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.