I don't mind stealing bread
From the mouths of decadence
But I can't feed on the powerless
When my cup's already overfilled,
But it's on the table
The fire is cooking
And they're farming babies
While slaves are working
Blood is on the table
And the mouths are choking
But I'm growing hungry
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
The A-Team
Well, that was just a lot of fun!
It was a nice contrast between movies. The last one was kind of head-strong and cerebral. This one was Just silly, stupid fun. I never watched the A-Team when it was a TV show. I saw it of course, but I didn't go out of my way to watch it, although I knew the premise.
This was a good movie. Not Oscar quality good but the time went by fast and I liked the story. There was gun fights and explosions, strange plot twists and some rather idiotic characters. The whole Lynch thing was starting to get old. But you can't fight instinct. When it was over and the good guys won (did they?) you were smiling.
4/5
Well, that was just a lot of fun!
It was a nice contrast between movies. The last one was kind of head-strong and cerebral. This one was Just silly, stupid fun. I never watched the A-Team when it was a TV show. I saw it of course, but I didn't go out of my way to watch it, although I knew the premise.
This was a good movie. Not Oscar quality good but the time went by fast and I liked the story. There was gun fights and explosions, strange plot twists and some rather idiotic characters. The whole Lynch thing was starting to get old. But you can't fight instinct. When it was over and the good guys won (did they?) you were smiling.
4/5
Numb
I can't like this. It would be too personally painful to say that I liked this movie.
Do I think its a decent portrayal of what its like to be that guy? Absolutely. I wouldn't have picked Matthew Perry to play a depersonalized person because you can't take him serious, even when you're supposed to take his serious. But there's a lot there that makes sense.
I thought it played out like a TV movie, so it suffers in that regard from a lack of production value, bad editing and stilted directing. But I liked what they tried to do.
I just can't like the movie. It made me uncomfortable about my life.
2/5
I can't like this. It would be too personally painful to say that I liked this movie.
Do I think its a decent portrayal of what its like to be that guy? Absolutely. I wouldn't have picked Matthew Perry to play a depersonalized person because you can't take him serious, even when you're supposed to take his serious. But there's a lot there that makes sense.
I thought it played out like a TV movie, so it suffers in that regard from a lack of production value, bad editing and stilted directing. But I liked what they tried to do.
I just can't like the movie. It made me uncomfortable about my life.
2/5
Inception
Holy cow did that blow me away! Its hard to even compare the shows I watched before that, to that movie. They aren't even in the same class.
It was a smart show. I liked how it was subtle and nuanced, without being annoyingly cryptic. It opened kinda strange, and you didn't exactly know what was going on. But when you get the reveal at the end its one of thos 'a ha' moments that you only good when a movie is great at storytelling.
I'm not going to give any of it way by describing the plot. You probably know the basics from the commercials this summer. Its about people going into dreams. But its a lot more complex than that however they don't make it impossible to stay with it. It does take some mental note taking to keep track of where everyone is, but its not difficult to do. But the pay-off is great.
This was awesome!
5/5
Holy cow did that blow me away! Its hard to even compare the shows I watched before that, to that movie. They aren't even in the same class.
It was a smart show. I liked how it was subtle and nuanced, without being annoyingly cryptic. It opened kinda strange, and you didn't exactly know what was going on. But when you get the reveal at the end its one of thos 'a ha' moments that you only good when a movie is great at storytelling.
I'm not going to give any of it way by describing the plot. You probably know the basics from the commercials this summer. Its about people going into dreams. But its a lot more complex than that however they don't make it impossible to stay with it. It does take some mental note taking to keep track of where everyone is, but its not difficult to do. But the pay-off is great.
This was awesome!
5/5
Get Him To The Greek
Wow, another one exactly like the first. Didn't like it, didn't not like it.
It felt a little uneven. I know it was /supposed/ to be over the top, with the drinking, the drugs, the girls, the excess but it seemed really forced. Which of course was the point because at the end the rock star admits that he's unhappy. But they didn't sell it well enough at the front end to make it work at the back. Jonah Hill was way too subdued, compared to his talent, and it almost seemed like he was playing a dramatic role.
P.S. There was too many things going into, and out of, his ass. Which could have been funny but it seemed like violation.
3/5
Wow, another one exactly like the first. Didn't like it, didn't not like it.
It felt a little uneven. I know it was /supposed/ to be over the top, with the drinking, the drugs, the girls, the excess but it seemed really forced. Which of course was the point because at the end the rock star admits that he's unhappy. But they didn't sell it well enough at the front end to make it work at the back. Jonah Hill was way too subdued, compared to his talent, and it almost seemed like he was playing a dramatic role.
P.S. There was too many things going into, and out of, his ass. Which could have been funny but it seemed like violation.
3/5
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Monday, November 08, 2010
I don't think she cheated. Its possible to solve without any more clues. She did it incredibly fast but its not impossible.
Wheel Of Fortune Puzzler
Wheel Of Fortune Puzzler
Monday, November 01, 2010
Okay, new rule!
Extra Foods and once again earned my enmity. Now as it turns out it didn't matter. My salad turned out awesome regardless of the fiasco with Extra Foods. So I don't feel cheated. But its the same story as before.
I go to Extra Food tonight. I'm coming back from my dry needling appointment. I'm behind, because the doctor was behind, but that's not the story. I dash into Extra Food just before 9:00. I want to do a quick in-out and go home to eat. I'm hungry like balls.
I pick up this bag salad and it occurs to me, "I was going to have something with mushrooms in it". Mushrooms can go with salad so I start looking around the store for the canned mushrooms.
Do you think I could find the bloody things in Extra Foods? No!!! They were nowhere to be seen. I checked the obvious places. I checked the un-obvious places. I checked any row that had cans in it. I could not find the mushrooms.
So I gave up.
New Rule! All canned goods, regardless of what they are, will all be in ONE aisle. No exceptions. The caviar can be next to the kidney beans. That way, at least if I know its in a CAN, I'll know what aisle to be in.
Extra Foods and once again earned my enmity. Now as it turns out it didn't matter. My salad turned out awesome regardless of the fiasco with Extra Foods. So I don't feel cheated. But its the same story as before.
I go to Extra Food tonight. I'm coming back from my dry needling appointment. I'm behind, because the doctor was behind, but that's not the story. I dash into Extra Food just before 9:00. I want to do a quick in-out and go home to eat. I'm hungry like balls.
I pick up this bag salad and it occurs to me, "I was going to have something with mushrooms in it". Mushrooms can go with salad so I start looking around the store for the canned mushrooms.
Do you think I could find the bloody things in Extra Foods? No!!! They were nowhere to be seen. I checked the obvious places. I checked the un-obvious places. I checked any row that had cans in it. I could not find the mushrooms.
So I gave up.
New Rule! All canned goods, regardless of what they are, will all be in ONE aisle. No exceptions. The caviar can be next to the kidney beans. That way, at least if I know its in a CAN, I'll know what aisle to be in.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Why I Hate McDonalds
by Grant Guenther
I got up early this morning. I had thought about it the night before. I had a plan. I was at the mall by 9:30. The whole thing started off well. I stopped at the bank to get cash first. Its been awhile since I got dollar bills and occasionally it comes in handy.
Next on my list was Safeway. I was going to go to Extra Foods but I changed my mind. I like the steak at Extra Foods better, thus my choice. However the Safeway lot was next to empty and that NEVER happens, so I changed my plan.
I didn't clean up before I left. I wasn't a complete pig. I'd had a shower the night before and I did brush my teeth. But I looked in the mirror before I left and did specifically comment that I definitely needed a shave. But this was just a quick trip and I wasn't trying to impress anyone so I let it slide.
Wouldn't you know my luck? I got the cutest chick working at Safeway as my teller. She was in a costume. I think she was supposed to be Raggedy Ann or Alice in Wonderland. I wasn't entirely sure. It was a blue dress with a white smock-like front and she had red and white striped socks on. I totally would have started a conversation about it except I looked like a dirty hobo and she might have called the cops on me. Plus she always looks half-scared on the best of days.
It was still early when i left Safeway. It was only 10:00 so I decided 'I'm gonna get a McGriddle'.
I go to McDonalds and as expected, it looks like a nursing home. A full 90% of the people there were on social security.
I waited a brief time in line and get to order my McGriddle. I look at the board "2.59/sandwich, $3.99/meal" I don't want to pig out on McDonald's because I'll just feel gross. How about get the meal, and it'll still come in under $5. i get the meal and she gives me the total.
$5.03.
Come on!
It has to be because I ordered a Coke. She asks me, what do you want to drink? I think about it for a second. I don't like coffee. I could get tea but its too much hassle getting the sugar in it. Forgot about hot chocolate. I could get orange juice or apple juice. My juice at home is better. I'll just get the Coke I wanted with it all along.
So instead of $3.99 for the 'meal' it was actually $4.79. Just because of the damn Coke. If its not $3.99 including drink, don't pretend like it is! You know, I wouldn't have noticed or cared, if it had just come in under $5. But I had zero change with me, because this was /supposed/ to cost less than $5. So I ended up leaving with enough change in my pocket to make my pants sag to my knees.
by Grant Guenther
I got up early this morning. I had thought about it the night before. I had a plan. I was at the mall by 9:30. The whole thing started off well. I stopped at the bank to get cash first. Its been awhile since I got dollar bills and occasionally it comes in handy.
Next on my list was Safeway. I was going to go to Extra Foods but I changed my mind. I like the steak at Extra Foods better, thus my choice. However the Safeway lot was next to empty and that NEVER happens, so I changed my plan.
I didn't clean up before I left. I wasn't a complete pig. I'd had a shower the night before and I did brush my teeth. But I looked in the mirror before I left and did specifically comment that I definitely needed a shave. But this was just a quick trip and I wasn't trying to impress anyone so I let it slide.
Wouldn't you know my luck? I got the cutest chick working at Safeway as my teller. She was in a costume. I think she was supposed to be Raggedy Ann or Alice in Wonderland. I wasn't entirely sure. It was a blue dress with a white smock-like front and she had red and white striped socks on. I totally would have started a conversation about it except I looked like a dirty hobo and she might have called the cops on me. Plus she always looks half-scared on the best of days.
It was still early when i left Safeway. It was only 10:00 so I decided 'I'm gonna get a McGriddle'.
I go to McDonalds and as expected, it looks like a nursing home. A full 90% of the people there were on social security.
I waited a brief time in line and get to order my McGriddle. I look at the board "2.59/sandwich, $3.99/meal" I don't want to pig out on McDonald's because I'll just feel gross. How about get the meal, and it'll still come in under $5. i get the meal and she gives me the total.
$5.03.
Come on!
It has to be because I ordered a Coke. She asks me, what do you want to drink? I think about it for a second. I don't like coffee. I could get tea but its too much hassle getting the sugar in it. Forgot about hot chocolate. I could get orange juice or apple juice. My juice at home is better. I'll just get the Coke I wanted with it all along.
So instead of $3.99 for the 'meal' it was actually $4.79. Just because of the damn Coke. If its not $3.99 including drink, don't pretend like it is! You know, I wouldn't have noticed or cared, if it had just come in under $5. But I had zero change with me, because this was /supposed/ to cost less than $5. So I ended up leaving with enough change in my pocket to make my pants sag to my knees.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
I'm having trouble writing lately. No, it's not that I'm lacking topics. Plenty of things are on my mind, as one minute passes into the next. Plenty is probably an understatement. A hummingbird flapping its wings would do well to keep up to the constantly changing litany of thoughts that pass through my cranial membrane.
The problem with writing is that I get about 3/4 of the way through a rant about something, and it becomes vividly clear to me that the cause and remedy to any and everything I want to rail on about in the world, is in my head. The architect of my misfortune and my misery are none other than myself.
I have to break this cycle. Which is proving harder than I thought to do. There is a self-perpetuating series that always takes any event or occurrence, breaks it down into its base parts, and saves only the uncomfortable or misfortunate bits and scatters all the rest to the winds. I'm doing this every time. All the time. I'm starting to see this in myself, now that I'm looking. But the observation alone is not sufficient to solve the problem.
How about we use an example?
"Are you bringing a guest to the Christmas party?"
This does not just SEEM like an innocuous question. It IS an innocuous question. No one passes any judgement based on the answer. There are no truths revealed by responding to this query. It is JUST a question. She meant nothing by it, and probably forgot about my answer by the time she exited my door.
On the other hand, I found this question annoying, invasive and offensive. Let's just let that sink in by including a more or less useless sentence here. I was annoyed that she asked me that. I found the question invasive because I didn't want to answer it. And I frankly am not sure why it was offensive.
My point is, no one cares. Except I care. And I shouldn't because it doesn't matter for any reason. But the reaction is so visceral and immediate that I throw up my guard and am instantly aggressive. Which of course means that I'm bitterly remorseful about ten minutes later. The whole cycle repeats again the next time and I never get out of this lock-step between anger and remorse.
I know why this one question bothers me. The girl asking it is one I've fantasized about being the answer to it. She doesn't say yes when I feebly attempt to ask. Thus I feel toothless and infirm when I have to go over this again with the same girl.
Not that this answers the whole issue fully, because I hate the question anyway. It reminds me, in a vivid way that is impossible to ignore, that I'm not succeeding at something I've made a priority.
I am beginning to see the reasons why this is always a failure. I'm not doing this right. The only thing people see of me are traits that are undesirable. I'm aggressive and angry about almost anything that doesn't go according to my plan. I'm oafish and stupid when I'm not rigidly paying attention. And I'm so cerebral that these constant and continuing failures make me perpetually remorseful and crestfallen. Thus I'm giving out nothing that anyone has any reason to want to return kindly.
This is not however, the answer to changing my fate. This is only step one. I have itemized that my behaviour, and my mental outlook, is the cause of my misfortune. I fail because I set myself up to fail, with my negative thoughts and my unpleasant attitude. It is step two that is the difficult one. I analyzed it quickly enough to figure out what the cause was. But I'm not so certain about the answer.
I'm trying. I'm paying attention to my own thoughts, but more importantly to my voice. Typically I am quick to deride something. I will use some epithet or curse at it/them full of venom. I'll never get rid of it but if I can at least tone it down, or even teach myself not to lash out like that, then maybe there is hope. But the greater answer is to not jump to react, because it only leads me to turn all my insults and fury back on myself. If I can stop reflecting everything mean and awful I say about everything else into my own view of my self-worth, then maybe I have a hope of being seen for less of a monster than I am.
The problem with writing is that I get about 3/4 of the way through a rant about something, and it becomes vividly clear to me that the cause and remedy to any and everything I want to rail on about in the world, is in my head. The architect of my misfortune and my misery are none other than myself.
I have to break this cycle. Which is proving harder than I thought to do. There is a self-perpetuating series that always takes any event or occurrence, breaks it down into its base parts, and saves only the uncomfortable or misfortunate bits and scatters all the rest to the winds. I'm doing this every time. All the time. I'm starting to see this in myself, now that I'm looking. But the observation alone is not sufficient to solve the problem.
How about we use an example?
"Are you bringing a guest to the Christmas party?"
This does not just SEEM like an innocuous question. It IS an innocuous question. No one passes any judgement based on the answer. There are no truths revealed by responding to this query. It is JUST a question. She meant nothing by it, and probably forgot about my answer by the time she exited my door.
On the other hand, I found this question annoying, invasive and offensive. Let's just let that sink in by including a more or less useless sentence here. I was annoyed that she asked me that. I found the question invasive because I didn't want to answer it. And I frankly am not sure why it was offensive.
My point is, no one cares. Except I care. And I shouldn't because it doesn't matter for any reason. But the reaction is so visceral and immediate that I throw up my guard and am instantly aggressive. Which of course means that I'm bitterly remorseful about ten minutes later. The whole cycle repeats again the next time and I never get out of this lock-step between anger and remorse.
I know why this one question bothers me. The girl asking it is one I've fantasized about being the answer to it. She doesn't say yes when I feebly attempt to ask. Thus I feel toothless and infirm when I have to go over this again with the same girl.
Not that this answers the whole issue fully, because I hate the question anyway. It reminds me, in a vivid way that is impossible to ignore, that I'm not succeeding at something I've made a priority.
I am beginning to see the reasons why this is always a failure. I'm not doing this right. The only thing people see of me are traits that are undesirable. I'm aggressive and angry about almost anything that doesn't go according to my plan. I'm oafish and stupid when I'm not rigidly paying attention. And I'm so cerebral that these constant and continuing failures make me perpetually remorseful and crestfallen. Thus I'm giving out nothing that anyone has any reason to want to return kindly.
This is not however, the answer to changing my fate. This is only step one. I have itemized that my behaviour, and my mental outlook, is the cause of my misfortune. I fail because I set myself up to fail, with my negative thoughts and my unpleasant attitude. It is step two that is the difficult one. I analyzed it quickly enough to figure out what the cause was. But I'm not so certain about the answer.
I'm trying. I'm paying attention to my own thoughts, but more importantly to my voice. Typically I am quick to deride something. I will use some epithet or curse at it/them full of venom. I'll never get rid of it but if I can at least tone it down, or even teach myself not to lash out like that, then maybe there is hope. But the greater answer is to not jump to react, because it only leads me to turn all my insults and fury back on myself. If I can stop reflecting everything mean and awful I say about everything else into my own view of my self-worth, then maybe I have a hope of being seen for less of a monster than I am.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Saturday, October 09, 2010
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
Thursday, September 30, 2010
It's finally official. I am pissed off enough about this that I'm going to write about it.
Why does everyone ignore me? I don't get it. Perhaps I'm missing some critical aspect of my own behaviour or attitude. Someone is going to have to answer that for me, because from my perspective I'm not doing anything that justifies this behaviour.
There are numerous examples, most of which I'm going to leave out so as to not make this post about any one person. But the infuriating pattern keeps happening and I've about reached my limit with it.
The hard part about reaching your limit with people ignoring you, is that your alternative is to just ignore them. Its a piss-poor option because, if people ignoring you is pissing you off, then obviously you want their attention and ignoring them is a lousy direction to take.
Why am I being ignored? This is the answerless question that haunts me at night when I should be sleeping. What am I doing that makes it so difficult to:
- answer my email
- return my phone call
- leave a salutation when you cease the conversation
All of these things have occurred, and to my extreme exasperation, have been especially prevalent this week.
You send out an email, which specifically requests a response, and the reply is complete, stone-dead silence. Nothing. Not even a 'no thank you'. Just flat up ignore.
You call someone, again specifically requesting a response, and the result is unnerving dead air. I actually asked for a service, and wanted to compensate, and again it was just another pattern of not being worthy of even a, I'm too busy. Why?
And my personal favourite is querying someone about an issue, and leaving a statement out there to be answered, and that's just the end of the discourse. Not an, I don't know. Not a, no thanks. Not even a, have a good day. Just empty, pregnant silence.
Maybe I'm just an enormous prick. I don't think it would be a stretch to think I might be a tad on the needy side. But why is the pattern repeated that I just get nothing back for my effort? Am I just disliked that much that everyone prefers to walk away over having something to do with me?
This is an effort in self discovery for me. I want to understand why I'm not reaching my goals in life. I'm not a terribly social person. I have identified this as a limitation. But constantly having my attempts to engage people, and being met with the stone wall, is not teaching me anything. In fact its making me ragingly angry and on the verge of becoming a militant asshole to everyone. If you thought I was a prick now, you should see what I could do if I'm committed.
I guess, at the end of the this, I'm asking for advice. Being ignored does not feel very good and I'd like it to stop. But clearly I'm exhibiting some kind of personality flaw that makes it easier for people to walk away than to say good bye. So what is it? Enlighten me!
Why does everyone ignore me? I don't get it. Perhaps I'm missing some critical aspect of my own behaviour or attitude. Someone is going to have to answer that for me, because from my perspective I'm not doing anything that justifies this behaviour.
There are numerous examples, most of which I'm going to leave out so as to not make this post about any one person. But the infuriating pattern keeps happening and I've about reached my limit with it.
The hard part about reaching your limit with people ignoring you, is that your alternative is to just ignore them. Its a piss-poor option because, if people ignoring you is pissing you off, then obviously you want their attention and ignoring them is a lousy direction to take.
Why am I being ignored? This is the answerless question that haunts me at night when I should be sleeping. What am I doing that makes it so difficult to:
- answer my email
- return my phone call
- leave a salutation when you cease the conversation
All of these things have occurred, and to my extreme exasperation, have been especially prevalent this week.
You send out an email, which specifically requests a response, and the reply is complete, stone-dead silence. Nothing. Not even a 'no thank you'. Just flat up ignore.
You call someone, again specifically requesting a response, and the result is unnerving dead air. I actually asked for a service, and wanted to compensate, and again it was just another pattern of not being worthy of even a, I'm too busy. Why?
And my personal favourite is querying someone about an issue, and leaving a statement out there to be answered, and that's just the end of the discourse. Not an, I don't know. Not a, no thanks. Not even a, have a good day. Just empty, pregnant silence.
Maybe I'm just an enormous prick. I don't think it would be a stretch to think I might be a tad on the needy side. But why is the pattern repeated that I just get nothing back for my effort? Am I just disliked that much that everyone prefers to walk away over having something to do with me?
This is an effort in self discovery for me. I want to understand why I'm not reaching my goals in life. I'm not a terribly social person. I have identified this as a limitation. But constantly having my attempts to engage people, and being met with the stone wall, is not teaching me anything. In fact its making me ragingly angry and on the verge of becoming a militant asshole to everyone. If you thought I was a prick now, you should see what I could do if I'm committed.
I guess, at the end of the this, I'm asking for advice. Being ignored does not feel very good and I'd like it to stop. But clearly I'm exhibiting some kind of personality flaw that makes it easier for people to walk away than to say good bye. So what is it? Enlighten me!
Sunday, September 26, 2010
It has been a weird week.
I feel a bunch of things. Which in and of itself is weird, because you’re not really supposed to notice yourself feeling things. It’s just supposed to be happen.
I could lie and say I knew it was coming. If I tried to do that, you’d see right through me like a white shirt in a wet t-shirt contest. I didn’t see it coming, although maybe I should have.
Tuesday opened my eyes. It is not a lie to say I thought about the moment when it would happen. Because it would have been foolish to think I could go through the rest of my life without it happening. That’s what I wanted though.
I set up my trade show booth on Tuesday, with my direct competitor across the aisle from me. That direct competitor being my former employer. To say I have conflicted feelings about my former employer would be an understatement in the highest regard. It is unlikely that I will resolve the struggle within me about how it came to pass that I went from there to here.
There is a part of me, a very large part of me in fact, that wishes I could just hate him. That would be the easy way to deal with my emotions. Just let it be a smoldering, unquenched fire that burns in my belly. At least if I knew that’s what I felt then I could make a peace with it. But that isn’t true, so I don’t get the comfort.
While I knew beforehand that my direct competitor was going to be across the aisle from me, I was not prepared for the reality of the man who was my former employer, standing within that opposing booth. I hadn’t steeled myself for that. So when I saw him walking towards me, from the massive glass wall that framed the end of the trade show floor, my stomach gave a Herculean lurch that I almost wish hadn’t remained contained.
It was weird. Just plain, damn weird. I would like to use the word surreal, but that doesn’t really apply here. It just happened, and then it was gone. Which brings me to my earlier point about hating. At least if I just hated the man, then I’d have that with which I would have to live. But I don’t. I’ve tried to hate. I’ve tried hard. But I can’t hold it. It just won’t fit.
I’ve forgiven him. It would be easier to live my life if I didn’t but I’ve already done that. Which leaves me with the question why. But at the end of the day I don’t even need to know that. When he was standing there in front of me, smiling that open, free from pretension smile, I couldn’t help but admit that I’d let go any animosity about what happened.
Which moves us to Friday. On this august occasion I would be attending my very first Blades game as a patron, and not an employee in the building.
It was just plain, damn weird.
If I had to make an analogy that would explain what it felt like, I think it would be something like this:
Imagine what it would be like to be a baboon that was born into captivity. Your whole life you were in the cage, knew the cage, and never imagined you would ever be free of that cage. Then one day, when you didn’t expect it, after years and years on the inside, you were taken by the hand, led outside the walls, then left on your own. Imagine the shock and the wonder of being outside the bars. Imagine the sense of loneliness of not having those bars are your friend. It was like they kept you from your desire now, when it was before that it was supposed to be inhibiting.
It would have been surreal, if I hadn’t known all along that it was the truth. It hard to pretend it’s a dream (nightmare) when you’ve already pinched yourself to be sure its true.
So I walked around the building in the middle of an intermission. Not because I had to take something somewhere, but because the event was paused and I needed something to do. It kind of felt forced too. Like we all wanted it to be fun, but our real hope was that somehow we’d be let passed the steel bike rack and back to our home.
The velvet robe (steel bike rack) seems to change everything. When you’re on the inside, its like you’re part of something. It breaks down walls that otherwise exist. It changes the landscape.
The Blades won 3-2. I watched the game and cheered, enjoying the experience. But at the same time my heart lamented for something that was lost. I won’t feel the same about Credit Union Center anymore. I won’t call it regret. The real feeling will be somewhere between a lament and a longing.
Good bye old friend. Though we’ll still see each other from time to time, the bitter sting of a divorce will forever taint my heart.
I feel a bunch of things. Which in and of itself is weird, because you’re not really supposed to notice yourself feeling things. It’s just supposed to be happen.
I could lie and say I knew it was coming. If I tried to do that, you’d see right through me like a white shirt in a wet t-shirt contest. I didn’t see it coming, although maybe I should have.
Tuesday opened my eyes. It is not a lie to say I thought about the moment when it would happen. Because it would have been foolish to think I could go through the rest of my life without it happening. That’s what I wanted though.
I set up my trade show booth on Tuesday, with my direct competitor across the aisle from me. That direct competitor being my former employer. To say I have conflicted feelings about my former employer would be an understatement in the highest regard. It is unlikely that I will resolve the struggle within me about how it came to pass that I went from there to here.
There is a part of me, a very large part of me in fact, that wishes I could just hate him. That would be the easy way to deal with my emotions. Just let it be a smoldering, unquenched fire that burns in my belly. At least if I knew that’s what I felt then I could make a peace with it. But that isn’t true, so I don’t get the comfort.
While I knew beforehand that my direct competitor was going to be across the aisle from me, I was not prepared for the reality of the man who was my former employer, standing within that opposing booth. I hadn’t steeled myself for that. So when I saw him walking towards me, from the massive glass wall that framed the end of the trade show floor, my stomach gave a Herculean lurch that I almost wish hadn’t remained contained.
It was weird. Just plain, damn weird. I would like to use the word surreal, but that doesn’t really apply here. It just happened, and then it was gone. Which brings me to my earlier point about hating. At least if I just hated the man, then I’d have that with which I would have to live. But I don’t. I’ve tried to hate. I’ve tried hard. But I can’t hold it. It just won’t fit.
I’ve forgiven him. It would be easier to live my life if I didn’t but I’ve already done that. Which leaves me with the question why. But at the end of the day I don’t even need to know that. When he was standing there in front of me, smiling that open, free from pretension smile, I couldn’t help but admit that I’d let go any animosity about what happened.
Which moves us to Friday. On this august occasion I would be attending my very first Blades game as a patron, and not an employee in the building.
It was just plain, damn weird.
If I had to make an analogy that would explain what it felt like, I think it would be something like this:
Imagine what it would be like to be a baboon that was born into captivity. Your whole life you were in the cage, knew the cage, and never imagined you would ever be free of that cage. Then one day, when you didn’t expect it, after years and years on the inside, you were taken by the hand, led outside the walls, then left on your own. Imagine the shock and the wonder of being outside the bars. Imagine the sense of loneliness of not having those bars are your friend. It was like they kept you from your desire now, when it was before that it was supposed to be inhibiting.
It would have been surreal, if I hadn’t known all along that it was the truth. It hard to pretend it’s a dream (nightmare) when you’ve already pinched yourself to be sure its true.
So I walked around the building in the middle of an intermission. Not because I had to take something somewhere, but because the event was paused and I needed something to do. It kind of felt forced too. Like we all wanted it to be fun, but our real hope was that somehow we’d be let passed the steel bike rack and back to our home.
The velvet robe (steel bike rack) seems to change everything. When you’re on the inside, its like you’re part of something. It breaks down walls that otherwise exist. It changes the landscape.
The Blades won 3-2. I watched the game and cheered, enjoying the experience. But at the same time my heart lamented for something that was lost. I won’t feel the same about Credit Union Center anymore. I won’t call it regret. The real feeling will be somewhere between a lament and a longing.
Good bye old friend. Though we’ll still see each other from time to time, the bitter sting of a divorce will forever taint my heart.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
What the hell is wrong with the Canadian Tire web-site? I have this idea to mount my USB hub out in front of the computer. Right now I'm thinking of sticking it to the side of a VCR. However to do this, I would need to find some good quality two-sided tape.
Where's the first place you think of, when you need something of a handy nature? Well Canadian Tire of course. They've got just about anything you could possibly think of, and a very, very in-depth web-site. I'll just fire up the old beast and do a quick search to find out how much two-sided tape is.
So I bring up the page and type 'tape' into the search box. I hit Search and wait for my answer.
What does my search return? An inflatable boat. How the HELL do you get a top result of 'boat' in return for a search for 'tape'???
Where's the first place you think of, when you need something of a handy nature? Well Canadian Tire of course. They've got just about anything you could possibly think of, and a very, very in-depth web-site. I'll just fire up the old beast and do a quick search to find out how much two-sided tape is.
So I bring up the page and type 'tape' into the search box. I hit Search and wait for my answer.
What does my search return? An inflatable boat. How the HELL do you get a top result of 'boat' in return for a search for 'tape'???
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Who wants a pear?!?
And this isn't all of them. These are just the one's I RAKED up tonight. I picked about half a plastic tote worth of pears. It was hard to pick them. None of the pears have gotten really big. About 90% of them are golf ball sized. I was sorting through the tree looking for good one's and they would fall any time I brushed into the branches. Finally I gave up and picked from the one's on the ground. Then I gave up even that and just raked up the gargantuan mess of pears on the ground.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Seriously people, we need to have a talk.
I never really noticed this before. Which isn't so odd because I wasn't in the position of power. But to see the scenario from the other side now, it just baffles me at the level of stupidity that some people show.
What's wrong with driver's? Maybe this makes me seem old but really it feels like everyone has gone absolutely loony on the road now. You get on the road and sometimes you're so baffled at the level of sheet stupidity that people are exhibiting that it makes you want to find a rock to hide under.
I'm driving home tonight, and I get to a stop light. I'm at the head of the lane so I'll get off the line first. On my left is a man who is clearly older than me, and some similarly aged passengers. The car is a green 4-door Plymouth. I'm not a car guy so I can't tell you the model. I just read Plymouth on the trunk.
Light turns green, I shift into first and pull away from the line. I'm shifting gears here, its not an automatic. Plus the clutch on my car is a bit of a pain in the ass so its easier to drive it hard off the line, to make shifting easier.
The yahoo in the lane next of me is racing me.
Let's examine this situation. Ford Mustang with a V8 engine and a relative low weight. Plymouth sedan with likely a V6 and a much less modest weight.
I'm not even trying to go fast. Like I mentioned earlier, its just easier to shift gears in this car if you punch the gas and ride the clutch out a bit. Yeah, you'll come off the line decently hard, but I'm not trying to set any speed records.
So we're zipping up the street. I'm not even attempting to go fast; this is just my normal take-off strategy for city streets. And this jack ass beside me appears to have the pedal to the floor so he can get ahead of me. Yes, a part of me thought about just dropping it back a gear, punching it, and making this retard understand just how stupid he was. But I go through the gears to get to third in about 4-5 seconds and I'm already at 80 on a 60 km/h street. I'm not such a tool that I gotta out run a 50 year old guy if this is how he reminds himself that he has a pair between his legs.
My point remains however. What the hell is wrong with some people?? A jackass in a beat-out Plymouth sedan is attempting to race a bona fide sports car. He's taking the speed well past the limit to prove exactly what? That he barely beat someone that wasn't even trying? Come on people! Let's stop the madness.
I never really noticed this before. Which isn't so odd because I wasn't in the position of power. But to see the scenario from the other side now, it just baffles me at the level of stupidity that some people show.
What's wrong with driver's? Maybe this makes me seem old but really it feels like everyone has gone absolutely loony on the road now. You get on the road and sometimes you're so baffled at the level of sheet stupidity that people are exhibiting that it makes you want to find a rock to hide under.
I'm driving home tonight, and I get to a stop light. I'm at the head of the lane so I'll get off the line first. On my left is a man who is clearly older than me, and some similarly aged passengers. The car is a green 4-door Plymouth. I'm not a car guy so I can't tell you the model. I just read Plymouth on the trunk.
Light turns green, I shift into first and pull away from the line. I'm shifting gears here, its not an automatic. Plus the clutch on my car is a bit of a pain in the ass so its easier to drive it hard off the line, to make shifting easier.
The yahoo in the lane next of me is racing me.
Let's examine this situation. Ford Mustang with a V8 engine and a relative low weight. Plymouth sedan with likely a V6 and a much less modest weight.
I'm not even trying to go fast. Like I mentioned earlier, its just easier to shift gears in this car if you punch the gas and ride the clutch out a bit. Yeah, you'll come off the line decently hard, but I'm not trying to set any speed records.
So we're zipping up the street. I'm not even attempting to go fast; this is just my normal take-off strategy for city streets. And this jack ass beside me appears to have the pedal to the floor so he can get ahead of me. Yes, a part of me thought about just dropping it back a gear, punching it, and making this retard understand just how stupid he was. But I go through the gears to get to third in about 4-5 seconds and I'm already at 80 on a 60 km/h street. I'm not such a tool that I gotta out run a 50 year old guy if this is how he reminds himself that he has a pair between his legs.
My point remains however. What the hell is wrong with some people?? A jackass in a beat-out Plymouth sedan is attempting to race a bona fide sports car. He's taking the speed well past the limit to prove exactly what? That he barely beat someone that wasn't even trying? Come on people! Let's stop the madness.
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Thanks for coming everyone. Wow, it seems like we just started.
It was an entertaining ride, wasn't it? I think about it and its a little bit difficult to pull apart the first from the last. So many faces. I can't even put names to all of them, even though each one is etched on my mind.
That's pretty much all there is to it though, isn't it? A few wistful thoughts and a hug or two. We had fun, didn't we?
Please, can you get the lights when you leave?
It was an entertaining ride, wasn't it? I think about it and its a little bit difficult to pull apart the first from the last. So many faces. I can't even put names to all of them, even though each one is etched on my mind.
That's pretty much all there is to it though, isn't it? A few wistful thoughts and a hug or two. We had fun, didn't we?
Please, can you get the lights when you leave?
If the count of the letters in the name of your almighty drink of choice (its 7 for the people using their fingers) is HIGHER than your IQ, then you're probably drinking a Pilsner.
If the letters of the abbreviated nick-name for said drink (its down to 3 now brainiacs) is STILL greater than your IQ, then you're probably putting Clam in it.
If the letters of the abbreviated nick-name for said drink (its down to 3 now brainiacs) is STILL greater than your IQ, then you're probably putting Clam in it.
Tuesday, August 03, 2010
Monday, August 02, 2010
Sunday, August 01, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
I have a serious hate on for Safari 5.
Ever since I did the upgrade, my web browsing experience has been consistently abysmal. I frankly don't understand it. How hard can it be to render a web page? But Safari 5 has a problem with every bloody address that I send it to.
And probably the worst thing is that there appears to be no response at all to how awful Safari 5 is from Apple. I have searched for a fix to my problem and i can't find a thing. So my choice is to abandon Safari 5, or just put up with this horrible performance.
Hey Apple, wanna throw me a rope here?
Ever since I did the upgrade, my web browsing experience has been consistently abysmal. I frankly don't understand it. How hard can it be to render a web page? But Safari 5 has a problem with every bloody address that I send it to.
And probably the worst thing is that there appears to be no response at all to how awful Safari 5 is from Apple. I have searched for a fix to my problem and i can't find a thing. So my choice is to abandon Safari 5, or just put up with this horrible performance.
Hey Apple, wanna throw me a rope here?
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
I have come up with a sure fire idea for a reality show. Its so brilliant I know why someone hasn't thought of it already.
Every D list celebrity on the planet seems to think they should have a reality TV show. Okay, let's give them one, but on my show. D list celebrities are desperate to be on camera. Not every one can convince a stupid network executive to give them a show. But when I come calling, with a promise of an episode dedicated to them, a lot will jump at the chance.
The concept? I want to punch a celebrity in the face. Not just one celebrity, but a new one every week!
The basic premise will be, each week we meet a new celebrity. Let's say it one of the idiots from Jersey Shore, just because I hear about them on popular radio, but have never seen the stupid show. We'll get to know them, then see them training, and the half hour show will wrap up with me and them going at it in the boxing ring. The last shot of the week will be when I absolutely CLOCK this week's D list celebrity, full in the face!
I personally love it. Anyone else?
Every D list celebrity on the planet seems to think they should have a reality TV show. Okay, let's give them one, but on my show. D list celebrities are desperate to be on camera. Not every one can convince a stupid network executive to give them a show. But when I come calling, with a promise of an episode dedicated to them, a lot will jump at the chance.
The concept? I want to punch a celebrity in the face. Not just one celebrity, but a new one every week!
The basic premise will be, each week we meet a new celebrity. Let's say it one of the idiots from Jersey Shore, just because I hear about them on popular radio, but have never seen the stupid show. We'll get to know them, then see them training, and the half hour show will wrap up with me and them going at it in the boxing ring. The last shot of the week will be when I absolutely CLOCK this week's D list celebrity, full in the face!
I personally love it. Anyone else?
Thursday, July 08, 2010
Stoning someone to death? Honestly? There's a country on this earth that is still doing this? I mean, execution for crimes is barbaric enough on its own but to do it by means of stoning? We're honestly supposed to take these people seriously when they're allowing their system of government to use a method such as this to commit an execution?
That said, I think Americans should pull back a bit on their righteous indignation. It has not been so long (cough, cough waterboarding) since they were using cruelty to achieve a purpose.
That said, I think Americans should pull back a bit on their righteous indignation. It has not been so long (cough, cough waterboarding) since they were using cruelty to achieve a purpose.
Monday, June 21, 2010
I want him brought right here, with a big ribbon on his head, and I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey shit he is! Hallelujah! Holy shit! Where's the Tylenol?
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Thursday, June 03, 2010
Tuesday, June 01, 2010
Blog Little Known Fact:
Definition of Jejunu
Jejunum: Part of the small intestine. It is half-way down the small intestine between its duodenum and ileum sections.
The term "jejunum" derives from the Latin "jejunus," which means "empty of food," "meager," or "hungry." The ancient Greeks noticed at death that this part of the intestine was always empty of food. Hence, the name the jejunum.
The Latin "jejunus" also gave rise to "jejune" means lacking in nutritive value and devoid of substance, significance or interest, that is dull. A jejune argument is one that is empty (like the jejunum) and totally devoid of interest.
I stole this from MedicineNet.com
Definition of Jejunu
Jejunum: Part of the small intestine. It is half-way down the small intestine between its duodenum and ileum sections.
The term "jejunum" derives from the Latin "jejunus," which means "empty of food," "meager," or "hungry." The ancient Greeks noticed at death that this part of the intestine was always empty of food. Hence, the name the jejunum.
The Latin "jejunus" also gave rise to "jejune" means lacking in nutritive value and devoid of substance, significance or interest, that is dull. A jejune argument is one that is empty (like the jejunum) and totally devoid of interest.
I stole this from MedicineNet.com
Saturday, May 22, 2010
Its time for a rant.
What the Christ is wrong with people that post utterly useless shit on the internet? I mean, COME ON!
I'm chasing Alanis clips tonight (don't ask why because frankly I forget how i got on the topic). Anyway, I click the next video in the list for her song 'Uninvited'. It looks legitimate, as if its going to be concert footage.
Its the song, with a static image of Alanis in the video screen.
Why in the bloody hell are you wasting our lives with this complete horse shit!?! If I just click the next one in the list, its the legitimate video from whenever the hell the movie 'City of Angels' was in theatres. So if the honest video for the song is on Youtube, why are you wasting server space somewhere with a god damn recording of the audio, and a static fucking image?
Why?
WHY?
WHY!?!?!?!
Its not creative. Its not serving any useful purpose. It just exists to feed your pathetic, meaningless ideal that you're contributing to the global internet collective. You're not. You suck. Go curl up in a corner and wither away like you should be.
What the Christ is wrong with people that post utterly useless shit on the internet? I mean, COME ON!
I'm chasing Alanis clips tonight (don't ask why because frankly I forget how i got on the topic). Anyway, I click the next video in the list for her song 'Uninvited'. It looks legitimate, as if its going to be concert footage.
Its the song, with a static image of Alanis in the video screen.
Why in the bloody hell are you wasting our lives with this complete horse shit!?! If I just click the next one in the list, its the legitimate video from whenever the hell the movie 'City of Angels' was in theatres. So if the honest video for the song is on Youtube, why are you wasting server space somewhere with a god damn recording of the audio, and a static fucking image?
Why?
WHY?
WHY!?!?!?!
Its not creative. Its not serving any useful purpose. It just exists to feed your pathetic, meaningless ideal that you're contributing to the global internet collective. You're not. You suck. Go curl up in a corner and wither away like you should be.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Sunday, May 09, 2010
I'd do anything to have her to myself,
just to have her for myself.
Now I don't know what to do,
I don't know what to do
When she makes me sad.
She is everything to me, the unrequited dream,
the song that no one sings, the unattainable.
She's a myth that I have to believe in,
all I need to make it real is one more reason.
I don't know what to do,
I don't know what to do
When she makes me sad.
But I won't let this build up inside of me.
just to have her for myself.
Now I don't know what to do,
I don't know what to do
When she makes me sad.
She is everything to me, the unrequited dream,
the song that no one sings, the unattainable.
She's a myth that I have to believe in,
all I need to make it real is one more reason.
I don't know what to do,
I don't know what to do
When she makes me sad.
But I won't let this build up inside of me.
Monday, May 03, 2010
Friday, April 23, 2010
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Wednesday, April 07, 2010
I try to pay attention.
Your words just disappear.
So I speak to you in riddles,
'Cause my words get in my way.
'Cause I can't take anymore of this,
I wanna come apart.
But I know I'll do the right thing
If the right thing is revealed.
'Cause it's always raining in my head
Forget all the things I should have said.
Your words just disappear.
So I speak to you in riddles,
'Cause my words get in my way.
'Cause I can't take anymore of this,
I wanna come apart.
But I know I'll do the right thing
If the right thing is revealed.
'Cause it's always raining in my head
Forget all the things I should have said.
Saturday, April 03, 2010
I am just a worthless liar.
I am just an imbecile.
I will only complicate you.
Trust in me and fall as well.
I will find a center in you.
I will chew it up and leave,
I will work to elevate you
just enough to bring you down
Why can't we not be sober?
I Just want to start this over.
Ah, why can't we sleep forever?
I just want to start this over.
I am just an imbecile.
I will only complicate you.
Trust in me and fall as well.
I will find a center in you.
I will chew it up and leave,
I will work to elevate you
just enough to bring you down
Why can't we not be sober?
I Just want to start this over.
Ah, why can't we sleep forever?
I just want to start this over.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Sunday, March 28, 2010
I like how you'll be using a Mac, a new one from 2009 or equal, complete with the most modern version of the operating system (OS X 10.5) and sometimes, not very often at all but very, very occasionally, you'll make it do something that slows the whole thing down and Mac breaks out the old school 'wristwatch' icon to show that its busy, like it did back in the 1980's. :-)
Saturday, March 27, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Spiderman, Spiderman,
Does whatever a spider can
Spins a web, any size,
Catches thieves just like flies
Look Out!
Here comes the Spiderman.
Is he strong?
Listen bud,
He's got radioactive blood.
Can he swing from a thread
Take a look overhead
Hey, there
There goes the Spiderman.
In the chill of night
At the scene of a crime
Like a streak of light
He arrives just in time.
Spiderman, Spiderman
Friendly neighborhood Spiderman
Wealth and fame
He's ingnored
Action is his reward.
To him, life is a great big bang up
Whenever there's a hang up
You'll find the Spider man.
Does whatever a spider can
Spins a web, any size,
Catches thieves just like flies
Look Out!
Here comes the Spiderman.
Is he strong?
Listen bud,
He's got radioactive blood.
Can he swing from a thread
Take a look overhead
Hey, there
There goes the Spiderman.
In the chill of night
At the scene of a crime
Like a streak of light
He arrives just in time.
Spiderman, Spiderman
Friendly neighborhood Spiderman
Wealth and fame
He's ingnored
Action is his reward.
To him, life is a great big bang up
Whenever there's a hang up
You'll find the Spider man.
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