 9:30 Club

This show should be pretty good...I just recently got into the John Butler Trio and they are very talented. I also heard that they are good live as well so that should be nice.

4/9 : Neko Case @ 9:30 Club *sold out*

Ah finally! Less than one week away...the radiant vocalist of the New Pornographers is going to be at the premier music venue in DC. I really can't wait for this show! Also I'm selling two pairs of tickets for the show on Ebay...the first pair is up to $51 so far [bought for $38]. I think I'm going to put the second pair on sale in a couple of days.

4/11 : Death Cab for Cutie w/Franz Ferdinand @ Constitution Hall *sold out*

The first time that I saw DCFC at the 9:30 Club they weren't so hot. The music was, of course, stunning but they were almost like robots on stage. The show was very much choreographed and it really didn't seem like there was a lot of emotion....but I chalked it all up to the long tour that they had. I've never seen Franz Ferdinand and I've always wanted to...hopefully DCFC will be a little better this time around!

4/29 : John Vanderslice @ IOTA

Yay. This show is going to be flippin' amazing. I have to struggle to contain my excitement!!

[ leukemia update ]

2006-04-04T12:08:00.000-04:00

looks like I'll have to wait at least another week for my bloodwork to come back. They sent it to the wrong department and it was tested for something else...so that means I'll have to give them more samples this week...*sigh*

I wish this whole thing wasn't so ominous.

home bittersweet home...

2006-04-03T16:56:00.000-04:00

I'm home now...and even though it feels great to be home and have survived the devastating storms last night in Indiana I feel terrible that others weren't as lucky as I was...

Thunderstorms, Tornadoes Leave 27 Dead <--- click for full text
By KRISTIN M. HALL
The Associated Press

Monday, April 3, 2006; 4:41 PM

"NEWBERN, Tenn. -- Thunderstorms packing tornadoes and hail as big as softballs ripped through eight states, killing at least 27 people, injuring scores and destroying hundreds of homes in the South and Midwest.

Tennessee was hit hardest, with tornadoes striking five western counties Sunday and killing 23 people, including an infant and his grandparents and a family of four.

...

Severe thunderstorms, many producing tornadoes, also struck parts of Iowa, Kentucky, Arkansas, Missouri, Ohio, Illinois and Indiana. Strong wind was blamed or at least three deaths in Missouri. A clothing store collapsed in southern Illinois, killing one man.

The weather service's Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Okla., said it had preliminary reports of 63 tornadoes. "

"Debis covers the streets in downtown Indianapolis following a severe storm on April 2, 2006. (Darron Cummings - AP) "

not in kansas anymore [in diana]...

2006-04-02T22:38:00.000-04:00

So I'm stuck in a National Weather Service major tornado alert region right now. On the doppler radar it's in red. I was going to leave about half an hour ago but it looks like I might be here all night AND it looks like we are all headed to the basements to take cover. Insane.

Tornados are apparently going to touch down soon. In downtown Indianapolis [where I was yesturday] they are evacuating everyone on the streets to bars/shops and bolting down everything. The storms are 10-15 minutes away from here. Winds that are well over 80 miles per hour.

I've never actually been in the middle of a tornado before. This should be interesting. I'd better hurry up and post this before we have to leave.

Oh, and the sirens are now going off in the city. That's the signal.

"Final four fever" or "More crazy Ron adventures"...

2006-04-02T03:59:00.000-04:00

Yea, so that’s me at the RCA dome in downtown Indianapolis. Yea, I went to the Final Four games today. How, you ask? Well, that’s a quite a simple and unusual story [but quite routine if you know me]. I did not have tickets when I got to Indiana and I had no expectations to get into the games short of the fact that I am who I am and things work out for me.

I came over here with the simple goal of visiting my sister. I checked on eBay just to see what the price of the tickets would be if I decided to attempt to buy them from a scalper (on-line or in person)….they were at minimum $300 for a pair. Nothing I wasn’t expecting. Ok, so she decided that she wanted to go to the big mall in Indianapolis to take advantage of my car [Indy is about an hour and a half away]. I took her and we were at the mall for most of the day. The town was in Final Four frenzy unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. I mean, I know this is big but…gosh…the streets were just in complete chaos! Hundreds of color-coded groups just walking around shouting like crazy…green for George Mason, orange for Florida, light blue for UCLA, and purple for LSU. So when we were leaving the mall and going back to the middle of nowhere I suddenly see salvation in the form of an older LSU fan calmly waving two tickets in the air. It was 5 minutes before the start of the George Mason game. Out of the shadows creep three rats [i.e. scalpers] who try to get the guy to sell the pair for $60. I quickly asked him how much he was selling them for. He said $120. I laughed inside. A PAIR OF TICKETS TO THE NCAA FINAL FOUR GAMES FOR < $300?!?! I laughed inside again. I hid the smirk and realized that this guy just wanted to get rid of the tickets. I offered him $140 and he took it. I was thrilled and ran with my sister to the stadium. We made it just in time for the start of the game. It was amazing.

George Mason lost but the mere fact that they made it to the Final Four and I GOT TO SEE THEM was enough for me. Then we stuck around for the LSU v UCLA game and cheered on LSU. They lost too but it wasn’t so much fun…they got blown out. It was still amazing because we got to see Bryant Gumble AND Peyton / Eli Manning AND Troy Aikman [they were all there for the game]. Right after the games we were able to see the 90s alt-rock band Everclear perform the last of their set in downtown Indy. We got back from the game and went to this bar in town. I hung out there and was a major celebrity due to the fact that I went to the Final Four game and I basically signed verbal autographs to everyone around. I’m a little inebriated right now and I think I’m gonna fall asleep to Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough and Kindergarten Cop (remember that one?). There have been so many blog-worthy events today that I could just go on forever but I need lots of sleep right now and my friends Ben and Jerry are currently calling my name…

"caring is creepy..." limited edition deluxe expansive post...

2006-03-31T02:23:00.000-05:00

So I had quite the day. First off I went to work and I barely got there on time (8am)…which isn’t out of the ordinary at all. Then I hear someone page security to the front of the store and I hop down to see what the matter was…apparently someone had just shoplifted and they had cornered him at the front entrance. I called county police and actually had to physically restrain the guy myself…he was VERY uncooperative. I almost had to sock the guy. The cops rolled in about 10 minutes 3 cars deep. They jumped out with their hands at their hips and ready for anything. As soon as the tramp saw the police he went limp and said “all right, all right guys, I got the message.” Too late buddy.

About an hour later I’m in the produce section and I get paged along with the other two managers. I get there first and I see the cashier holding up an elderly gentleman who seems to be having a fainting spell. Turns out the guy was going into some kind of diabetic shock and I called an ambulance immediately. He was passed out on the floor and the ambulance was actually there in about 5 minutes…I couldn’t believe the quick response. Anyway they took him away and said they were going to take good care of him and he would be alright.

All this in my first three hours of work! But wait, there’s more! Half an hour later I get a call at the store from one of my assistant managers who was supposed to close the store tonight. Her child is sick and she has to be at the hospital…this week’s schedule was already extremely tight so the ONLY option would have me closing the store. I was going to drive to North Carolina after work…right…let me explain…

The plan was to drive down to North Carolina to visit a friend whom I haven’t seen for four years. At the last minute she calls me and tells me that she is going to be too busy to have any kind of fun with me and that this weekend is a bad time. I already took the weekend off work and I could’ve just taken off 2 days and go back to work but I decided that I’d drive to Indiana to visit my little sister at college. So now I’m driving 12 hours instead of 6 and taking off 4 days instead of 2. Double the fun!

…ok, where was I? Right…so I went back home for about 4 hours to take a nap. It was an amazing nap and I went right back to work afterwards. I just came back from closing the store and how I’m going to take another nap for a few hours then start the long drive. Sweetness.

[I better go make several mix cds for this trip. ]

caring is creepy...more news at 11...

2006-03-30T16:52:00.000-05:00

[I'll explain in detail later ] Basically I just woke up from a nap and I have to go to work tonight even though I was at work at 8am this morning (more on that later)...I really don't want to stay long as my original plans for today had me leaving to go out-of-state at in ONE hour. To North Carolina. Now I'm going to Indiana instead (more on that later). Also I had to call the police at work today and an ambulance on two seperate occassions (more on that later).

Despite all this I'm happy...why? I've listened to The Shin's Oh, Inverted World two times in a row in the car today and that put things in perspective. So calming...I guess Aparna was right...I am fueled by music.

those damn dirty apes!

2006-03-29T14:24:00.000-05:00

In Britain, where Arctic Monkeys' "Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not" is the fastest-selling debut album ever, breathless pop pundits have hailed the Sheffield quartet as bigger or better than another cocky young band from the north of England, the Beatles. But there's a lot more "Anarchy in the U.K." than "All You Need Is Love" in the Monkeys' sound and stance, as the group demonstrated Monday night at a sold-out 9:30 club, playing a brash 50-minute set. No encores, no apologies and -- as one song vowed -- "no surrender."

- The Washington Post

I would have appreciated even a minor apology...

So I went out to get some lunch at Chipotle and I still don’t understand why guacamole is such a hot commodity – it’s $1.50 extra to put it on the burrito…I mean, am I the only one that doesn’t understand why they charge 1/5 of the price of a burrito for a topping?? Anywho, I got in and one of my favorite movies of all time was on TCM – The Roaring Twenties (1939) starring Humphrey Bogart, James Cagney, and the wonderful, spectacular, talented and supremely underrated Priscilla Lane. It’s a decade long tale of vice, corruption, bootlegging and a love that never dies. I think I’ve seen it probably about 30 times and I know most of the lines by heart. I got in just in time to catch the last 20 minutes of the picture. Then I saw the best lineup for TCM I’ve seen in a while:

12:00PM: The Roaring Twenties (1939)
2:00PM: Angels with Dirty Faces (1938)
4:00PM: The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946)
6:00PM: Double Indemnity (1944)

For the exception of Angels with Dirty Faces I’ve seen the other films each at least a dozen and a half times. I wish I didn’t have to work tonight!

Cagney and Lane...amazing

playing God -- it's kinda like the Sims...

2006-03-29T02:44:00.000-05:00

this isn't a G.O.D. truck
Well, it’s not really but it’s still really cool! Today I stopped traffic at an intersection for almost 20 minutes while directing an 18-wheeler and I actually thought people were going to be so fed up that they would just run me over then proceed to back up and run me over again [I would]. I was at work and I get a call from our transportation department telling me they have a dairy delivery and the driver needs some help getting the truck into the dock, as traffic was not cooperating with him. I *sighed* because it was 6:30PM (rush hour baby) and traffic was at its worst. Deciding to take on the task myself and not leave it to any of the clowns in the store I went outside and assessed the situation…basically I had to stop traffic at an intersection and block traffic in another direction (I got a clerk to come with me) and incur the wrath of drivers just finishing their long day of work. After about 15 minutes of trying to organize an attempt I finally was able to start the process. I don’t have much experience telling a line of motorists that they can’t go even though the light is telling them they can but I was prepared for the responses that I would receive [yelling, honking, angry demands, threats of bodily harm, and whistling…angry whistling]. I can’t remember the last time I felt so much hatred from so many people that I didn’t know. Also a police officer walked by and said “that guy don’t know what he’s doing” [referencing the truck driver]…I kind of agreed with this comment and he continued on his merry way. I thought they were supposed to be helpful?

Speaking of traffic…on my way to work today I got held up in rush hour traffic. Strangely enough it’s not the rush hour traffic that you would think…it was the evening rush of people leaving work as I was just on my way to work at 4:30PM. So no matter what I do I’m always going to hit rush hour traffic. The majority of the week hitting the morning rush hour and the nights I have to close I go in so late I have to hit the second rush hour. What a thorn in my side!

Oh yeah, I saw a Chevrolet Nova today on the road. I rarely see those cars and when I do I always laugh because in the Spanish language “Nova” means “doesn’t go” [‘No va’] and last time I checked the last thing I’m looking for when shopping for cars is one that “doesn’t go”. I can’t believe that name wasn’t vetoed out of whatever board meeting they had whenever they came up with it.

what an ironic tagline

“What is there to lose in a dream, anyway, but my inhibitions?”
- ashley

what's in a name?

2006-03-28T15:39:00.000-05:00

Right. So my tax accountant is a crackpot. He must be...he prepared my taxes and SOMEHOW he went through the entire process thinking my name is Roland. He prepared the paperwork for me as Roland. I've never met anyone named Roland in my life. I just got my tax refund and it's for some fella named "Roland". I suppose I should have learned when I was thrown in the middle of this crazy FBI investigation of one of the people that worked for him last year. I was, however, happy about my refund because it included [among other items]:

My week's paycheck donation to the American Red Cross's Katrina Fund last fall...
My yearly member dues for the American Film Institute...
Money that I spent travelling from store to store and job to job earlier last year...
My weekly union dues all refunded back to me!

Anywho I took it to the bank along with a couple of other checks written to "Ron" and "Ronald". I thought it was funny that I went to the bank to deposit three checks with different names on each one and they didn't ask me any questions. Strange how that works.

Speaking of banks I've always wanted to get an offshore bank account in the Caymans and a Swiss bank account where I'd always tranfers funds back and forth between the two just to confuse everyone...I wonder how easy that would be?

"Swiss banks are frequent locations for spy films like The Bourne Identity, and one held an item of great secrecy in the novel The Da Vinci Code"

- from Wikipedia

so bees ARE good for something [besides stinging me to death]...

2006-03-28T14:36:00.000-05:00

Honey! So a customer at work the other day told me I should try a peanut butter and honey sandwich -- with the store brand honey. I just tried it right now and it's fantastic. It's the first time I've actually had a peanut butter and honey sandwich...I don't know how common that is but I should try it more often.

Also all the tea that I drink is directly imported from either Uganda (family there send it) or London (my aunt and my brother live there). I just had the most fantastic English tea with a spice of ginger that I thought would go very well since I was having the PB& honey sandwich.

I'm going out-of-state this weekend and I really do need to stop procrastination and get my oil changed and do some major laundry....eh I guess I can do it tomorrow, I'm pretty tired now.

the boys from Sheffield [Wednesday, not United]...

2006-03-28T14:11:00.000-05:00

I had 7 pints of Guinness last night. I was no longer at the 9:30 Club...I was in a pub in the middle of the city of Sheffield listening to the Arctic Monkeys play their brand of high energy brit pop music. Later I'm singing football chants with my mates at the bar and arguing about who should start for England in the summer World Cup.

Last night's concert was pretty good except for one thing: the Arctic Monkeys don't know how to engage an audience. They play and in-between their songs there is nothing but silence. They sort of half introduced themselves after playing 5 songs. At the end they just walked off stage after they were played what was apparently their last song. The house lights didn't go on and so the entire audience thought the band was taking a break...but then a couple guys appear onstage and they begin to break down the set. These "monkeys" need to stop taking notes from Oasis and need to realize that the reason they are there is because of the fans. The ridiculous speed in which they became popular (fastest-selling debut album in British charts history) will probably mean they'll crash just as fast. Also it's kinda funny...their most popular song contains [in the chorus] a line about a year that was before their time [before any of them were born]. That year was 1984. Yeah, I know.

After the concert Matt and I went to the basement bar and as I sat at the counter I heard chants of "Rooney, Rooney, Rooney!" I turn around and realize that the guys making this noise are referring to the player on the back of my t-shirt [I was wearing and English footballer's shirt] and I cheered them. When they stopped chanting I talked to them and realized they were actually from Sheffield [hometown of the Arctic Monkeys] and since I've actually visited Sheffield and have family in London and friends in the surrounding areas I began to bond with these lads. I order two more [half-priced] pints and we cheered everything and continued our drunken football chants until we were ordered to cease and desist by the 9:30 Club staff. Then about two minutes later we starting yelling out another football chant at the top of our lungs. It was fantastic.

short circuit [and i'm not talking about the awesome 80s movie]...

2006-03-28T13:47:00.000-05:00

So I wrote this blog entry and when I went to click 'publish post' I got a 'cannot find server' error and because of the way blogger is wonderfully designed I could not go back and retrieve anything that I typed. I'm really pissed off and I don't want to re-type everything that I had so I'm just going to make several disjointed comments that might or might not make any sense but are fragments of what I was going to post.

don't cry over spilled chocolate chip cookie dough...

2006-03-27T00:53:00.000-05:00

What a day! I was in one of my moods today at work...everything and everyone was so utterly annoying to me. I think I managed to yell at every single employee out of pure frustration [and one caught my full fury as I well...fired her]. What was causing me to act this way you say? It may be the fact that I haven't stopped moving since Thursday afternoon...it may be that I actually hadn't had a bite of anything until about 8:00PM today...or it just may be that fact that the majority of the people that work for me are inept, incompetent idiots. Sorry. And at the end of the wonderful day that I was having I picked up a gallon of ice cream and it slipped out of my hands and landed [*splat*] all over the floor. Luckily I wasn't harmed. Well, let's not dwell on all the negative...time for a "happy" recap...

*Happy Daily Event 1* - Just before work I went to AFI to see The Emperor Waltz (1948), a Billy Wilder film starring Bing Crosby and Joan Fontaine. I actually was able to make it to downtown Silver Spring in 15 minutes [the time I always say it should take to get down there if there are no cars on the road (none) and one is travelling at the speed of light] and because of an unusual preview [there usually aren't any previews at all] I literally got in the theatre just in time to see the beginning credits start rolling. It was a charming movie...nothing really special about it except, of course, for the Billy Wilder trademark comedy and craftsmanship that put it just a podium higher than other movies.

*Happy Daily Event 2* - I found out that apparently I went into some kind of bill&ted-esque time warp and actually gained a week...I thought I only had 7 days to sell my Neko Case tickets on Ebay but I really have two weeks so I have a better chance at getting more cash money.

*Happy Daily Event 3* - I did it again! I won 2 [Ebay] tickets to the Death Cab for Cutie w/Franz Ferdinand show @ Constitution Hall without being there for the last 10 hours of the auction. 90% of auctions are lost in the last hour but I employed the tactic I used to get the Arctic Monkeys tickets and set a ridiculous max bid [that I would obviously pay if forced to] that would pretty much guarantee I would get the tickets. My max bid for DCFC was $275.77 and I won then for the mind-boggingly low price of $103 [these are pretty damn good seats too]. It looks like the people who were bidding against me basically waited until the last minute to start raising their bids and they just ran out of time as they increased their bids to reach mine. Hah, the fools!

Well, it's time for 5 hours of sleep followed by 9 hours of work and then I'm gonna crash Matt's Kaplan class [when he says "Ron, stay the hell away from my classroom when I'm teaching" it really means "Come, disrupt me and cause panic among my students"] and we're gonna go see 4 British kids who aren't old enough to drink [two are 19 and two are 20] but are "so hot right now" that they completely sold out their whirlwind tour of the United States in days...enter the Arctic Monkeys...

to alcohol! the cause of and solution to all of life's problems...

2006-03-26T01:40:00.000-05:00

Huh, so this week[end?] so far has had a few interesting alcohol-related episodes:
(1) @ the Black Cat...mysterious man aimlessly wanders around the bar [clearly in some kind of hangover-induced stupor]...complete in a suit and tie and a briefcase massively cluttered with paper. It's was sooooo Biff Loman!! Also shame on you if you haven't read/seen Death of a Salesman. Adam: "We just saw that guy at Sparky's!"
(2) @ Bar on U Street...Adam (being the model Designated Driver that he is) decides that instead of purchasing [more] alcohol he will instead ask for an innocent glass of tap water that will quench his thirst. The bartender procedes to CARD HIM. I laugh.
(3) @ the Birchmere...I'm singing quite vocally and with arms outstretched the boot-stomping gospel/soul/country music with most of the patrons at the concert. Matt laughs.
(4) @ the 930 Club...very calm and funny bartender gets me a drink. 15 minutes later bartender is yelling wildly [profanities abound] across the bar with some arrogant concert-goer. I shrug. 5 minutes later bartender is cracking jokes with others. 10 minutes later bartender is angrily threatening the life of another drunk concer-goer. The entire 930 Club staff shrugs. I hope he gets to go Jack Bauer on someone's ass but instead Dr. Jekyl comes back.

Rock-maninov? No, Jamie Cullum!

2006-03-26T01:01:00.000-05:00

Grande Caramel Macchiato $4. A Pint of Guiness [at the 930 Club] $8. Gas $12. Tickets $35. Seeing Jamie Cullum for a phenomenal 2.5 hour set in which he remixes varies R&B, Pop, and Rock songs into jazz piano tunes...priceless.

Wow...I don't really know what to say. I didn't expect this show to be as ridiculously good as it was. Tied with the John Vanderslice show, this is the longest set that I've ever seen anyone perform. And talk about performing! Jamie Cullum [and his innovative band members] was just out of this world. Including playing his own songs he decided to take some songs and make them into piano jazz melodies. Including 'Gold Digger' by Kanye West, 'Rocketman' by Elton John, 'One Thing' by Amerie, and 'Don't Cha' by The Pussycat Dolls. The set also included the twentysomething phenom banging on (1) Drums in several Brazilian Dance/Pop music concoctions (2) The Piano with...(2a) His Hands (2b) His feet (2c) His bottom (2d) His piano bench [no, really]. Oh, don't forget the drummer...he's allowed to use his drumsticks to bang on things too ---> (1) Drumset (2) Symbols (2a) Symbols on the drumset (2b) Symbols directly on the floor (2c) A symbol on his head (3) The mic stand (4) the floor (5) the piano (5a) the strings INSIDE the piano [really it was a sight to see].

Overall I was blown away by the amount of energy that the band had. The audience was also very much into it, which always helps. Also I'm very happy because it makes three nights with as many fantastic shows. Jenny Lewis (Thursday-sold out), Ted Leo (Friday-sold out) and Jamie Cullum (Sat.-sold out) made this easily the best concert week I've ever had. Oh, also Motion City Soundtrack (sold out) this past Sunday helped! And now it's up to the Arctic Monkeys (sold out) on Monday not to disappoint me...they've got several tough acts to follow. 5 concerts in 8 days...and to think I'm still standing...

Jenny Lewis is going to rule the world...

2006-03-26T00:45:00.000-05:00

"The performance was nothing short of breathtaking and provided even more goose bumps in a night filled with them."

- The Washington Post

So like I said earlier...Jenny Lewis was pure hotness. I just finished reading this Post review of the concet that I went to on Thursday. It's a great review and even though nothing can capture how fantastic the show was, this article does a pretty good job. Read It!

Indie Rock-maninov...

2006-03-25T08:43:00.000-05:00

Ted Leo + the Pharmacists was a phenominal show. I literally have no time to talk about the entire evening but it was really cool. And now I proceed to Starbucks followed by work followed by Jamie Cullum at the 930 Club. It's the last concert for a while (and by a while I mean two days...hah).

I'm so tired.

two more concerts to go...

2006-03-24T00:09:00.000-05:00

Jenny Lewis was pure hotness. Now it's sleep time. Followed by 8 hrs of work. Followed by Ted Leo + Pharmacists at the Black Cat. Followed by 8 hrs of work. Followed by Jamie Cullum at the 930 Club. Where does sleep factor in? There just simply isn't enough time.

I got a new picture. I thought it was time for a profile update.

[also apparently I might have leukemia? sweet. i get to find out if i do next week.]

commit this to memory...

2006-03-22T23:02:00.000-05:00

Last 10 Songs that have "Shuffled" through my Laptop...

:Bright Eyes - A Spindle, A Darkness, A Fever, And a Necklace
:Marlene Dietrich - Jonny (In German)
:Pink Floyd - Is there Anybody Out There
:Motion City Soundtrack - Better Open The Door
:Franz Ferdinand - Auf Achse
:John Vanderslice - Me and my 424
:The Starting Line - Playing Favorites
:Motion City Soundtrack - Hangman [I swear I'm not picking these songs...]
:Eugene Edwards - It Doesn't Get Better Than This
:Moby - Down Slow

women of great seductive charm...who lead men into compromising or dangerous situations

2006-03-22T22:37:00.000-05:00

women of great seductive charm: Marlene Dietrich

Marlene Dietrich singing love songs in German. That's what's currently playing on my laptop. I can't understand a word but the sultry way that she sings makes me wanna learn a few German pick-up lines...but we won't get into that [there are just too many places to go].

women of great seductive charm: Barbara Stanwyck

Double Indemnity! After a long and useless day at work I went to see it at AFI with Sommer [who was late and didn't call me...I may forgive her...I haven't decided yet]. Anyway it was just so spectacular to be able to see a movie on the big screen that I love and have seen at least 20 times. Billy Wilder does such a fantastic job putting together a quintissential film noir film. Barbara Stanwyck does what she did best in the mid-40's: play the femme fatale. Cold as ice but so alluring that you just can't say no when she tells you she wants you to kill her husband and run away together [then she double crosses you with someone else]. Also I know I've already talked about this but Jenny Lewis is tomorrow!! I'm very excited about this show as the last time I saw her in concert (with her band Rilo Kiley) was last September. It's going to be a fantastic concert and what is kinda strange is that the other vocalist in Rilo Kiley has his own side project (The Elected) and they are playing at the 930 Club the same night! Oh how I wish I could see both bands...oh well.

women of great seductive charm: Jenny Lewis and those lovely Watson Twins
Speaking of concerts clap your hands and say yeah for me! I won an auction on Ebay and got tickets to the sold out Arctic Monkeys concert at the 930 Club on next Monday! I don't really know how I won...I put in a maximum bid and went to work...the auction ended while I was still at work so many people had their chance to outbid me (my max wasn't really that high) and yet somehow I walked out on top! The rest of the auctions for this concert are now exceeding $80 a pair so I'm very very glad.

Guess what? Apparently I have too low a count of white blood cells to donate...that kinda sucks and I'm upset. I must have been sick and not known it because I thought I was reasonably healthy when I went to have the blood samples drawn. Better luck next time, right? At least that means tomorrow I'm just going to go in and donate a pint of blood. I'd sure like a pint...of ale! Yup...it was just as bad as it sounded in my head.

I don't really have to go to bed now because I'm off tomorrow so I think I'll stay up all night and party. Who's gonna stop me? Yeah, that's right...no one.

running a twilight marathon...

2006-03-21T15:50:00.000-05:00

Twilight Zone marathon! Huzzah! So obviously I’m a big dork and I love the old episodes of The Twilight Zone and on the Sci-Fi channel today they are having a marathon…makes me want to finish watching my DVDs of “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”.

Anywho the first episode was about this old man who can kind of predict the future and uses it for good by giving random strangers exactly “what they need” – odds and ends that end up either saving their life or making their life better (like a pair of scissors that are eventually used to save oneself from death). Of course up comes a crazy young gun that finds out that this old codger apparently can give everyone what they need and he [again of course] goes nuts with it and wants the old man to give him anything that can make him win at horse races and become money-laden. So finally the old man says he can’t give the fella what he conflict ensues…I don’t want to spoil the ending but I think you can jump to your own conclusions.

The second episode was about a Faust-like concoction about a hypochondriac who makes a deal with the devil to live forever. He becomes thrilled with his new found longevity and attempts several times to kill himself [unsuccessfully]. Then he gets into an argument with his wife and goes up on the roof to jump but instead there is an accident and SHE ends up falling off the roof [shock!]. He takes this as an opportunity and calls the police claiming that he killed his wife [so he could get sentenced to the electric chair]. Anyway I will ruin this ended for you…he goes to court and he’s so happy that they are going to try to electrocute him that he completely ignores his defense. The judge’s conviction: guilty of 1st degree murder, the sentence: life in prison. That’s right…life, not death. And therein lies the moral – never make a deal with the devil unless you fully understand the terms of the agreement.

The last episode that I watched before getting back to the real world was a strange story about an ad agency exec that gets sick with the New York world and takes a weekend road trip to his home back in a small rural town. Unfortunately it seems he entered a time warp and he’s back to the year that he was about 10 years old. He tries to convince his younger self and his parents that he is who he says he is but that is all in vain as everyone thinks he’s crazy. So anyway after showing his father his wallet he has a heart to heart about life and what to do when you’re up against the wall…yada yada yada. It was all interesting but too predictable.

Ok, I lied…I watched one more episode. It was a Sunset Boulevard-like story…we have an aging actress who coops herself up in her projecting room watching movies of herself from 25 years ago. Her agent keeps trying to bring her back to reality [she should really get with the times, its 1959, not 1934!!]. His attempts are fruitless as she is completely insane and does not realize that she can only get work playing a mother or you know...a character her age. There was no real moral in this story but for some reason she ended up physically walking into the screen she was watching and becoming a part of the movies she was watching…I didn’t really understand that…

So now I’m going to get my oil changed and pay some bills. Then that necessary evil called work. Maybe something spooky and life-affirming will happen to me…who knows?

P.S. I lied again. I watched my fifth and final episode as I was typing this on my laptop. I know, I know, I’m a scoundrel. This episode was another strange one about an aging salesman who gets a visit from death…basically telling him that he has to take him away later that night. Now this man makes a deal with death that he could stay a live a little while longer if he is able to make one final grand sales pitch. But he tricks death and says “Now I’m never gonna make any more pitches!” So death says “Well, have to get someone!” and he says he’s going to take the life of this little girl whom the elder man is fond of. Anyway complications arise and the salesman delivers a pitch to death. He accepts his fate of death and the girl lives. Coolness.

words are poisoned darts of pleasure...

2006-03-21T14:19:00.000-05:00

What a day yesturday! I slept off my Motion City Soundtrack night for pretty much all the morning and I stopped by a particular fast food drive-thru for lunch and the car in front of me had the most ridiculous antenna. The car didn't appear to be shaking but the antenna had such violent vibrations that I had a feeling it was just going to fall right off. It was a bit strange. When it was my turn to go through and pay the employee told me what my total order was...in Spanish. I was a little confused at first and I just looked at her then I realized she didn't realize her mistake and I just gave her the money [since I am half-fluent in the language]. Then later in the day I got to work and for some reason as soon as I stepped in the door I turned into an angry person. For some reason I just got into a really bad mood as soon I entered the store...

I yelled at many of my employees as the littlest things that they did annoyed me. ESPECIALLY when my assistant and this other staffer that I was training to be my assistant constantly were speaking bad English...like for example...using the [non-existant] word "mines" [as in "that camera is mines"]. I'm quite the stickler for proper grammer and it just really hurts my brain to hear people blatenly abuse every word in the English language. Especially that horrible and abominable term...mines...yuck. Anyway everyone realized I was in a bad mood so they didn't bother me.

Hey...two more days til Jenny Lewis [+ the Watson Twins].

"let's get fucked up and die" or "i'm so full of love it deeply sickens me"

2006-03-20T01:03:00.000-05:00

Motion City Soundtrack was ammmazzzzing [yes, I do realize it's spelled with one 'z']! They rocked the 930 Club like I've never seen them rock a concert before. I had plenty to drink. PLENTY. I ran into three people that I haven't seen since high school. It was really cool...and now it's time for shhhleeeeeppp.......

a concert for hollywood...

2006-03-19T19:21:00.000-05:00

I shouldn't have gone out last night...I had all of two hours of sleep this morning [4am-6am] and I went to work straight after that. I had a great day of people complaining about their schedules and I got home and napped. Apparently after receiving less sleep than I did Matt went on to teach a class this morning...spectacular...except he had NO clue what was going on...nice. So in the past 35 hours we've had a combined 5 hours of sleep. And now it's time to go see Motion City Soundtrack...I hope I don't collapse...and now I leave!

v for isolated...

2006-03-18T00:22:00.000-05:00

All alone. Having just got the memo that I have no friends I am spending this night waiting for Germanio Anno Zero (1947) to play on TCM at 2:00AM [T-minus 1 hour and 20 minutes]. It's considered one of Roberto Rossellini's best films and I have never seen it before. I've been wanting to see it for quite some time [and satifsy my need for seeing true neo-realism in it's early and best form] so now I finally get a chance to see it. On a related note I am a little sad that I didn't get a chance to see Double Indemnity at the American Film Institute tonight but I had to stay at work and finish writing the schedule for next week. However I will get my one and only chance to see it next Wednesday. Drop me a line if you are in the area and want to see one of the best movies ever made.

Continuing on the topic, I went to see V for Vendetta this evening with the only person who currently can be identified as a pal o' mine...it was a very interesting movie. Basically it's your typical revolutionary film with a futuristic dystopian Orwell-esque Great Britain. Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman were both really good [I mean...a lot better than your contemporary big budget actors] but unfortunately the script was wholly unoriginal [I mean...exactly like your contemporary big budget film].

Oh dear...I have such an interesting week coming up. On Sunday right after work I am going to see Motion City Soundtrack at the 930 Club then I'm closing on Monday and Tuesday night. Then on Wednesday after work I am going to see Double Indemnity. On Thursday morning [bright and early] I'm going for an apherisis process to donate white blood cells...later on in the same day I am going to donate a pint of blood...then I am going to the Birchmere to see Jenny Lewis & The Watson Twins [probably by myself]. Friday I work and directly after I am going to see Ted Leo + The Pharmacists at The Black Cat. Saturday I work and directly after that day I am going to see Jamie Cullum at the 930 Club. I'm going to be so tired it's ridiculous.

jenny lewis, will you marry me?

Oh yea, and I promise I'll "blog" those spam mail "jokes" tomorrow...right now it's T-minus 1 hour and I have to make sure that my VCR is set just in case I [when i do, that is] fall asleep before the movie is over.

It's strange. I feel like a complete and total loser right now [or as Beck would say soy un perdedor] and it's about 98% certain to be true but I felt so great 12 hours ago when someone a pair of tickets or $25 to a $40 sold out concert. My life is composed of several crescendos that never quite peak but have tremendous d'enouements. Keep the music rolling.

"a picture mimes a thousand words" or "to the batcave!"

2006-03-17T08:32:00.000-05:00

a few more...

spam? spam. spam! spam...

2006-03-16T14:39:00.000-05:00

So don't actually click the picture. I didn't link it. The actual link is http://www.spam-uk.com/spamup/spamup.htm. Seriously they could've kept going with that...I wonder if they have unlimited spam folders...that would be cool.

Around lunch time today I checked my emails and apparently my mother is apparently still ignoring the fact that I don't like/read her repeated attempts to send me spam mail. I don't care about whatever semi-self interest story or Aesop fable they might contain. And I don't fancy whatever the joke-of-the-day is. Anywho I decided to actually open it and to my surprise the two jokes I read were kinda funny. I would post them right now but that would involve actually going back to my email so I'll do that later.

Guess who had four vials of blood samples taken today? That's right [me]...and I actually didn't know I was going to have any kind of blood being withdrawn this morning. My mom calls me up just before noon and goes "Hey Ronnie [yea, that's right, you wanna make something of it? that's what i thought] come down to my work...we need your blood!". And since my blood was just planning on loafing around my body all day I decided to put it to work. I hope I'll be ok when I go to work later today...they took four vials. Oh, also this is for the White Blood Cell donation...which is next week, not the Whole Blood [Red] Donation...which is also next week. Ok, now I'm done Trebuchet, you can open your eyes.

the great white hope...

zzzzzzzz...

2006-03-16T00:45:00.000-05:00

So today..ahh i'm too tired i'm going to bed...just enjoy the pictures...

a hyper-modified Atari battling a souped-up Colecovision in a chess match/battle royal...

2006-03-15T22:47:00.000-05:00

So Sufjan Stevens ended up on top of my weekly top ten music list thingy. He's pretty cool, you should check out his latest album -- "Illinois"...it's very much indie rock and therefore very very different from mainstream. I likes it mucho.

"Sufjan's other interests include graphic design, painting, running, knitting, crocheting, weaving, quilting, cleaning, photography, haircutting, and dry wall installation. He collects stamps and wheat pennies. He cooks legendary omelets and can whip up a sushi feast at the drop of a sake glass. In high school he played second string guard on a district champion basketball team and created his own language, now spoken by only two other people. His brother Marzuki is a nationally recognized marathon runner, elite status. His sister Djohariah has the most complicated, most whimsical, most monumental laugh in all of mankind. "
- from his website

"the 56-day itch..." or "donate a dollar to communism!"

2006-03-14T22:36:00.000-05:00

Yeah, so last night I went to see The Seven Year Itch, a Billy Wilder film [with the volumptious Marilyn Monroe] at AFI. It was the first time that I'd ever seen the film and it was amazing. It was quite funny and had me laughing out loud in more than a few scenes. I am not surprised however because it is a Billy Wilder film and his movies are absolutely phenomenal. So Double Indemnity is EASILY one of my favorite favorite favorite movies of all time and I get to see it this Friday at AFI...and next week it's The Lost Weekend then The Apartment (another of my Wilder favorites) and later on Sunset Boulevard. I'm in for a rollickin' good time!

Remember when I said that I was gonna go give blood last week? Well, true to form I actually procrastinated and didn't give anything that day. I drove into D.C. today [I got lost...as per usual] to donate at the large donation center that the Red Cross has there. Instead of going to my normal donor center practically across the street I went out of my way so I could visit one of the nurses that told me she moved down there. She was, of course, delighted and shocked to see me and told me that she was apparently getting married later on in the year. She [again, of course] invited me to the wedding and I accepted. So far I'm slated to go to three weddings later this year and it's just so nutty...I just need one more and a funeral to go with it and then I can be Hugh Grant! Anyway she pulled up my information and apparently someone lied to me at my donor center and my 56 days aren't actually up until NEXT Wednesday. Sucks, I drove down there for nothing...she said I could donate platelets but I didn't have the time since the process takes at least an hour and there was a 2 hour queue of people who had appointments. So I'm gonna jump ahead to tonight...my mom told me that I should donate my white blood cells for research at the stem cell company that she works for. I'm not one to just wildly donate to anyone and I like the Red Cross because my blood/platelets actually get to be used to actually save lives and not just for research that could possibly save lives [like what my mom was trying to get me to do]. So I said that I'd think about it and she kept harping on and on about the money that they give you to donate ($125) and I told her that I don't really care about money and every time she hears this she acts like it's the first time I told her. I unfortunately had to prove my point by tearing up a dollar bill I dug out of my pocket. My little sister broke down in tears [well...she at least went "noo! think of the dollar menu!"]. I'll probably need to get a lawyer now that I've admitted to commiting a federal crime.

Yeah, so I got lazy today and instead to taking my car to Jiffy Lube and also to the car wash I got back home and watched The Sandlot with my 9-year-old cousin (he hadn't seen it yet). I forgot how much the kids actually swore in that movie...and if you forgot too it was many many times. If I actually had known beforehand I actually might not have shown him the movie.

I thought that I was going to be stuck with these Motion City Soundtrack tickets that seeminly noone was bidding for on Ebay but I've suddenly received interest in them and I've got some bids! I started the bidding at $25 a pair and I bought them for $15 each plus the service charge so I won't get any money from them but I'm not in it for the money...I'm in it to make sure people can enjoy a quality sold out show for a low low price. It's all for the love of music. Only in this crazy cool capitalistic country can this happen. God bless America. Land of the free. Home of the...ok I'm done.

On a completely related topic John Vanderslice is coming back to the States!!! Huzzah! The last time I saw him in concert was the last time he was in the United States -- back last year. Then he went to Europe on a small two months tour that ended up being several small tours over a span of almost 8 months. And now he's coming back...too bad I can't buy tickets! He's playing at IOTA and you can only buy tickets for a show there at the door. I'm definetly going to be in line like two hours before the show...I just can't afford to miss out on JV.

Well, I don't really have much else to say...sorry I didn't have anything to post! I'll try to do better next time...PEACE!

monday night is pizza night!

2006-03-14T18:05:00.000-05:00

I know. It's Tuesday...or in cases Wednesday (Mar) but anyway I time traveled and I'm blogging about yesturday. Monday was just like any other Monday except it went by really quickly. I spent lots of time working on my schedules for next week and therefore I was on the computer for most of the time. This definetly made the day go by faster as I had several periods of time where I dozed off and woke up in spaces of 10-20 minutes. Then I had lunch and did about an hour of actual "work".

Anywho after work I decided to stop by the Jerry's Subs & Pizza by my work to fill my desire for some kind of sub. I got in and while waiting in line attempting to decide what I actually wanted to eat I heard this woman come up behind me in line with her two playful kids. Conversation follows:

young girl 1: "mommy, i want a cheesestake!"
young girl 2: "me too! and a cake too!"
mom: "come now girls you know what we came here for...the monday night special..."

To this my ears perked up as I had yet to decide what I actually wanted...and as if to appease my strained ears she finished...

mom: "...one large pizza for $4.99."

Those are real quotes guys, not air ones. I couldn't believe that the camera filming this obvious commercial didn't appear out of nowhere and the director yell "cut!" but anyway that made my decision...I got the large pizza and made that the meal for my sister and I.

And now I leave!

every cloud has a silver lining...

2006-03-12T23:48:00.000-05:00

erica made my day.

epilogue: and the ron stands alone...

2006-03-12T22:48:00.000-05:00

So my day in NYC wasn’t as good as it was billed in the previews. It was supposed to be “an edge-of-your-seat thriller” and “funny yet poignant” and also everyone was supposed to give it two thumbs up.

Things that happened in New York City before that didn't happen this time:

Didn't meet the Rockettes in NYC (5 years ago)
Didn't get a backstage tour of Saturday Night Live (4 years ago)
Didn't go up the Empire State building AGAIN (3 years ago)
Didn't get a chance to see Will Ferrell and Reese Witherspoon at TRL (2 years ago)
Didn't get a chance to go to Radio City Music Hall AGAIN (last year)
Didn't stay up all night in the city and bump into random bums at Penn Station (3 weeks ago)

Instead after having a couple of hours of sleep Sunday morning Matt woke me up and we starting driving. Unfortunately (this was what I was afraid of) the original group that was supposed to take this road trip pretty much dropped out and it was just Matt, his friend [Girl] and me. I didn’t want to be a third wheel and that’s exactly what happened. We got there pretty early (10:00) and we had a bite to eat in Times Square. Then since we really had no planning whatsoever for this journey besides go to the box office two hours before the show and possible win the $20 ticket raffle [to see Rent…normally these tickets are $95+]. When it was time we put our names in the raffle and then we waited. The guy running the operation got up and began announcing the lottery winners. The second name he announced was mine. I was really happy about this because I thought it would be quite thrilling to see the show from the first two rows. But also there were three of us so we would need Matt or Girl to win another pair. 33 winners later Matt and Girl were still standing on the other side of the winner’s line. So basically I won two front row tickets and we had to buy one ticket that was NOT in the first couple of rows. Guess who ends up being the odd one out [as per usual] ?

My consolation prize for giving up my tickets was a gloriously far far far stage left seat about 4 rows back. I had an excellent view of the speakers and two lights but the stage…well I could maybe see about ¼ of it. Generally speaking it’s quite hard to enjoy a theatrical production on Broadway [or anywhere] without being able to see the entire stage. I was really upset and I contemplated leaving the theatre but I decided to stick it out. The actors were decent for the exception of a couple who I just didn’t think they did a good job as their character. I’m not going to name names but overall I’d give it a B- [maybe would’ve been better if I would actually see it…I dunno].

Anyway I'm back home now (got back an hour ago) and even though I lost plenty of money by not working today [and by using it for food/parking/$40 tickets] and I didn’t get to see the show that I wasted an entire day to go see everything’s ok. I could’ve worked and made $200+ or gone to see Some Like It Hot at AFI with special guest George Stevens Jr. [founding director of the American Film Institute] and then wrapped up the day with finishing laundry but it’s ok. Life is all about moving forward and since there is nothing that I can do about what has already happened I’m not going to dwell on it. That’s it for now…I’m going to need more than two hours of sleep tonight…

the city that never takes a weekend off...[pt.2]

2006-03-12T02:21:00.000-05:00

So I'm going to New York City today. And I'm coming back today. Sweet. Matt made a drunken promise to take a few people to New York a week and a half ago and I've decided to forgo the $200+ that I make every Sunday of work so I can travel for a total of 8 hours in one day and see the sights and sounds that I saw about two weeks ago. Nice. But on the flipside we're going to see Rent (on Broadway, not that over-hyped monstrocity of a bad movie. I always like taking days off as long as hilarious adventures are brought about by that decision and this seems like one of them.

[fin]

so i was going to blog but...

2006-03-10T21:49:00.000-05:00

I gotta go. Yeah, it is Friday night and today is my first day off [work] in 9 days...whew. Also earlier today I was at Best Buy purchasing the new Harry Potter DVD and the Fiona Apple CD and the Neko Case CD. I was going to pickup a few more [Arctic Monkeys, The Elected, The Decemberists] but I think I'll just order them online...it's cheaper that way.

Also I dropped "un kilo" or a "piano" [grand one that is] to my car dealer today. It always feels kinda wierd to kinda give up a thousand dollars in one day...a little deflating. Oh wait! I was telling a story and I completely stopped...earlier today I was at Best Buy and I ran into a friend I hadn't hung out with in about 4 years so I'm going to see a movie with him and his crazy cool sisters tonight..actually right NOW [which is why I can't really blog at the moment].

Oh yeah, and I slept in really late today because I could [and also because I went to bed at 5am]. If you ever wake up a couple hours after your went to bed for no apparent reason and it's daylight it's really weird. When my body randomly decided it was time to gasp for reality for a second I was a little shocked and confused. It was 7am and I was like 'whaa...where the hell am I...oh birds singing...what? morning? oh wait...i'm in my room...wait...am i drunk?...no me sleep now'.

Oh well, I guess once you blog the fun don't stop. Or something. Later!

56 days 14 hours 32 minutes later...

2006-03-09T11:09:00.000-05:00

she's makin' history working for victory...
Time to donate! Now that my 56 days are up I'm going out shortly to donate blood. It's too bad that I have to wait almost 2 months before I can give blood...I know my red blood cells regenerate fast and I could probably give in just a month. Oh well. So anyway everyone should donate every time they can as long as they are 110 lbs and at least 17 years old. It's worthwhile and you can save up to 3 people with your donation [End Public Service Announcement].

I'm currently watching Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and I almost forgot what a great movie it is. I have yet to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory with the incredibly versitile Mr. Depp. I've heard that the movie is pretty good but I'm always a fan of orginals instead of re-makes. There are a few that have been good but for the most part re-makes suck. I knew I should not have started this movie...all I want is chocolate now! All I need to do is find that golden ticket...

taken for an 'ambien'-t ride...

2006-03-08T22:58:00.000-05:00

this dog is going to wake up behind the wheel of his '77 chevy at the grocery store and realize he probably should've had all that liquor before taking those Ambien pills.

So apparently this stuff Ambien is amazing. You take one to help you sleep and instead of sleep walking you sleep drive! "Ambien is regularly popping up as a factor in traffic arrests, sometimes involving drivers who don't even remember getting behind the wheel, according to a report in The New York Times Wednesday. " [MSNBC]. This stuff was actually showing up in the top 10 list of drugs found in impaired drivers in many many states. In Washington state some drivers say they took the sleeping pill behind the wheel so it would kick in by bedtime. Now that right there comfirms my belief that the American nation is actually as dumb as everyone says we are. I mean it's really as if the people doing this have no common sense. And also several cases involved drivers using alcohol with Ambien. Wow. Clearly as we were all taught in elementary school -- running with scissors = bad, mixing alcohol with Rx drugs = good! The majority of the drivers (obviously) do not actually remember the incidents when being questioned by police...so basically if your gonna drink and drive make sure to take some Ambien so when you get caught and they try to give you a ticket you flash the Anbien in a Mentoas-like manner and beam a pearly white smile. You're off the hook at that point since the Ambien is to blame and you can't control the side effects. Keep dreaming [literally].

passing the time watching weeds [grow] ...

2006-03-08T21:40:00.000-05:00

The grass is always greener...

Yeah so I've started watching the Showtime show Weeds starring Mary-Louise Parker [she won a golden globe for her performance]. It's a pretty bold show but then again that's Showtime for you. Basically it's a show about a widow who lives in a picturesque suburban town with two kids. It's your average Desperate Housewives-type show. Oh wait, that's right...the widow is a pot dealer. Hence the title. Anywho it's a very addictive show and I'm starting to kinda like it. In fact I'm watching it right now. It's playing in the top right window of my laptop and I love it. Speaking of love I hate the week that I've had so far.

Yesturday was a particularly lousy day. I worked my normal 8hr shift and when I was leaving work I got a call on my cell phone and it was work calling me about a pretty huge problem involving some keys missing that should never be missing. So it was a big problem that they needed a manager to resolve so I had to go back and try to come up with a solution. It turns out that my solution involved using an electric power jack (for those of you not familiar with the receiving portion of my industry it's basically an electric forklift) to break an American Lock and a long pulley system chain. It took me a half hour and I was very worried that I would completely break the entire pulley because the power jack is an extremely powerful machine. I ended up staying at work for a total of 12 hours and I had intended on taking my little sister out for dinner as it was her 20th birthday. Oh well.

Hopefully The Palm Beach Story will play at AFI again this year...

Today I after work I met with my sister at AFI and we went on a special members only tour of the theatre hosted by the director /CEO. It was really wonderful to see all of the state-of-the-art technology that they had in the theatre and to see how they actually come up with the programs and decide what movies / film series they are going to run [too bad you missed it Matt]. The whole thing was very worthwhile and I really can't wait for the season to really get underway!

cheese sandwich for breakfast, cheesesteak for lunch, cheesecake for dinner...

2006-03-07T01:15:00.000-05:00

Ok so everything except for the first one. I actually had peanut butter and jelly. So today sucked...it was my third night closing the store and I was definetly feeling the affects. It was also slow which really didn't help the time pass by any faster. Also someone was supposed to pick up the phone when I called tonight but that really didn't happen so I wasn't feeling any better. Anywho I'm not off until Friday this week but Friday is a great day to be off. Well, now that I'm thoroughly dejected from the day and have less than 7 hrs before I have to wake up for my next shift.

Also this past morning when I woke up a movie I was downloading on my laptop finished. I was half asleep when I started the download and I don't think I had my glasses on...so instead of getting The Cinderella Man (depression-era boxing film staring Russell Crowe) like I had actually wanted I got A Cinderella Story (pre-teen spin-on-an-old-tale starring Hilary Duff). I couldn't believe the horrible mistake that I had made but I figured well...since I did get it...yeah. I'm not admitting anything at all. Let's just not talk about it anymore. Goodnight.

ahhhhh! you know you make me want to...

2006-03-06T12:56:00.000-05:00

So I've added a few things to my blog...including a ShoutMix "shoutbox" chat room (to the right). I know this will last only about a week as I do not have enough visitors to warrent an entire room of chatting.

At least now people can write me messages and not have to worry about actually replying to a post about a certain topic. [Again...one week.]

back when i was greek...

2006-03-06T02:22:00.000-05:00

My former house. I loved it. I miss it. I miss the people. I miss the pool table. I miss the parties. Oh how I miss the parties.

Back a few years ago I lived in a fraternity house for two semesters -- I was apart of the Alpha Sigma Phi house at UMD and I loved it. I had the best roommates I've ever had in my life and everything there was pretty sweet. But since things weren't quite working out for me at UMD (I kinda figured I really wasn't suited for the whole big school atmosphere) and in general life I left the house when I left UMD. Now since I'm not one to dwell on the past I of course moved on and just cherished the memories that I had at that place and the friendships that I made...but as Death Cab for Cutie said best "...we just talk about the people we have met in the last five years and will we remember them in ten more..." and really it's true. I actually don't talk to anyone from the house basically at all and I think about all the people that I've actually met recently and how they'll probably be out of my life 10 years from now. It's strange really to realize that this world is just so big and there are so many different experiences you can have in life but then it's so small that all those experiences are related to each other in many varying degrees. Anyway I mention this because I ran into my former roommates today (they were shopping at my store) and I was just catching up with them about some people from the house...during the year it seems like I've been randomly running into many people I used to know or used to talk to or be close with and have since lost touch. We always give ourselves false hopes that we'll keep in touch with people that we really do mean to keep in touch with but the unfortunate aspect of life is that it's always changing and we tend to prioritize relationships and kind of dump the ones that do not affect our daily/weekly lives or aren't convenient.

It makes me a little sad whenever I run into someone I haven't seen in a long time and really do want to stay in contact with because I know there's a better chance that I won't see or talk to that person for quite possible the rest of my life.

the constant: a great director + fantastic acting = great movie...

2006-03-06T01:48:00.000-05:00

I thought this was almost definetly the best movie of the year. It's very easy to argue in it's favor and almost impossible to argue against it. Ralph Fiennes gives a superb performance as he always does and Rachel Weisz (OSCAR!) acts like I don't think I've EVER seen her act before. I was SO looking forward to seeing this movie when I heard that it was coming out for many reasons:

The director, Fernando Meirelles, also directed The City of God in 2002 which for many reasons is one of my favourite movies of all time. Once you see the movie you can easily see why the director is definetly someone to anticipate greatness from...
Ralph Fiennes: when he actually is in a serious movie (The English Patient, Sunshine, Schindler's List) and not a "movie" like....Maid in Manhattan....he does NOT dissapoint.
The book is a wonderful and taut thriller that I've always liked and wondered if it could actually be pulled off on the big screen.

There's just not enough good that I can say about this movie. It's fantastic and everyone should see it. I'm done.

'crash'-ing into the big picture!

2006-03-06T01:30:00.000-05:00

So every year there are a few movies that actually make an impact on me and break my cold critic heart (I rarely like any movie that was made after the mid-1950s -- pretty much back when movies were actually made with a plot and didn't completely rely on sex, violence, and computer graphics). In 2004 Mystic River was the one that did it for me. That was such an amazing and well written, acted, and especially directed movie. There were quite a few movies this past year that I really connected with. The main three were -- Tristam Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story, The Constant Gardener, and Crash. Crash just had the great honor of winner Best Picture of the year at the Academy Awards this past night (the Oscars) and I am beaming for the recognition! It was really a movie that was almost overlooked by many people when it first came out but gathered steam as the months went on and word of mouth spead. It actually played at AFI for months on end (probably about 5 months straight) -- which is kind of ridiculous for a new movie (but it was just that damn good). I actually got to meet Brendan Frasier (whom I thought couldn't act his way out of Encino Man until I saw his performance in The Quiet American and, naturally, Crash) and Paul Haggis (who also won an Oscar for best Screenplay!!) at AFI back in August when they stopped by to talk about Crash. If you haven't seen this movie yet then you need to just go buy it and watch it several times over and over. It's a keeper.

chain [allergic] reaction...

2006-03-05T03:20:00.000-05:00

So I'm allergic to just a few things: Chloroquine (medicine used to prevent malaria...yea I lived in Africa as a kid...malaria was not uncommon), pecans (and of course the first time that I found this out was when I had a nice chunk of pecan pie...mmm...), and "dip"...i.e. smokeless tobacco...the stuff baseball plays chew. I....can't....stand the stuff. It makes me sick beyond belief...and in fact I’m getting sicker from just talking about it. So anyway earlier this evening at work a customer came up to me at the 'help desk' to ask me a question...he was totally chewing tobacco and as soon as that putrid odor wave hit me I became dizzy. I couldn't answer him as I was about a foot from the ground before I caught myself. I had to take a seat on the ground and he kept trying to help me up but I kept telling him to stay away from me. Bleh...so after about 15 minutes I regained my composure and went back to work but from then on the rest of the night was ruined for me...I couldn't eat or drink anything and I was planning on going out but I cancelled those plans and just as I was about to leave work my buddy called me to go down to College Park and so I did [to see if I could salvage any remnants of a Saturday night]. Unfortunately that didn't really work..I got there and stayed about half an hour before realizing that the nausea still hadn't packed its bags and I would most definitely have to go home.

I was going to post a picture related to "dip" but I think I would actually throw up if I went looking for one...

this week is history...

2006-03-04T11:59:00.000-05:00

What a wacky week i've had...but i suppose that is the norm in my life. Sunday of course I had the TSL show and the crazniness of the bidders who paid me but never got their tickets. Tuesday and Wednesday were sorta my birthday days...and also Wednesday, Thursday and Friday I had to work extremely early shifts so I could learn the morning accounting. I stopped by my old store on Wednesday to attempt to convince the guy that replaced me not to hire this person who was complete garbage and I basically succeded...that was really annoying but I couldn't let that guy get hired...it just wouldn't be right.

Matt called me on Wednesday during the morning and actually reminded me that I had a show to go to that night with my little sister...I had completely forgotten about this. Since I was up for work at 3am and this show was obviously a late one I was gonna end up being up for almost 24 hours...I was not looking forward to this. I took her to see Matchbook Romance (w/ The Early November, Silverstein) at the 930 Club (as usual) and it was a pretty rockin' show. At the end of the show I pad my pockets just to make sure I had everything...cell phone...check...credit cards/id/cash...check...keys...[silence]...keys?...[silence]...uh oh. somehow in all the hysteria I dropped my keys! I absolutely couldn't believe that happened and all I was thinking about was how much money it was going to cost to get a new one (they have to re-wire my alarms to interlock with the key...at least $350...god bless German engineering). I looked around but I knew with 90% certainty that I was NOT going to find these keys...it was a near sold out show and with everyone jumping up and down and moving around constantly there was no way that my keys were going to be anywhere around. I ask the regular security guy (who happens to look like the kinda big guy you'd find at a biker bar...err...the kinda big guy you'd hope not to find at a biker bar) if anyone had turned anything in and of course he refers me to the front entrance, where apparently anything that is found is turned in. As a formality I go up front to check...I ask the guy and he says "wait a minute, I think someone did turn in some keys"...still no chance they are mine...he comes back and he says "are these yours?"...no oh well time to call a taxi..."oh wait, i have one more pair"...sweet merciful crap! my keys were turned in! Yeah, so that was HUGE shock, I couldn't believe it. Thanks to whomever you are, I truly appreciate your kindness!

I get home extremely late, take a "nap" for a couple hours and wake back up for work at 4am. So as soon as I got home Thursday I just completely crashed. Friday I was at work at 5am and didn't leave until about 5:20pm. No breaks. It was the worst day ever...I was doing the accounting in the morning and there was basically an error made by someone else which kept me there an extra couple of hours because I thought I made the error and I was trying to figure out what it was. This error just happen to be worth $14,400 and so I was pulling my hair out trying to find out what happened. Also I was trying to leave by 3pm so I could mail the Belle & Sebastian tickets that I had just sold earlier in the week and the bidder hadn't paid me until the previous night (and the show is tonight...in Philly...and he lives in NYC). ALSO I still had to finish writing the schedule for all 60 of my staffers for next week. Pretty hectic day. I really wanted to go out with my buddies on Friday night but I was just so burnt out from the day/week that I just slept. I have to go to work later today and there's a lot I need to take care of before I go so let me leave this internet haven I call a blog...

[Erica, thanks for coming back, I was worried there for a second.]

it's my party and i'll cry if i want to...

2006-02-28T20:36:00.000-05:00

So I turned 5 1/2 years old today...or is it tomorrow...who knows? A couple more years and I get a real one...I can't wait. I'm currently watching episodes of Chip N' Dales Rescue Rangers on my laptop and earlier I was playing around with Yahoo! Voice...it's pretty cool I guess but I suppose it's better if you have a webcam. I actually haven't really done anything all day but since it's sorta kinda maybe my birthday I'm allowed to do nothing.

[The first pair of tickets I was selling to the Belle & Sebastian show in Philly sold the other day...I could've gotten a lot more for them since they are in extremely high demand but because of Pennsylvania State Law I am only allowed to get face value + 25% if the winner bidder is from Penn. But since I'm from another state if someone wins who isn't from Penn. the bidding can go through the roof. So as it stands I only got $91.75 (which is still more than the $64 I spent getting them)...I have one more pair online and the auction ends tomorrow night so that's another pretty much guaranteed $91.75 unless I get lucky and someone from outside of Penn. wins and I get more. ]

I wanted to go see this French film at AFI but it seems that everyone is at the gym during the evening and they can't go out. If I had a real birthday people wouldn't be allowed to get away with this stuff! It's really not fair...

now we can begin to understand them...

2006-02-28T05:21:00.000-05:00

and they say all guys have one thing on their mind...

2006-02-28T05:12:00.000-05:00

arm-wrestling the long...arm...of the law...

2006-02-28T02:53:00.000-05:00

So lately I've been pretty good about making sure that I keep an eagle-eye out for Johnny Law. Last week I had several situations where an officer was behind me at night and I was very good about moving over one lane in anticipation of the fact that the car behind me could be a cop. I even had one last week at night where I correctly judged the car to be a cop and slowed down to the legal limit and (of couse) he zooms past him and then I think "hmm...the other car behind me might also be a cop" and it was...so he goes around me too. Then I look to my right and two cars are entering the highway...both of them police officers...then I start to wonder why in the world all these cop cars are around...I look to my left and there are three more cop cars (mind you none of them had their sirens on). Then about two minutes later I get off on my exit and I see that the carnival was in town...bright lights everwhere! Then I realized that the county fair isn't until August and those were cop car lights...apparently (as i found out from an officer) there was a high speed chase and the bad guy abandoned his car and was somewhere in the neighborhood (nowhere near mine) with a firearm of some sort. Fun stuff.

Anywho today I was on my way home from work when I noticed there was a parked car on the side of the road ahead with it's lights off...now of course I know that trick and I always slow down whenever I see a car parked on the road and (again...duh) it was a cop car. There were several cars behind me and I just knew one of them was going to get pulled over. I look in my rearview and...wait for it...wait for it...bam! The red, white, and blue lights start dancing and some poor sap get it. I should teach a class on this.

Part III : "the pizza parlor is the starting line" or "sunday night"

2006-02-27T00:04:00.000-05:00

Three hours later I work up to go to work. Seriously. I was so tired that not even a veinte size cup of caramel machiatto could do anything to awake me. I had plenty of work to do and was very busy for most the morning. The rest of the morning I spent attempting to get this ticket thing in order:

On Saturday I sold a pair of tickets to The Starting Line (TSL) concert for $42 (I bought them for $36). I was awaiting payment so the winning bidder could come pick them up from my work. Sunday at noon the other auction I had for the other pair of tickets for the TSL concert...they sold for $80 [fantastico]. I was also awaiting payment for this one. Since I was at work and I'm extremely important my "proxy" (a.k.a. Matt) was making sure that the proper attempts to communicate were made with each winning bidder. NEITHER one of the bidders contacted my by the end of my shift (4:30...the concert doors were at 5:00) but they both ended up paying me. Weird.

After work I had to go to this pizza party that folks from my old store were throwing. We always have it after the football season (and football pool) was complete. I couldn't stay long since I had a concert to go to but it was really nice seeing people I hadn't seen in a few weeks. It was 6:30 and only one of the bidders had contacted me (through email)...he/she said that they couldn't pick up the tickets so I should basically just do whatever I want with them. My sister, Matt and I went to the show with a total of 6 tickets. The show wasn't particularly exciting but it was ok. During the middle of the show (in-between bands) we left to go get some food (no re-entry) and when we came back we just used the other three tickets to get back in. That was kinda cool.

So now I'm home and I am in desperate need of sleep. I'm definetly almost drunk with exhaustion. Thank goodness I'm sleeping in tomorrow! Now that we're all caught up I'm gonna do some catching up of my own...

Part II : "3 girls, 1 guy, and a british dance club" or "saturday night"

2006-02-26T23:44:00.000-05:00

I had made plans with this girl I hadn't really seen in about 5 months and before that another 5 months to go out to a bar right after work. We actually didn't have any concrete plans and just wanted to hang out since it had been a while since we had seen each other. As it turns out during my shift I get a call from this girl that was a friend of a friend's who became my friend. She wanted me, her, and her friend to go out to this dance/bar/club place nearby and [being me] I wasn't really thinking and I said yes. After hanging up on her I quickly realized my error and had two options: 1. call her back and tell her I'd have to take a raincheck 2. go with it. Since I am who I am I decided to see how good my carnival skills are and juggle. I called my first friend up and told her that we should change plans and go to this dance/bar/club place and meet up with my other friends. She was cool with this.

I was late leaving work and I had to do a full wardrobe change in my telephone booth [a.k.a. my jetta] and fly to meet them. I got there at almost midnight and met up with the two girls then introduced them to my first friend. The first friend had apparently been there a while waiting for me [i'm usually* quite prompt] and made friends with some people at the bar...She tried to introduce me to one of them but as it turns out she just grabbed a random girl and had actually never met this person ever. But I had. Apparently it was a girl that I actually went to high school with and that was quite a surprise. We had lots of fun and I didn't get home until about 4am...[enter Sunday morning]

Part I : "three little houses full of spirits..." or "friday night"

2006-02-26T23:34:00.000-05:00

You already got the expanded version from my previous log...basically me going out to visit a friend I hadn't seen in a long time who happen to be trashed beyond belief, then going to another friend and pretending to deliver pizza, and lastly going to the house and arguing with another guy about who the greatest boxer of all time was. Then I crashed there and got up having little sleep and had to drive home first then straight to work.

Now I am quite the procrastinator...I rarely give myself enough time to actually make it to work...on time...and so I frequently have to drive a little faster than usual to get there. On Saturday I was driving on the highway and I was going 90 mph. Normally that's the "red zone" and you are just asking to be given a ticket at that speed. But in this case there was no way I was going to be pulled over. I was actually going SLOWER than the flow of traffic...people were passing me left and right and my mind couldn't really put it together. Was my odometer broken?! How is it possible that I'm going 90 mph and everyone is passing me?? I was quite stunned and I decided it was best not to think about it. Needless to say I did get to work on time...

weekend review...in three parts

2006-02-26T23:25:00.000-05:00

Yeah. This weekend was kinda ridiculous and I'm half glad it's over and half upset that it is. It's a good thing I get to sleep in tomorrow because I definetly need it. I'd like to break down the weekend just so you have an idea of the craziness that it was...

saturday morning recovery!

2006-02-25T13:03:00.000-05:00

Last night was a blast...I went to visit some old friends from high school that I see just about ever 6 months or so. It was lots of fun and I got to see one friend that I NEVER see drunk completely falling on his bottom from his newly acquired "habit"...apparently he had been drinking since about 5pm that day...it is the weekend so I let it slide. I got to meet his new girlfriend and play many many rounds of beer pong and flip cup. Many. I also found out that you can order cookies online for delivery at 3 o'clock in the morning. They were delicious. If my memory is holding up then I definetly remember going to WaWas again with the guys...that makes about 20 times I've gone into that store in my history and not a single time was I ever sober...I have absolutely NO clue how it looks like without all the blurriness, I just know it has lots of food and soda.

[my friend] (1:10:06 PM): nothing like juuuuust about falling asleep, and having someone pound on your door like it's the end of the world
Auto Response from TerMyst2 (1:10:06 PM): oh what a night...recovering
TerMyst2 (1:10:40 PM): i think i did a solid job
TerMyst2 (1:10:56 PM): i thought i dreamt that
[my friend] (1:11:02 PM): hahaha nope
[my friend] (1:11:07 PM): so did I for a second
TerMyst2 (1:11:24 PM): nothing like the realization that what you did actually happened but you were too wasted to know it

Sweeet! So apparently after drenching myself in alcohol I went over to my old roommates apartment and pretended to deliver pizza to my buddy's room. I would take responsibility but I was actually in his roommate's room talking to him and he was like "hey, you wanna break down his door?" and i was like "no" and he said "yea you do" and i said "yea, you're right".

Shortly afterward I went to another friend's house across the street because he called and told me that he was the wing man in an uncomfortable pairing and he just needed me to cut him loose from his reponsibilities. Ron to the rescue! I literally burst through the front door and said something to the effect that I needed to have a serious conversation with him downstairs. We played darts. We argued for minutes on end about this whether or not some boxer he looked up a while ago is the best in the history of the world and I thought this guy he was talking about was a tramp who just travelled across the states beating people up in train cars. Turns out we were both half right...

John Sullivan was a fantastic bare knuckle boxer in his time. In late September 1883 he decided that he was really good so he's gonna go across country and knock out as many civilians on trains that he could find. Yeah. So he "fought soeme 50 minor opponents across America and reportedly knocked out all of them." The next year he continued his "tour" and reportedly knocked out 29 more. This guys got an impressive resume...just remember to play dead [the next time you travel back in time to a train car in the 18th century] if you see him.

friday night fever!

2006-02-24T22:15:00.000-05:00

Yatzee! Mar, i'm half a world away and this humoursly bad week enveloped itself in a cacoon and burst beautifully out to form what I like to call the "week-end" (clever, huh?) and i'm thrilled! I was jealous before but now I'm happy... T G I F