30

October 15, 2003

   

    It's been a crash course this past month, or has it been two? Up in the clouds highs and skipping rocks over the water lows. Before you become alarmed, it's not as though I've gone from manic to tears, it's just been a pretty intense month in length and breadth. I won't get into it all, because it's my priority not to, but it's been a month of growth. Of that I'm certain.

    I've been away from the diary for a while and in some ways I'm not really in the mood to get it all down tonight. I've dangled a consolation prize that is making this a little easier to do. I don't always like to be on the computer (surprise, surprise) and the only thing that is keeping me here, is that I'm attempting to rip all of my Coldplay CD's to MP3 so that I can make one master disc of Coldplay songs. Even though I'm a little bit geekish, I don't always act like it, and so I really haven't taken full advantage of all the software around me and pulled that much off of my CD's. I have made a few mix CD's but this should be the beginning of an effort to convert my whole collection to MP3's so that I can pretty well leave the source CD's on the shelves. One day, we'll all have CD/MP3 players in our cars and when that happens, I'll be in good shape.

    So where have I been? What have I done? In some ways, it's a mystery to me too. I know that I've left town twice and other than that, I don't know what has been sucking up my time. Well, I do know but I'm not telling. After the church anniversary was complete, I was wrecked for a number of days. I missed 4 total days of work due to sickness and when I finally got back, I was slow to get back into it. Truth be told, I don't know what happened after that, except that I went to Tampa again for a few days, and in the process, I was able to see my Grandmother who lives about 2 hours from Tampa. It was cool to see her. I didn't really have a lot of vacation time to use, so I was fortunate enough to see her. Also, while I was down in Tampa, I drove by a dear friend's grandmother's home. It was late, and the woman wouldn't know me from Adam, but in a way I was driving by vicariously for my friend. She hadn't been there in years.

    After I returned from my trip to Tampa, I prepared myself for my next trip to Houston. The Houston trip was a gift that I gave to myself. As I've gotten older, I've tried to find activities to punctuate my birthday. In 2000, I left Albany for Virginia. In 2001, I bought a house in October. In 2002, I went to Florida. In 2003, I went to Texas. All of these things have been good. Some of them have been very life changing, and some have been life affirming. I won't know for a while what vacationing will do for me, but I'm happy to have seen a new part of the US. On my birthday, K and I drove down to Galveston to the sea wall. As we crested the hill, I got to enjoy an inspiring view of the Gulf of Mexico. We walked out onto the rocks and talked while the waves crashed into them and often times sprayed us with bits of salt. It was very cool. It was a nice way to spend my birthday. I still can't get over the fact that I'm 30! I guess I'll get used to it. Being 30, doesn't mean that you have to act like it. I was actually able to wander into a Toys R Us and a Target to find Star Wars figures. I'm finally going public with my affinity for the 3 3/4 inch Star Wars figures from my youth. Now that I'm 30, I guess it just doesn't matter anymore. While I was down there, I found enough Star Wars stuff that I had to mail back some of my booty. I also had the pleasure of going to a fair while I was down there. I had no idea that the purpose of a fair is for auctioning live stock. While I was there I saw some Rodeo, and I was impressed! I didn't realize how cool Rodeo was. I still can't get into Nascar, but I could definitely get into Rodeo. It was fun to watch. One of the events that we watched, was about 20 teenagers who were in the ring with about 10 calves. The teenagers were instructed to chase the calves, wrestle them to the ground and bind them so that they could drag them back into the center. If they were successful, they were allowed to keep the calves. Now, calves are about a $500 commodity, so this was worth trying if you are a teenager down there and you have grown up on a farm. This stuff is big business down there. I've definitely lived a sheltered homogenous life in suburbia. I was patting myself on the back for living around the United States a bit, but I realize that I haven't seen the half of it.

    I spent a light-hearted evening at Sam's Boat in Sugarland, TX. I think it was located in Sugarland, but I can't be sure right now. I also was able to go see the Renaissance Festival on the day that I returned to Virginia. It had been about 7 years since I had been to one. It was entertaining in places and it was surprisingly bawdy in others. There were a number of women who were adorned in chain mail bikinis. Then you had a number of women whose breasts were pushed up and over their garments, which just wasn't attractive at all. In one display of bad taste, I was reminded of a hideous dancer from Jabba's Palace in the movie Return of the Jedi, who had so many folds, it was difficult to determine which set of bikinis were the real one. I know, quite the visual, but it had to be told. The Ded Bob show was probably the highlight of the festival for me. It was humorous without being aggressively lewd. All in all it was very good trip. I'm glad that I went.

    Things were topsy-turvy upon my return. I was in good spirits, but real life intruded upon my mood, and it was difficult to regain the glee that surrounded my birthday vacation. I'm back to normal keel again, and I'm even taking care of some of the house stuff for once. On Monday, I was able to clean up around the kitchen, mow the lawn, go grocery shopping, and other stuff that isn't coming to mind immediately. Last night, I was able to hang my U2 posters from the movie Rattle & Hum. Sadly, as I hung the last framed poster, I thought to myself... I could get rid of these tomorrow. Perhaps E-bay is the answer. They don't really have a place in my home. They don't match anything, and once I'm hitched, I'm afraid that they'll be out the door. It's OK, I'm already falling out of love with them. I might as well look at them for one last time, which could be years for all I know. I'm just glad that they aren't leaning against a wall anymore. I have some more things to hang up here soon, but it's hard when most of your wall hangings are garbage, and you don't want to buy anything new. I'm probably being a bit harsh about them. I'm sure that some are better than nothing at all.

    I've begun to unpack my Star Wars room. I'm going to have to buy some shelves here soon, so that I can put everything up. I'm having to match action figures to their respective guns, and equipment. It can be tough work, but the internet is a great help. *Sigh* I'm finally having to face the fact that I'm geekier than I thought I was. I would actually be disappointed at not being as cool as I'd like to be, except that I know what cool costs and I'm not willing to do the work. I'd rather embrace my computers, Star Wars, U2 and 80's references that only a few people get, and even fewer appreciate. Long live John Hughes and Oingo Boingo! As a bit of a flashback, I picked up the Yeah Yeah Yeahs' CD because of this one song that my roommate played for me. I'm glad that the disc only cost $10. Even though the group is relatively new, they remind me of the punk bands that emerged from the 70's. A little like Blondie, a little like Siouxsie, and maybe a little like the Pretenders. Or maybe I'm just tone deaf. I just like the drums and the oft repeated chorus which goes nowhere and elaborates on nothing. It just sounds good, even if the words were unintelligible.

    To wrap up... I finally saw the 2nd Matrix film last night. I bought it. It was alright. It's so much a middle film. Too many questions to answer, blah blah blah. I can see now why audiences were underwhelmed by it. There were some absolutely cool moments in the film, where I began to believe that the choreographed violence was very artful. Beautiful even. Well, that's my Siskelesque take on it. Night children. Hope everything's good in your part of the country. In your part of the world. Night. 

 

Now Playing: Maps - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

Wait they don't love you like i love you

 

Up in the air

October 22, 2003

   

    We are currently experiencing quite a bit of turbulence. So far it’s not the belly-flop inducing type. It’s more in line with the “don’t give me a drink right now, for God’s sake! Can’t you see that there is an expensive lap top sitting on my thighs?”

    Fortunately, no one is sitting in the middle seat, so I’m using the middle tray to support my 7-Up. I’ve just realized that United is a Pepsi airline. I don’t like Pepsi. Nope. Not at all. I’m a catch the wave kind of guy. If it’s not Coke, it’s not cola worth drinking. I actually signed up for United’s frequent flyer mile plan. I might as well, I’ve used them for all of my trips to Florida over the past several weeks. I should just sign up for all of the frequent flyer programs so that I won’t be left out when I travel. After that, I’ll have to finally get that Palm Pilot so that I can can store all the stinking membership numbers.

    Well, I just finished my 3rd trip to Tampa since August. On this one, I split my time between Lake Mary and Tampa. I arrived in Tampa at about 11:30 on Monday and discovered that I had a choice to make. I could either wait until my mid-sized car arrived, or I could drive off in my Dodge Caravan. Feeling like Mr. Mom, I gladly took the keys to my new ride and drove east to Lake Mary.

    It was about a two hour drive to Lake Mary and I was able to put that baby in cruise control for most of it. The drive was pretty swift and the work that I did for Lake Mary was even swifter. I was on my way back to Tampa by 3:30 PM. On my way back, I decided to check out Downtown Disney. My greatest curiosity was the Toy store. I read on-line that the Toy store had some unique Star Wars figures. The most unique figures were from the Star Tours ride at MGM studios. These “droid” action figures are ones that appear in the ride, or are part of the interior set design as you wait in line for the ride. During my last trip to Disney in October of 2002, I picked up 6 different figures from the Star Tours line. To my dismay, they released 3 more this year, so I was able to pick them up on this trip. I know, it’s kind of goofy and geeky, but as I’ve gotten older, I care less about what people think of it. I used to be ashamed of it, I was ashamed of it, like I used to be ashamed of my baseball card collection. I’m not ashamed of my U2 collection though. Rock & Roll has always seemed cool to me.

    As I drove back to Tampa, I called my U2 friend G, who has settled in the relative calmness of Tampa after living an exciting existence in the NY metro area. I met her back in 1997 when I traveled all over the Northeast to see U2. I can’t remember the last time that I saw her, but it’s been years. She looked the same as the last time I saw her which is a good thing when you’re getting older. We ate at an Italian restaurant and caught up on old news of friends of yesteryear. It appears that she has been doing a much better job of keeping in touch with our old U2 friends. If she hadn’t read my diary, she wouldn’t have known that I had been in Tampa recently. I’m glad that she sent me an e-mail. I’ve been fighting boredom in Tampa and I’m glad I’m coming home tonight.

    After returning to my hotel room, I called K and I was delighted that she was in finer shape. Playful even. She’s been battling a sinus infection over the last week and the antibiotics have beaten down what has been left of her strength.

    Whoops, gotta shut down the lap top. Captain’s orders. We’ll see if I’ll get a chance to finish my trip recap. Doubtful…

 

Now Playing: See You Soon - Coldplay

So you lost your trust

And you never should have

You never should have
But don't break your back
If you ever see this
But don't answer that

 

But I remember Everything

October 23, 2003

    While filling out my paperwork for travel reimbursement, I thumbed through all my old expense reports, and this is what I dug up: I've traveled to Binghamton, NY/ Phoenix, AZ / San Francisco, CA / St. Louis, MO / Trenton, NJ / Pittsburgh, PA / Windsor, CT / Colorado Springs, CO / Minneapolis, MN / Tampa, FL (3 times) & Norman, OK (6 times!)

    I just watched the video for Johnny Cash's cover of Nine Inch Nails Hurt, and it was the most moving music video I've ever seen. Here is the link. http://www.markromanek.com/video/14.html if you haven't seen it, I recommend that you do. It's very sad, and it's a reminder of how short life is, and if you know anything about Johnny Cash, how easy it is to waste it. Even though Cash had a long career making songs, his personal life was mired by drug use, jail time, and alcoholism.

Now Playing: Hurt - Johnny Cash

What have I become?

My sweetest friend

Everyone I know

Goes away in the end