It has been a week. Non-stop Orientation action.
I'll have more stories, but needless to say this one is great: I was moving boxes and some of the female OAs started to joke about my arms/guns (as they called them). Needless to say, I turned bright red. You see, as a 25 year old male, no matter what, if a woman starts talking about my physical appearance, I am going to blush like a baby.
So of course they kept doing it, and I kept blushing.
I'm a winner.
Later dudes,
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Fingers Crossed
In my other life, I am a gamer. I write for a website on Magic the card game. Well, technically I write for the online version and a specific format, but that's neither here nor there. Well, that's another lie, since I was, for a long time, the only writer about this particular format. I have a reputation for being opinionated and making strong declarative statements that sometimes are proved false, and other times become truths. To quote Ron Burgundy... I'm kind of a big deal...at least over there.
So a new writer comes along, and he's just getting started. He makes some statements that are, well, not supported by evidence and I argue him in message boards. He learns, gets better, and comes back with a vastly improved article. I commend him, then continue to critique.
So of course I'm getting slammed for being a soulless, arrogant prick. Apparently I don't understand what he wrote, even after I read it five times (in other words, I'm pretty sure I get it). I lose my cool and call one of the anonymous posters a coward for posting without registering, and the shit hits the fan.
Why do nerds do this? Again, it is that sense of ownership. I am invested in the things I write and take great pride in a community in this format, since it has a strong community of players and I have watched it grow. I feel like I am vested in this thing, and when I speak and am misunderstood, i try to correct myself. I want this to be mine and for people to understand that I know what I am talking about. I want to own this, as a nerd wants owns everything n his or her nerd-o-sphere.
I believe that my comments were warranted and that I was a bit harsh, but still, I don't appreciate people hiding behind the anonymity of the internet to be callow jerks. You see, just like everything else, I want to own what I say. If I say something, I will not deny it and will defend what I say. I mean, it's my word, am I really going to be like "Sorry, no, didn't say anything like that." That's fucking weak.
The ownership of things by nerds is definitely a subject I should examine more. For example, the idea that nerds a re bad with women to an extent. I'm not sure this is the case, it's just that nerds are far more comfortable in their own little world sometimes, surrounded by perceived stigma from the past, that they don't want to venture out for change. Hey, I get it, change is scary and that's just human.
Later dudes.
"It doesn't matter what others say
Even those you call friends
Don't leave it out for another day
This might be your big chance"
Millencolin- Fingers Crossed
So a new writer comes along, and he's just getting started. He makes some statements that are, well, not supported by evidence and I argue him in message boards. He learns, gets better, and comes back with a vastly improved article. I commend him, then continue to critique.
So of course I'm getting slammed for being a soulless, arrogant prick. Apparently I don't understand what he wrote, even after I read it five times (in other words, I'm pretty sure I get it). I lose my cool and call one of the anonymous posters a coward for posting without registering, and the shit hits the fan.
Why do nerds do this? Again, it is that sense of ownership. I am invested in the things I write and take great pride in a community in this format, since it has a strong community of players and I have watched it grow. I feel like I am vested in this thing, and when I speak and am misunderstood, i try to correct myself. I want this to be mine and for people to understand that I know what I am talking about. I want to own this, as a nerd wants owns everything n his or her nerd-o-sphere.
I believe that my comments were warranted and that I was a bit harsh, but still, I don't appreciate people hiding behind the anonymity of the internet to be callow jerks. You see, just like everything else, I want to own what I say. If I say something, I will not deny it and will defend what I say. I mean, it's my word, am I really going to be like "Sorry, no, didn't say anything like that." That's fucking weak.
The ownership of things by nerds is definitely a subject I should examine more. For example, the idea that nerds a re bad with women to an extent. I'm not sure this is the case, it's just that nerds are far more comfortable in their own little world sometimes, surrounded by perceived stigma from the past, that they don't want to venture out for change. Hey, I get it, change is scary and that's just human.
Later dudes.
"It doesn't matter what others say
Even those you call friends
Don't leave it out for another day
This might be your big chance"
Millencolin- Fingers Crossed
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
It's Mars versus Hollywood
I know it came out almost a year ago, but seriously, the Dark Knight is just about a perfect comic book movie. It captures the essence of Batman and does not pull punches to put it on screen. Bruce Wayne is all at once the vulnerable human and Batman the impervious symbol that the comics have educated us on for decades. Unlike some other, rather poorly made films, this one does not try to stick to a story perfectly but rather crafts its own narrative around the general concepts that are common threads throughout the series. The first X-Men movie did this very well...Wolverine not so much (as I understand it, seeing as I have yet to see it since my friends basically told me it was not worth my time).
The Dark Knight was also able to capture the conflict that brews at the heart of the best Batman stories, and that is Batman's own methods mirror those of his enemies except he refuses to kill. It does not hurt that Heath Ledger just blows all other villains out of the water with his portrayal of the Joker.
But why am I talking about this? As a Nerd, I value the integrity of Nerd-dom. It hurts so much when something that I, or other Nerds, cherish, is bastardized by other people. These stories made up our childhood and we feel a deep ownership of them. I mean, look at Star Wars. We all know that it sprung from the mind of George Lucas and is technically his, but he gave it to us before and we took it. Now, he wants it back so he can milk some more money out of the thing, and ruin everything we loved about the films. Seriously, before, Vader was hands down the best villain ever. Now, I dunno, since he basically decided to kill everyone over his girlfriend. Seriously- Vader is emo...and not like Sunny Day Real Estate emo...like, Julianna Theory emo.
So when someone takes something that we've loved so intensely and basically said "guess what fuckos, you were wrong about this" we get angry and upset and hurt.
And it's the funniest thing in the world, because it's a movie. Yet nerds everywhere, myself included, are so passionate about those things that shaped our lives that we can't let go. It's like when artists "sell out." Sometimes, yeah, they start sucking hardcore and should be forced to listen to their music on repeat while Celine Dion gyrates for them publicly...but sometimes its still great music, just on a bigger label. Those times from the past aren't gone or any less valuable...we just see them in a different light now.
And this comes back to movies. Transformers was such a great part of my youth- I had the toys and loved the show. When the movie came out I loved it, and really hope the sequel lives up to the first one. But you know what? I still had a problem with the first one.
Not enough robots fighting.
Like I said, nerds like things to stay the way they remember them.
Later dudes.
"You're so over it
And I can't stand it"
The Copyrights- Over It
The Dark Knight was also able to capture the conflict that brews at the heart of the best Batman stories, and that is Batman's own methods mirror those of his enemies except he refuses to kill. It does not hurt that Heath Ledger just blows all other villains out of the water with his portrayal of the Joker.
But why am I talking about this? As a Nerd, I value the integrity of Nerd-dom. It hurts so much when something that I, or other Nerds, cherish, is bastardized by other people. These stories made up our childhood and we feel a deep ownership of them. I mean, look at Star Wars. We all know that it sprung from the mind of George Lucas and is technically his, but he gave it to us before and we took it. Now, he wants it back so he can milk some more money out of the thing, and ruin everything we loved about the films. Seriously, before, Vader was hands down the best villain ever. Now, I dunno, since he basically decided to kill everyone over his girlfriend. Seriously- Vader is emo...and not like Sunny Day Real Estate emo...like, Julianna Theory emo.
So when someone takes something that we've loved so intensely and basically said "guess what fuckos, you were wrong about this" we get angry and upset and hurt.
And it's the funniest thing in the world, because it's a movie. Yet nerds everywhere, myself included, are so passionate about those things that shaped our lives that we can't let go. It's like when artists "sell out." Sometimes, yeah, they start sucking hardcore and should be forced to listen to their music on repeat while Celine Dion gyrates for them publicly...but sometimes its still great music, just on a bigger label. Those times from the past aren't gone or any less valuable...we just see them in a different light now.
And this comes back to movies. Transformers was such a great part of my youth- I had the toys and loved the show. When the movie came out I loved it, and really hope the sequel lives up to the first one. But you know what? I still had a problem with the first one.
Not enough robots fighting.
Like I said, nerds like things to stay the way they remember them.
Later dudes.
"You're so over it
And I can't stand it"
The Copyrights- Over It
Monday, June 22, 2009
Less talking, more kicking
So I've been asked to be a bigger nerd on this thing. No, seriously. You see, I've become part of a subculture of internet mavens who follow the blog of a punk rock singer/savant that we all follow, not just because we like the music, but because he has some damn good stories and entertaining prose.
So, nerdy, eh? Well, the title of this post comes from the recent run of The Immortal Iron Fist. I've grown fond of graphic novels as of late, in the wake of Watchmen (I'll get to that shortly), and Iron Fist is one I can't wait to get a hold of in softcover editions.
The story follows a wealthy young man who inherits the mantle of Iron Fist, a martial arts expert defender of a mythical city. He basically fights against other defenders and the forces that keep the hidden world hidden. He's also fighting against his history and the fate that all those who were Iron Fist's before him have ceased to be so at the age of 33. Guess how old our protagonist just turned?
Regardless, the art in these volumes is top notch, blending gritty action with marital arts crispness. It evokes a real underdog superhero story with wonderful wit- our lead, Danny Rand- utters some of the most memorable lines I have seen in the past year. The title, though, comes from his predecessor before a large battle against the forces of evil. I seriously recommend this run as it blends sharp wit with a flurry of fists.
But about Watchmen... The book is absolutely amazing. It is everything you want in a great novel- it questions the human condition in an interesting way and from multiple view points. We see existence from the vantage of the totally human to the depraved sociopath to the utterly insane and the transcendent. Really, you have to read this book as it is just...great. The art, however, sends the text over the edge. The imagery is unique and provides so much insight into the text that the two are inexorably linked forever.
But the movie just sucked. I do not want to go into all the reasons, but the main one, for me, is this: it tried to be a superhero movie.
Now, all superhero movies are about the human condition, but about how the superheroes reconcile their alter egos with their humanity. One of the nice thing about the novel is that it forced us to look at the inverse- these heroes are forced to abandon their adventuring aspects and have to reconcile their humanity with this aspect of the world. The problem is that the movie did not get this and tried to be a superhero movie- it took out the examination of the human condition, but left in the giant blue dick.
Well, that's all I really have to say about that for now. Watchmen is a fantastic book and the movie tried so hard, but it just missed on the big screen. When you're retelling a story, keep the point in tact.
Later dudes.
So, nerdy, eh? Well, the title of this post comes from the recent run of The Immortal Iron Fist. I've grown fond of graphic novels as of late, in the wake of Watchmen (I'll get to that shortly), and Iron Fist is one I can't wait to get a hold of in softcover editions.
The story follows a wealthy young man who inherits the mantle of Iron Fist, a martial arts expert defender of a mythical city. He basically fights against other defenders and the forces that keep the hidden world hidden. He's also fighting against his history and the fate that all those who were Iron Fist's before him have ceased to be so at the age of 33. Guess how old our protagonist just turned?
Regardless, the art in these volumes is top notch, blending gritty action with marital arts crispness. It evokes a real underdog superhero story with wonderful wit- our lead, Danny Rand- utters some of the most memorable lines I have seen in the past year. The title, though, comes from his predecessor before a large battle against the forces of evil. I seriously recommend this run as it blends sharp wit with a flurry of fists.
But about Watchmen... The book is absolutely amazing. It is everything you want in a great novel- it questions the human condition in an interesting way and from multiple view points. We see existence from the vantage of the totally human to the depraved sociopath to the utterly insane and the transcendent. Really, you have to read this book as it is just...great. The art, however, sends the text over the edge. The imagery is unique and provides so much insight into the text that the two are inexorably linked forever.
But the movie just sucked. I do not want to go into all the reasons, but the main one, for me, is this: it tried to be a superhero movie.
Now, all superhero movies are about the human condition, but about how the superheroes reconcile their alter egos with their humanity. One of the nice thing about the novel is that it forced us to look at the inverse- these heroes are forced to abandon their adventuring aspects and have to reconcile their humanity with this aspect of the world. The problem is that the movie did not get this and tried to be a superhero movie- it took out the examination of the human condition, but left in the giant blue dick.
Well, that's all I really have to say about that for now. Watchmen is a fantastic book and the movie tried so hard, but it just missed on the big screen. When you're retelling a story, keep the point in tact.
Later dudes.
A scientist, a golden age
Afternoon blogging? Is this anything like Afternoon Delight?
Since I'm not getting any, the answer is a depressing "no."
Yesterday I was feeling down, today I am feeling significantly better. For me, work is my escape and cure all. I know that's not necessarily healthy, but it's the truth for me right now. So as much as I bitch and moan about the upcoming long days, deep down I'm excited and stoked.
However, I apparently will be forced to dance at some point. This is big frowns.
"We didn't need it/It just killed what we loved anyway"
The Riot Before- You Can't Sexy Dance to Punk Rock
Since I'm not getting any, the answer is a depressing "no."
Yesterday I was feeling down, today I am feeling significantly better. For me, work is my escape and cure all. I know that's not necessarily healthy, but it's the truth for me right now. So as much as I bitch and moan about the upcoming long days, deep down I'm excited and stoked.
However, I apparently will be forced to dance at some point. This is big frowns.
"We didn't need it/It just killed what we loved anyway"
The Riot Before- You Can't Sexy Dance to Punk Rock
Sunday, June 21, 2009
What a cluster
So yesterday I was feeling down. It happens, I try to move past it, but it happens. Aside from a pair of short lived periods spent dating the same woman for a few months, I have been remarkably single for well over two years. This has left me feeling isolated and lonely at times. Saturday was one of those times, and the fact that Philly canceled on me just exacerbated my feelings of being alone. Like I said, shit happens- I treated myself to a cheeseburger to try and cheer me up.
Only problem was it gave me indigestion, ruining my sleep. It made me a grumpy asshole for my drive down to Father's Day. On the plus side, Dad loved my gift of Ballentine Ale, since he never goes into the bodegas that carry the brew he loves so.
Anyway, all was going well until we piled into my car (Obi-Wan) to travel to Coney Island for a Cyclones game.
Parking was a disaster and took forever. Seriously, what the fuck? I know NYC is trying to Green itself up, but give us a real fucking parking lot.
Oh, wait, there was one, but a traffic cop decided to direct us to another lot that we bypassed for street parking.
So we get in and sit down, all of us pissed off. And then, as if on cue, it starts fucking pouring. Not like, a little bit, but enough to turn umbrellas inside out. Needless to say, we were all quite sour, and by the time we left the rain was tapering off. I drove us back and changed into hand me downs I gave to Dad years ago for a dryer ride home.
So now I'm here, ready to give my life over to Orientation for the next ten days, and hope I come out better for the trial of this week. I am exhausted and ready to crash to get ready for this week.
I wish I had something more interesting to write, but alas, I am a boring lonely fuck.
Later dudes.
Only problem was it gave me indigestion, ruining my sleep. It made me a grumpy asshole for my drive down to Father's Day. On the plus side, Dad loved my gift of Ballentine Ale, since he never goes into the bodegas that carry the brew he loves so.
Anyway, all was going well until we piled into my car (Obi-Wan) to travel to Coney Island for a Cyclones game.
Parking was a disaster and took forever. Seriously, what the fuck? I know NYC is trying to Green itself up, but give us a real fucking parking lot.
Oh, wait, there was one, but a traffic cop decided to direct us to another lot that we bypassed for street parking.
So we get in and sit down, all of us pissed off. And then, as if on cue, it starts fucking pouring. Not like, a little bit, but enough to turn umbrellas inside out. Needless to say, we were all quite sour, and by the time we left the rain was tapering off. I drove us back and changed into hand me downs I gave to Dad years ago for a dryer ride home.
So now I'm here, ready to give my life over to Orientation for the next ten days, and hope I come out better for the trial of this week. I am exhausted and ready to crash to get ready for this week.
I wish I had something more interesting to write, but alas, I am a boring lonely fuck.
Later dudes.
Friday, June 19, 2009
No title today!
Well, at least for now anyway. Yesterday was really weird. I made a small gaff at work but recovered to be my typically awesome self, and I'm overjoyed at the prospect of driving a van today to pick up $500 worth of junk food.
Part of my job is to spend $500 on junk food. Seriously.
Last night though, I was just wasted. Not drunk, just knackered, wiped out, whatever you want to call it. I got home a little after five and by 8:00pm I was crawling into bed. I barely had the energy to sit upright, but couldn't fall asleep. Thank goodness for the USA Network, which kept me distracted from K-Rod's implosion (it's okay, it's only one blown save, and we're still in the running). Anyway, this mindless character driven television helped me pass out with ease.
Except, of course, my dreams were fucked again. Only in my dreams can I get up the nerve to ask a girl out, and then somehow forget to copy down her information, thus ruining any chance of a date...in my dreams.
Later dudes, off to work!
"This is not a case of lost ambition
Never had any to speak of so it can't be missing"
The Copyrights- Out of Ideas
Part of my job is to spend $500 on junk food. Seriously.
Last night though, I was just wasted. Not drunk, just knackered, wiped out, whatever you want to call it. I got home a little after five and by 8:00pm I was crawling into bed. I barely had the energy to sit upright, but couldn't fall asleep. Thank goodness for the USA Network, which kept me distracted from K-Rod's implosion (it's okay, it's only one blown save, and we're still in the running). Anyway, this mindless character driven television helped me pass out with ease.
Except, of course, my dreams were fucked again. Only in my dreams can I get up the nerve to ask a girl out, and then somehow forget to copy down her information, thus ruining any chance of a date...in my dreams.
Later dudes, off to work!
"This is not a case of lost ambition
Never had any to speak of so it can't be missing"
The Copyrights- Out of Ideas
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Parting Glass
Okay, another blog post from bed. Today was exhausting, seeing as it started with me trying to flush water from my eye. You see, I come home from the gym and get ready to make breakfast and I see one of my drinking glasses has cracked. I go to pick it up and it shatters...in my face. I panic and start trying to flush whatever glass had gotten into my eyes out. I call Mom and panic, I go to work and panic, and finally go to the doctor (rather, Urgent Care Facility). They perform the test to check my eyes which involves numbing my eyeballs. Now, let me tell you something- you may not know you feel with your eyes, but you sure do after they become numb. It's like your seeing straight out of your skull.
Needless to say, my eyes are fine.
So my day is kinda stilted, and I get back to find out that my date has been canceled. I honestly don't feel like trying to find out why and defriend her on facebook and erase her from my phone. Of course I get a text from her later asking about the facebook snuff, but I don't care.
Honestly, nice person, but I just do not feel like pursuing this too strongly since it is in another city and I was going on the date to get to know the person.
I'm a tool, that is all, later dudes.
"And if they offered a test: 'Have I Been A Good Friend?'
I'd put money down that you'd surely flunk."
Alkaline Trio- "Jaked on Green Beers
Needless to say, my eyes are fine.
So my day is kinda stilted, and I get back to find out that my date has been canceled. I honestly don't feel like trying to find out why and defriend her on facebook and erase her from my phone. Of course I get a text from her later asking about the facebook snuff, but I don't care.
Honestly, nice person, but I just do not feel like pursuing this too strongly since it is in another city and I was going on the date to get to know the person.
I'm a tool, that is all, later dudes.
"And if they offered a test: 'Have I Been A Good Friend?'
I'd put money down that you'd surely flunk."
Alkaline Trio- "Jaked on Green Beers
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
The quick and the undead
I'm not really full of things to say tonight, but here it goes.
I'm trying to rest up as orientation is fast approaching, so I have to save all the energy I can so I do not crash over the next ten days.
I am incredibly excited for my date on Saturday, but really do not want to drive to two hours. Oh well, sacrifices must be made.
The Mets...please pull it together. We easily could have gone 5-1 against the Phils and Yanks, but we didn't...because we suck (there I go, using the fan We).
I made tacos from scratch tonight- no mix. Best tacos I've ever had in house.
I don't know why I wasted such an awesome title on such a lame post. Later dudes.
I'm trying to rest up as orientation is fast approaching, so I have to save all the energy I can so I do not crash over the next ten days.
I am incredibly excited for my date on Saturday, but really do not want to drive to two hours. Oh well, sacrifices must be made.
The Mets...please pull it together. We easily could have gone 5-1 against the Phils and Yanks, but we didn't...because we suck (there I go, using the fan We).
I made tacos from scratch tonight- no mix. Best tacos I've ever had in house.
I don't know why I wasted such an awesome title on such a lame post. Later dudes.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Advertising Fail
Dear Mexico,
The fact that your country had a well received reaction to Swine Flu does not mean you should use this fact in your tourism commercials.
-Alex
The fact that your country had a well received reaction to Swine Flu does not mean you should use this fact in your tourism commercials.
-Alex
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Boys will be boys
What a weekend. It all started in Irvington at the Friday Night Magic. I got there early after taking a half day at work to trade in some cards so I could have a deck to compete with that evening. I ended up brewing up a budget Black Red Zombie deck and went 3-1, netting myself 4 packs to round out my three draft sets. I'm loving this little gamer community and find myself slotting in nicely.
I spoke to Philly a bunch this weekend, and am looking forward to our date, for lack of a better term, next Saturday. I am not, however, looking forward to the two hour drive, each way.
Anyway, Phil came up this weekend. Phil is one of my best friends from college and we used to play in a band together, but we have not hung out in over half a year. He came up for a night of good times and good music. He arrived late, dealing with the left over BS of his former band. See, Phil was the bank- the only person making good income so the big purchases, aka the van, came out of his pocket. The band is now trying to see if it can sell the van, and move it around the former member's houses for storage. And all this took longer than expected, so Phil came up and we immediately went shopping for dinner food. Dinner was broiled turkey burgers with smokey spice, roasted onions and peppers, bound together with panko breadcrumbs and chipotle chedder. This was served on a hearty roll on a bed of spinach and onion slaw and topped with bleu cheese crumble. Served with a side of Pabst.
We hit the bars and consumed our booze, laughing at the popped collars and Affliction tees until I ran into a student and we had to leave the bar. We hit up another bar then pizza where there was a very loud singing effeminate man in high waters and dreads. Needless to say, we made it home laughing as I came up with an idea for a charity "Hand Jobs Across America" (it'd go guy-guy-girl-guy-guy-girl, etc.). We made it home, and he crashed on my couch, me in my bed. I dreamed I was thirsty and decapitating my old enemies, and woke up seven hours later to go get brunch.
The rest of the day was spent getting groceries and doing and absurd amount of laundry. And now I'm in bed, after working on two Pauper decks and writing this blog, just about ready to pass out.
Later dudes-
The Menzingers- "They Speak of my Drinking, but Never of my Thirst"
I spoke to Philly a bunch this weekend, and am looking forward to our date, for lack of a better term, next Saturday. I am not, however, looking forward to the two hour drive, each way.
Anyway, Phil came up this weekend. Phil is one of my best friends from college and we used to play in a band together, but we have not hung out in over half a year. He came up for a night of good times and good music. He arrived late, dealing with the left over BS of his former band. See, Phil was the bank- the only person making good income so the big purchases, aka the van, came out of his pocket. The band is now trying to see if it can sell the van, and move it around the former member's houses for storage. And all this took longer than expected, so Phil came up and we immediately went shopping for dinner food. Dinner was broiled turkey burgers with smokey spice, roasted onions and peppers, bound together with panko breadcrumbs and chipotle chedder. This was served on a hearty roll on a bed of spinach and onion slaw and topped with bleu cheese crumble. Served with a side of Pabst.
We hit the bars and consumed our booze, laughing at the popped collars and Affliction tees until I ran into a student and we had to leave the bar. We hit up another bar then pizza where there was a very loud singing effeminate man in high waters and dreads. Needless to say, we made it home laughing as I came up with an idea for a charity "Hand Jobs Across America" (it'd go guy-guy-girl-guy-guy-girl, etc.). We made it home, and he crashed on my couch, me in my bed. I dreamed I was thirsty and decapitating my old enemies, and woke up seven hours later to go get brunch.
The rest of the day was spent getting groceries and doing and absurd amount of laundry. And now I'm in bed, after working on two Pauper decks and writing this blog, just about ready to pass out.
Later dudes-
The Menzingers- "They Speak of my Drinking, but Never of my Thirst"
Friday, June 12, 2009
Plus and Minus
Congratulations to my sister on getting into the Columbia Pre-Med Post Bachelor's Program.
But seriously, what the fuck Mets?
But seriously, what the fuck Mets?
My MASH Unit Mets
Seriously, I'm just not even going to worry about the Mets until after the All Star Break. The number of injuries our team has endured thus far borders on comical and we are all kidding ourselves as fans if we think the team can compete as is or with making a few, obviously bad, moves at the trade deadline. Sit tight and wait, and then wait some more for next year, perhaps.
"Scrape up the stone to know it’ll be alright
If you don’t know where you’re gonna sleep tonight
But you know, it’s all within your reach
Go outside, lay your heart on the street
If only I could practice what I preach"
The Copyrights- "Second Hearse, Same as the First"
"Scrape up the stone to know it’ll be alright
If you don’t know where you’re gonna sleep tonight
But you know, it’s all within your reach
Go outside, lay your heart on the street
If only I could practice what I preach"
The Copyrights- "Second Hearse, Same as the First"
Thursday, June 11, 2009
A kick in the ball
So this is really happening...in a few short weeks I will be playing on a team in an amateur kickball league. I can't tell if this makes me incredibly awesome or incredibly creepy...perhaps creepily awesome.
I love baseball, and ESPN's baseball tonight. The show is smart, funny, and insightful, and covers the best damn sport on Earth. However, I can't stand John Kruk. Now, 95% of the time he's a fine analyst, lending his experience as a solid hitter and long time player to the program and doing a bang up job. However ,when talking about the Phillies, his former team, he always down plays how poorly they are playing and uses softer words (unless the mistakes are so egregious he has not note them). When talking about the Mets, if they play anything less than perfect baseball he calls them out as if they are an insult to the game. I mean, I know that there was a rivalry there when you were a player, but please leave that behind now that you're in the booth. A few notes:
1) I fully acknowledge that Kruk could kick my ass easily.
2) I am sure I only notice this because I am a Mets fan and pay more attention to the show whenever they are on.
3) In all other aspects I find Kruk to be a fine analyst. In fact, it is his battle with testicular cancer that has made me comfortable taking the proper precautions to preventing the disease in myself, since I am at risk. Basically, I use it as an excuse to feel around down there more often.
Now that Lost is off the air for the season (seriously, I hate that show but have to watch every episode because I need my fucking answers), Thursday has become my cheesy TV night. Burn Notice and the new Royal Pains are my opiate of choice, allowing me a relief from my day in humorous action, neurotic doctors, and Bruce Campbell. Everything is better with the Chin!
Phil is coming up this weekend for burgers, beer, and bonanza (I needed a word that began with B). It should be a good time, recounting days of yore, getting smashed, and talking about the finer points of college, like the multiple times he saw me naked. Not on purpose, but things happen.
Later dudes,
"Cause my friends are fucking awesome
And we keep on doing our best
Even though our lives are a mess"
Big D and the Kids Table- "LAX"
I love baseball, and ESPN's baseball tonight. The show is smart, funny, and insightful, and covers the best damn sport on Earth. However, I can't stand John Kruk. Now, 95% of the time he's a fine analyst, lending his experience as a solid hitter and long time player to the program and doing a bang up job. However ,when talking about the Phillies, his former team, he always down plays how poorly they are playing and uses softer words (unless the mistakes are so egregious he has not note them). When talking about the Mets, if they play anything less than perfect baseball he calls them out as if they are an insult to the game. I mean, I know that there was a rivalry there when you were a player, but please leave that behind now that you're in the booth. A few notes:
1) I fully acknowledge that Kruk could kick my ass easily.
2) I am sure I only notice this because I am a Mets fan and pay more attention to the show whenever they are on.
3) In all other aspects I find Kruk to be a fine analyst. In fact, it is his battle with testicular cancer that has made me comfortable taking the proper precautions to preventing the disease in myself, since I am at risk. Basically, I use it as an excuse to feel around down there more often.
Now that Lost is off the air for the season (seriously, I hate that show but have to watch every episode because I need my fucking answers), Thursday has become my cheesy TV night. Burn Notice and the new Royal Pains are my opiate of choice, allowing me a relief from my day in humorous action, neurotic doctors, and Bruce Campbell. Everything is better with the Chin!
Phil is coming up this weekend for burgers, beer, and bonanza (I needed a word that began with B). It should be a good time, recounting days of yore, getting smashed, and talking about the finer points of college, like the multiple times he saw me naked. Not on purpose, but things happen.
Later dudes,
"Cause my friends are fucking awesome
And we keep on doing our best
Even though our lives are a mess"
Big D and the Kids Table- "LAX"
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Everchanging
So Magic announced a huge change to the rules. I am not sure how I feel about this. I will want to wait until I play a few games with the new rules and cards before I say yay or nay, but I honestly feel like it'll be okay an I'll keep playing (as if the latter was ever a question). basically, combat got "more intuitive" to their focus groups, but makes less sense to everyone else playing the game. I can't travel back to my days of learning the game to see if these rules would have been easier to grasp, but I don't think they would be.
I still love the game.
American Steel posted a new song which is just, absolutely fucking perfect. Check it out at myspace.com/amsteel. I mean, really...this guys just kick so much ass and play music with such raw emotion that shine through in their lyrics and tone; it gets me every damn time. Seriously, if you like punk rock even a little, check out this band.
I feel bad for my pal, who shall remain nameless, but posts here from time to time. She's having a rough time of it, dealing with a terrible work situation. I wish she could quit, but in this economy, I know it's a bad idea to do anything drastic. She's doing all she can, and I know her situation will get better, but I am hoping for sooner rather than later.
So Philly (code name people, code name) called me today. I am still awed by this, and I find it incredibly endearing, mostly because the girl I dated for almost a year only called me if A) something was going wrong, like she was bleeding to death or B) she was returning my call. So yeah, getting calls from a woman who I haven't even been a date with yet...nice change of pace and ego boost.
I also got the information about the kickball league today and talked to my co-worker about signing up with me, which would be sweet.
Okay, that's all for now, later dudes.
"We only need a song to dance to
We only need a chorus to sing along to
Pabst tall boys and all of our friends
And everything will be alright
If only for tonight, if only for tonight
Drink and dance and sing along
Cause everything will be alright
If only for tonight"
-American Steel- "Emergency House Party"
I still love the game.
American Steel posted a new song which is just, absolutely fucking perfect. Check it out at myspace.com/amsteel. I mean, really...this guys just kick so much ass and play music with such raw emotion that shine through in their lyrics and tone; it gets me every damn time. Seriously, if you like punk rock even a little, check out this band.
I feel bad for my pal, who shall remain nameless, but posts here from time to time. She's having a rough time of it, dealing with a terrible work situation. I wish she could quit, but in this economy, I know it's a bad idea to do anything drastic. She's doing all she can, and I know her situation will get better, but I am hoping for sooner rather than later.
So Philly (code name people, code name) called me today. I am still awed by this, and I find it incredibly endearing, mostly because the girl I dated for almost a year only called me if A) something was going wrong, like she was bleeding to death or B) she was returning my call. So yeah, getting calls from a woman who I haven't even been a date with yet...nice change of pace and ego boost.
I also got the information about the kickball league today and talked to my co-worker about signing up with me, which would be sweet.
Okay, that's all for now, later dudes.
"We only need a song to dance to
We only need a chorus to sing along to
Pabst tall boys and all of our friends
And everything will be alright
If only for tonight, if only for tonight
Drink and dance and sing along
Cause everything will be alright
If only for tonight"
-American Steel- "Emergency House Party"
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Spoon out your eyes and...
I'm taking a week off from the gym. My body has basically told me to sleep more than usual, so I've pushed back my wake up time by over an hour this week to give my body the time it needs to recover from this past year. That being said I'm an antsy fucker and want to get back into the gym. And this is boring, I know...but it is my blog and I want you all to know I am a sleepy fucker this week and have altered my plans based upon that fact.
Oh, I have a new follower...which is scary, since I've never actually met the dude. Hi guy! We both post on the Sock Drawer, aka the fan boards for Brendan Kelly's blog the Bad Sandwich Chronicles, which is far and away the funniest shit I've read in a while. If you like breathing, read that blog. If you like being compared to the results of male masturbation, sign up for the fan forums. It's like a circle jerk...but with ladies!
So now I'm sitting here, watching the Mets play the Phillies (and right now they're winning, yay!) listening to the Dopamines drinking a Blue Moon seasonal brew. I'm trying to think back a year, to when I was still technically living in Buffalo and job hunting. Right around this time I was driving home for my cousin's wedding and interview at a school in Poughkeepsie, NY. I was miserable...well, close to it. Now, though, so much has changed. Life is good, and I just need to get out there and meet people. This, of curse, is leading me to sign up for a honest and true kickball league, playing kickball against other grown people in the sport of PE classes everywhere. I am stoked. Hopefully they will encourage me to wear headbands, short-shorts, and Keds...just like grade school.
I think I have a date set up in Philadelphia in just over a week. I'm not sure how this happened...okay, yes I am sure. I used jDate. This is all well and good, but I need to head back out there, you know, and be a person, not just a digital image.
I've actually gone out and done a ton of stuff in social settings. In addition to the kickball thing, I've started going to brunch and am seriously considering becoming a beach bum. I do wish cabs here were cheaper, seeing as how it costs 15 bucks each way for a ride to the bars (and it's only 4 miles- the joys of living on a college campus with students who go six to a cab), I end up driving myself out there a bunch...which in the end isn't a bad thing, since I don't get too sloshed. However, sometimes I want to get sloshed. This weekend might be one of those times, since I have friends visiting, which means someone to split cab fare with. We'll see.
Oh, I have a new follower...which is scary, since I've never actually met the dude. Hi guy! We both post on the Sock Drawer, aka the fan boards for Brendan Kelly's blog the Bad Sandwich Chronicles, which is far and away the funniest shit I've read in a while. If you like breathing, read that blog. If you like being compared to the results of male masturbation, sign up for the fan forums. It's like a circle jerk...but with ladies!
So now I'm sitting here, watching the Mets play the Phillies (and right now they're winning, yay!) listening to the Dopamines drinking a Blue Moon seasonal brew. I'm trying to think back a year, to when I was still technically living in Buffalo and job hunting. Right around this time I was driving home for my cousin's wedding and interview at a school in Poughkeepsie, NY. I was miserable...well, close to it. Now, though, so much has changed. Life is good, and I just need to get out there and meet people. This, of curse, is leading me to sign up for a honest and true kickball league, playing kickball against other grown people in the sport of PE classes everywhere. I am stoked. Hopefully they will encourage me to wear headbands, short-shorts, and Keds...just like grade school.
I think I have a date set up in Philadelphia in just over a week. I'm not sure how this happened...okay, yes I am sure. I used jDate. This is all well and good, but I need to head back out there, you know, and be a person, not just a digital image.
I've actually gone out and done a ton of stuff in social settings. In addition to the kickball thing, I've started going to brunch and am seriously considering becoming a beach bum. I do wish cabs here were cheaper, seeing as how it costs 15 bucks each way for a ride to the bars (and it's only 4 miles- the joys of living on a college campus with students who go six to a cab), I end up driving myself out there a bunch...which in the end isn't a bad thing, since I don't get too sloshed. However, sometimes I want to get sloshed. This weekend might be one of those times, since I have friends visiting, which means someone to split cab fare with. We'll see.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
I don't need blood stains on my hands to make me feel like I'm a man
What a weekend. I am exhausted, and I did not do all that much.
Friday I played some Magic and drafted rather well, going 3-1 and placing second, hopefully making some new gaming pals in the process. I was all set to go drinking after, but I was beat, so I came home to sleep...
And ended up talking to a woman on the phone for an hour from 2am to 3am, leaving me thoroughly exhausted for my Saturday. Now, normally, I would have liked to sleep in. However, thanks to the Sunday event that would be taking place not fifteen feet from my bed room window, I was jolted awake at the ripe old hour of 8am to people setting up tents and port-o-potties. That's right- you're shit woke me up.
So I did my grocery shopping and went to a Starbucks to finish working on an article, where I randomly accidentally farted on some people. I didn't mean to- I was sitting down and it just sort of happened. Thankfully...well, they noticed, but it was funny anyway.
I ended my Saturday by going to a bar and waltzed right into the middle of some fucked up birthday party. I left when a double chinned, orange tanned, absurdly breasted (presumably the birthday girl) started dancing and shaking my bar stool and smacking my shoulder with what was either a boob or a well formed pocket of residual vodka that was hibernating under her bust for a later date and time...you know, for emergencies.
Sunday, I walked through the madness of the charity walk (that had woken me up again, after too little sleep), encountering a Stormtrooper and apparently, Bristol Palin, as I attempted to go eat brunch. He mother was, as I was told, on the campus (where I live...joy) for the charity event. So not only was I tired, but I was likely in the presence of ignorance incarnate.
This is really my life.
So I enjoyed my brunch and went out to buy some books. I find myself rereading Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? so I picked up another Dick novel. I also bought Closing Time, the so-called sequel to Catch-22. Then, in desperate need of human contact, I went to the beach, found none, and came home to eat dinner and do laundry and watch the Pro Tour online.
I live in the suburbs, and it is difficult for me to get out. Well, not difficult, but drinking in the evening is a pain since the cabs charge extra to come here. This means I end up driving myself and not drinking a lot, which is fine. However, since I live where I work it makes it difficult to really get away, mentally.
I dunno, I'm just ranting. Looks like I am going to be signing up for kickball in a few weeks.
Friday I played some Magic and drafted rather well, going 3-1 and placing second, hopefully making some new gaming pals in the process. I was all set to go drinking after, but I was beat, so I came home to sleep...
And ended up talking to a woman on the phone for an hour from 2am to 3am, leaving me thoroughly exhausted for my Saturday. Now, normally, I would have liked to sleep in. However, thanks to the Sunday event that would be taking place not fifteen feet from my bed room window, I was jolted awake at the ripe old hour of 8am to people setting up tents and port-o-potties. That's right- you're shit woke me up.
So I did my grocery shopping and went to a Starbucks to finish working on an article, where I randomly accidentally farted on some people. I didn't mean to- I was sitting down and it just sort of happened. Thankfully...well, they noticed, but it was funny anyway.
I ended my Saturday by going to a bar and waltzed right into the middle of some fucked up birthday party. I left when a double chinned, orange tanned, absurdly breasted (presumably the birthday girl) started dancing and shaking my bar stool and smacking my shoulder with what was either a boob or a well formed pocket of residual vodka that was hibernating under her bust for a later date and time...you know, for emergencies.
Sunday, I walked through the madness of the charity walk (that had woken me up again, after too little sleep), encountering a Stormtrooper and apparently, Bristol Palin, as I attempted to go eat brunch. He mother was, as I was told, on the campus (where I live...joy) for the charity event. So not only was I tired, but I was likely in the presence of ignorance incarnate.
This is really my life.
So I enjoyed my brunch and went out to buy some books. I find myself rereading Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? so I picked up another Dick novel. I also bought Closing Time, the so-called sequel to Catch-22. Then, in desperate need of human contact, I went to the beach, found none, and came home to eat dinner and do laundry and watch the Pro Tour online.
I live in the suburbs, and it is difficult for me to get out. Well, not difficult, but drinking in the evening is a pain since the cabs charge extra to come here. This means I end up driving myself and not drinking a lot, which is fine. However, since I live where I work it makes it difficult to really get away, mentally.
I dunno, I'm just ranting. Looks like I am going to be signing up for kickball in a few weeks.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
So, in my attempt to actually have interesting things to say...here is my day.
I slept late and skipped the gym. I like going to the gym in the morning, it helps to wake me up and get my blood flowing (that and I'm too cheap to spend money on coffee...also I like thinking I'm good looking). But today, too sore..too tired...sleep won.
Work is..well, slow right now. The big myth is that when you work at a college you do nothing during the summer. Bull shit. Yeah, now is slower, but I still have work to do.
Another myth: girls. So many of my friends think that it's okay for me to just, like, mack it to the students for lack of a better term. Um, this is a good way to get my ass fired...so I won't do that.
People have a lot of ideas about working at a college and most of them are heavily influenced by Donald Sutherland's character in Animal House. reality is far different...if I'm caught in a short bathrobe, bye bye paycheck (and sadly, I need that money to do things like live).
As I write this, I found out my Mets lost Jose Reyes for quite a bit of time. Well, this sucks. Whatever, it's baseball...it happens. next year...let's go Mets.
So yeah, my day mostly consists of playing Magic online, surfing the web, sleeping, working, exercising, and trying to find food to eat. I also spend way too much time trying to figure out ways to meet people that do not suck. So far, I've signed up for jDate, which has, in the past week, sent me two messages telling me to start working out.
Sigh. The website was an experiment that has not exactly panned out. Rather, it just gets me frustrated at the shallowness of quite a few people on that site. But any way...
Yeah, I'm gong to try and be more positive, but the Reyes news knocked the wind out of my sails..that and I'm drinking more than usual tonight.
I slept late and skipped the gym. I like going to the gym in the morning, it helps to wake me up and get my blood flowing (that and I'm too cheap to spend money on coffee...also I like thinking I'm good looking). But today, too sore..too tired...sleep won.
Work is..well, slow right now. The big myth is that when you work at a college you do nothing during the summer. Bull shit. Yeah, now is slower, but I still have work to do.
Another myth: girls. So many of my friends think that it's okay for me to just, like, mack it to the students for lack of a better term. Um, this is a good way to get my ass fired...so I won't do that.
People have a lot of ideas about working at a college and most of them are heavily influenced by Donald Sutherland's character in Animal House. reality is far different...if I'm caught in a short bathrobe, bye bye paycheck (and sadly, I need that money to do things like live).
As I write this, I found out my Mets lost Jose Reyes for quite a bit of time. Well, this sucks. Whatever, it's baseball...it happens. next year...let's go Mets.
So yeah, my day mostly consists of playing Magic online, surfing the web, sleeping, working, exercising, and trying to find food to eat. I also spend way too much time trying to figure out ways to meet people that do not suck. So far, I've signed up for jDate, which has, in the past week, sent me two messages telling me to start working out.
Sigh. The website was an experiment that has not exactly panned out. Rather, it just gets me frustrated at the shallowness of quite a few people on that site. But any way...
Yeah, I'm gong to try and be more positive, but the Reyes news knocked the wind out of my sails..that and I'm drinking more than usual tonight.
Zorak
I skipped the gym this morning, deciding that sleep was far more important. So of course in my extra hour of slumber, I dreamed that i was keeping some sort of giant robot insect in a box in my apartment and that it had gotten loose and was now some where, free in my domicile. Now, normally this would not be an issue except that this guy was big and scary and deadly (so of course I was keeping him in a cardboard box...because I'm 7 and cardboard boxes are super sweet).
Needless to say, the sleep was good.
Strange things happen when I sleep- about a month ago I was woken up and could have sworn my home was being attacked by zombies. As it turns out, people were just throwing eggs at me.
Possibly one of the worst feelings in the world, stemming from a lack of sleep, is the inability to do something you know you're good at. Whether it's work, hobbies, exercise, cooking, whatever...having an off day absolutely sucks. And you know, it's like a slump..sometimes you just have to keep going up there and striking out in order to find your rhythm. Of course, you have no idea how long it could take you to get out of your funk, so sometimes it just seems endless, but in your head, you know things will even out.
Okay, off to work.
Musical recommendation: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones- "Live From the Middle east"
Needless to say, the sleep was good.
Strange things happen when I sleep- about a month ago I was woken up and could have sworn my home was being attacked by zombies. As it turns out, people were just throwing eggs at me.
Possibly one of the worst feelings in the world, stemming from a lack of sleep, is the inability to do something you know you're good at. Whether it's work, hobbies, exercise, cooking, whatever...having an off day absolutely sucks. And you know, it's like a slump..sometimes you just have to keep going up there and striking out in order to find your rhythm. Of course, you have no idea how long it could take you to get out of your funk, so sometimes it just seems endless, but in your head, you know things will even out.
Okay, off to work.
Musical recommendation: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones- "Live From the Middle east"
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Holy shit!
I know I should post more, but I'm lazy.
Thoughts:
The MASH Unit Mets are going to be alright...it's a long season.
Why do weathermen treat Hurricane season like porn? Seriously, it's like they want to blow their wad on the Doppler. Seriously..people are dying, at least use a condom.
Music is still awesome.
Creepy vendors who show up unannounced and try to ambush your boss are not cool. Don't do this, it makes you a douche.
Thoughts:
The MASH Unit Mets are going to be alright...it's a long season.
Why do weathermen treat Hurricane season like porn? Seriously, it's like they want to blow their wad on the Doppler. Seriously..people are dying, at least use a condom.
Music is still awesome.
Creepy vendors who show up unannounced and try to ambush your boss are not cool. Don't do this, it makes you a douche.
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