I got this from webgrits. Thought it was kinda cool. Looks like they're trying to tell me I need to move to either Texas or Florida. But my favorite two are #12 (which I like to call "the place to be") and #24 (aka Paradise City). I think it's pretty neat that it chose those two especially. Must be a fairly accurate little quiz.
Ideal Places For Bone To Live
1. Brownsville, Texas
2. McAllen, Texas
3. Charleston, South Carolina
4. Augusta, Georgia
5. Orlando, Florida
6. Gainesville, Florida
7. Corpus Christi, Texas
8. Galveston, Texas
9. Deland, Florida
10. Savannah, Georgia
11. Clearwater, Florida
12. Long Island, New York (Is it any coincidence that the only northern area that comes up is this one? I think not.)
13. Bradenton, Florida
14. Daytona Beach, Florida
15. Houston, Texas
16. Bryan-College Station, Texas
17. Tulsa, Oklahoma
18. Biloxi-Gulfport, Mississippi
19. Sarasota, Florida
20. El Paso, Texas
21. Louisville, Kentucky
22. Jackson, Mississippi
23. Athens, Georgia
24. Tuscaloosa, Alabama (Roll Tide, babee!)
Take the short quiz and find your spot!
"Would you like to live in Houston, where the cowboys come to town? Or maybe Pensacola, where the sun shines all year 'round? Or even New York City, where the city never sleeps?"
Monday, January 31, 2005
Too Short and VD
No, this is not my tribute to the original West Coast rapper and his struggles with um... well, whatever. It is my description of the weekend. They never seem to last long enough.
The Seinfeld/Chick Quandary
Reading Kerry's post about women and Seinfeld made me realize something. It all basically comes down to this: When I like them, they don't like Seinfeld. When they like Seinfeld, I don't like them. There has only been one exception so far. But I guess we all have things we regret until the day we die.
My first time
Well on Saturday night, I had my first break and run out ever in 8 ball. Admittedly, that is kinda sad, considering how many games of pool I've shot over the years. But still it was a big moment for me. I really should ASCII the shot I made on the 8, too, because I had to go rail-first then contact the 8 and knock it in the side pocket. It was ninety-nine and forty-four one hundreths percent pure luck.
Do you enjoy being googled?
I had a really bizarre dream Saturday night about a girl I only went out with once or twice when I was in eleventh grade. I probably haven't seen her since high school, and didn't even know her all that well at the time. She was a year older than me. I guess that this could only mean one thing... I'll have to google her and see what I can find out.
Two Weeks Until VD
I ventured into our new Wal-Mart Supercenter for the first time last night after church. $91 later, I escaped. Ugh. Anyway, Valentine's stuff is all over the place, obviously. It's two weeks until VD! How do you feel about this holiday? What are you doing this year? What am I doing? What do you hope your significant other does for you? What is the best Valentine's gift/surprise you've ever received?
"And I don't think I have ever seen a soul so in despair. So if you want to talk the night thru, guess who will be there..."
The Seinfeld/Chick Quandary
Reading Kerry's post about women and Seinfeld made me realize something. It all basically comes down to this: When I like them, they don't like Seinfeld. When they like Seinfeld, I don't like them. There has only been one exception so far. But I guess we all have things we regret until the day we die.
My first time
Well on Saturday night, I had my first break and run out ever in 8 ball. Admittedly, that is kinda sad, considering how many games of pool I've shot over the years. But still it was a big moment for me. I really should ASCII the shot I made on the 8, too, because I had to go rail-first then contact the 8 and knock it in the side pocket. It was ninety-nine and forty-four one hundreths percent pure luck.
Do you enjoy being googled?
I had a really bizarre dream Saturday night about a girl I only went out with once or twice when I was in eleventh grade. I probably haven't seen her since high school, and didn't even know her all that well at the time. She was a year older than me. I guess that this could only mean one thing... I'll have to google her and see what I can find out.
Two Weeks Until VD
I ventured into our new Wal-Mart Supercenter for the first time last night after church. $91 later, I escaped. Ugh. Anyway, Valentine's stuff is all over the place, obviously. It's two weeks until VD! How do you feel about this holiday? What are you doing this year? What am I doing? What do you hope your significant other does for you? What is the best Valentine's gift/surprise you've ever received?
"And I don't think I have ever seen a soul so in despair. So if you want to talk the night thru, guess who will be there..."
Sunday, January 30, 2005
Free Association - Wk. 104
(from Unconscious Mutterings)
Coroner:: constable (??? I have no idea)
Mystify:: amaze
Corroborate:: collaborate
Misinterpret:: misconstrue
Humorless:: sad
Calculus:: algebra
Eye for an eye:: "Ye have heard it said..."
CPR:: C3PO
Stitched:: knitted
Facility:: arena
"I believe your most attractive features are your heart and soul. I believe that family is worth more than money or gold. I believe the struggle for financial freedom is unfair. I believe the only ones who disagree are millionaires..."
Coroner:: constable (??? I have no idea)
Mystify:: amaze
Corroborate:: collaborate
Misinterpret:: misconstrue
Humorless:: sad
Calculus:: algebra
Eye for an eye:: "Ye have heard it said..."
CPR:: C3PO
Stitched:: knitted
Facility:: arena
"I believe your most attractive features are your heart and soul. I believe that family is worth more than money or gold. I believe the struggle for financial freedom is unfair. I believe the only ones who disagree are millionaires..."
Friday, January 28, 2005
Seinfeld... Four! Two!
Jerry Seinfeld is coming to the BJCC in Birmingham Saturday, March 12, at 7:00 PM. Tickets went on sale this morning at 10 AM.
I got two! Woohoo! I saw him back in 2002 in Nashville. I hope he does some new material. Now I'm gonna be sitting here reciting all my favorite Jerry routines all day... not that I don't do that most of the time anyway.
"When you're alone and life is making you lonely, you can always go downtown. When you've got worries, all the noise and the hurry seems to help, I know... downtown..."
I got two! Woohoo! I saw him back in 2002 in Nashville. I hope he does some new material. Now I'm gonna be sitting here reciting all my favorite Jerry routines all day... not that I don't do that most of the time anyway.
"When you're alone and life is making you lonely, you can always go downtown. When you've got worries, all the noise and the hurry seems to help, I know... downtown..."
Thursday, January 27, 2005
Aw yeah, I'm glad I put this tape in...
Exchange between the me and the cute cashier at FYE tonight:
Me (hiding the CD behind the counter): "Could you scan this without actually looking at what it is?"
Her: "Um, sure."
(I hand it to her. She looks at it and laughs.)
Me: "This is so embarrassing."
Her: "I just have one question. Why?"
Me: "I don't know. It was only $9.99, and I used to have it on cassette."
Her: "Well, at least it's not disco. Have a good night."
Me: "Oh, don't worry. We will."
So... can you guess what CD it was?
Stop! Hammer time!
WOOOOOOO!!!! This makes me so happy. You have no idea. That's how we're livin' and you know, you can't touch this!
[+/-]view/done
"I see her face and I can't let go. She's in my dreams and my heart, so let me know, have you seen her? Tell me, have you seen her? She's a thought and a vision in my memory. I haven't met her, but tell me where could she be?"
Me (hiding the CD behind the counter): "Could you scan this without actually looking at what it is?"
Her: "Um, sure."
(I hand it to her. She looks at it and laughs.)
Me: "This is so embarrassing."
Her: "I just have one question. Why?"
Me: "I don't know. It was only $9.99, and I used to have it on cassette."
Her: "Well, at least it's not disco. Have a good night."
Me: "Oh, don't worry. We will."
So... can you guess what CD it was?
Stop! Hammer time!
WOOOOOOO!!!! This makes me so happy. You have no idea. That's how we're livin' and you know, you can't touch this!
[+/-]view/done
"I see her face and I can't let go. She's in my dreams and my heart, so let me know, have you seen her? Tell me, have you seen her? She's a thought and a vision in my memory. I haven't met her, but tell me where could she be?"
Fire and Prestone
Q. How are women like blog comments?
A. I like them. I want them. But I'm not really sure how to get them.
The following story is true, to the best of my recollection. Names have not been changed, since no one is really innocent. I always thought it was a good story. Hopefully, you'll find it amusing as well. Think of it as kind of a Friday Flashback, except on Thursday :-)
Stardate: Ummm, probably around 1994-95...
We had gone to Huntsville to some discount all-night bowling thing. I had ridden with Matt (he of the frequent car wrecks), for some reason. It is here that our story begins...
We were only a couple of minutes from my house, when I smelled something burning. It was an electrical smell, like wires burning or something. I mentioned it. Matt smelled it, too. Didn't think much else about it since we were almost home. He dropped me off I would guess around 3:00 or 4:00 AM. As you might imagine, the fun was just about to ensue.
A short time later, I would say about five or ten minutes, there was a knock at my door. Let me interrupt our story right here to say that this was years ago, and I still lived with my parents. My bedroom had an outside entrance to it, which was cool for a variety of reasons, though I'm not really sure what any of those would have been. Anyhow, back to our story. I open the door and there stands Matt, entirely out of breath and looking quite frazzled. He looks as if he's just run a marathon, and on top of that, like he's been running for his life. I'm like, "What's the matter?" I can barely even understand him because he's so out of breath. He says, "My... huuuuuuh.. car's... huuuuuh.. on... huuuuh.. fire...." I reply, "What?!" Well, it was both incredibly funny and bad at the same time, but it was mostly just funny.
Well, here's the other thing. My parents house was like just around the corner and less than two blocks from the fire station. Matt had run about four blocks to get me, instead of running another couple of blocks and going directly to the fire department. I never quite understood that. I guess when your car is on fire, logic goes out the window. So anyhow, we hopped in my Jeep, which had the top off (which was cool on a whole other level, and I miss it very much badly), and I shot over to the fire department.
Now, here's the next thing. A fire department is not really set up for walk-ins or drive-thrus, you know? It's not like a fast food place or a barber shop. Anyhow, I knocked on the door of the fire station, which was odd in itself. A guy, presumably a fireman, came to the door and I told him what had happened. Well, at first, he didn't believe me. He thought we were playing a practical joke. I'm thinking, yeah, dude, we were sitting around watching infomercials at 4 in the morning and figured we'd drive down to the local fire department to see if we could stir up some excitement. Yeah. This is what we do.
Well, anyway, they eventually got a truck over there, but by that time, the fire had nearly burned out, and the formerly white hood (could that be construed as racist?) was almost completely black. So we just kinda stood there and watched the end of Matt's car. It was a little bit like a funeral.
I, of course, was reminded of the Seinfeld episode where George's car catches on fire and he's just standing there and says, "The Jon Voight car is no more."
- The End -
"Oh my love, my darling, I've hungered for your touch, a long lonely time. Time goes by so slowly, and time can do so much. Are you still mine?"
A. I like them. I want them. But I'm not really sure how to get them.
The following story is true, to the best of my recollection. Names have not been changed, since no one is really innocent. I always thought it was a good story. Hopefully, you'll find it amusing as well. Think of it as kind of a Friday Flashback, except on Thursday :-)
Stardate: Ummm, probably around 1994-95...
We had gone to Huntsville to some discount all-night bowling thing. I had ridden with Matt (he of the frequent car wrecks), for some reason. It is here that our story begins...
We were only a couple of minutes from my house, when I smelled something burning. It was an electrical smell, like wires burning or something. I mentioned it. Matt smelled it, too. Didn't think much else about it since we were almost home. He dropped me off I would guess around 3:00 or 4:00 AM. As you might imagine, the fun was just about to ensue.
A short time later, I would say about five or ten minutes, there was a knock at my door. Let me interrupt our story right here to say that this was years ago, and I still lived with my parents. My bedroom had an outside entrance to it, which was cool for a variety of reasons, though I'm not really sure what any of those would have been. Anyhow, back to our story. I open the door and there stands Matt, entirely out of breath and looking quite frazzled. He looks as if he's just run a marathon, and on top of that, like he's been running for his life. I'm like, "What's the matter?" I can barely even understand him because he's so out of breath. He says, "My... huuuuuuh.. car's... huuuuuh.. on... huuuuh.. fire...." I reply, "What?!" Well, it was both incredibly funny and bad at the same time, but it was mostly just funny.
Well, here's the other thing. My parents house was like just around the corner and less than two blocks from the fire station. Matt had run about four blocks to get me, instead of running another couple of blocks and going directly to the fire department. I never quite understood that. I guess when your car is on fire, logic goes out the window. So anyhow, we hopped in my Jeep, which had the top off (which was cool on a whole other level, and I miss it very much badly), and I shot over to the fire department.
Now, here's the next thing. A fire department is not really set up for walk-ins or drive-thrus, you know? It's not like a fast food place or a barber shop. Anyhow, I knocked on the door of the fire station, which was odd in itself. A guy, presumably a fireman, came to the door and I told him what had happened. Well, at first, he didn't believe me. He thought we were playing a practical joke. I'm thinking, yeah, dude, we were sitting around watching infomercials at 4 in the morning and figured we'd drive down to the local fire department to see if we could stir up some excitement. Yeah. This is what we do.
Well, anyway, they eventually got a truck over there, but by that time, the fire had nearly burned out, and the formerly white hood (could that be construed as racist?) was almost completely black. So we just kinda stood there and watched the end of Matt's car. It was a little bit like a funeral.
I, of course, was reminded of the Seinfeld episode where George's car catches on fire and he's just standing there and says, "The Jon Voight car is no more."
- The End -
"Oh my love, my darling, I've hungered for your touch, a long lonely time. Time goes by so slowly, and time can do so much. Are you still mine?"
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
I knew if I kept wearing Drakkar...
...that it would come back around again one day. I got a compliment on my cologne yesterday. Yeah, babee!! Sure, there were some tough times... the Polo phase, the CK One phenomenon, the "this product tested on bunny rabbits" scandal. But now, it's back. Or I'm the only one who still wears it. It doesn't matter, cos I don't follow the trends, I set them. Or I just don't follow them. Whichever. I did hear some bad news about another of my favorites Tuesday night at Dillards. The chick checking me out (and by checking me out I mean, ringing up my items, taking my money, and giving me change; not looking me over with great interest) said they weren't carrying Nautica clothes anymore at the Decatur store. That is like the only big name of clothing I ever buy, and usually then I only get it when it's 50-75% off. Oh well.
Decisions, decisions
I was looking at the menu at Logan's tonight, and I realized that it always takes me a long time to decide. I can never make my mind up. Then I got to thinking, maybe that's why I'm not married. I'm afraid I'm gonna make the wrong decision, and I don't like decisions you can't change. And to me, marriage is a decision you can't change. What was my point? I guess I just need a girl who'll say, "Hurry up and decide! I don't have all night."
If you cook it, he will come
Let me tell you something about single guys. We don't turn down home-cooked food. It's just a rule. I was very fortunate to be invited over for home-cooked meals on Monday and Tuesday nights. Mmmm. That makes a young boy scream and shout. Say you're cooking and you invite your married friends over, they might come. They might not. Invite your single male friend over, he'll be there with bells on. It doesn't even matter what you're having. In other news, after church tonight, I headed into town and met Kyle at Logan's. Everything seemed to be back to normal there, thank goodness.
Well, it WAS a curse from the beginning
Work has been very hectic this week. Some of you know what's been going on. Some of you don't. Here's the short of it: I basically had to train someone in to take over my position. No, I was not promoted. I was demoted, if anything. Now, my workload has basically doubled. Fortunately, my pay has increased by about... oh... um... ZERO percent. Oh well. It will all work out in the end, right?
Dialogue
"Be careful with my envelope filled with gift cards."
"She does not know about the blogs, but we should probably not blast it to the nation that I want this girl to be the mother of my children."
"Oh don't worry, I'm like a vault... a big, wide-open vault with a broken lock."
"What's with all the candles? You're not a wiccan, are you?"
"We can practice picking up attractive chicks by picking up less attractive chicks."
"Did you vote in my Super Bowl poll?"
"No, because I don't who any of those people are. I am not even sure what the Super Bowl is to be exact. I mean, I know it's a football game, but other than that, I have no clue."
"Good heavens. You don't watch the Super Bowl? You don't even watch the commercials?"
"Well, I haven't before. Is it tonight or something?"
"I don't stop breathing everytime the phone rings. My heart don't stop when someone's at my door. I've all but given up thinking you're ever gonna call. I don't believe in magic anymore..."
Decisions, decisions
I was looking at the menu at Logan's tonight, and I realized that it always takes me a long time to decide. I can never make my mind up. Then I got to thinking, maybe that's why I'm not married. I'm afraid I'm gonna make the wrong decision, and I don't like decisions you can't change. And to me, marriage is a decision you can't change. What was my point? I guess I just need a girl who'll say, "Hurry up and decide! I don't have all night."
If you cook it, he will come
Let me tell you something about single guys. We don't turn down home-cooked food. It's just a rule. I was very fortunate to be invited over for home-cooked meals on Monday and Tuesday nights. Mmmm. That makes a young boy scream and shout. Say you're cooking and you invite your married friends over, they might come. They might not. Invite your single male friend over, he'll be there with bells on. It doesn't even matter what you're having. In other news, after church tonight, I headed into town and met Kyle at Logan's. Everything seemed to be back to normal there, thank goodness.
Well, it WAS a curse from the beginning
Work has been very hectic this week. Some of you know what's been going on. Some of you don't. Here's the short of it: I basically had to train someone in to take over my position. No, I was not promoted. I was demoted, if anything. Now, my workload has basically doubled. Fortunately, my pay has increased by about... oh... um... ZERO percent. Oh well. It will all work out in the end, right?
Dialogue
"Be careful with my envelope filled with gift cards."
"She does not know about the blogs, but we should probably not blast it to the nation that I want this girl to be the mother of my children."
"Oh don't worry, I'm like a vault... a big, wide-open vault with a broken lock."
"What's with all the candles? You're not a wiccan, are you?"
"We can practice picking up attractive chicks by picking up less attractive chicks."
"Did you vote in my Super Bowl poll?"
"No, because I don't who any of those people are. I am not even sure what the Super Bowl is to be exact. I mean, I know it's a football game, but other than that, I have no clue."
"Good heavens. You don't watch the Super Bowl? You don't even watch the commercials?"
"Well, I haven't before. Is it tonight or something?"
"I don't stop breathing everytime the phone rings. My heart don't stop when someone's at my door. I've all but given up thinking you're ever gonna call. I don't believe in magic anymore..."
A blog exploder's dream
Here's a site every BE'er loves to see...
That's your big boy, there. To a Blog Explosion user, that is like the yellow sun to Superman. It's like the fountain of youth to Ponce de Leon... or maybe not. Anyway, that worked out well yesterday with my Super Bowl poll. Thanks to everyone who voted. At last count, it had received 37 votes. I used pollhost.com, and it actually seems to work fairly well. They seem to do a decent job of not allowing duplicate votes. You can limit it to one vote a day (which I did), one vote a week, etc. Anyhow, I'm going to try to move the poll over to the sidebar in the next day or two and keep it up there, at least until the Super Bowl. So, I've gotten two 100's and one 50 free credit thingy. File under "I spend waaay too much time on the internet."
"Fifteen, there's never a wish better than this, when you've only got a hundred years to live..."
That's your big boy, there. To a Blog Explosion user, that is like the yellow sun to Superman. It's like the fountain of youth to Ponce de Leon... or maybe not. Anyway, that worked out well yesterday with my Super Bowl poll. Thanks to everyone who voted. At last count, it had received 37 votes. I used pollhost.com, and it actually seems to work fairly well. They seem to do a decent job of not allowing duplicate votes. You can limit it to one vote a day (which I did), one vote a week, etc. Anyhow, I'm going to try to move the poll over to the sidebar in the next day or two and keep it up there, at least until the Super Bowl. So, I've gotten two 100's and one 50 free credit thingy. File under "I spend waaay too much time on the internet."
"Fifteen, there's never a wish better than this, when you've only got a hundred years to live..."
Tuesday, January 25, 2005
Super Bowl Poll
This is my first attempt at doing a poll on my blog. So, we'll see how it goes. And for crying out loud, vote! It's your right as a blog reader ;-)
Monday, January 24, 2005
A rarely seen side of me
Have you seen me?
This is a picture of:
a. My Jihad ID photo
b. Me, about to go for a run
c. My Olympic Swim Team pic
d. My stunt double, about to go for a run
e. My sad Nelly Halloween costume, sans Band-aid
"You've got to get yourself together. You're stuck in a moment, and now you can't get out of it. Don't say that later will be better. Now you're stuck in a moment, and you can't get out of it..."
Worst Day of the Year... no, really
January 24th Called Worst Day Of Year
Happy Monday!
I hope them cigarettes are gonna make you cough
Well, the highlight of my weekend was finding and purchasing the Spin Doctors CD "Just Go Ahead Now: A Retrospective" at the mall Saturday night. Now, if I can just find Roxette, Fine Young Cannibals, and Milli Vanilli.
In other news, there is a lady who lives across from me who smokes like a Swisher Sweets factory. (Do they still make those?) She's been in the hospital multiple times and has been like under an oxygen tent like near death two or three times. (Did I just say "like" twice in one sentence?) Well, the doctors have told her repeatedly to stop smoking, but she won't. However, for some reason, if she's out and she sees me pulling up, she'll quickly try to hide her cigarette, like I'm gonna scold her or something. I guess I'm like the moral police now.
Little awkward moments
Well, things were really quite awkward Friday night at Logan's, after K's little foray into Waitress World. (Hmm, that should be a theme park. But then, would you have to tip all the ride attendants? I miss Opryland. Have I said that here before?) Anyhow, I ended up paying for my salad AND my tea. Urgh. Once again proving the age-old adage that the phrase "common law husband" usually is not a very good sign. Hearing that should definitely set off a series of bells and flashing lights or something.
Billboard spotted on the way home Saturday night, on Highway 67, just west of I-65: "Babies Are Born To Be Breastfed"
What the crap? Seriouslah. I couldn't make this stuff up. So ladies... do whatever you gotta do, I guess.
"You marry him, your father will condone you. How 'bout that now. You marry me, your father will disown you. He'll eat his hat now. Marry him, or marry me. I'm the one that loves you baby can't you see?"
Happy Monday!
I hope them cigarettes are gonna make you cough
Well, the highlight of my weekend was finding and purchasing the Spin Doctors CD "Just Go Ahead Now: A Retrospective" at the mall Saturday night. Now, if I can just find Roxette, Fine Young Cannibals, and Milli Vanilli.
In other news, there is a lady who lives across from me who smokes like a Swisher Sweets factory. (Do they still make those?) She's been in the hospital multiple times and has been like under an oxygen tent like near death two or three times. (Did I just say "like" twice in one sentence?) Well, the doctors have told her repeatedly to stop smoking, but she won't. However, for some reason, if she's out and she sees me pulling up, she'll quickly try to hide her cigarette, like I'm gonna scold her or something. I guess I'm like the moral police now.
Little awkward moments
Well, things were really quite awkward Friday night at Logan's, after K's little foray into Waitress World. (Hmm, that should be a theme park. But then, would you have to tip all the ride attendants? I miss Opryland. Have I said that here before?) Anyhow, I ended up paying for my salad AND my tea. Urgh. Once again proving the age-old adage that the phrase "common law husband" usually is not a very good sign. Hearing that should definitely set off a series of bells and flashing lights or something.
Billboard spotted on the way home Saturday night, on Highway 67, just west of I-65: "Babies Are Born To Be Breastfed"
What the crap? Seriouslah. I couldn't make this stuff up. So ladies... do whatever you gotta do, I guess.
"You marry him, your father will condone you. How 'bout that now. You marry me, your father will disown you. He'll eat his hat now. Marry him, or marry me. I'm the one that loves you baby can't you see?"
Sunday, January 23, 2005
Curtains
Former late night talk show host Johnny Carson died early Sunday. He was 79.
I picture those big, colorful Tonight Show curtains hanging still. The stage is dark and silent. But if you listen closely, the echoes of history, of thirty years of laughter, can still be heard...
Nearly everyone I talked to this evening asked if I'd heard about Johnny. He was an American icon. Spanning a period of time when cable and satellite were not nearly as prevalent as they are today, Carson became a fixture in American homes, an institution. It seemed like everyone watched Johnny. As long as he was on, there simply was no other late night show of any significance. Just think of all the actors, comedians, and entertainers who got their start, their first big break, from Carson. I think the thing that amazed me the most was how he basically disappeared once he left the show in 1992. He spent the last twelve years of his life almost completely out of the public eye, which is rare in itself. Johnny Carson was as American as anything during the last half of the twentieth century.
[+/-]more/done
"It's a sad day for his family and his country. All of us who came after are pretenders. We will not see the likes of him again. He gave me a shot on his show and in doing so, he gave me a career. A night doesn't go by that I don't ask myself, what would Johnny have done? He has been greatly missed since his retirement. Thank God for videotapes and DVDs. In this regard, he will always be around. He was the best, a star and a gentleman." - D. Letterman
I picture those big, colorful Tonight Show curtains hanging still. The stage is dark and silent. But if you listen closely, the echoes of history, of thirty years of laughter, can still be heard...
Nearly everyone I talked to this evening asked if I'd heard about Johnny. He was an American icon. Spanning a period of time when cable and satellite were not nearly as prevalent as they are today, Carson became a fixture in American homes, an institution. It seemed like everyone watched Johnny. As long as he was on, there simply was no other late night show of any significance. Just think of all the actors, comedians, and entertainers who got their start, their first big break, from Carson. I think the thing that amazed me the most was how he basically disappeared once he left the show in 1992. He spent the last twelve years of his life almost completely out of the public eye, which is rare in itself. Johnny Carson was as American as anything during the last half of the twentieth century.
[+/-]more/done
"It's a sad day for his family and his country. All of us who came after are pretenders. We will not see the likes of him again. He gave me a shot on his show and in doing so, he gave me a career. A night doesn't go by that I don't ask myself, what would Johnny have done? He has been greatly missed since his retirement. Thank God for videotapes and DVDs. In this regard, he will always be around. He was the best, a star and a gentleman." - D. Letterman
Free association
(from Unconscious Mutterings)
Material world:: Material Girl
Satin sheets:: to lie on
Blizzard: snow
Real estate:: agent
Dress up:: dress down
Wesley:: Snipes
Robber:: cop
Saliva:: spit
Slave:: driver
Shift:: stick
"You want her back again, but she just dont feel the same. Gotta blame it on something. Gotta blame it on something. Blame it on the rain..."
Material world:: Material Girl
Satin sheets:: to lie on
Blizzard: snow
Real estate:: agent
Dress up:: dress down
Wesley:: Snipes
Robber:: cop
Saliva:: spit
Slave:: driver
Shift:: stick
"You want her back again, but she just dont feel the same. Gotta blame it on something. Gotta blame it on something. Blame it on the rain..."
Friday, January 21, 2005
Destination: Cincinnati
Why is there no apple gum? It's always sour apple. Why do they have to throw the sour in there? Do they think we can't handle straight apple? And why is there no grape pie? There's grape jam, grape gum, grape soda, grape ape... but no grape pie.
Remember the Laugh Olympics cartoon? That was one of my favorites. The Yogis, the Rottens, and I can't remember the other team.
Is anybody goin' to Ohio?
Got some pleasant news last night. My sister got a coupon book or something from her job, and it had in there a deal for 50% off up to four tickets to a Reds game, and also 50% off several hotels in Cincinnati. So she called to ask if I'd be interested. Of course, I said I was. I have wanted to go to a Reds game for the past two or three years. Now maybe I'll finally get to. The only catch is that it's for "selected games only." So, I'll have to see what those are, but who cares, I can take some vacation time if they're not on the weekend.
In other news...
Johnathan and I went to the county basketball tournament last night. Yes, yes, it's a major event I know, kinda like crusing around the Texaco and the Food World parking lot are major social activities here :-) I ran into Amanda up there, and also saw an uncle and two cousins. Don't you love small towns? When I got home, Chef Michelino fixed his pork & shrimp fried rice dish. Exquisite. I'm telling you, the guy is a culinary genius! Then, I watched "You've Got Mail," again, because it was on TBS, again. Don't cry, Shopgirl... don't cry.
Sorry these entries aren't more exciting, but they ARE based on my life, so what do you expect?
"When the rain is blowing in your face, and the whole world is on your case, I would offer you a warm embrace, to make you feel my love..."
Remember the Laugh Olympics cartoon? That was one of my favorites. The Yogis, the Rottens, and I can't remember the other team.
Is anybody goin' to Ohio?
Got some pleasant news last night. My sister got a coupon book or something from her job, and it had in there a deal for 50% off up to four tickets to a Reds game, and also 50% off several hotels in Cincinnati. So she called to ask if I'd be interested. Of course, I said I was. I have wanted to go to a Reds game for the past two or three years. Now maybe I'll finally get to. The only catch is that it's for "selected games only." So, I'll have to see what those are, but who cares, I can take some vacation time if they're not on the weekend.
In other news...
Johnathan and I went to the county basketball tournament last night. Yes, yes, it's a major event I know, kinda like crusing around the Texaco and the Food World parking lot are major social activities here :-) I ran into Amanda up there, and also saw an uncle and two cousins. Don't you love small towns? When I got home, Chef Michelino fixed his pork & shrimp fried rice dish. Exquisite. I'm telling you, the guy is a culinary genius! Then, I watched "You've Got Mail," again, because it was on TBS, again. Don't cry, Shopgirl... don't cry.
Sorry these entries aren't more exciting, but they ARE based on my life, so what do you expect?
"When the rain is blowing in your face, and the whole world is on your case, I would offer you a warm embrace, to make you feel my love..."
Thursday, January 20, 2005
Looking for Shopgirl
NY152 here...
Do you know what movie that's from? One of my favorite movies ever, "You've Got Mail." (Ponders whether it is normal and acceptable for a 31-year-old male to admit that...) OK, well forget I said that, at least until I do some more research. Anyway, that movie, which I'm currently not sure whether I like or not, was on TBS last night :-) My current yahoo ID is actually from that movie. It's ny0153, which is the closest that I could find available at that time.
Smells Like... Dr. Drake Ramoray's office?
My apartment has smelled like a doctor's office the past two days when I got home. It's never smelled like that before, ever, so I don't know what it is. I don't mind it though. It's not bad. I actually kind of like it. Wish I knew how to maintain that scent.
More...
My sister is doing much better. I went by to see her yesterday and the swelling in her face was a lot better. Thanks for all the concern :-) In other news, it looks like we can get the lake house again. So I'm sure we'll be heading back up there soon, to try and recreate the magic of the first lake house trip. After church last night, I met the K-man for dinner at Crack Barrell. The food was good. The server was cute. We analyzed, discussed, and pondered the bizarre situation he encountered Tuesday night. I love analyzing things. I probably tend to overanalyze things. Maybe a lot of things. I should have been... well.. an analyst :-D
The whole situation brought to mind this classic chart-topping hit from 1990, by Glenn Medeiros and Bobby Brown...
"You think your love will win her in the end. Think again. She ain't worth it. The girl ain't worth it, all this pain that she's been puttin' you thru. Oooh, she ain't worth it. The girl ain't worth it. Believe me, I know better than, better than, better than, b- b- better than you..."
Do you know what movie that's from? One of my favorite movies ever, "You've Got Mail." (Ponders whether it is normal and acceptable for a 31-year-old male to admit that...) OK, well forget I said that, at least until I do some more research. Anyway, that movie, which I'm currently not sure whether I like or not, was on TBS last night :-) My current yahoo ID is actually from that movie. It's ny0153, which is the closest that I could find available at that time.
Smells Like... Dr. Drake Ramoray's office?
My apartment has smelled like a doctor's office the past two days when I got home. It's never smelled like that before, ever, so I don't know what it is. I don't mind it though. It's not bad. I actually kind of like it. Wish I knew how to maintain that scent.
More...
My sister is doing much better. I went by to see her yesterday and the swelling in her face was a lot better. Thanks for all the concern :-) In other news, it looks like we can get the lake house again. So I'm sure we'll be heading back up there soon, to try and recreate the magic of the first lake house trip. After church last night, I met the K-man for dinner at Crack Barrell. The food was good. The server was cute. We analyzed, discussed, and pondered the bizarre situation he encountered Tuesday night. I love analyzing things. I probably tend to overanalyze things. Maybe a lot of things. I should have been... well.. an analyst :-D
The whole situation brought to mind this classic chart-topping hit from 1990, by Glenn Medeiros and Bobby Brown...
"You think your love will win her in the end. Think again. She ain't worth it. The girl ain't worth it, all this pain that she's been puttin' you thru. Oooh, she ain't worth it. The girl ain't worth it. Believe me, I know better than, better than, better than, b- b- better than you..."
Wednesday, January 19, 2005
What's My Age Again?
OK, this is kinda scary. Kinda? Perhaps this is another piece of the puzzle falling into place. I don't know whether to be glad or alarmed, so I guess I'll just be glad and get back to playing computer pinball :-)
Woohoo! That sounds about right. I have the body of a taut, pre-teen Swedish boy! Try it and see how old you act :-)
"That's about the time that she broke up with me. No one should take themselves so seriously. With many years ahead to fall in love, why would you wish that on me? I never want to act my age. What's my age again?"
|
You Are 18 Years Old |
18 Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax. |
Woohoo! That sounds about right. I have the body of a taut, pre-teen Swedish boy! Try it and see how old you act :-)
"That's about the time that she broke up with me. No one should take themselves so seriously. With many years ahead to fall in love, why would you wish that on me? I never want to act my age. What's my age again?"
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
What's your lactose policy?
The following situations are true. They have not been embellished, because they need no embellishment. They are simply, sadly, actual bits and pieces of my life...
I presented these situations to two or three girls over the past couple of days, and for some reason, they all started laughing. So I figured I'd share them here. The responses I received included "You are definitely a bachelor" and "I'm only laughing because I know you're being serious." These are the types of real-life dilemmas I find myself in on a daily basis. Enjoy:
Story #1: Help Me, Jared
I slept in late Saturday because I did not get home from the concert until nearly 3 AM Saturday morning. Woke up about Noon. So it's about 3:00 in the afternoon, I'm still in my jammers, and I start to get hungry for some lunch. I didn't want to have to get ready and go anywhere. Well, on Tuesday, I had gone to Subway for supper. I got a foot-long cold cut trio, but only ate half of it, so I put the other half in the fridge. That was the only thing in the house that really sounded appealing to me at that time. My question for you is: Is that sandwich safe to eat after four days?
Here's what I did:
I really was not sure about it. I mean, I thought, don't people keep sandwich meat in the refrigerator for weeks at a time? Well, I got it out and unwrapped it. I smelled it. It smelled OK. I tasted a pickle. It tasted OK. The only thing that looked amiss was that the lettuce was kinda brownish and really stringy. So, based on the texture of the lettuce, I threw it away. Found some Chef-Boy-R-Dee ravioli and microwaved that instead.
Story #2: Do you have a lactose secret?
Earlier Saturday, I was wanting some cereal for breakfast. I had some Cap'n Crunch, but when I got the milk out of the fridge, I saw that it was dated January 14th. Saturday was the 15th. So, I smelled it. Smelled OK. So I ate a bowl of cereal and all was well. My question for you is: What is your standard milk policy? Is it OK to drink it a day or two after the date on the carton? What about three days? Four? Do you strictly go by smell only, no matter what? Or do you not even chance it, even if it's the same day as the date on the carton? And how do they know that is the day anyway?
"Don't wanna tangle with you, I'd rather tangle with him. I think I'm gonna bash his head in. This shouldn't concern you except that, just don't expect to get your bloody black backpack back..."
I presented these situations to two or three girls over the past couple of days, and for some reason, they all started laughing. So I figured I'd share them here. The responses I received included "You are definitely a bachelor" and "I'm only laughing because I know you're being serious." These are the types of real-life dilemmas I find myself in on a daily basis. Enjoy:
Story #1: Help Me, Jared
I slept in late Saturday because I did not get home from the concert until nearly 3 AM Saturday morning. Woke up about Noon. So it's about 3:00 in the afternoon, I'm still in my jammers, and I start to get hungry for some lunch. I didn't want to have to get ready and go anywhere. Well, on Tuesday, I had gone to Subway for supper. I got a foot-long cold cut trio, but only ate half of it, so I put the other half in the fridge. That was the only thing in the house that really sounded appealing to me at that time. My question for you is: Is that sandwich safe to eat after four days?
Here's what I did:
I really was not sure about it. I mean, I thought, don't people keep sandwich meat in the refrigerator for weeks at a time? Well, I got it out and unwrapped it. I smelled it. It smelled OK. I tasted a pickle. It tasted OK. The only thing that looked amiss was that the lettuce was kinda brownish and really stringy. So, based on the texture of the lettuce, I threw it away. Found some Chef-Boy-R-Dee ravioli and microwaved that instead.
Story #2: Do you have a lactose secret?
Earlier Saturday, I was wanting some cereal for breakfast. I had some Cap'n Crunch, but when I got the milk out of the fridge, I saw that it was dated January 14th. Saturday was the 15th. So, I smelled it. Smelled OK. So I ate a bowl of cereal and all was well. My question for you is: What is your standard milk policy? Is it OK to drink it a day or two after the date on the carton? What about three days? Four? Do you strictly go by smell only, no matter what? Or do you not even chance it, even if it's the same day as the date on the carton? And how do they know that is the day anyway?
"Don't wanna tangle with you, I'd rather tangle with him. I think I'm gonna bash his head in. This shouldn't concern you except that, just don't expect to get your bloody black backpack back..."
How could you miss THAT?!
Man Discovers Nail In Skull After Six Days
I know you've probably already heard or read this story, but if you haven't seen the X-ray, check out the link. That's gotta hurt, I don't care where you're from. I'm thinking that X-ray would make a great avatar or instant messenger icon though. I also thought it was interesting to read that the surgeon said it wasn't the first case like that they've seen at that hospital.
"Please don't change. Please don't break. The only thing that seems to work at all is you..."
I know you've probably already heard or read this story, but if you haven't seen the X-ray, check out the link. That's gotta hurt, I don't care where you're from. I'm thinking that X-ray would make a great avatar or instant messenger icon though. I also thought it was interesting to read that the surgeon said it wasn't the first case like that they've seen at that hospital.
"Please don't change. Please don't break. The only thing that seems to work at all is you..."
Monday, January 17, 2005
Family sickness
Well, my baby sister is really sick :-( I ran over there last night to take her some meds and check on her. Mom called me this morning at work and said she had to go over there and take her to the ER overnight. The whole right side of her face is really bad swollen. Her eye is nearly swollen shut. She can't keep anything down. She thinks she has an abcess, but the ER doc didn't know what it was. (What a shock.) Mom stayed with her today. I went by there after work, and I'm just now getting home. Maybe she'll be better tomorrow. I worry about her :-
In other news, I just put on my pajamas, fresh out of the dryer. Mmmm... nothing like hot, soft clothing. Woweee! This is delightful.
(random Seinfeld dialogue)
Kramer: "Feel this."
Jerry: "Wow, that's hot."
Kramer: "Yeah, it's piping hot. It's fresh out of the dryer. Hey Elaine, you have to feel my pants."
Elaine: "I'll see ya later."
Kramer: "All right, but you don't know what you're missing. I'm loving this."
"The other day I saw a car, like you used to drive. I got a funny feeling down deep inside. And for the briefest moment, I felt a smile begin. Yes I do think about you, every now and then..."
In other news, I just put on my pajamas, fresh out of the dryer. Mmmm... nothing like hot, soft clothing. Woweee! This is delightful.
(random Seinfeld dialogue)
Kramer: "Feel this."
Jerry: "Wow, that's hot."
Kramer: "Yeah, it's piping hot. It's fresh out of the dryer. Hey Elaine, you have to feel my pants."
Elaine: "I'll see ya later."
Kramer: "All right, but you don't know what you're missing. I'm loving this."
"The other day I saw a car, like you used to drive. I got a funny feeling down deep inside. And for the briefest moment, I felt a smile begin. Yes I do think about you, every now and then..."
Sunday, January 16, 2005
George Strait Concert
The concert Friday night was a lot of fun. Our seats were not too bad. They were on the lower level, 15th row. I tried to get some pics, but we were a little too far to get very good ones. Here is about the best one I got (click to enlarge):
That's George in the yellow... or is that Buddy Jackson ;-)
Here is the set list, best I can remember:
Set list from the George Strait concert on Friday, January 15, 2005, at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center. (Not in order, except for the first song and the encore section)
The Fireman
Run
Amarillo By Morning
Check Yes Or No
When Did You Stop Loving Me
Heartland
Tell Me Something Bad About Tulsa
Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind
She'll Leave You With A Smile
Blue Clear Sky
Somewhere In Texas??? (never heard it before)
Take Me Back To Tulsa
Milk Cow Blues
I Hate Everything
I Can Still Make Cheyenne
My Life's Been Grand
Cowboys Like Us
The Best Day
Honk If You Honky Tonk
Murder On Music Row
Stars On The Water
Unwound
Encore:
Living And Living Well
Folsom Prison Blues
The Cowboy Rides Away
[+/-]more/done
"If there's a plane or a bus leavin' Dallas, I hope you're on it. If there's a train movin' fast down the tracks, I hope you caught it. Cos I swear, out there ain't where, you oughta be..."
Friday, January 14, 2005
Earliest Childhood Memories
Nothing is going on. I have nothing to blog. Anything you want to talk about?
Went to get a haircut yesterday. This girl was talking about getting her 15-month-old little boy a Leap Pad. (Is that anything like a Nintendo Power Pad? Those sure were fun.) Those seem to be popular. I don't remember any having any big educational-type toys when I was 1 or 2. The toys I remember having include the little round thing where you'd pull the string and it would make different sounds of various barnyard animals. What was that called? Then there was the always fun Sit & Spin, an Etch-a-Sketch, plastic Cowboys and Indians, Hot Wheels, Lite Brite, and Hungry Hungry Hippo. (OK, I never had that, but my neighbor did, and I always wanted it, but never got it.) Oh, and Shrinky Dinks. Can't forget those. I fondly remember sitting up at night, baking toys with my cousins. What better way for a child to spend his formative years.
The Leap Pad conversation got me to thinking about what kids comprehend, what they remember. I mean, sometimes you see parents of a six-month old get their kid this big, complex toy or something. I'm looking at it, and I'm thinking, I can barely even figure this thing out. It's almost like, "Well, he's two. We got him a set of Encyclopedia Britannica and a two-year subscription to the Wall Street Journal." Anyhow, that's not my point. My point is... I can't remember my point. So we'll just go with this. I began thinking about what my very first, earliest childhood memory was. Here are a few that came to mind:
- I vaguely have a memory of being somewhere in the dark (according to what I've been told, it was probably my aunt's basement) during the tornado outbreak of '74. The thing about this is, I don't see how I remember it. When I think about it, it seems like it wasn't that long ago, like something out of a movie, where several scenes flash before your eyes in a matter of seconds. And then I think maybe I'm not remembering it, but thinking I am because of stories I have been told about what happened. (Age: 1 year)
- I remember these two girls had babysat me and had been mean to me. So when my parents got home, their parents came to pick them up and they went and got in the car and I threw rocks at the car. They told on me, but I didn't get in trouble, because I told Mom and Dad they'd been mean to me. (Age: 2-3 years)
- I remember taking swimming lessons in preschool. Or I should say swimming lesson, singular. They made us put our heads under water. Water got up my nose. I cried. I never went back. And I didn't learn to swim until I was 12 :-) (Age: 3-4 years)
- And lastly, I remember somehow turning on the gas stove when there was a brown paper bag of collard greens sitting on it, setting them on fire, and causing the smoke alarm to go off, and we all had to go outside. What a little arsonist I was. (Age: 2-4 years)
It's fun to think about. What is your earliest memory of life?
"The other tear said, we've got a connection. I'm a tear of sorrow, born of rejection. I'm from the sad brown eyes of her old flame. She told him they would be lifelong companions. Left him with questions and not any answers. I was on his cheek as he stood there calling her name. I could tell he had a lot of my friends for company. So I drifted on down and caught me a ride to the sea..."
Went to get a haircut yesterday. This girl was talking about getting her 15-month-old little boy a Leap Pad. (Is that anything like a Nintendo Power Pad? Those sure were fun.) Those seem to be popular. I don't remember any having any big educational-type toys when I was 1 or 2. The toys I remember having include the little round thing where you'd pull the string and it would make different sounds of various barnyard animals. What was that called? Then there was the always fun Sit & Spin, an Etch-a-Sketch, plastic Cowboys and Indians, Hot Wheels, Lite Brite, and Hungry Hungry Hippo. (OK, I never had that, but my neighbor did, and I always wanted it, but never got it.) Oh, and Shrinky Dinks. Can't forget those. I fondly remember sitting up at night, baking toys with my cousins. What better way for a child to spend his formative years.
The Leap Pad conversation got me to thinking about what kids comprehend, what they remember. I mean, sometimes you see parents of a six-month old get their kid this big, complex toy or something. I'm looking at it, and I'm thinking, I can barely even figure this thing out. It's almost like, "Well, he's two. We got him a set of Encyclopedia Britannica and a two-year subscription to the Wall Street Journal." Anyhow, that's not my point. My point is... I can't remember my point. So we'll just go with this. I began thinking about what my very first, earliest childhood memory was. Here are a few that came to mind:
- I vaguely have a memory of being somewhere in the dark (according to what I've been told, it was probably my aunt's basement) during the tornado outbreak of '74. The thing about this is, I don't see how I remember it. When I think about it, it seems like it wasn't that long ago, like something out of a movie, where several scenes flash before your eyes in a matter of seconds. And then I think maybe I'm not remembering it, but thinking I am because of stories I have been told about what happened. (Age: 1 year)
- I remember these two girls had babysat me and had been mean to me. So when my parents got home, their parents came to pick them up and they went and got in the car and I threw rocks at the car. They told on me, but I didn't get in trouble, because I told Mom and Dad they'd been mean to me. (Age: 2-3 years)
- I remember taking swimming lessons in preschool. Or I should say swimming lesson, singular. They made us put our heads under water. Water got up my nose. I cried. I never went back. And I didn't learn to swim until I was 12 :-) (Age: 3-4 years)
- And lastly, I remember somehow turning on the gas stove when there was a brown paper bag of collard greens sitting on it, setting them on fire, and causing the smoke alarm to go off, and we all had to go outside. What a little arsonist I was. (Age: 2-4 years)
It's fun to think about. What is your earliest memory of life?
"The other tear said, we've got a connection. I'm a tear of sorrow, born of rejection. I'm from the sad brown eyes of her old flame. She told him they would be lifelong companions. Left him with questions and not any answers. I was on his cheek as he stood there calling her name. I could tell he had a lot of my friends for company. So I drifted on down and caught me a ride to the sea..."
Thursday, January 13, 2005
It Ain't Happenin'
Well I took the pretty snowflakes off my blog. The temperature at 8:17 AM on January 13 is 65 degrees. The highs have been in the 60s or 70s the past four days. It just ain't happenin'. It is supposed to cool down a little this weekend.
Fifteen, there's still time for you
So we're at dinner last night and they seat the table directly behind me. Immediately I hear girls chatting, so without turning around, I subtlely ask Kyle if they are hotties. He gives an affirmative response. A moment later, I hear this:
Waiter: "How are you ladies this evening?"
(garbled talking)
Girl #1: "It's her birthday."
Waiter: "Today's your birthday?"
Girl #2: "Yes."
Waiter: "Well, we're gonna be picking on you all night. How old are you?"
Girl #2: "Fifteen."
I immediately shot a "what the crap" look across the table. Kyle was like, "I can't tell. They all look the same to me." Funny stuff.
I wonder what channel that was
Just before I drifted off into a nap yesterday after work, I was watching one of those weird channels that hardly anybody watches. You know, it's way off in no man's land on the upper end of the channel spectrum. First, there was this thing on animal miracles. This dog had bit his owner on her breast. She didn't know why, but she went to the doctor and found out she had a small tumor there. I thought it might be Animal Planet I was watching, but then, this special on the Autobahn came on next. Boy, that thing is fascinating. I would think that would be one of the best features of living in Germany. The other, of course, being the chocolate cake :-)
Strait up!
OK, I finally had to make a decision. Those of you who know me know that I'm very indecisive. And besides that, I hate to plan things more than a few hours in advance. But, I finally decided to go to the concert. Again, I'll be utilizing the "pretend I have a date and this is the money I'd be spending on her" method to justify the sixty bucks.
"Hearing voices tellin' me that I should get some sleep, because tomorrow might be good for somethin'..."
Fifteen, there's still time for you
So we're at dinner last night and they seat the table directly behind me. Immediately I hear girls chatting, so without turning around, I subtlely ask Kyle if they are hotties. He gives an affirmative response. A moment later, I hear this:
Waiter: "How are you ladies this evening?"
(garbled talking)
Girl #1: "It's her birthday."
Waiter: "Today's your birthday?"
Girl #2: "Yes."
Waiter: "Well, we're gonna be picking on you all night. How old are you?"
Girl #2: "Fifteen."
I immediately shot a "what the crap" look across the table. Kyle was like, "I can't tell. They all look the same to me." Funny stuff.
I wonder what channel that was
Just before I drifted off into a nap yesterday after work, I was watching one of those weird channels that hardly anybody watches. You know, it's way off in no man's land on the upper end of the channel spectrum. First, there was this thing on animal miracles. This dog had bit his owner on her breast. She didn't know why, but she went to the doctor and found out she had a small tumor there. I thought it might be Animal Planet I was watching, but then, this special on the Autobahn came on next. Boy, that thing is fascinating. I would think that would be one of the best features of living in Germany. The other, of course, being the chocolate cake :-)
Strait up!
OK, I finally had to make a decision. Those of you who know me know that I'm very indecisive. And besides that, I hate to plan things more than a few hours in advance. But, I finally decided to go to the concert. Again, I'll be utilizing the "pretend I have a date and this is the money I'd be spending on her" method to justify the sixty bucks.
"Hearing voices tellin' me that I should get some sleep, because tomorrow might be good for somethin'..."
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Search String Absurdity (Jan. '05)
SBTB Flashback
For some reason, this has been stuck in my head all morning: "Bayside is a school that's cool and you know that it's true. The girls are the cutest and the guys are the hippest, too..." Do you remember that?
Search String Absurdity
I've received a high number of hits from WPBA-related searches lately, for some reason. Here are some recent searches:
- hot chick stormy waters
- "Vic's Vacant Lot" (what a great show)
- "allison fisher" pool married (Yes, my heart stopped there for a moment!)
- "allison fisher" bikini (as if...)
- allison fisher haircut (My blog is now the #1 result on yahoo for this! That can only lead to good things... or will lead to nothing. Whichever.)
- "jennifer baretta"
- w-2 forms for toys-r-us
- cbs jared subway colts (All Subway nutritional information is based on a 6-inch sandwich on wheat bread, with no cheese, and no condiments.)
- blog + kournikova + picture + looking + beach
- what year did henry nestle die (I'm sure we've all wondered that at one time or another.)
- "Feels like an Arby's night." (#1 on yahoo for this, too!)
- jeanette lee porn wpba (Yeah, her porn career failed, so she started hanging out in pool halls. The rest is history.)
- icu boy in bubble (The bubble boy? "No, I'm sorry. The correct answer is Moops!!")
And this week's winners...
2nd runner-up: "to quone someone" (Ah, I think you need a medical dictionary for that ;-) I'm #2 on yahoo for this. Woohoo!)
1st runner-up: "sissy spanked sent to bed" (Ya deviant freak!)
And today's winner: "mosquitos + ultrasounds" (Yes, this is a common problem in Sudan and rural Botswana. I don't know what's more disturbing, the fact that someone searched for those two things simultaneously, or the fact that my blog came up when they did it.)
"I keep telling myself, this is the right thing to do. I was wastin' her time, waitin' on dreams that just weren't comin' true..."
For some reason, this has been stuck in my head all morning: "Bayside is a school that's cool and you know that it's true. The girls are the cutest and the guys are the hippest, too..." Do you remember that?
Search String Absurdity
I've received a high number of hits from WPBA-related searches lately, for some reason. Here are some recent searches:
- hot chick stormy waters
- "Vic's Vacant Lot" (what a great show)
- "allison fisher" pool married (Yes, my heart stopped there for a moment!)
- "allison fisher" bikini (as if...)
- allison fisher haircut (My blog is now the #1 result on yahoo for this! That can only lead to good things... or will lead to nothing. Whichever.)
- "jennifer baretta"
- w-2 forms for toys-r-us
- cbs jared subway colts (All Subway nutritional information is based on a 6-inch sandwich on wheat bread, with no cheese, and no condiments.)
- blog + kournikova + picture + looking + beach
- what year did henry nestle die (I'm sure we've all wondered that at one time or another.)
- "Feels like an Arby's night." (#1 on yahoo for this, too!)
- jeanette lee porn wpba (Yeah, her porn career failed, so she started hanging out in pool halls. The rest is history.)
- icu boy in bubble (The bubble boy? "No, I'm sorry. The correct answer is Moops!!")
And this week's winners...
2nd runner-up: "to quone someone" (Ah, I think you need a medical dictionary for that ;-) I'm #2 on yahoo for this. Woohoo!)
1st runner-up: "sissy spanked sent to bed" (Ya deviant freak!)
And today's winner: "mosquitos + ultrasounds" (Yes, this is a common problem in Sudan and rural Botswana. I don't know what's more disturbing, the fact that someone searched for those two things simultaneously, or the fact that my blog came up when they did it.)
"I keep telling myself, this is the right thing to do. I was wastin' her time, waitin' on dreams that just weren't comin' true..."
Tuesday, January 11, 2005
Wow, I haven't done that in awhile
Yes, I did something last night that I haven't done in a long time. Any guesses?
Had a date? Logical guess, but no. Showered? Very funny. Called and hung up on an ex-girlfriend? Please, that is sooo 2004. You could guess from now 'til George Bush balances the budget and I bet you still wouldn't get it. (OK, now it's gonna seem like a bit of a letdown. But hey, life's full of disappointments, so get used to it.) So what did I do?
I went to a high school basketball game! (Yes, even with the exclamation point, it's still a letdown, isn't it.) I saw Jonathan online and figured it'd be good for him to get out of the house, so we went. I got to impart a bit of my basketball strategy, from my playing days: "Keep shooting. Eventually, something will go in." Something fairly exciting happened. And by fairly exciting, I mean kinda like when you think you're out of clean underwear and you find some stuffed in the back of the drawer buried underneath some old long white socks with colored stripes. Or maybe it's not like that at all. Anyway, someone on the visitor's side apparently fell down the bleachers. I think it was a woman. It was hard to tell, because she was lying there completely still, face down, with her head on the floor of the gym and her body and legs still on the stairs of the bleachers, and people were surrounding her. An ambulance had to come and they brought a stretcher and rolled her out. The game was delayed for like ten or fifteen minutes. I sure hope she's not very litigious. I was wanting to take a picture with my phone, but I looked around and no one else seemed to be taking pictures.
Boy, I tell you what, walking down those halls really brought back the memories. It seems not so very long ago that I walked those same halls, high-fiving friends, hearing my nickname yelled out, hopping on Rickey Letson's back and having piggy-back races to the lunchroom everyday. OK, I'll stop there. The old basketball coach retired after last year, and he was the only teacher left that was teaching when I was there. That's kinda sad. Well, I had the current assistant principal for like health or something, I think. Anyhow, life goes on.
[+/-]read more/done
This is Darren, from Mister Kramer's office
We're getting an intern from the local college starting tomorrow. 3 days a week, 3 hours a day. (Hmm, I have some friends who work very similar schedules at their full-time jobs.) Oh man, this is gonna be great... or something. That brings to mind an early experience from years ago while training someone:
"I couldn't help but notice you're chewing gum."
"Yeah?"
"One of the first things they told us at school was to never chew gum while you were talking."
"Pfffttt." So young. So naive. So much to learn. Or unlearn. Whatever the case may be.
Today's Michael Jackson Pedo-Meter Update
I ran 2.09 miles yesterday. Tweaked my ankle a few times, but it feels fine this morning.
"She's still there in Oklahoma, and she's still seventeen. She's living with her momma, workin' at the Dairy Queen. And she's still standing on the front porch, with red ribbon in her hair. The rest of us have scattered everywhere, but she's still there..."
Had a date? Logical guess, but no. Showered? Very funny. Called and hung up on an ex-girlfriend? Please, that is sooo 2004. You could guess from now 'til George Bush balances the budget and I bet you still wouldn't get it. (OK, now it's gonna seem like a bit of a letdown. But hey, life's full of disappointments, so get used to it.) So what did I do?
I went to a high school basketball game! (Yes, even with the exclamation point, it's still a letdown, isn't it.) I saw Jonathan online and figured it'd be good for him to get out of the house, so we went. I got to impart a bit of my basketball strategy, from my playing days: "Keep shooting. Eventually, something will go in." Something fairly exciting happened. And by fairly exciting, I mean kinda like when you think you're out of clean underwear and you find some stuffed in the back of the drawer buried underneath some old long white socks with colored stripes. Or maybe it's not like that at all. Anyway, someone on the visitor's side apparently fell down the bleachers. I think it was a woman. It was hard to tell, because she was lying there completely still, face down, with her head on the floor of the gym and her body and legs still on the stairs of the bleachers, and people were surrounding her. An ambulance had to come and they brought a stretcher and rolled her out. The game was delayed for like ten or fifteen minutes. I sure hope she's not very litigious. I was wanting to take a picture with my phone, but I looked around and no one else seemed to be taking pictures.
Boy, I tell you what, walking down those halls really brought back the memories. It seems not so very long ago that I walked those same halls, high-fiving friends, hearing my nickname yelled out, hopping on Rickey Letson's back and having piggy-back races to the lunchroom everyday. OK, I'll stop there. The old basketball coach retired after last year, and he was the only teacher left that was teaching when I was there. That's kinda sad. Well, I had the current assistant principal for like health or something, I think. Anyhow, life goes on.
[+/-]read more/done
This is Darren, from Mister Kramer's office
We're getting an intern from the local college starting tomorrow. 3 days a week, 3 hours a day. (Hmm, I have some friends who work very similar schedules at their full-time jobs.) Oh man, this is gonna be great... or something. That brings to mind an early experience from years ago while training someone:
"I couldn't help but notice you're chewing gum."
"Yeah?"
"One of the first things they told us at school was to never chew gum while you were talking."
"Pfffttt." So young. So naive. So much to learn. Or unlearn. Whatever the case may be.
Today's Michael Jackson Pedo-Meter Update
I ran 2.09 miles yesterday. Tweaked my ankle a few times, but it feels fine this morning.
"She's still there in Oklahoma, and she's still seventeen. She's living with her momma, workin' at the Dairy Queen. And she's still standing on the front porch, with red ribbon in her hair. The rest of us have scattered everywhere, but she's still there..."
Monday, January 10, 2005
Sixty Bucks
Over the weekend, someone offered me an extra ticket they had to the George Strait concert this weekend for $60, which I believe is face value. So what will I do? Decisions, decisions. I think I will probably end up going, although as I get older, it seems like I am able to talk myself out of things like this more and more. Sitting at home on the couch has really become way too appealing to me recently.
On the downside, the opening acts are Dierks Bentley and Amber Dotson, two people I have barely even heard of, and do not really care to listen to for an hour or more. Also, I have the Bama ticket donation due at the end of this month, so I probably need to save my money. On the other hand, I don't have anything else to do. I didn't go to any concerts last year. And I could always use the "I'm not dating anyone" logic, which says, "Pretend that you have a date this weekend, and the money you're spending on yourself is equal to what you'd otherwise be spending on her." (By the way, this is one of the basic core principles of my economic system.) Yes. Yes. I think that is the choice I will most likely go with. This pseudo-logical thought process has been brought to you by my brain. Making mostly the wrong decision for 31 years: My Brain.
"She still lives with her Mom outside the city, down that street about a half a mile. And all her friends tell her she's so pretty, but she'd be a whole lot prettier if she smiled once in a while..."
On the downside, the opening acts are Dierks Bentley and Amber Dotson, two people I have barely even heard of, and do not really care to listen to for an hour or more. Also, I have the Bama ticket donation due at the end of this month, so I probably need to save my money. On the other hand, I don't have anything else to do. I didn't go to any concerts last year. And I could always use the "I'm not dating anyone" logic, which says, "Pretend that you have a date this weekend, and the money you're spending on yourself is equal to what you'd otherwise be spending on her." (By the way, this is one of the basic core principles of my economic system.) Yes. Yes. I think that is the choice I will most likely go with. This pseudo-logical thought process has been brought to you by my brain. Making mostly the wrong decision for 31 years: My Brain.
"She still lives with her Mom outside the city, down that street about a half a mile. And all her friends tell her she's so pretty, but she'd be a whole lot prettier if she smiled once in a while..."
Monday Madness!
Been awhile since I've done Monday Madness...
1. My lucky number is _4_.
2. My favorite day of the week is _Friday_ because the work-week is almost over and the entire weekend is still ahead.
3. I spend about _300_ minutes on the phone a week, and _125_ of those are long distance. (I really have no idea how accurate those numbers are.)
4. My favorite cereal is Frankenberry. (Bet no one else says that.)
5. One hobby of mine is _comedy_.
6. I wish I could spend more time _writing and shooting pool_. (Well, not at the same time, although I suppose the pool room could provide some inspiration.)
7. I wish I could spend less time on all these menial tasks, like laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning.
8. I am really proud of my Cranium-playing ability. (Yes, it's true. I finally confess. I really enjoy being videotaped. lol)
"So don't delay. Act now. Supplies are running out. Allow, if you're still alive, six to eight years to arrive. And if you follow there may be a tomorrow. But if the offer's shunned, you might as well be walkin' on the sun..."
1. My lucky number is _4_.
2. My favorite day of the week is _Friday_ because the work-week is almost over and the entire weekend is still ahead.
3. I spend about _300_ minutes on the phone a week, and _125_ of those are long distance. (I really have no idea how accurate those numbers are.)
4. My favorite cereal is Frankenberry. (Bet no one else says that.)
5. One hobby of mine is _comedy_.
6. I wish I could spend more time _writing and shooting pool_. (Well, not at the same time, although I suppose the pool room could provide some inspiration.)
7. I wish I could spend less time on all these menial tasks, like laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning.
8. I am really proud of my Cranium-playing ability. (Yes, it's true. I finally confess. I really enjoy being videotaped. lol)
"So don't delay. Act now. Supplies are running out. Allow, if you're still alive, six to eight years to arrive. And if you follow there may be a tomorrow. But if the offer's shunned, you might as well be walkin' on the sun..."
Sunday, January 09, 2005
A weekend in Bacherlorville...
Sometimes it's not as glamorous as you might think ;-) OK, my favorite new commercial is the one where the lady sneezes and ruins the sand art thing. Have you seen it? Utter hilarity!
Well, believe it or not, nothing much has been going on around here in Bachelorville. I woke up Saturday (at 2 PM) with a splitting headache. So I skipped out on the Nashville thing. Plus, it just seems driving that far to a party reeks of desperation. I got that idea, of course, like most of my knowledge, from Seinfeld:
George: "So, are you coming to the party?"
Jerry: "I'd go, but Long Island, it's so far out. It smacks of desperation. The
whole party, everyone's gonna be saying to me, You came all the way out from Manhattan for this?"
And most importantly, Shane called and said you-know-who wasn't going to be there. OK, so you don't know who, but that's really not relevant here. So I only got out of the house two times Saturday, once to go get lunch, and once to go get supper :-) I don't know why my head was hurting, although it may have had something to do with the fact that I slept for eleven hours. It finally stopped hurting so much about 8:00. Watched lots of football. I really don't like any of the NFC teams remaining. I guess the Rams are OK. And I'm for anyone but the Colts in the AFC, preferably the Jets or Steelers.
Got lots done today. Finally took my Christmas tree down, since it doesn't appear anyone else is going to be bringing anymore gifts. Did laundry. Went to the grocery store. Watched some of my Curb Your Enthusiasm DVDs. What a great show. And I went for a short run, 1.97 miles according to my trusty pedometer. And almost no pain at all today. I figure I'll slowly work back up to a good distance and maybe enter a run or two this year. That's the plan anyway.
I have had some really, really whacked out dreams lately. I mean, quite a few. The only one I can vaguely remember right now had something to do with me watching Barry Bonds' son. They weren't letting Barry keep him because he was on steroids, but he kept trying to get him. But anytime he got near, suddenly it wasn't Barry Bonds anymore, it was a woman. I assume it was the kid's mother. Anyhow...
Oh, tell me this isn't weird. I went by Subway after church tonight. As soon as I walk in the door, turn on the TV, and there's a Subway commercial on, with inexplicable success story, Jared. Freaky, huh? I wonder what that means.
TV Alert
Don't miss Jason Alexander, co-hosting the People's Choice Awards tonight on CBS.
Dialogue
"Priceline is soo last week. Even William Shatner can't get a decent price for a room with it anymore."
"Shane and Melody should be the ones coming down here, instead of all of us going up there. However, we can't do it at her place, my place, Jeremy's place, or Lee's place, because or our parents. And we can't all fit in your front room, so..."
"Any story that I tell about any girl that I've ever dated, gone out with, talked to, or chatted with, always ends with the phrase 'and I haven't seen her since'."
"Those who make fun of pocket protectors never ruined a $19 Izod shirt with a busted Bic."
"After all of these years, I'm still trying to shake it. Doin' much better, they say that it just takes time. But deep in the night, it's an endless fight. I can't get you out of my mind..."
Well, believe it or not, nothing much has been going on around here in Bachelorville. I woke up Saturday (at 2 PM) with a splitting headache. So I skipped out on the Nashville thing. Plus, it just seems driving that far to a party reeks of desperation. I got that idea, of course, like most of my knowledge, from Seinfeld:
George: "So, are you coming to the party?"
Jerry: "I'd go, but Long Island, it's so far out. It smacks of desperation. The
whole party, everyone's gonna be saying to me, You came all the way out from Manhattan for this?"
And most importantly, Shane called and said you-know-who wasn't going to be there. OK, so you don't know who, but that's really not relevant here. So I only got out of the house two times Saturday, once to go get lunch, and once to go get supper :-) I don't know why my head was hurting, although it may have had something to do with the fact that I slept for eleven hours. It finally stopped hurting so much about 8:00. Watched lots of football. I really don't like any of the NFC teams remaining. I guess the Rams are OK. And I'm for anyone but the Colts in the AFC, preferably the Jets or Steelers.
Got lots done today. Finally took my Christmas tree down, since it doesn't appear anyone else is going to be bringing anymore gifts. Did laundry. Went to the grocery store. Watched some of my Curb Your Enthusiasm DVDs. What a great show. And I went for a short run, 1.97 miles according to my trusty pedometer. And almost no pain at all today. I figure I'll slowly work back up to a good distance and maybe enter a run or two this year. That's the plan anyway.
I have had some really, really whacked out dreams lately. I mean, quite a few. The only one I can vaguely remember right now had something to do with me watching Barry Bonds' son. They weren't letting Barry keep him because he was on steroids, but he kept trying to get him. But anytime he got near, suddenly it wasn't Barry Bonds anymore, it was a woman. I assume it was the kid's mother. Anyhow...
Oh, tell me this isn't weird. I went by Subway after church tonight. As soon as I walk in the door, turn on the TV, and there's a Subway commercial on, with inexplicable success story, Jared. Freaky, huh? I wonder what that means.
TV Alert
Don't miss Jason Alexander, co-hosting the People's Choice Awards tonight on CBS.
Dialogue
"Priceline is soo last week. Even William Shatner can't get a decent price for a room with it anymore."
"Shane and Melody should be the ones coming down here, instead of all of us going up there. However, we can't do it at her place, my place, Jeremy's place, or Lee's place, because or our parents. And we can't all fit in your front room, so..."
"Any story that I tell about any girl that I've ever dated, gone out with, talked to, or chatted with, always ends with the phrase 'and I haven't seen her since'."
"Those who make fun of pocket protectors never ruined a $19 Izod shirt with a busted Bic."
"After all of these years, I'm still trying to shake it. Doin' much better, they say that it just takes time. But deep in the night, it's an endless fight. I can't get you out of my mind..."
Friday, January 07, 2005
WPBA Trip 2005
Well, it looks like the entire '05 schedule is up on their website, and the WPBA tour will not be returning to Tunica this year. So, if I plan to attend a tournament for the third year in a row, it will require some serious traveling. I've been mapquesting all morning long. Here are some possibilities:
Rocky Mount, NC (February 9-13)
Driving distance/time: 694 miles/11 hrs. 30 mins.
Michigan City, IN (March 2-6)
Driving distance/time: 601 miles/9 hrs. 59 mins.
Las Vegas, NV (May 15-21)
Driving distance/time: 1756 miles/27 hrs. 40 mins.
Hollywood, FL (June 22-26)
Driving distance/time: 876 miles/14 hrs. 22 mins.
E. Peoria, IL (August 3-7)
Driving distance/time: 579 miles/9 hrs. 23 mins.
Granted, you can usually deduct around 10% from Mapquest driving times. They usually overestimate. (Or maybe they just assume you're actually going to obey the speed limit, I dunno.) But if you're driving any of those distances to a WPBA event, you're a pretty dedicated fan. I would most likely incorporate the tournament into an entire vacation. We could make a beach trip out of the Florida tournament. I think it's close to Fort Lauderdale. Obviously, we would not be driving to Vegas. That would be a flight. The North Carolina site is only a couple of hours from Richmond, so we could possibly visit Bunny and make a trip out of that. And the Indiana site is only about an hour from Chicago. So there are some possibilities, but I'm afraid WPBA might stand for Will Probably Be Absent for me this year.
Meanwhile, be looking for my next article, What Makes Allison Fisher So Popular. It's more than accent and attractiveness. But those definitely help ;-)
"Two o'clock this morning, if she should come a' calling, I couldn't dream of turning her away..."
Rocky Mount, NC (February 9-13)
Driving distance/time: 694 miles/11 hrs. 30 mins.
Michigan City, IN (March 2-6)
Driving distance/time: 601 miles/9 hrs. 59 mins.
Las Vegas, NV (May 15-21)
Driving distance/time: 1756 miles/27 hrs. 40 mins.
Hollywood, FL (June 22-26)
Driving distance/time: 876 miles/14 hrs. 22 mins.
E. Peoria, IL (August 3-7)
Driving distance/time: 579 miles/9 hrs. 23 mins.
Granted, you can usually deduct around 10% from Mapquest driving times. They usually overestimate. (Or maybe they just assume you're actually going to obey the speed limit, I dunno.) But if you're driving any of those distances to a WPBA event, you're a pretty dedicated fan. I would most likely incorporate the tournament into an entire vacation. We could make a beach trip out of the Florida tournament. I think it's close to Fort Lauderdale. Obviously, we would not be driving to Vegas. That would be a flight. The North Carolina site is only a couple of hours from Richmond, so we could possibly visit Bunny and make a trip out of that. And the Indiana site is only about an hour from Chicago. So there are some possibilities, but I'm afraid WPBA might stand for Will Probably Be Absent for me this year.
Meanwhile, be looking for my next article, What Makes Allison Fisher So Popular. It's more than accent and attractiveness. But those definitely help ;-)
"Two o'clock this morning, if she should come a' calling, I couldn't dream of turning her away..."
Thursday, January 06, 2005
What a life should be
I attended the funeral yesterday of one of the sweetest, dearest, best people I have ever known. She was the essence of love, gentleness, and giving. She also had the sweetest, softest voice I have ever heard. I had somewhat lost touch with her in recent years, and that was my loss. But for several years of my life, I spent many afternoons and nights at her house. I love that family, and I know they are hurting so much now.
Jonathan called me New Year's night to tell me that she was in the hospital and they didn't think she was going to make it. He hardly ever calls me, so when I saw his name on my phone, I had a sinking feeling. The next afternoon, Jack and I rode down to visit. She had slipped into a coma by the time we got there. I couldn't bear to watch her lying there, struggling for each breath. Not long after I got home that evening, he called and said she had passed.
Why do we so often not go see people while they are still here? Well, I say we. Maybe it's just me. Sure, it's important to attend funerals and such, but really, that's more for the remaining family. Many times I have thought that the person would have much preferred me to stop by and visit and talk to them for awhile when they were still here. Anyhow...
I was trying to think of a specific memory that just stands out, but mainly I just remember her taking a genuine interest in my life, and everyone's for that matter. I guess the one thing I remember is that when I had gotten out of church for a few years, she mentioned several times, in the most loving, gentle way, that I knew I should get back in church. Of course I knew that, but you can never discount the value of someone encouraging you. And she did it in a way that never made me feel the slightest bit uncomfortable.
She had an amazing sensitivity to others that I have never seen in anyone else. If something was wrong or something was bothering you, she would know it as soon as you walked in the door. And you could deny it or say nothing was wrong, but you were not fooling her. Maybe it was a gift. Maybe it was just something that developed from genuinely caring for and taking an interest in the lives of others. She was an encourager. She truly saw the good in everyone, and I would say that she touched every single person she ever met. She was someone who made you want to be a better person. Some people tend to drag you down to their level. She lifted you up. If ever there was a modern-day example of what a life should be, it was hers.
She was a light, and the world is truly a little darker today. Barbara, you are loved and will be sorely missed :'(
"My old friend, I apologize, for the years that have passed since the last time you and I, dusted off those memories. But the running and the races, the people and the places, there's always somewhere else I had to be. And time gets thin, my old friend..."
Jonathan called me New Year's night to tell me that she was in the hospital and they didn't think she was going to make it. He hardly ever calls me, so when I saw his name on my phone, I had a sinking feeling. The next afternoon, Jack and I rode down to visit. She had slipped into a coma by the time we got there. I couldn't bear to watch her lying there, struggling for each breath. Not long after I got home that evening, he called and said she had passed.
Why do we so often not go see people while they are still here? Well, I say we. Maybe it's just me. Sure, it's important to attend funerals and such, but really, that's more for the remaining family. Many times I have thought that the person would have much preferred me to stop by and visit and talk to them for awhile when they were still here. Anyhow...
I was trying to think of a specific memory that just stands out, but mainly I just remember her taking a genuine interest in my life, and everyone's for that matter. I guess the one thing I remember is that when I had gotten out of church for a few years, she mentioned several times, in the most loving, gentle way, that I knew I should get back in church. Of course I knew that, but you can never discount the value of someone encouraging you. And she did it in a way that never made me feel the slightest bit uncomfortable.
She had an amazing sensitivity to others that I have never seen in anyone else. If something was wrong or something was bothering you, she would know it as soon as you walked in the door. And you could deny it or say nothing was wrong, but you were not fooling her. Maybe it was a gift. Maybe it was just something that developed from genuinely caring for and taking an interest in the lives of others. She was an encourager. She truly saw the good in everyone, and I would say that she touched every single person she ever met. She was someone who made you want to be a better person. Some people tend to drag you down to their level. She lifted you up. If ever there was a modern-day example of what a life should be, it was hers.
She was a light, and the world is truly a little darker today. Barbara, you are loved and will be sorely missed :'(
"My old friend, I apologize, for the years that have passed since the last time you and I, dusted off those memories. But the running and the races, the people and the places, there's always somewhere else I had to be. And time gets thin, my old friend..."
Wednesday, January 05, 2005
55-19
Wow! I don't think anyone expected that. I was actually thinking before the game that this one could possibly approach the 31-30 Miami/Nebraska game from '83, which is probably the best national championship game I can remember seeing. But nope. USC led 38-10 at halftime, and this one was over. They left no doubt that they were the best team in the country. That was one of the best prepared teams I've ever seen. Obviously, you know going into any big game that turnovers could be a difference, and they were. The whole game sort of reminded me of the second half of the Bama/Miami game in '93, because I just kept thinking nothing else could happen, but the turnovers and touchdowns just kept coming. I guess you also can't help but think of Nebraska over Florida 62-24 several years ago. On another note, do you realize that probably at least 30 or 40 Division 1 teams begin the college football season with absolutely no shot whatsoever of winning a national championship, even if they go undefeated? OK, I guess it's basketball season now anyway. At least there, everyone has a chance to prove it on the court.
"Monday, you can hold your head. Tuesday, Wednesday, stay in bed. Thursday, watch the walls instead. It's Friday, I'm in love..."
"Monday, you can hold your head. Tuesday, Wednesday, stay in bed. Thursday, watch the walls instead. It's Friday, I'm in love..."
Tuesday, January 04, 2005
'04: The Year In Blog
It has become a little tradition for me to compose an end of year recap email and send to friends. Then last year, I recapped 2003 on my blog. So I sat down and began looking at things to include in this year's recap. Sometimes it seems that not a lot is going on, but then when I was scanning back over my blog, I realized that a lot happened. And by a lot, I mean, not very much. Just kidding. I sent out 2004 in Nashville, just a few miles from where I had welcomed it 12 months earlier. Funny how things come full circle like that sometimes. Here is a look back at the 8784 hours in between. I hope you enjoy it:
One of the major events in my life was that my baby sister got married on July 24th. So I now have a brother-in-law, and probably one day I'll have a niece or nephew, and most importantly, Mom will have a grandchild. (wedding pics)
There were three big road trips that I can remember:
-The Lakehouse Trip in January.
-The WPBA tournament in Mississippi in February, where I met Allison Fisher... again :o)
-The beach trip to Destin in June. (pics)
And then there was the ankle injury in August during fall league softball. The final diagnosis was a torn anterior talofibular ligament and two avulsion fractures in my ankle. Fun. That had me off my feet for awhile. Anyway, I hope I get a chance to play softball again this year. (More ankle pics)
And finally, the other major event of 2004 would have to be taking my blog to the mass media. That was a neat little experience.
In other news:
- 2004 marked the long-awaited arrival of the Seinfeld DVDs, which naturally, I snatched up the day they were released.
- I finally made the switch from dial-up to DSL this year, only a few years behind most everyone else.
- And after about a two or three year hiatus, I once again bought season tickets to Bama football games this year.
- There were lots of fun times helping LMV video weddings, football games, band competitions, and other events.
- I found out this year that I look like Steve-O. Several people told me that.
- I discovered Vitamin C. Started taking it in March after the WPBA tournament and didn't get sick the rest of the year (knock on wood).
- And this will go down as the year when our hangout officially changed from Applebees to Logan's. I guess it was time for a change. Besides, now we get lots of freebies at both places.
Friend-wise:
Two of my good friends had babies this year. Well, their wives did anyway. Jack and Paige welcomed Corey Jack, while Shane and Melody introduced us to Ronald Reagan, within just a few weeks of each other.
Some of the major news stories of 2004 that come to mind:
- Tsunamis kill over 100,000.
- The worst hurricane season in years causes heavy damage to Florida and the gulf coast.
- The continuing war and loss of lives everyday in Iraq
- Soaring oil and gas prices. At their peak this year, gas prices here were at least forty cents a gallon higher than I'd ever seen in my life.
- The Boston Red Sox won their first World Series since 1918.
- The basket-brawl during the Indiana/Detroit game, with several Pacers players going into the stands after fans. I'll never forget that scene.
- Legal troubles for Kobe Bryant, Martha Stewart, Bill O'Reilly, and perennial favorite Michael Jackson.
- Friends said farewell after 10 seasons, and Frasier ended after 11 seasons.
- Among those we lost this year: Christopher Reeve, Rodney Dangerfield, Captain Kangaroo, Marlon Brando, Tony Randall, Tug McGraw, Reggie White, Janet Leigh, Ray Charles, and Ronald Reagan.
Songs I remember most from this year:
Hey Ya - Outkast
Someday - Nickelback
100 Years - Five For Fighting
This Love - Maroon 5
Live Like You Were Dying - Tim McGraw
I don't think I went to see a single movie in a theater in 2004, which is a slight decrease from my norm of 1 or 2 movies per year for the past couple of years. I don't think I went to any major concerts this year either. The only states I visited were Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee. That's kinda pathetic.
Well, I guess that's about it. I hope you've enjoyed this little recap. (And when I say little, I mean extremely long.) I hope you all had a wonderful year, and hope you have an even better 2005. To all the new people I've met, I hope we can get to know each other a little better in the New Year. To all my friends, I want to take an opportunity to let you know how much you mean to me. We kid around a lot, but I'm thankful for each one of you, and feel very blessed to have you as a friend. I hope I can be a better friend to each of you. Time is so precious, and that becomes more evident with each passing year. Although I have focused on things and events and such in this entry, that's not what is so important. To me, it's not really "what" you do, but rather "who" you do it with. Most of us will never be really famous. Our legacy will be the impression we make and the memories we leave with those who are closest to us, in our little corner of the world. I would say that I'm glad you're part of my little corner, but that would just be incredibly gay. So for the sake of heterocity, I'll just say, thanks for reading.
"He said I was finally the husband, that most the time I wasn't, and I became a friend a friend would like to have. All of a sudden goin' fishin' wasn't such an imposition, and I went three times that year I lost my dad..."
One of the major events in my life was that my baby sister got married on July 24th. So I now have a brother-in-law, and probably one day I'll have a niece or nephew, and most importantly, Mom will have a grandchild. (wedding pics)
There were three big road trips that I can remember:
-The Lakehouse Trip in January.
-The WPBA tournament in Mississippi in February, where I met Allison Fisher... again :o)
-The beach trip to Destin in June. (pics)
And then there was the ankle injury in August during fall league softball. The final diagnosis was a torn anterior talofibular ligament and two avulsion fractures in my ankle. Fun. That had me off my feet for awhile. Anyway, I hope I get a chance to play softball again this year. (More ankle pics)
And finally, the other major event of 2004 would have to be taking my blog to the mass media. That was a neat little experience.
In other news:
- 2004 marked the long-awaited arrival of the Seinfeld DVDs, which naturally, I snatched up the day they were released.
- I finally made the switch from dial-up to DSL this year, only a few years behind most everyone else.
- And after about a two or three year hiatus, I once again bought season tickets to Bama football games this year.
- There were lots of fun times helping LMV video weddings, football games, band competitions, and other events.
- I found out this year that I look like Steve-O. Several people told me that.
- I discovered Vitamin C. Started taking it in March after the WPBA tournament and didn't get sick the rest of the year (knock on wood).
- And this will go down as the year when our hangout officially changed from Applebees to Logan's. I guess it was time for a change. Besides, now we get lots of freebies at both places.
Friend-wise:
Two of my good friends had babies this year. Well, their wives did anyway. Jack and Paige welcomed Corey Jack, while Shane and Melody introduced us to Ronald Reagan, within just a few weeks of each other.
Some of the major news stories of 2004 that come to mind:
- Tsunamis kill over 100,000.
- The worst hurricane season in years causes heavy damage to Florida and the gulf coast.
- The continuing war and loss of lives everyday in Iraq
- Soaring oil and gas prices. At their peak this year, gas prices here were at least forty cents a gallon higher than I'd ever seen in my life.
- The Boston Red Sox won their first World Series since 1918.
- The basket-brawl during the Indiana/Detroit game, with several Pacers players going into the stands after fans. I'll never forget that scene.
- Legal troubles for Kobe Bryant, Martha Stewart, Bill O'Reilly, and perennial favorite Michael Jackson.
- Friends said farewell after 10 seasons, and Frasier ended after 11 seasons.
- Among those we lost this year: Christopher Reeve, Rodney Dangerfield, Captain Kangaroo, Marlon Brando, Tony Randall, Tug McGraw, Reggie White, Janet Leigh, Ray Charles, and Ronald Reagan.
Songs I remember most from this year:
Hey Ya - Outkast
Someday - Nickelback
100 Years - Five For Fighting
This Love - Maroon 5
Live Like You Were Dying - Tim McGraw
I don't think I went to see a single movie in a theater in 2004, which is a slight decrease from my norm of 1 or 2 movies per year for the past couple of years. I don't think I went to any major concerts this year either. The only states I visited were Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee. That's kinda pathetic.
Well, I guess that's about it. I hope you've enjoyed this little recap. (And when I say little, I mean extremely long.) I hope you all had a wonderful year, and hope you have an even better 2005. To all the new people I've met, I hope we can get to know each other a little better in the New Year. To all my friends, I want to take an opportunity to let you know how much you mean to me. We kid around a lot, but I'm thankful for each one of you, and feel very blessed to have you as a friend. I hope I can be a better friend to each of you. Time is so precious, and that becomes more evident with each passing year. Although I have focused on things and events and such in this entry, that's not what is so important. To me, it's not really "what" you do, but rather "who" you do it with. Most of us will never be really famous. Our legacy will be the impression we make and the memories we leave with those who are closest to us, in our little corner of the world. I would say that I'm glad you're part of my little corner, but that would just be incredibly gay. So for the sake of heterocity, I'll just say, thanks for reading.
"He said I was finally the husband, that most the time I wasn't, and I became a friend a friend would like to have. All of a sudden goin' fishin' wasn't such an imposition, and I went three times that year I lost my dad..."
Monday, January 03, 2005
New Year's Pics
Well, here are a few pics from this past weekend. I tried to brighten some of them. Hopefully, they look OK. (Click for a larger image.)
This is the big rock that I think used to be at the exit of the Grizzly River Rampage :-( The exit would have been to the right:
Here you can hopefully see the empty canal that used to be filled with treacherous water, rafts, people, and fun. Now, it contains only sticks, leaves, and memories :-( Depressed yet? I am. I'm gonna try and go back during the day at some point:
This is a group pic inside the Opryland Hotel. (From L to R: Mel, me, Cassie, Bunny, Kyle, Lee, Roy. In stroller: Ronald Reagan.) I think Shane is taking the picture. Not sure where Jeremy is:
And one last pic from outside the hotel. This is the one I asked a couple of hotties to take for us:
"Her hat is hanging by the door, the one she bought in Mexico. It blocked the wind. It stopped the rain. She'd never leave that one. So she can't be really gone..."
This is the big rock that I think used to be at the exit of the Grizzly River Rampage :-( The exit would have been to the right:
Here you can hopefully see the empty canal that used to be filled with treacherous water, rafts, people, and fun. Now, it contains only sticks, leaves, and memories :-( Depressed yet? I am. I'm gonna try and go back during the day at some point:
This is a group pic inside the Opryland Hotel. (From L to R: Mel, me, Cassie, Bunny, Kyle, Lee, Roy. In stroller: Ronald Reagan.) I think Shane is taking the picture. Not sure where Jeremy is:
And one last pic from outside the hotel. This is the one I asked a couple of hotties to take for us:
"Her hat is hanging by the door, the one she bought in Mexico. It blocked the wind. It stopped the rain. She'd never leave that one. So she can't be really gone..."
New Year's Highlights
It has been a long, exhausting weekend. I'll try and hit the highlights for ya...
Convoy
Lee, Roy, Cassie, Bunny, Kyle, Jeremy, and I met at the Priceville McDonald's Friday evening. Then we headed north, with seven people in four separate cars, for some reason. Stopped at Famous Dave's for dinner around 7:45, where we met up with the Reagan family. After leaving there, it was off to Opryland Hotel. We now had ten persons in five cars. Lee and Roy got sidetracked on the way out there, as they were following Jeremy Andretti, who was following Shane. Fortunately, all of us were equipped with these new high-tech devices, known as cellular phones, and we were able to redirect them back to the destination.
I called Shane:
Me: "I think we lost Lee and Roy."
S: "I was afraid of that."
Me: "What happened?"
S: "Jeremy did something stupid." ROFL
Grizzly River Memories
Upon arrival at OH, Shane showed me where the rcoks from the Grizzly River Rampage were. The whole thing is basically still there, other than the water, and the rafts, and the big wooden thing where you boarded and exited or whatever. Naturally, I took lots of pictures of it. I hope they come out OK because it was pretty dark. The whole thing is basically still there, other than the water, and the rafts. Stupid Gaylord. Anyway, that was kind of a neat thing, but sad at the same time. From there it was into the hotel. Walked around a bit, took some pictures. I chased down a couple of hotties and got them to take a whole group picture of us. It turned out great, except that she cut the top of my head off. Oh well.
First time in 30 years
Well, around 11:15, we decided that if we were going to get back to Reagan Plantation by midnight, that we needed to leave. However, in the parking lot, there were several varying opinions as to what we should do. Suffice it to say that as 2005 officially began, we were all in our various vehicles. Cassie and Bunny decided to ride with us downtown, so the four of us listened to some radio station countdown to midnight. All was not lost, as Cassie made sure I had a MKOTC (midnight kiss on the cheek). Girls are cool like that, ya know. That led to this funny, which was only so funny because it was so ludicrous... or blatantly honest.. whichever: "That's the first time in 30 years I've had a kiss on New Year's Eve!"
It's 5 AM, I must be.. hallucinating
Walked around downtown for a bit. Got a couple of New Year's calls and a couple of text messages. David called and said he had just run into Brodie Croyle on the street. K and I left B, C, L, and R downtown and drove back to S & M's, because M had made K a cake for his b-day. Got that? We had to meet back up with B & C because C had left her car at OH, so long story not-quite-as-long, we got to Cassie's brother's house in Murfreesboro at 5:00 AM. Slept on satin sheets for the first time in my life. I nearly slid right out of the bed about five times. Woke up around 11, showered, and headed for home. Or so I thought.
Saturday
Ended up meeting up with Shane, going back downtown, eating at BB King's, and shooting some pool at Buffalo Billiards. They had some people over that night. We ate pizza, played games, and I got home about 2:30. The most disturbing moment came (again) while we were playing Cranium. I had to hum "I Can See Clearly Now." Well, Kyle and Julia were on my team. Julia was on my left and Kyle was on my right. So, instinctively, I turned to Kyle and began humming the song, instead of turning to the hot chick. Well, the moment did not escape Monica's attention, unfortunately. She cracked up and was like, "Did you see how he was looking so deeply into his eyes while he hummed it." I was red-faced, but we all had a good (too)long laugh about it.
I'll try to post pics of all the insanity later. I hope you all had a good New Year. Hopefully, you weren't on the interstate in a car at midnight.
Dialogue
"I thought about making a cake for Kyle's birthday."
"Sounds good to me. That would be nice."
"Do you like strawberry cake with vanilla frosting?"
"Don't ask me. It's not my birthday. I like any kind of cake."
"Well, what kind of cake does Kyle like because I was going to suprise him with it?"
"I have no clue."
"I could make a chocolate cake with vanilla frosting if that sounds better."
"I really don't know. Sorry."
"OK, but if it was your choice, what would you want?"
"Probably chocolate. Seems like Kyle doesn't like strawberries, but I'm not sure. I don't really know him that well."
"I can see clearly now, the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind..."
Convoy
Lee, Roy, Cassie, Bunny, Kyle, Jeremy, and I met at the Priceville McDonald's Friday evening. Then we headed north, with seven people in four separate cars, for some reason. Stopped at Famous Dave's for dinner around 7:45, where we met up with the Reagan family. After leaving there, it was off to Opryland Hotel. We now had ten persons in five cars. Lee and Roy got sidetracked on the way out there, as they were following Jeremy Andretti, who was following Shane. Fortunately, all of us were equipped with these new high-tech devices, known as cellular phones, and we were able to redirect them back to the destination.
I called Shane:
Me: "I think we lost Lee and Roy."
S: "I was afraid of that."
Me: "What happened?"
S: "Jeremy did something stupid." ROFL
Grizzly River Memories
Upon arrival at OH, Shane showed me where the rcoks from the Grizzly River Rampage were. The whole thing is basically still there, other than the water, and the rafts, and the big wooden thing where you boarded and exited or whatever. Naturally, I took lots of pictures of it. I hope they come out OK because it was pretty dark. The whole thing is basically still there, other than the water, and the rafts. Stupid Gaylord. Anyway, that was kind of a neat thing, but sad at the same time. From there it was into the hotel. Walked around a bit, took some pictures. I chased down a couple of hotties and got them to take a whole group picture of us. It turned out great, except that she cut the top of my head off. Oh well.
First time in 30 years
Well, around 11:15, we decided that if we were going to get back to Reagan Plantation by midnight, that we needed to leave. However, in the parking lot, there were several varying opinions as to what we should do. Suffice it to say that as 2005 officially began, we were all in our various vehicles. Cassie and Bunny decided to ride with us downtown, so the four of us listened to some radio station countdown to midnight. All was not lost, as Cassie made sure I had a MKOTC (midnight kiss on the cheek). Girls are cool like that, ya know. That led to this funny, which was only so funny because it was so ludicrous... or blatantly honest.. whichever: "That's the first time in 30 years I've had a kiss on New Year's Eve!"
It's 5 AM, I must be.. hallucinating
Walked around downtown for a bit. Got a couple of New Year's calls and a couple of text messages. David called and said he had just run into Brodie Croyle on the street. K and I left B, C, L, and R downtown and drove back to S & M's, because M had made K a cake for his b-day. Got that? We had to meet back up with B & C because C had left her car at OH, so long story not-quite-as-long, we got to Cassie's brother's house in Murfreesboro at 5:00 AM. Slept on satin sheets for the first time in my life. I nearly slid right out of the bed about five times. Woke up around 11, showered, and headed for home. Or so I thought.
Saturday
Ended up meeting up with Shane, going back downtown, eating at BB King's, and shooting some pool at Buffalo Billiards. They had some people over that night. We ate pizza, played games, and I got home about 2:30. The most disturbing moment came (again) while we were playing Cranium. I had to hum "I Can See Clearly Now." Well, Kyle and Julia were on my team. Julia was on my left and Kyle was on my right. So, instinctively, I turned to Kyle and began humming the song, instead of turning to the hot chick. Well, the moment did not escape Monica's attention, unfortunately. She cracked up and was like, "Did you see how he was looking so deeply into his eyes while he hummed it." I was red-faced, but we all had a good (too)long laugh about it.
I'll try to post pics of all the insanity later. I hope you all had a good New Year. Hopefully, you weren't on the interstate in a car at midnight.
Dialogue
"I thought about making a cake for Kyle's birthday."
"Sounds good to me. That would be nice."
"Do you like strawberry cake with vanilla frosting?"
"Don't ask me. It's not my birthday. I like any kind of cake."
"Well, what kind of cake does Kyle like because I was going to suprise him with it?"
"I have no clue."
"I could make a chocolate cake with vanilla frosting if that sounds better."
"I really don't know. Sorry."
"OK, but if it was your choice, what would you want?"
"Probably chocolate. Seems like Kyle doesn't like strawberries, but I'm not sure. I don't really know him that well."
"I can see clearly now, the rain is gone. I can see all obstacles in my way. Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind..."
Last year's resolutions...
I was looking back at the resolutions I'd made in 2004. Let's see here...
- Study more (still need to work on that)
- Pray more (ditto)
- Be a better friend (I hope I was a little better anyway)
- Exercise more (I think I did until the ankle injury)
- Become a better pool player (definitely.. I had nowhere to go but up)
- Revisit NYC (no... again, the ankle)
- Spend at least one weekend at the beach (yes!!)
- Finally upgrade to some form of high-speed internet (I barely got in under the wire on that one)
Well, I am working on a recap of 2004. I'm gonna try and post some pictures of the New Year's weekend once I get them uploaded, too. Yesterday was a rough day. More later...
"Now it seems to me some fine things have been laid upon your table, but you only want the ones that you can't get..."
- Study more (still need to work on that)
- Pray more (ditto)
- Be a better friend (I hope I was a little better anyway)
- Exercise more (I think I did until the ankle injury)
- Become a better pool player (definitely.. I had nowhere to go but up)
- Revisit NYC (no... again, the ankle)
- Spend at least one weekend at the beach (yes!!)
- Finally upgrade to some form of high-speed internet (I barely got in under the wire on that one)
Well, I am working on a recap of 2004. I'm gonna try and post some pictures of the New Year's weekend once I get them uploaded, too. Yesterday was a rough day. More later...
"Now it seems to me some fine things have been laid upon your table, but you only want the ones that you can't get..."
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