Happy New Year!

What have I done this year?

1)work
2)bought a house and moved into it
3)started working out again

That's it. I didn't take any great trips. I didn't find any long-lost relatives. I didn't find a cure for cancer. Nothing. The house is nice though and I guess that is a big step in one's lifetime.

When I was younger I used to evaluate every year and determine if it was better than the year before. I would always say something like "I learned the multiplication tables" or "kissed a girl for the first time". Buying the house should be a bigger thing but it doesn't seem that big. I was supposed to buy a house. Learning the multiplication tables was pure chance and sheer luck. Plus, when I was younger I could always say I grew 2 inches and gain 17 pounds this year. I wish I'd have written those things down. They're probably hilarious.

What do I want to do in 2004?
1) Buy a Road King
2) Ride said Road King to Los Angeles. (I can't explain it, but I just feel drawn to LA, like I HAVE to go there--not to live but to visit.)
3)Make sure I visit my Grandmother
4)Find long-lost relatives and spend time with them
5)Find long-lost friends.

I skipped the most important development

of the weekend!! I got a digital camera!! It's a Kodak, 3.1 MP. I've already become very annoying with it. My dogs hate it. Dogs have evil demon-looking eyes when you take their picture using a flash. It's not red-eye, it's demon-eye. Or maybe it's just my dogs. Now I just need to figure out how to get a blog that I can post pics to.

Still reading, enjoying both books. But now am superfocused on taking pics.

Movie Reviews

Saw 3 movies this weekend. First up, Pirates of the Caribbean. I had heard many good things about this movie. Cool camera shots and lots of swordfighting, but not a very interesting story and by the end I just wanted all the characters to fall off a ship and drown. Don't see it.

Second was Bruce Almighty. Good movie. More serious than Ace Ventura, but not a "serious" movie. Maybe by writing "more serious than Ace Ventura" what I really mean is that Bruce has a plot and character development. I really like Morgan Freeman. Makes a good God. See it.

Last is Down with Love. I realize the movie isn't meant for me and I didn't really want to see it. However, it's not very good. Nobody I know (man or woman) has liked this movie. I think my Grandmother liked the original, but that's just cause she thought Rock Hudson was a stud and didn't know he was gay. Don't see this one. No matter what.

what I should have blogged

Have a holly, jolly Christmas. But I got off work early on wednesday and bolted out of the office like a bolt of Truman. So I didn't post my full Burl Ives lovefest. I did have a wonderful Christmas eve, eating Mexican food and drinking margaritas (which were free). Free margaritas are the best ever!!

Had a wonderful Christmas. I didn't have any margaritas but did have some very tasty Gentleman Jack whiskey. Raked in some Christmas loot and will soon be going to Best Buy to spend it.

Today is the most boring day ever at work. Redid our small network and rebuilt a domain controller. zzzzzzzzzzz

Will go home and partake of more tequila. mmmm, tequila

Life DOES imitate art

Wasn't the movie Minority Report about this? I'm all for "pre-emptive" arrests though.

So if terrorists do strike in California, will Arnold seek revenge like he did in that one movie of his...what was the name of that...oh yeah, it's EVERY movie of his.

Is today only Tuesday??? It seems like a month ago it was yesterday. Didn't do any reading last night or today. Too busy watching football and also too busy shopping. Finished with shopping but there's always more football. It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Glad it's a short week

It's only Monday afternoon and I'm already feeling worn out. Went to the library this weekend.
Book 1: Family Matters. It's by Rohinton Mistry, the author of A Fine Balance. So far it's about India. I want to visit India.
Book 2: The Koran. Amazon doesn't have a link to the translation I'm using.

I was brought up Baptist. Went to church every Sunday (twice on Sundays). I don't think I'll convert to Islam. Just wanted to read and study it. I think next I'll read about Zorastrianism.

I'm back, baby!

On the Harley that is. Last night was a Goldbergian effort to arrange rental truck and motorcycle to allow me to get to work and pay minimal rental fees. Got everything taken care of. Repair bill was outrageous....I almost bought a new bike instead of paying to fix this one. The repair bill would have made a great down payment. But if getting new sneakers makes you run faster, then getting new tires should make the bike faster right?

This story shows a dangerous precedent being set. What are we going to do when all our food starts making a break for it? God forbid, cows ever learn to operate automatic rifles.

Ladies, I think he's still single

Today at lunch, I'm getting my hair cut and a kind of nerdy-looking, overweight guy comes in and is talking with the woman cutting his hair. She asks "What have you been up to?" His reply "Watching T.V., looking for a job, and waiting for the new Lord of the Rings movie to come out." I found this amusing.

Now that I've got my truck, I can't wait to start tossing Bud Light cans into the truck bed.

how many doors do you need?

That was the question the car-rental counter guy asked. I answered "um, one." I had reserved a compact car. I got a pickup truck. A GMC Sonoma.

I'm sick of Saddam. (look how many stories there are!!)

Just hitchin a ride

Today renting a car because my bike will never get fixed!!! Before I bought my Harley in Nov 2001, I'd heard and dismissed reports that Harley's were badly built bikes. "That's left over from the 70's when AMF built the bikes." I just want the bike to run. Maybe Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday I can pick it up. Maybe.

Got the Christmas tree put up this weekend. Did nothing else productive. Needed to get a haircut and to go to the library. Went to the library but it was closed and didn't get a haircut. Someone pass me a joint.

sometimes you have to take the bad with the bad

So yesterday when I get home there are two messages on my machine. 1. Is Eric from the Harley shop saying the rear axle is messed up and asking if I have an extended warranty. You never want to hear a mechanic ask if you have an extended warranty. Only bad news can come from that. 2. Is Tom from the Harley shop who also mentions I need a new front tire.

Luckily I have the extended warranty. Hopefully it covers the rear axle. However the part they need will need to be ordered and probably won't be there until Tuesday (who can say when it will be installed and finished). Lovely. To sum up, I've been riding on two bald tires, the rear axle is hosed, I'll have to rent a car or bum a ride until at least Tuesday, and even with the warranty, all this will cost way more than I have. Happy Holidays.

Finished Snow. Need to start planning my next read. It's off to the library tomorrow. We'll see. I like just picking up something I know nothing about. But you take your chances doing that and I won't read a bad book. That's just time I'll never get back.

A book I read some time ago, House of Sand and Fog is now a movie. It was a good book, kind of weird in the "heroine" is not someone I really liked and the "villain" was someone who was only doing the best thing for his family. Interesting to see how the movie turns out. Jennifer Connelly fits with what I imagined the main character, but Ben Kingsley does not fit at all. I'll see it and try to work past my prejudices.

More people should try that with their lives.

l'm without motorized transportation

Put my bike in the shop yesterday. Besides all the other stuff they check and replace at 10,000 miles, I also getting new brakes and a new rear tire. This will cost me about $350-$500. Merry Christmas, Truman!

Still reading Snow. I wish I could just read for about 4 hours straight. I'm tired of reading an hour at a time. Just when I start really getting into it, time to go back to work or go to bed.

Maybe I'm just "old-fashioned"

But when people are driving tons of metal at 60mph, they shouldn't be reading the paper or applying makeup. Maybe because I ride a motorcycle, I tend to focus only on what's going on around me on the road. (I know, it's kind of hard to even listen to the radio if you don't have one. Not to mention how hard it is to put on makeup while wearing a helmet. Although the lady in front of me was able to put on makeup while wearing a helmet of hair).

I need a haircut. I need to put my bike in the shop for maintenance. I need a vacation and I need more money. Other than that, I'm all set.

I don't like Birthdays

Except for mine. Are birthdays celebrated the world over? Except for those religions that don't celebrate any holidays. My birthday always depresses me. I think birthdays are better for making resolutions than New Years though.

I feel like I've been busy. This weekend I don't remember doing anything important, but I still feel like I'm rushed and haven't had a chance to relax in a while. I need more vacation time.

My favorite web-writer is back. I missed TMQ while he was out. I guess he wasn't out near as long as Mike Vick though.

I should really do something to make this blog more cool. I'm too lazy to even post here on the weekend. Don't guess there's much chance I will do anything to make the site better. My stupid posts will have to be entertainment enough.

I almost forgot to post this

This weekend I was so forgetful. I would hear something, understand it, and then forget it in 2 seconds. I'm glad I didn't have anything really important to do. Probably would have cut off a finger or something and then said "I forgot what I was supposed to be cutting. That finger was sticking out too far anyways."

I'm sure all kinds of interesting things happened, but as noted above, I've forgotten what they were.

Still reading Snow.... I didn't even realize it was already a movie. I can't see how it would be a movie I would like. Too much jumping around in space and time in the book.

On week 2 of my "mass-building" stage of working out. I'm sure I've gotten massively massive.

Anyone know a really good lawyer?

I'm need to sue the makers of Lever soap.

Let me explain my case.
1)Lever soap is sold as a product to clean human skin.
2)I am a human and my face has human skin.
3)My eyes are on my face.
Therefore, Lever soap should be used near my eyes. The maker recommends this!
However, if I get Lever soap in my eyes, it burns and I'm temporarily blinded.
So, the maker of Lever soap is relying on only my closed eyelids to prevent its product from blinding me. How can I not win???

work blog

I don't like people who don't know how to do their jobs and rather than learn how to do it, expect others to do it for them. I usually won't do someone's job, but will take the time to help them learn. Two platitudes come to mind: 1)Give a man a fish and he eats for a day; teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime. and 2) You can lead a horse to water, but you cannot make it drink.

Started reading Snow Falling on Cedars. Set in Puget Sound. Reminding me of Seattle, but I'm not too far along in it.

ok so this is really interesting

Just finished reading back over the blog. Two-months worth. Spellbinding! Heart-stopping! A non-stop thrill ride! The best blog you'll read all year! I should be a movie critic and go on junkets so I can rave about stupid movies.

So, speaking of movies, over the weekend rented X-Men 2 and Terminator 3. Both were Spectacular! Thrilling! What a rush! I didn't really care too much about X2. I saw X1 and it was ok and X2 was about the same. My major gripe about both x1 and x2 is how can you have Rebecca Romijn-Stamos wearing nothing but a paint suit and not show her in every scene?

T3 was cool. T2 was better but for a 3rd installment, t3 wasn't bad. Rocky 3 had to be the best 3 movie made. Rocky3 was the one with Mr. T. "my prediction....pain"

Finished LBJ and will be going to the library tonight to begin anew. No idea what I'll get.

Do 2 instances make a trend?

First, hope all had a happy thanksgiving.

A while back I read a book called Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic that decried America's constant desire to consume. Today, while browsing around, found two different links that make the same point. Here and here. Second one is just a brief paragraph, but I like it. Maybe Santa Claus in every store two weeks before Thanksgiving got on people's nerves.

Just about finished with the book on LBJ. I don't think anyone writes a completely objective biography. I don't think it's possible. But after reading most of this one, I'm beginning to question LBJ's place in history. He seemed more trapped by Vietnam and recognized way before most Americans did that Vietnam was no place for American soldiers, but he couldn't figure a way out. I really doubt anyone else in his place could have figured a way out.

Changed my weight training routine:

Monday and Friday: Chest and back
Tuesday and Thursday: Legs
Wednesday: Arms and shoulders
I'm trying it for this month and will evaluate it at the end of the month.

Randomized thoughts

1. Why would anyone have a U.N. bumper sticker? Is it possible someone is really pro-U.N. enough to put on a bumper sticker?

2. I don't like the word "try". Either do or don't do. Try is just a lame way of saying "yeah, unless something better comes along". (Yoda may have said this first)

3. Why does the lowest common denominator almost always win? Are most people just to lazy to try anything new, different or better? Is this an American thing or a worldwide thing?

4. Telephones and computers are inherently evil.

5. Why, when showing a movie on broadcast T.V. is most of the violence and killing left in, but most of the sex and all of the nudity taken out? Doesn't that say we'd rather kill than have sex?

I am so lazy

It's 4:21 CST and I've been yawning and ready for bed since 2. Today was my last workout of the week. I figure with the family staying at my house, nobody else will appreciate waking at 5 to lift weights. It's been 9 1/2 weeks since I started lifting. Need a rest period for growth right? I think my waist will be the only thing growing this week(end).

Must stay awake....

what a great weekend
not. cleaned house and then the freezing started. I did get to wear my snowmobile suit in to work today. 35 degrees with a 70 mph wind on a harley is a great time for a snowmobile suit.

This LBJ book is taking forever. Mainly because my home time has been dedicated to Thanksgiving. If I can just make it through Wed afternoon.

so it's time for another weekend. yeah! Last weekend to make the house ready for Thanksgiving. Yuck!

So what does it mean to "fit"? Dictionary.com defines it as "to be the proper size and shape for" and then various take-offs on that theme. So then I search for proper and it says "fitting". I love dictionaries. I also love really baggy clothes. But they fit me.

Don't know whether it's because I'm still waking at 5am to work out, but I never have dreams. I mean, scientists say that we all dream but I never remember mine. I do have wonderful daydreams though.

I don't really care about Paul Krugman and I doubt I'll buy his book but this is a funny picture.

correction to tuesdays post. Reagan was born in 1911. My bad. Still even weirder that Kennedy was the 35th President and Reagan was the 40th President, yet Kennedy was 6 years younger.

Random Thoughts

1. JFK and Ronald Reagan were both born in 1917.
2. LBJ was 10 years older than JFK. Why do pictures from the time make it seem like LBJ could have been Kennedy's dad?
3. Scott Peterson will be standing trial for the murder of Laci Peterson. In every article I've read about the trial, the key evidence is one Laci hair found on a pair of Scott's pliers. If something ill happens to me, I hope the police check the hedge trimmers. They'll find my blood all over them from when I last trimmed the jasmine. But maybe somebody will be convicted.
4. I hope there's more to it than that.
5. Christmas is right around the corner.

Straight to Hell

Man, I've really gotten bad. I guess the newness has worn off and reading back over past entries, I realize how dull my life is. Plus i've been busy at work, the holidays are coming up and all sorts of other lame excuses.

Finished The Cider House Rules. Way better book than movie. No really. Much more detail and not as "happy" as the movie. The movie wasn't really that "happy" either.

Now reading A Life: LBJ. The only President from Texas(the Bushes don't count, they're from Connecticut or Maine or wherever) and he was born on my birthday. It'll be nice to learn something. The thing about some biographies (and this seems like one) is that the biographer really wanted to be a psychologist and so therefore writes things like "LBJ escalated the Vietnam War because he had a small penis and wanted to kill his father and marry his mother". (that's my own psychobabble--it's not actually in the book--at least i haven't gotten to that part).

So send me to blogging hell

Skipped a few days. I was out of the office and unable to reach a pc...sue me.

So on Saturday I went to the library and checked out a book on music theory and guitar playing. I'm a basic to intermediate level guitar player, but never studied music at all. After reading the book on music theory, I guess it's nice to know the names for everything and to be able to describe stuff intelligently rather than say "I like it cause it sounds good", but no matter how much you know about which chord resolves to Asus4, it's still of matter of "what sounds good".

Also checked out The Cider House Rules. I saw the movie a few years ago. (not sure when the movie came out but it seems like it was years ago.) But like any book/movie comparison, the book seems much better and more detailed and more explanatory. Wonder why they make movies out of books? I guess they count on people reading the book and seeing the movie so they can complain about what an awful movie it was and how much better the book was.

It's almost Thanksgiving.

I love it when a plan comes together

An almost every episode utterance from John "Hannibal" Smith on the A-team. I just like saying it even if my plans never quite come together in a tidy one-hour episode.

So I wrote a little about A Fine Balance on Wednesday. Interesting story about state sponsored birth control in the NYTimes.com. (registration required, but it's free and hey you get some great fiction if you search the archives for Jayson Blair).

Short weeks seem like the longest. Having Monday off made this week stretch forever.

Meetings, appointments and things to do

suck. I have too many of all 3.

Now reading Rumpole for the Defence
. About a British lawyer. I was told they made it into a series on PBS but I haven't seen it. Just started reading it on the recommendation of a co-worker.

I now fully understand the meaning of "You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink". You have to live it to really understand it.

Money makes the world go round and commit suicide

I love how economics can explain anything. Cool article at Slate describing the economics of suicide. It becomes so clear when you break it down in dollars and cents.

Forgot to mention that I finished A Fine Balance. It has a really bad ending. Not bad as in "terrible writing" but bad as in "these people have (had) lives that suck!". The whole book was still largely about India in the mid 70's as seen through the lives of the 4 main characters. Makes you really want to question state-sponsored birth control, no matter how noble the cause.

Read a really short book called Flatland: A Romance of Many Dimensions. Only about 120 pages, but it's sort of a mathematical, philosophical type book that makes you think about what is possible and what is impossible. The underlying theme is that what we consider impossible may only seem that way because of our perspective.

The main character is a square who lives in Flatland, which is just a 2 dimensional plane. He goes to Lineland and encounters characters who exist only in a line. Then he is visited by a sphere from Spaceland who shows him 3 dimensions. The sphere gets very upset whenever Square wants to see the 4th and 5th dimensions. The Sphere tells him that is nonsense, there are no other dimensions. But why not? Only because the Sphere has never seen them. Deep.

I'm such a slacker!

Ok, so if anyone reads this, i've been off for over a week now. I barely logged onto the internet during that time. Very little TV. Hardly any reading. What have I been doing? you ask. I removed all the old wallpaper from my kitchen and then repainted it. I thought it would take 2 days to remove the wallpaper and a day and a half to paint. Reality: 5 days to remove, 2 days to paint. Ugh. The kitchen looks good now though.

Sorry I'm a loser slacker. I feel like I was in a cave for the last week. I don't know anything that's going on. I still have the smell of wallpaper remover and paint fumes in my brain.

The gambler. I miss good story songs. they hit their peak in the 70's i guess. Top 5 story songs:

1. Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown (Jim Croce had several great story songs)
2. I shot the Sheriff (Bob Marley's version, not clapton's)
3. Coward of the County (kenny rogers--the gambler just missed this list)
4. Fire and Rain (James Taylor)
5. Ballad of Davy Crockett (i don't know who sang it and don't really care. More historical figures should have songs and t.v.shows)

I'm on vacation next week. It will be a home improvement vacation. No fun, just work around the house. I'll be glad to be away from work.

Boredom overtook him and he began to sleep

anyone know what song that line is from? ok, I realized my life was entirely boring and nothing but the same routine. Let me give you the official timeline:

5-6am: Wake up and go to gym

6-7:50am: Shower, get dressed, eat breakfast

7:50-8:20am: Drive to work.

8:20-8:30am: Arrive at work and try to get ready.

8:30-5:30pm: Work

5:30-6pm: drive home

6-7pm: fix and eat dinner

7-9pm: relax, watch tv, read, chores, play with the dogs

9-5am: Sleep

Depressing

Tuesday isn't Tuesday without TMQ

One of my favorite Web writers, Gregg Easterbrook, wrote something really stupid last week on one website and now he's been taken off of page 2 on ESPN.com. I looked forward to reading his column about the NFL every Tuesday. (TMQ=Tuesday Morning Quarterback). He basically called out the CEO of Disney (which owns ESPN) for releasing the movie Kill Bill, which Easterbrook thinks glorifies violence. Kill Bill was released by Miramax which Disney also owns.

So, yet another reason media consolidation is evil. Writers can't criticize anyone without getting fired because everyone is their boss. Maybe Easterbrook will show up on Fox Sports?

Weekend recap

Finished Catch-22. Don't think it ends up in my top 5 but it's really good. I understand a little better the comparisons to The Catcher in the Rye. The whole Holden-Yossarian fight, escape from, rebellion against authority. Especially the escape from part. When I first read Catcher, it made me want to run away from junior high. Now I want to run away from work.

Now reading A Fine Balance. Randomly picked it up at the library. My review so far is that it has to do with India.

Bought a new couch (two living room house = two couches). Also some new pots and pans. I was hoping they would cook the meal automatically but so far no luck.

At the mall, saw a co-worker. I knew her name but don't know anything else about her. It's weird seeing someone from work outside work. I thought my co-workers just stayed in their cubes, to be there whenever I come in in the morning.

when will the slurs against illiterate cave dwellers stop?

Funny story in the Seattle P-I. If you can't call potential jurors "illiterate cave dwellers" (especially when they are in Kentucky) what can you call them? I don't guess any illiterate cave dwellers will complain about being compared to people in Kentucky.

Everyone hoping for a Cubs-Red Sox series and we get the damn Yankees again. Go Fish!

My knees hurt from running and lifting and climbing stairs and I want to go home.

another day

Another undignified death.

I hate doing dishes. I wish I could post a picture of the sink. Not a pretty sight. I have a dishwasher. It's not like I have to take the dishes down to the river and pound them on rocks to get them clean.

Catch-22 is becoming one of my new favorite books.

Favorite books:
1. The Sun Also Rises
2. Catcher in the Rye
3. The Shining
4. Their Eyes Were Watching God
5. Who Moved My Cheese?

Glad I didn't vote

How do people like Cheney keep getting jobs? Kind of makes you ill when you realize Bush/Cheney is just a front for oil companies and defense contractors.

On the other hand, you could have voted for Gore/Lieberman. I actually think a campaign based on just really simplistic answers would probably do very well. I don't know if it would win the Presidency, but it could do better than Nader did.

Every leaf in my neighborhood ended up in my pool this morning. I don't even have a tree in my backyard. Anyone need mulch?

Reading Catch-22. Kind of ashamed that I hadn't read it before. I've laughed out loud several times. Interesting that Amazon.com suggests The Catcher in the Rye to go with it. I've read Catcher several times and so far wouldn't put them together. Maybe that's me.

I'm feeling quite overwhelmed at work. Too many projects with too many meetings. Yuck!

Interesting article at Salon.com (subscription or day pass required to see the whole thing--go for the day pass, it's cheap!). Excerpts from Enron employees' emails. Quite entertaining! Also shows Rep. Tom DeLay in a negative light. (Warning: link may contain propaganda-type substance) .

Lazy and good for nothing...

So, I don't update on weekends. I'm lazy, so what. This weekend was a pretty typical lay around the house type of weekend. Did install a new light for over the kitchen table. I hate electricity. I should be Amish. Probably would except for the booze and motorcycles and computers.

UT pissed me off. What else is new?

Do the crime, do the time or...

Funny story in the Chronicle. There's probably a level of Hell reserved for me and my laughing at unfortunate death. I can't help it.

Stop feeling sorry for yourself

Sometime ago I wrote about not liking sick people. Pet peeve #2: People who feel sorry for themselves. We all do it at times but I don't want to be around somebody else when they are in that mood. My instincts just want to shake them, and tell them to snap the hell out of it. You big baby!

So Annoying!

My socks were all wrinkled up in my shoe. Nothing like taking your shoes off at work to straighten out your socks.

I tried increasing the intensity of my run this morning but I am such a wuss that I gave up right at the end. So I ran an 8 minute mile at a 1% incline for 25 minutes. Then I tried to increase it to a 7 1/2 m. mile for the last five minutes. I lasted 2. So sad. Next Tuesday I will start at the 7 1/2 m. mile. NO STOPPING!!!

Why don't they ban 18wheelers from the roads during rush hour. Say from 7-8:30 am and then from 5-6:30 pm? Seems like a good idea to me.

Still reading The Dark Bride. It's a fictional account of a journalist researching the story of a Columbian prostitute and her village. So far (chapter 31 right now), it seems like there is so much that one can take away from the stories that each person tells in the book. I'm trying to take in as much as I can. Once i've finished i'll decide what i want from it.

Heard on the radio this morning on the way back from the gym, that Larry Flynt got over 6000 votes in the CA recall election. The announcer said 6669, but that seems like a made up number.

Is it bad that I can't remember the last time I used a comb or an iron?

Why no subway?and I don't mean sandwich shops: Big debate in Houston about Metro, light rail and building more highways. I think building more highways will fail. Look how crowded Beltway 8 is now. A few years ago it was wide open. Now it's as bad as 610. Why is Dallas the only city in Texas with mass transit that involves more than buses or an HOV lane?

Last night just watched baseball and football. Living on the west coast was so nice for watching sports. Monday Night Football games were over by 10. I've only watched one complete MNF game since moving to Texas.

Working out is getting a habit. I think you have to do something for 6 weeks for it to be a habit (maybe it's 2 weeks). I keep getting better at lifting and running longer/faster. I can hear the scientists talking about how they can build me "Better, Stronger, Faster".

Finished Angela's Ashes. Now am reading The Dark Bride. I think by reading Affluenza, Angela's Ashes, and now The Dark Bride, I will fully understand and appreciate how blessed I am. And maybe even take steps to reduce my lifestyle and realize I don't need the latest gadgets or the most expensive this or that to be happy. Maybe.

Never tried an Irish Car Bomb (and don't really like the name) but I think it's my new favorite drink.

Early review of Angela's Ashes: So far, heartbreaking. However, I wish I had the opportunity to walk down to the pub and get a pint of Guinness whenever I want.

Top 5 beers that i've had:
1. Guinness
2. Pyramid Apricot Ale
3. Rogue Beer Dead Guy Ale
4. Redhook Nut Brown Ale
5. Bass Pale Ale
5a. Black and Tan (Bass + Guinness)

Why don't they sue the shark?This family (and their lawyer) just moved lawyers back to the top of the list for worst profession.

Interesting article in Slate that relates to my thoughts on Affluenza. Why would I buy something because I'm lonely? Wouldn't I be less lonely if I met somebody or talked to my family? Marketers are evil geniuses. I used to think lawyers were the worst profession. Now I think they are second to marketers.

Houston is a great city. So many wonderful and interesting, intelligent people. Read about 2 of them here.

now i'm reading Angela's Ashes. I guess by "reading" means I have it and will begin reading it later today at lunch. So no early analysis or review.

I did finish Affluenza. The ending of the book got a little too preachy. Almost the entire book is preachy, but the ending was more so. However, the book really made me think about what's important in my life and maybe how I can change things.

I don't read the magazine but the Men's Fitness website is pretty cool. Only 3 years of lifting at the gym for 5 hours a day and you can look like the guys in the mag. I was looking for some help with my gym routine.

And now for something completely different...I haven't seen the t.v. show Paradise Hotel, but there is a cool article on Salon.com about one of the members. Makes it seem interesting. (note: you have to watch the stupid ads at Salon in order to get the premium day pass to read the whole article.)

Right. Going to the gym has become routine. The gym is Powerhouse Gym. They have a really crappy website. You probably shouldn't go to it. The gym itself is ok. Nothing big or fancy, but at 5am it's pretty empty. In Seattle I went to PRO Sports. Awesome club. About 5 times as expensive as Powerhouse, but it had everything in spades. If you're in Seattle (technically Bellevue) I recommend Pro Sports.

Still reading Affluenza. Thinking about my life too. No decisions yet.

The word "plantation" has a negative connotation to me. Is that a "me thing" or a "society thing"?

Ok, ok. I slacked off this weekend (blog-wise that is). I actually spent the weekend refinishing a china cabinet. Inhaled too much paint stripper, sawdust, and paint fumes this weekend.

Now reading Affluenza.
Basically it talks about how Americans made (make, are making) a choice to have more things rather than more time or relationships. The book describes how at the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, social scientists predicted that people would work only 3 hours a day and still have all their needs met. Until the 1960's, social scientists were predicting the same thing. (I think they've given up by now). The reason we are not all working 3 hours a day is because we would rather have 3000 square foot houses, Air Jordans, Happy Meals and a new SUV every 2 years. Television is to blame. We cannot resist it's non-stop advertising.

In the Army, I was making less than $20,000 a year. I wasn't thrilled with my standard of living but all my needs were being met. I had clothes, food, a house (rental, but still) a car (ford escort, but still) and still was able to go to the movies or out to eat once in a while. Now I make over $50K. I'm still not thrilled with my standard of living. I want the newest, most expensive Harley. I want a digital camera, scanner and high-speed wireless internet. I want a new guitar. If I got those things, I would want something else I know. Depressing. I'm re-evaluating my life.

A couple of notes on the car seat debacle:
1. The problem was a screw loose in the seat track. They had to take the seat out and remove the track to get the screw out. But $78.00 later, the seat is fixed.

2. There was a lady working there who had a scar all the way across her neck. Like someone had slit her throat. I tried not to stare but it was a really big scar.

I finally told my body to "Shut up, bitch! It's time to work out." I was all tired and sore and didn't want to work out this morning, but after the self-talking to, working out was great this morning. However, there will be no exercise this weekend.

My body is in full "mutiny mode". I tell my legs to walk up the stairs and they're like "yeah. Whatever." It hurt to brush my teeth. I wanted to hold the toothbrush still and just move my teeth around it. Today was the 3rd day I've been working out.

The car is in the shop. I spent over an hour trying to figure out how to get the seat pushed back. I got so desperate, I even read the owner's manual!! That's BAD!

When I pulled into the shop the "service consultant" looked at the seat and tried to get it back. I wanted to tell him to give it up, it ain't happening. He played with it for a few minutes and then just started writing up the order. They'll probably say the brakes need to be changed too. Just fix the damn seat!

This morning was both very good and very bad. And it's only 8:30am.

So I went to the gym and ran 3 miles. It was the first time that I've that far in over a year. About a mile into it my body was like "ok, that was fun, now why aren't we stopping". About halfway thru, parts of my lungs that haven't been used in a year started hacking up unused phlegm. Finally, after 3 miles, VICTORY!!

Then I went to the car and drove home. Should be simple enough, right? I grabbed my keys and looked for my wallet and couldn't find it. I searched the front seat, the backseat, the console, under the seat. Nothing. My whole life is in my wallet. When I pulled the driver's seat forward to check underneath, it stuck in the most forward position and I couldn't move it back. Finally, I decided that I dropped the wallet when I was getting into the car.

I drove back to the gym with my knees in my chest. Searched the parking lot and the front desk area lost and found. Nothing. I drove back to the house (again knees touching my chest) and began searching again. Finally found it between the passenger seat and the passenger door. Yeah!! But then I realized I'd spent 45 minutes looking for it and also the driver's seat was stuck. UGH!

Hey! I went to the gym this morning. so far, this blogging has made be a better person already. I've read two full books, in the middle of a 3rd, and am now going to the gym and getting in shape.

Woke up at 4:50 in the am so I could make it to the gym by 5. Lifted weights for an hour. I took it pretty easy since it was my first time doing anything in over a year. In Seattle, I worked out every day at lunch. Now, it's not as convenient but I'll be able to work out longer and therefore should be bigger, faster, stronger in no time.

My phone works now too.

Some things I don't like today:

1. Rain on the weekend.
2. Boring people.
3. Finding something hidden that I like and then everyone else finding out about it.
4. Wet socks. Dry socks are the secret to happiness. Try being happy in wet socks.
5. Work.

so, i read two books this weekend. The Nanny Diaries and also Welcome to My Planet: Where English is Sometimes Spoken. I'm on FIRE!!

It was good to read books that were written from different perspectives than my own. Both of these books are almost autobiographies.

Next up on the reading list is Black Hawk Down. Something completely different from the other two. I don't think there will be any women at all in this book. Maybe my vast military training will make this book something I can relate to. I did know a couple of Marines who were in Somalia, but nobody associated with the events of those days.

It was a rainy, ugly weekend. Reminded me of Seattle. Cool and wet and all you can do is watch t.v. or read or sleep.

My phone was out all weekend. Not that anyone would call or that I would call anyone but still, you pay for a phone, you expect it to work. I had these paranoid fears that someone would break-in and I wouldn't be able to call 9-1-1. Also fear that something bad would happen and my mom would try to call and wouldn't get through. I checked email about every 20 minutes, just in case.

so, to sum up, this weekend just proved that I have no friends, no life and that I can be just as much of a scaredy-cat as anyone.

this blogging is already helping:

based on yesterday's depressing post, today i got a library card and even checked out 3 books.

today is a perfect day for reading: grey and rainy. The Nanny diaries is the book i'm reading now. i wanted to not be able to relate to the story. I cannot relate to nannies in rich NYC.

I played with my dogs Angel and Yoshi and read. I want to eat BBQ and drive far from Houston.

i don't remember the last book i read. i read the wall street journal monday - friday (free subscription). I read news and commentary sites on line. i read this everyday.

in college (university of texas) i read tons. i even read quite a bit after college. The army takes reading out of you. must've been it. it was in the army that i really learned how to curse. before the army, i cursed a little if i got really mad. while i was in the army, i heard cursewords strung together in such new and creative ways. so i didn't read but i still learned much.

i should go to a library or a bookstore

I need to work on this:

i'm not very good around sick, hurt, or otherwise physically incapacitated people. Maybe it's because I've been lucky enough not to be sick or injured very often in my life. i just don't have empathy. i want to and i try to fake like i do but i don't.

i've only been really sick once in my life: kindergarten when I had pneumonia and missed 4 days of school. other than that, i didn't miss school because i was sick. (i skipped school plenty but not because i was sick). since i've been a working adult--after graduating college--i've missed 1 day of work. My voice was completely gone. As my job requires me to talk almost non-stop, work was impossible.

Moral of the story: if you are sick around me, i will try to be nice and empathatic but, i really don't like you being sick.

How did 17 people die because of hurricane?? I mean, there was plenty of warning. Should traffic accidents count? that's what caused 7 deaths. CNN doesn't explain all 17 though. I can understand a tree falling over on your house, but 17??? Probably too soon to comment on this though. As Lenny Bruce said "comedy is tragedy + time" At least i think he said it.

some things i like today:
1. Making it through a yellow light
2. PBJ's
3. My dogs
4. Riding my harley
5. wearing shorts to work

That was a really boring first post. I will make future posts more exciting.

I know it's mean but I think this story is funny

My first post:
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Current weight: 167 (with shoes on)
Current height: 5' 10"