26 May 2004

You leave my "Love" alone. She looked pretty damn pathetic on Punk'd... they were offering her a fake movie role, and she seemed pretty desperate to find work... sad, really. She's still cute, though. That's all qualification she needs to work for me :) Add to this case Leslee Sobieski, the chick from "Joy Ride". I looked her up on IMDB, and she ain't done sh*t lately. I'm just thinking it must suck to live in our celebrity one day/forgotten the next society. That's right, I said I actually feel sorry for some ex-celebs... Welcome to the age of Hilary Duff/Lindsay Lohan. I don't remember girls dressing that way in high school when *I* was there...

I'm thinking I'm not going to have much time in NY to sight-see, which sucks, but I'm glad to just be going to see if I do want to return and do it right later, which I'm sure I will.

When I came to the blog page today, I think I got the April 17 entry. It's not just you. It's the MAAAAAAAAAAAGIC of the Internet.

Sometimes I think it's sad that I play a larger part in the lives of my friends' children than I do my own nieces and nephews. Of course, the large part of that is due to proximity, me being here in Tampa, and my family being in Orlando. My take on the whole friends/family situation is that a biological connection is nice and all, but why should you not treat people who aren't related to you as if they were? It's kinda the way I see birthdays/holidays. In a perfect world, everyone would treat you like it was your birthday or Christmas EVERY DAY. Of course, it's this same sort of thinking that has cost me a couple of relationships :)

Well, I'll be off to my IRA training tomorrow, mates--wish me luck ;)

I'll pour out a pint for all of ye. Cheers!

Countdown to Ireland: ONE
Countdown to NY: 11

25 May 2004

Can someone explain to me why navigating directly to www.wickedmoxie.blogspot.com is giving me weird, outdated versions of the blog? When I did it from home, I got the old girly one from February! Granted, my computer is currently home to a nice virus or worm which I need to take care of, but still, what's up?

Everyone has family, and you like them more or less depending on your relations. Most people also have friends, and if you don't like them, you probably lose them. We sometimes say our friends are like the family we choose. If we were legally or biologically bound to friends, would they become more like family, where you didn't like them as much? Commonlaw friendship??

24 May 2004

Dude, "love" embarrassed herself attempting a music career. Looks like people have not yet forgiven her for that. Also, she made the mistake of making a whole shitload of teen flicks in her early 20s. Bad movie, to typecast yourself as the unattainable high school girl right when you should be attempting adulthood.

I would love to go to NYC. If I could get work to pay for it, that would be even better. I want to go and do it right, not desperately search for the least roach-infested project with an affordable room. For me, the countdown is 11 days to Yankton, SD. Woo-hoo!

Anyway, what is it about Monday? We could have cancelled work today just for lack of interest, society-wide. Yug.

Well, the whole point of being a sports fan is that sometimes your team is going to win, sometimes they are going to lose, but you will always (yeah, right) support them--it's all part of the experience. In my case as a new bandwagon fan...

LIGHTNING WIN LIGHTNING WIN LIGHTNING WIN

So now I have a whole new chance to be disappointed. But what if... what if Tampa Bay wins the Stanley Cup, not even two years removed from winning the Superbowl and the Arena Bowl? Tampa was the capital of football in 2002-2003. It could become the capital of (get this) HOCKEY in 2004. Sports--you gotta love it--the thrill of victory, the agony of defeat!

I'll grant you the Colonel is a white icon like no other, but the spinach-eatin', Bluto-beatin', Olive Oyl-savin' (God knows why he bothers), anchor tattoo-sportin', pipe-smokin', eye-squintin', O.G. one-man-wreckin' crew known as Popeye the Sailor Man ain't no slouch. Only difference there is Popeye perpetrates White-on-White crime. Maybe he should be the ghetto icon... I'M KIDDING I'M KIDDING :) Sadly enough, Church's has no icon to call its own, although the thought of a drumstick-wielding bishop is somewhat amusing.

In other news, I'm off to the Big Apple for the first time ever (besides a two hour stint in JFK on my way to Tokyo) for a couple weeks to take a class for work. Having scratched that one off the list finally, I can turn my attention to California as the one major locale in the US I have never set foot in.

Random thought: Why can't Jennifer Love Hewitt find work? How does she end up on an episode of Punk'd, desperate to find an acting role? There's always a place for her in my organization...

Countdown to Ireland: 3
Countdown to NY: 13

21 May 2004

Yep, you're a cave. A black hole sponge, if you will (I prefer that to black hole sun -- it makes more sense and makes the song funnier.) Let it out!

Um, we're so white up here that no only can I blind someone with just a cropped shirt (argh! the bright light!) but we don't have Popeye's or Church's. We've tons of Chinese-American buffets (they never actually include American in the name) and lots of hamburger joints, but no chicken other than KFC. The Honorable and Venerable Colonel is an icon of white colonization. Our Big Boy turns 50 this year, though. Another creepy mascot there.

See? Sports fans are just gluttons for disappointment. Even if your team wins one year, they likely won't repeat it! Dumbfuckery on so many levels.

I love Friday. Even if your personal Friday (filed before your personal jesus) isn't on actual Friday, it's all good. It's Friday!

Okay, I have a meeting to go prepare for. Peace out. Ghetto chicken makes the world a happier place.
STOOPID F@#*(&ING LIGHTNING

Yeah, that's right--I said ghetto chicken. There's a common theory that you will never find Church's or Popeye's in a nice (typically white) neighborhood. Moreover, you will only find Church's in the worst ghetto parts of town. This second part appears to be mostly true. But if you've ever seen either one in a nice part of town, let me know. I believe I've seen Popeye's in decent neighborhoods. Why do I ask? I want one in the nice quiet white neighborhood I live in now. I know they'd make a killing cuz all we have is KFC right now. Not to mention four Publii (what IS the plural of Publix, anyway?) with three matching Blockbusters, and three McDonalds. But my friends keep telling me Popeye's is too ghetto for my neighborhood.

I thought 42 was the answer to everything. Maybe the answer is 42 Morrisseys.

Good luck with that spontaneous combustion performance. I'm thinking you might want to put in a call to Industrial Light and Magic.

Friday has arrived.

I always figured you two for Springer eventually anyway. Maybe Maury. Most likely Judge Judy ;)

The dark depths of a cave? Is that what I am, some sort of cave? Some sort of dark region that's SLOWLY CONSUMING ALL OF WHAT I AM??? DO YOU THINK I *NEED* SUNLIGHT?!? I WILL DESTROY ALL OF YOU!!!

Man, you're right. I do feel better :)

20 May 2004

Yo. Que pasa?

Ghetto chicken?

Morrissey is the answer to everything. I, too, have forgiven Jesus. I have not yet forgiven His Church. Or the Pope. Bastards, all of them. Isn't buggery a form of birth control? Especially when it's man on man?

Spring! I love it!
Laundry. Hate it. But one must needs have clean underwear. And clean jeans. And clean towels. Okay, the last is the most important. You can go without underwear, wear dirty jeans or find other pants, but dirty towels are unsurmountable. Especially when having company.

There's a thespian game -- sudden death. It's improv, and when or if you screw up enough that the "audience" notices, they scream "Die!" and you must act your death. I always wanted to do spontaneous combustion and couldn't figure out how to do that -- it always looked like I was blowing myself up. But that's how I'd like the world to go -- in a pop, meaningless and not sparkly at all. Just disappearing.

Friday needs to hurry itself along a little faster.

Oh, can we discuss Susan's need to share "Mandy" with me? If you've got a thing for Barry, that's fine, but it shouldn't be aired like dirty laundry in public. Next thing I know, I'm going to be on Jerry Springer and Susan will be telling me she's been screwing my brother for years. Not that I'd care that much, but for all past foibles, I did think she had better taste than that (Barry and my brother).

Writing, even when it makes no sense, is good for the soul. It's like letting a little sunlight reach the dark depths of a cave.

Off to home and the laundromat.

Spring rocks.
Why is Popeye's chicken too ghetto for white neighborhoods? It's clearly a step above Church's, and it's WAY better than Kitchen Fried Crap.

All addiction is the same.

Current slogan that defines most people in general: "It's never enough".

Carpe Canis.

Don't sweat the small stuff.

Remember to find beauty in all that you see and do today!

Take advantage of my non-sensical ramblings while you can...

Countdown to Ireland: 7

19 May 2004

LET'S GO LIGHTNING!!!

18 May 2004

Ah. Clearly, the answer to my question is:

I) Morrissey

:)

17 May 2004

So in honor of the upcoming "East Coast gets wiped out" movie, The Day After Tomorrow, I present the following:

I was watching this show in Discovery HD (I've found I'll watch pretty much ANYTHING in High Definition) about the Arctic melting and scientists seem to think we've got until 2050 before something really bad happens (a la The Day After Tomorrow). So start saying your goodbyes now :)

Which of the following disaster movies do you think will REALLY bring about The End of the World(tm):

A) The Day After Tomorrow
B) Armageddon/Deep Impact
C) Mars Attacks! (my personal favorite)
D) Dawn of the Dead
E) The Core
F) 10.5
G) The Day After
H) The Terminator series 2 3

Cast your vote now, before we all die horrible deaths ;)

14 May 2004

Now she clarifies. I was having fun for a second there.

Just so I understand, you need real people and stories that may be real or fiction? Can I give you real fictional people with ficitious real stories? You might want to clarify a bit, but I'm glad to help. So far I've got no cartoons, no news, no game shows. That pretty much leaves us with sitcoms and dramas. Is that more of what you're looking for?

Next time I'm at the beach, I'll think of you ;)

Food is good. While up in ATL, my friends took me to one of those Brazilian Steakhouses. Let's call it Heaven for Carnivores. And you have to love mixes like the one you had, that Midwestern Mexican.

You got it, we're going straight across the country. Our tour has us already booked in hotels and such, I'm just looking for suggestions of places to hit in the cities.

13 May 2004

Yeah, being "in" changes things. I like the idea of sharing travel with someone, though. I felt like shit on Monday when we got to the ATL airport, and the SO dealt well with it. Susan can tell you how pleasant I am when I don't sleep. But it was nice to have someone to chat with occasionally.

Um, can we try again with the raw data? I need real people (cartoons aren't going to be helpful) and stories -- either fiction or reality, but not game shows or news programs (not that I saw the latter on your list, but I may have missed them). And anything that is not either on TV now, in syndication, or on DVD, that you also don't have a tape or two of, isn't going to be helpful. From your raw data, I must actually find and watch at least a few episodes of the show.

Beach? Even if we had one, I think it's about 45 degrees out!

Had Midwestern Mexican for lunch. Tater tostadas. They put beans, seasoned chicken, cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream and guacamole on potato skins. I like food.

As for Ireland, we went north out of Dublin up towards Sligo, and then down the western side of the country. I gather you're going more or less across? I would look into B&Bs for places to stay. My mom and I did. They're between $20 and $55 a night, cheaper than the hotels, and generally include a breakfast bigger than you could eat. Although some may have weird hours, so check first.
:)

You know it's a bright, sunny day down here too. A lot of people are at Clearwater Beach. Wish I was one of them.

Hey, if you got any other good places to go in Dublin/Galway/Shannon, send 'em along... I want all the suggestions I can get. I'm probably going to have to return to really check the country out, same problem with England. Haven't even been to Scotland yet. Ugh--not enough time, dammit. I need about three lifetimes at the rate I'm going.

I never said I wasn't going to travel with my SO (assuming I ever have one again). You're absolutely right, it would be beneficial to me if she enjoys travel, because I can be kinda hard to keep in one place. But you don't have to be at the point to where you have kids for travel to be difficult. I'm just saying that for now, I don't have to worry about mutual scheduling or compromising more than just among friends. I can pretty much just get up and go. A Relationship changes that. God Bless Freedom :)

You want raw data, I'LL GIVE YOU RAW DATA!!!

Favorites currently: 24, The Shield, Nip/Tuck, Line of Fire, Chappelle's Show, WWE Raw and Smackdown, SportsCenter, Pardon the Interruption, The Simpsons, Arrested Development, Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Harvey Birdman, Sealab 2021, Home Movies (recently cancelled), Futurama, Family Guy, Fillmore!, and many, many others... let me know if you need more current ones.

All-time Classics: G.I. Joe, Thundercats, Robotech, The A-Team, Knight Rider, Airwolf, Dukes of Hazzard, ST:ToS and TNG, Buck Rogers, Cheers, Seinfeld, The Critic, The Price is Right, Family Feud, Press Your Luck, Miami Vice, The Real World (season 1 and 2 only), Sifl and Olly, Beavis and Butthead, let me know if you need more, cuz I got more...

Countdown to Ireland: 14
Snarky bastard. Northern Exposure was Alaska. It's sunny today. The weather here does not understand progression.

Pub tour sounds great. Ireland has great pub lunches -- fresh meat, potatoes, and vegetables, for about $5. You should go and take the tour at Kilmainham Gaol while you're in Dublin. Great history tour, but also an awesome building. It's the jail where the arrested members of each uprising since British invasion/occupation have been kept, including those from 1916. So in one tour, you get a history of jail architecture (how can you NOT love that?), a history of Ireland's uprisings, and a sense of what prison must have been like. Good stories. Also check out Trinity's campus. There are probably great cheap pubs nearby. We went thorough Shannon, but I don't remember much about it.

Oh, and that's a horrid comment. I plan on traveling both with and without my s.o. (the current one, and ones after, if that happens) for the rest of my life. If he doesn't like to travel, we will have issues. You definitely better find a woman who wants to travel, or you're going to be pissed off and bored and she's going to wonder why you can't sit still. I don't think it's necessarily the Relationship that pins you down. It's kids. Who the hell wants to travel with kids? (Spent a lot of time in airports in the last week....)

I'm working on a new research project and need raw data. What are your favorite television shows? I would much prefer stuff that's on right now, but classics will work. I'm sure I can get a hold of them somewhere. I have a theory I'm trying to prove.
SNOW?!?!?!?

[doubles over in laughter]

That's Northern Exposure for ya.

Yeah, Susan--it's your car, you should name it. K.A.R.R. and I have become pretty close over our five-year relationship, and he's never let me down. If I can think of anything cool, though, I'll let you know.

Oh, I didn't mention I'm going on a Pub Tour in Ireland in 14 days? Man, I thought I told you guys everything that was going on with me :) I figured I need to get these trips in before some female finally pins me down... a friend wanted to go to Spain, but I pushed for Ireland... that whole Madrid bombing helped out a bit, unfortunately. So we're off to Dublin and Galway for a few days to make some new friends over a pint or two or three or thirty-four, who's counting? Last night we watched a PBS special on DVD "Ancient Ireland"... pretty boring stuff, but the included "Over Ireland" was an amazing fly over video showing all the major locales... beautiful, beatiful stuff. I can hardly wait. Wish I was going for a month instead of a few days. More to follow.

Okay, $3. That's my final offer.

12 May 2004

QUICK POST

First, IT'S FUCKING SNOWING HERE. WHAT THE FUCK??? IT'S MAY 12.

Second, yes, Susan found the perfect car with the perfect group of wacked out owners. Gertrude and I, however, refuse to participate in naming the Cooper. She will have her own name, and anything you can assign will be like naming a cat, redundant and misleading.

Third, if the Relationship is good, you can ask certain favors of a partner. As in, you are allowed to say "this one habit you have really bugs the shit out of me. Are you willing to modify it a little?" But you can't say "change a basic tenet of your nature." You can't ask a non-communicative person to be communicative. You can ask him to try to open up to you, but that's about it and good luck.

Fourth, I think we've all been where Mark was. If you've put time and effort and emotion, specifically love, into a Relationship, it's hard to just say "hey, this doesn't work. See ya." And there's that line you have to find -- you have to work at a relationship to make it good and make it work, but at what point is it so much work that you're forcing something that doesn't exist? The difference here, however, is that Susan's pouring work into something that MAY exist at some point in the future, not something that is a standing relationship. If a Relationship requires that much effort from the get-go, I have to think that signals a problem.

Fifth: Ireland? More please?

Sixth: Fuck $5. We'll take a camcorder and make millions ourselves off our hot witty conversation. We're hiring the writers from the Gilmore Girls. And I get Luke.

11 May 2004

Wow. Looks like we're back in business. Just some quick thoughts:

--I dig the new blogger interface.

--That's a pretty good list, Kate--you can tell a lot about a person by what things they'd put in such a list. You may not be the war-monger I normally like to vote for, but if you ever run for President, you've got my vote. Just promise me you'll blow up some random country, if elected :) Oh yeah, I think the Bellagio in Vegas is simply one of the most beautiful buildings I've ever seen.

--Susan, the beautiful thing about the Internet is that people can obsess over anything at all. Even better, they can get together in groups and go over every detail... sounds like you'll fit in quite well with the Mini owners :) Some of those gift and decor ideas sounded pretty cool. I want the movie rights to you and Kate's road trip, tenatively titled "Thelma and Louise 2004". I'll give you five dollars for 'em.

--Sounds like I missed one hell of a party :)

--I don't know so much about there's NO way you can fudge things with a guy. I admit it ain't bloody likely you're gonna get a guy to change, but you have to remember there are social stigmas at work behind the scenes. They don't call it pussy-whipped for nothing. However, you are right in that certain major things do already have to be there, you can't make them happen, no matter what you do. My last relationship lasted way longer than it probably should have because I refused to give up on it, despite it not really being ideal. I thought I could just deal with it. When it all caught up to me, man, it wasn't pretty.

Countdown to Ireland: 16
Oh, and I'm with Mark. Someday I'd like to go to Vegas. But with the right people. I need someone I can geek architecture with. Strange requirement, I know, but it's my needs. It's all about me baby.
Okay, so I think the weekend went well. I’m sort of in a lack-of-sleep induced coma. Besides staying up and out too late all weekend, I was sleeping with the damn dogs and I think I’m going on a maximum of 5 hours per night. Since I generally need 9 to be happy and healthy (or my version, which boils down to “not cranky”) I’m in zombie land.

So, travel log:
Flew in Thursday, as did my uncle and my mom’s best friend. We went to a new and decent (not great, just passable) steak house for the birthday dinner – Thursday was her actual birthday.

Friday, spent an ungodly amount of money in 1.5 hours at the party store, the plant store, and the grocery store. My mother purchased the booze and the meat (ham and chicken) for her own birthday party, which is unfortunate, but I could afford everything! Unexpectedly, her best friend kicked in some money for the rest, which was really nice. Baked stuff, and then went and picked the S.O. up at the airport. Big family dinner. I have a feeling meeting my family and hearing some of the stories that were told may have been enlightening for him.

Saturday: Made party food, decorated, set up bar, did, as Susan puts it, the whole domesticky Martha Stewart thing. All of this took 99% of the minutes between 9am and 4pm. Partied from 4pm to ??? Don’t remember, really. Hosting a party for 50+ is work, but people seemed to have a good time, and my mother LOVED it, so it was definitely all worthwhile. Afterwards, got to see first hand the downfall of the pussy wagon and visit Susan’s precinct and the not-so-perfect boy. Not so perfect, really. And what the hell is up with the hair blow-drying?

Sunday: Braves game. Baseball is BORING. Turner Field is kind of cool, though, for a place that charges $4 for a bottle of water. Got lost in the ghetto, saw an on-ramp to I-75 blocked off to be used – get this – as a parking lot! Who’da thunk it? Later, there is a FANTASTIC new ice cream place just down the road from ASC, just south (I think south) of Twain’s, called Jake’s. With flavors like “coffee and doughnuts,” “Mexican Hot chocolate,” “Thin Mint,” and “margarita sorbet,” they’ve got a good thing going on. And it’s in an old house with a coffee house-like atmosphere. Good stuff. Old campus doesn’t look as bad as I thought it would with all the newer stuff.

Will think about the Must Do Before I Die list. Susan gave me a book years ago – a birthday present based on my list-making tendencies, which is 1,000 Things to Do before you Die. Maybe I’ll dig that out tonight.

Short List??
1. See Russia
2. See Barcelona
3. Road Trip with Susan (thoughts on this one)
4. Finish Anna Karenina, Atlas Shrugged, and The Marble Faun
5. Visit all counties in North Dakota (about 80% there) and all 50 states
6. Join a protest march that's meaningful to me, preferrably in D.C.
7. Run for some sort of office, even if it's just local
8. Purchase and own a piece of property
9. Skinny dip in a natural lake in the middle of nowhere (working on this)
10. Go to New York City
11. Walk Hadrian's Wall across England (working on this, too)
12. Fulfill a fantasy involving a campfire and stars
13. Publish

Hmmm. That's less short than I'd thought. I could go on, but I should go work.
Okay fine, so we got our butts kicked. Stoopid Philly and their stoopid Flyers. I was actually at the game here in Tampa... I'm no true hockey fan, but I'm getting better. I'd never been to an NHL playoff game before. Before I die, I'd like to go to the championship game of every major sport at least once. So far, I've been to the Arena Bowl (won by Tampa Bay last year). So, in lieu of Susan's love troubles or Kate's political rants, I put this to you guys: What do you think are some of the must-see or must-do things in life before you die? It can be anything, don't limit yourself to the ones I'm putting down. Here are a few of mine:

A) going to Vegas
B) going to championship sports events
C) traveling abroad
D) spending time one-one-one with each of your family members (for instance, I took my mom to Columbus for a weekend and my dad to Vegas for a weekend, still working on my brothers)
E) going to Mardi Gras

Hmmm... sounds like SOMEONE likes to travel :)

10 May 2004

Uh... hello... ... this thing on...?

Uh... GO LIGHTNING?

That is all.

04 May 2004

I was waiting for someone else to say something... and now that you have...

The Soul of Sex, eh? Sounds interesting. But I'm thinking you're going to have to elaborate quite a bit more on where this guy is going with all this... does he literally mean the sexual/sensual in everyday life, or is it perhaps finding pleasure in the things in everyday life? I suppose I should just read it for myself, but we all know that ain't gonna happen. So paraphrase already... I'm kinda curious to hear another take on the subject.

Grabbing life by the throat is a difficult task indeed, time being your worst enemy. My inner geek and my inner frat boy continue to engage in Mortal Kombat over control of the current day and near future's activities. Stay at home with the 60" and the consoles, or go out and be around other human beings... it's a tougher decision than you might think. Best case scenario, I'd have time to do both, but so far it hasn't been working out that way. The big loser is work, but I am blessed with a job that allows me to devote a minimal amount of effort while still being productive. According to my life's plot clock, I should be due for another serious relationship in 3... 2... 1... soon :)

It simply has to be soon, because I've once again reached that point where I have enough stuff to look forward to and to do on a weekly basis that a serious relationship might possibly be the worst thing that could happen to me right now.

Remember to find happiness in your everyday life, folks... I don't know about finding the sexual/sensual in everyday life (sounds like an interesting idea though), but at least find some bit of happiness. Even if it's just your favorite TV show, your favorite food, the guy you cut off on the road, or simply exacting revenge on the people who have crossed you.
Is the blog hibernating?

I was psychotically busy last week. We had a state review board meeting on Friday (I'm the exec. secretary for them and arrange the meetings) and then a conference at which I had to present on Saturday. It's over now, but I'm gearing up to fly home on Thursday and begin THAT whirlwind.

Cool things: our community college does a spring Arts Quest thing, this year revolving around pottery, and a bunch of us at work made pots, which have been fired. Tonight, we do raku glazing. Cool.

I'm reading a book called The Soul of Sex. The author's argument is that we seek out meaningless sex and other random "pleasures" because we have, as a society, neglected to see the sexual/sensual in our everyday lives and maximize it. He talks of living a sexual life that has little to do with just orgasm (although he's all for that, too). Interesting idea -- to maximize the pleasures in life without harm to one's physical or psychical self. He dissects the characteristics of Aphrodite in myth -- mostly that she is capricious and full of change -- and then speaks of our regimented and comfortable lives, asking if maybe, just maybe, our needs for security and order allow us to ignore the sensual need for new things.

Maybe there aren't mistakes in life so much as things you wouldn't necessarily do again?