Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Man Up
It's been almost three weeks since I clocked in at 255 and felt the need to tell the world, or just the few people who stalk me here, exactly how fat I had gotten. I haven't re-read that post yet, but I am sure it says something about what I want to do to trim down and blah blah blah. Well I do know that I intended to post my weight here a lot more often than I had as a way to motivate myself to lose more of it....and that hasn't happened yet either. I have so many good ideas, but never seem to follow through with them.
So here I lay ready to try and nap before another long, boring midnight shift. I am cozy warm in my bed, and since I am sans clothes I have no desire to get out of bed and put my feet on the cold wooden floor. But thinking about how I haven't posted my weight yet, I do have enough motivation to get my fat ass out of bed and check. My current weight is 251.5 lbs. Now, this is better than 255 of course, but considering I have been bouncing between 248 and 252 the last couple weeks, this is the higher end of my current weight spectrum. I know my lunch was huge and is sitting very heavy in my stomach right now, but I still should be a lot lower than this. I have so many things around me reminding me to lose the weight....now I just need to man up and do it.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Mad World
The first commercial I can remember seeing for a first person shooter type game that incorporated a song that really sold the commercial, and therefore the game, to me was the commercial for Vice City that used I Ran by A Flock of Seagulls, interspersed with gameplay clips. The ad was an attention getter, and the game absolutely rocked. Vice City wasn't a pure FPS game, but it was the first FPS type game I ever bought, and opened me up to a different kind of gaming.
Now I won't proclaim myself as a great FPS player, but I continue to get better with the gameplay as I seem to exclusively play Call of Duty when I turn on the 360, and my ability to strategize quickly and several steps ahead makes my learning curve a little less drastic. I think the multiple layers of strategy involved has greatly added to the addiction factor of CoD for me. When I bought Modern Warfare 2 last year I was pretty new to FPS games, completely new to online multiplayer FPS games, and a few years behind anyone who played CoD from the first title on. I got my ass handed to me for a while, but quickly adjusted to a lot of things in the game and the nuances of the different kinds of matches within the game, and was holding my own before I knew it, and saw that I could excel at times as well.
So, back from my gaming tangent now...this was intended to be about the use of songs in commercials for games, and how effective they seem. The title for this post actually comes from the song used in one of the best video game commercials I've seen. Gears of War used Mad World as the background for their gameplay clips, without using any of the game sounds. It was kind of eerie to watch, but definitely grabbed your attention seeing the contrast between the action of the game and the slow, quiet nature of the song. I liked it so much, I changed my profile picture on Myspace, yes I said Myspace, to the Gears of War symbol. Then again, I guess it couldn't have been all that great if I didn't actually buy the game.
When GTA came out with San Andreas, still one of my favorite games of all time, they used Welcome to the Jungle in one of the commercials that aired before the game ever came out, and I was even more geeked for it's release they I already was. Thankfully, the game lived up to the height and my expectations. I played that game for a long time after finishing the storyline for it. By comparison, I rarely played GTA 4 after completing the storyline...although it was the first game I ever tried Xbox live with, so it obviously served it's purpose for me.
Recently, with the CoD franchise releasing Black Ops, they used Gimme Shelter in a commercial that had real people, including some celebrities, acting out game scenarios. The ad hit the air approximately two weeks before the game was released. I was more or less lukewarm about the game up until that point, but the ad sucked me in and before I knew it, I was trying to find a place online to preorder the game.
I'm generally rather critical of advertising nowadays, but some of the ads I've seen for video games show that sometimes the advertisers just get it. Whether it's a song that just seems to fit, or Mr. T talking about hacking a game, some of these commercials can be outstanding pieces of work. Maybe the ad agencies for other products should take notice.
Photo Credit: Emrah Icten
Check out some of his other great images here.
Thursday, December 09, 2010
Kirabaz
I only work two midnight shifts each week, and it seems like it gets harder and harder to get myself up and ready for them as the weeks go on....but tonight I was treated to something unexpected as I was getting ready that really made it easier for me to get moving, and made me smile.
After my shower I dumped Kira's dinner into her bowl and went on about my business, just like I did last night. She picked through her food as I threw on some clothes and made my own dinner. She finished her food as I was sitting down to eat, then of course joined me in the living room to sit and stare between my feet in the hopes that something will hit the floor....but since I wasn't eating much, she was out of luck there.
As I took my plate, glass, and fork to the kitchen, Kira jumped up and got in front of me. Though instead of escorting me to the kitchen as I expected, she ran into the computer room and dug out a stuffed animal from her cache' under the computer desk....the only Guinness-proof area of the house she has free access to. As I walked to my room from the kitchen, she met me in the hallway with the stuffed green frog and a playful bounce in her step. I haven't seen her do anything like that in months. The relief I felt was staggering.
Earlier in the day, I had a short conversation about how mothers will always have some sort of worry where their kids are concerned....well my dogs have always been like my kids, and I have been worried about Kira for a while. She is definitely not a winter dog, and has seemed to be a little more down lately than I would hope. Seeing her acting like this, though, made me smile from ear to ear and gave me a huge sense of relief. I hope to see plenty more of this behavior in the near future. I'm sure that would do wonders for my recent over-the-top stress levels.
I Can't Drive, 255
A few days ago I stepped on the scale, and was pretty horrified at what I saw. The first reading on my scale is usually a couple pounds high, but seeing a big 257.5 staring back at me really shocked me. I had thought I was hovering around 250, but to be hovering around 260 instead was a big surprise. After a couple more times on the scale, my weight ended up being a flat 255....which is still terrible, but seemed a little better to me than the original 257.5.
There are plenty of things I can attribute this weight gain to, including the lack of sleep and energy on this crazy work shift....but the bottom line is that it all boils down to me. I know what I need to do to keep from ballooning up to this weight, I just haven't done it. For a couple years I was somewhere in the 225-235 range, and kept it there without much effort on my part. That range was still at least 20-30 lbs more than I should weigh, but I could have my cake and eat it to at that range. Here I am another 20-30 lbs above that, so I must be eating a whole lot more than cake.
While the food is definitely a problem, the biggest change I can attribute this quick gain to is actually what I drink. I am pretty much addicted to the cherry Pepsi I get at the 7-11 by my house, and took my refillable cup there just about every day to get my 44 ounces of extra sweet cola. I haven't completely broken that habit yet, but in the last few days I have had a lot less cola. One thing that may help expedite this is that 7-11 changed the cherry syrup/Pepsi ratio, and it doesn't taste nearly as good to me anymore.
I don't like sounding like a broken record, but it's time to try the weight loss thing again. Maybe if I make a point of posting my weight every couple days or so, that will help. Everything is a little more real when it's written down. I have quite a few other things at my disposal to help me too, now it's just all on me to utilize those tools.
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Get the Picture?
I can't stand looking at the bland, pictureless posts I've been putting up from my phone lately. I'm looking for a free app that will allow me to post pics with my phone, but until I can find something like that I am just gonna add pictures later. I may not use the same picture as I would in the moment, but at least it looks better and, makes it easier on me to be able to do it later than to search and search for a way to do it every time I want to post something from my phone.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
SIlly Putty
Ending my blogging hiatus with a post about pain and my complaints about the pain I was dealing with, just didn't sit too well with me. The post before that easily could have been my very last on this blog, something I seriously considered for a while, and that would have been fine with me. But just having last night's post as the most recent for about 24 hours made me uneasy.
This blog has always been a reflection on or a representation of my life. More of an extension of the things happening around me actually, because of my thoughts about those events. Sometimes it's been dark, sometimes it's been downright whiney. Thankfully I have been blessed with the resilience and mental flexibility of silly putty so those times are few and far between, and don't last very long at all. And yes....I just compared my brain to silly putty. :-)
Now I am not here tonight to talk about how hunky dory everything is now, nor how it's always rainbows and butterflies....because that's just not the case. Life is life. It is what it is. The crazy Indian Summer rain today is still wreaking havoc on my joints, and my back is only slightly better than last night....but slowly getting worse as I sit here in this "ergonomic" chair. I'm really just here because I can't stand looking too long at the posts where I whine about how bad things are, when I truly believe I am one of the luckiest men in the world.
Due to the public nature of this blog, and the impact on my life that things I may say on this virtual platform could have in my real world life there have been many things I have withheld over the last few years. Sometimes I had wished that this blog was private so I could say whatever I really wanted instead of what was expected of me without worrying about the possible consequences, but that's really not the point of having this blog. I want to be able to share with those who honestly care about me everything I can possibly share, out in the open. One problem I encountered in the past was having someone in my life much too critical of things I say, or someone who would take things I said and run with them and make them into some extreme emotional issue. I've guarded, or flat out changed, much of what I've said here in the past because I knew I had certain readers who would just take things the wrong way, and I'd have to move directly into damage control mode soon thereafter. Oftentimes I didn't know how to express my true thoughts without getting a terrible amount of backlash.
Inevitably, over time, these relationships eroded and broke down. Having them behind me allows a greater amount of openness, and having someone in my life now who I am comfortable telling anything and everything means I never have to second guess what I post here. I'm very lucky to have found someone as loving and understanding as I have. Someone who truly cares about me in a way I've seen from my closest friends, but have never seen before from a girlfriend. The road ahead is long, and won't be without bumps, twists, or turns....but I can't think of anyone I would rather have along for the ride than the girl I've found to ride shotgun with me.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Pain to the 21st Degree
I've had some pretty bad pain days in my life. Honestly after blowing out my knee playing ball, I haven't had a single pain-free day. One way or another, my knee aches every day. It was a lot worse in my late teens and early twenties but even though it aches less than it used to, it can still be pretty significant. And just let the weather take a quick turn, and it'll get a hell of a lot worse. Something like that must have happened overnight too, because I woke up with an achey leg and one helluva sinus headache.
Having those pains isn't a big deal though, and I wouldn't even think twice about them if my back didn't decide to jump in the mix too. My back was sore after tossing and turning a good part of the morning, but sitting too long on the couch doing my FFL lineups and whatnot REALLY aggravated it. When I stood up to feed Kira, I hunched over and walked so slowly and awkwardly that Mark started giving me shit about being old. It was all good natured though as he has had plenty of issued with his own back and definitely knows my pain. Unfortunately, it just got worse from there.
Before even getting an hour in at work, my back started to spasm. Two Alleve have helped to dull it a bit, but every now and again I move in a way that almost brings me to my knees with pain. Get this; it hurts so bad that I don't even want to eat. Lol.
Now I just wish it stopped there. Everything seems to have conspired to plant a migraine into my head before I take off for the night. With an hour left, it's only gotten like halfway there though...so unless the drive home fully triggers it, I should be fine tonight.
For the most part I am very healthy, and I really hate typing all this garbage out...but it really has helped to distract me from these issues. Again, this blog has been free therapy for me. Who would have known this time it would be physical therapy.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Quote
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Iridescent
When you were waiting on the edge of the unknown,
And with the cataclysm raining down,
Your insides crying, "Save me now",
You were there, impossibly alone.
Do you feel cold and lost in desperation?
You build up hope, but failure's all you've known.
Remember all the sadness and frustration,
And let it go.
Let it go.
And in a burst of light that blinded every angel,
As if the sky had blown the heavens into stars,
You felt the gravity of tempered grace,
Falling into empty space,
With no one there to catch you in their arms.
Do you feel cold and lost in desperation?
You build up hope, but failure's all you've known.
Remember all the sadness and frustration,
And let it go.
Let it go.
Do you feel cold and lost in desperation?
You build up hope, but failure's all you've known.
Remember all the sadness and frustration.
And let it go.
Let it go.
Let it go.
Let it go.
Let it go.
Let it go.
Do you feel cold and lost in desperation?
You build up hope, but failure's all you've known.
Remember all the sadness and frustration.
And let it go.
Let it go.
Phoney
Finding the best time to post was damn near a no brainer when I had unlimited access to my blogger account, but now I have dozens of notes here or there that I plan to post at a later date, but never get into a post because the mood which struck me to write about each subject passes. I have collected many more post fragments over the last few weeks than posts that have actually made it up onto the blog.
A few years ago, I considered migrating my free blog here to a site of my own. There were things I wanted to do at the time that this site wouldn't be able to handle, and I wanted to go a step further with a few new things. As with most of my ideas or plans, I probably either didn't follow through or something minor happened to derail my motivation before it ever got really rolling. Either case seems just as likely. If switching over to my own site would give me more opportunities to get my post, and my fragments, up on the blog...it just may be the right incentive to finally do it.
While not blogging at a regular pace is one side effect of my new schedule, one of my biggest concerns is how my schoolwork and study time will be affected. So far, I haven't fallen into the same pattern I did with the last class I took...but it's not been easy. Finding time to get my studying in is tough when I am constantly tired. Today was a tough day. Getting off work at 7am, trying to fight through the noise of the day to get SOME sleep before going to my 12:30 class, coming home to try another much needed nap, but falling short because of a still unresolved fantasy football problem, then brushing up on some class material before taking two quizes, then getting ready and heading into work at 11pm.
Thankfully tomorrow is an "off" day for me and gives me a chance to reset my sleep pattern to something resembling normal. It'll give me a chance to catch up on a few things I need to take care of too. The nicest thing will be not having to worry about making it to school or work on time...everything I do tomorrow will be something I WANT to do. Unfortunately, it seems like the weather won't cooperate for a long ride tomorrow...but I guarantee I will find a way to get at least one more good ride in before the month is over.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Blocked
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Preseason Week One
I'm not yet in serious NFL watching mode, although I never got there at all last season, but I did pay attention to a few preseason games this past weekend. First and foremost, I made sure to catch the Ravens opening game. As usual, their defense looks solid and they should be competitive all season so long as the offense is decent. If Flacco and company can perform as well as last year, they will be one of the top teams in the AFC again.
Of course I needed to watch the first Redskins game. Even though I wasn't going out to watch the game, it gave me a great reason to wear my new McNabb jersey since it'd be the first time I'd get to see him in action wearing his new jersey. Circumstance didn't allow me to actually see Donovan play that night, but I did catch plenty of the 42 points the Skins put up in the game. Quite a welcome change from everything we saw last year. If this team can score half that each week in 2010, they can easily be a top team in the NFC, even with the tough division.
The Lions have generated a lot of buzz this offseason, like they always do around here, and even with the loss of their first preseason game, everyone is going crazy about how good the defensive line looked and the pressure and blah blah blah....Let's not forget this is the Steelers we played. The same Steelers we got three sacks against during the regular season last year, and otherwise pressured a hell of a lot in that same game. Their line isn't exactly the best in the league, and definitely not a great gauge of how good our line is going to be this season. Let's see how they do over the next few weeks before we get too excited.
Overall, I am pretty excited for the season to start....and definitely have the Oct 31st game circled on my calendar. Even though I didn't get the exact seats I wanted for that game, I still got pretty good seats at a decent price. And I don't mind paying a little more than face value to skip the BS that goes along with being a Lions season ticket holder.
Friday, August 13, 2010
FOUL!
There is no other way to describe my mood today aside from foul. I'm a very laid back guy for the most part, and it usually takes a lot to get to me. Whatever IT is, it must have gotten to me. I suppose most, if not all, of IT has to do with the 9 to 5. For the last few months, things just have not gone the way anyone has expected. And things just seem to keep getting worse. Some issue(s) that didn't involve me at all have affected things for me negatively where my schedule is concerned.
I knew it would take a little while to iron things out for my new position, but it's been a little too long, and hasn't exactly been ironed out the way it should have been, nor the way I need it to be for school....which was the ONLY concerned I voiced when offered the job. This semester won't be a total wash. I will be able to take at least a couple classes, but with the schedule I'll be on the next two or three weeks, I will surely burn out before we even hit midterms. And that is only taking school, work, and sleep hours into consideration....I can't even begin to figure in my personal life the way things stand right now.
I guess I have been spoiled, lucky, or just flexible enough in my life so far that I've never had a job interfere with my personal/social life. My job in high school affected my ability to hang out my last couple years there, but I preferred most of my work friends over my school friends anyway. I seemed to get along better with an older crowd back then. Other than that, I've always had ample time to be with friends and/or loved ones no matter what shift I was working. That really doesn't look like it's going to be the case now for a while.
"Tell me about your father...."
One of the biggest reasons I never wanted to follow in my father's footsteps (and both grandfathers, as well as several uncles) when it came to work was the crazy shifts I saw my dad work when I was a kid. I got used to his shifts changing on a whim when someone "bumped" him off his job, and he was powerless to do anything but show up when they wanted him there because he was the low man on the totem pole in terms of seniority. Even the last few years before he retired, when only two people in the entire state had a higher seniority number in his position than he did, he was still worried about being bumped off his hours/days from time to time.
Now I find myself faced with working a similar shift for an indeterminable length of time as the one I remember being the worst for him when I was young. My father is a much stronger man than I am in many ways, and working that shift was extremely hard on him. Basically it was a back fill position spanning all three shifts each week. One midnight shift, two afternoon shifts, two day shifts, and two consecutive days off in the middle of the week. I'm now facing two mids, followed by a day off which I will most likely sleep away because that single day off is followed by a day shift....which is then followed by another day off and two consecutive afternoon shifts. Plus school. Not a full time school schedule mind you, because I can't find a full time schedule that will work with my shifts and days off, but still two pretty intense classes that I will need to really apply myself to do well in.
Now, my dad didn't have the school schedule to worry about....but he did have me to deal with. I don't know which is worse, but I'd say I am getting the better of it there. I'm sure dealing with me has never been all that easy....I'd choose spending time learning about crazy people and how to figure out what is wrong them over dealing with a young me any day, and twice on Sunday....well, as long as my Sunday work schedule permits it of course.
A Delicate Balance
Supposedly every cloud has a sliver lining. My silver lining just may end up being a silver bullet. Whether I fancy myself a vampire, werewolf, or just a mortal man, that silver bullet could do plenty of damage to me. While my father had no choice but to show up when they told him to because of his relatively low seniority level, I have a very high seniority level in my current position. I could pull rank and force them to even things up a little more, or even completely take over someone else's shift. As far as I know, only one person can outbid me. The problem with that is how many toes I would step on....and the likelihood of those toes coming back to kick me in the ass at a later date.
I've already seen enough petty shit go down to worry about it happening to me....and I get along with everyone I work with very well. I could only imagine the odds would increase tenfold if I pissed off a few people in my area. Unlike a standard office job where you can file your paperwork and do most everything you need to accomplish all by yourself, this job requires a lot of teamwork for a lot of different things. No one knows every little detail about how or what we do in every instance. We all have our own skill set and level of knowledge. While I have seniority over almost everyone, I am seriously lacking experience with just about everything in this new position and have to rely on someone else multiple times per shift to help me out, even though I am technically supervising them. That in and of itself can easily lead to animosity, and if I start throwing my weight around to get my way....I'm pretty sure I'll end up with a target on my back. Even if I don't, I'm still going to feel that way. Then I will be working paranoid and double checking every single thing that someone else does....I can only imagine that will also create a bit of animosity.
So here I am....trying to figure out how to balance this all and keep the attitudes and egos in check. I am a wonderful problem solver....but I am pretty stumped at the moment. How long would I have to suffer through this shift before I wouldn't be seen as a bully for pulling rank and taking someone else's shift? Will it be longer than I can keep myself from falling seriously behind in school? What will happen with my friends and loved ones in this time? I already don't get to see the people I want to nearly enough....
One question leads to another, then another....and so on. At least with all these shift changes, I'll have a decent amount of time to think it over before I report to work tomorrow night for the first of four consecutive midnight shifts.
Saturday, August 07, 2010
Morning Music, 8-07-10
1. Being Here- The Stills.
I been everywhere enough
I been torn apart by love
But there's apples in the trees
and diamonds in the earth
2. My Chick Bad- Ludacris.
I'm saying my chick bad
My chick hood
My chick do stuff that your chick wish she could
My chick bad, badder than yours
My chick do stuff that I can't even put in words
Her swagger don't stop
Her body won't quit
So fool pipe down you ain't talkin bout shit
No time for games, she's full grown
My chick bad, tell your chick to go home
Now your girl might be sick but my girl sicker
She rides that dick and she handles her liquor
Test her and guns get drawn like cartoons
Doh, but I aint talkin bout homer
Chick so bad the whole crew wanna bone her
3. Kiss With a Fist- Florence and the Machine.
Blood sticks, sweat drips
Break the lock if it don't fit
A kick in the teeth is good for some
A kiss with a fist is better than none
4. According to You- Orianthi.
According to you
I'm boring, I'm moody,
And you can't take me any place.
According to you
I suck at telling jokes cause I always give it away.
I'm the girl with the worst attention span;
you're the boy who puts up with that.
According to you. According to you.
But according to him
I'm beautiful, incredible,
he can't get me out of his head.
According to him
I'm funny, irresistible,
everything he ever wanted.
Everything is opposite,
I don't feel like stopping it,
so baby tell me what I got to lose.
He's into me for everything I'm not,
according to you.
I need to feel appreciated,
like I'm not hated.
5. Wrong- Depeche Mode.
I was marching to the wrong drum
With the wrong scum
Pissing out the wrong energy
Using all the wrong lines
And the wrong signs
With the wrong intensity
I was on the wrong page
Of the wrong book
With the wrong rendition
Of the wrong look
With the wrong moon
Every wrong night
With the wrong tune playing
Till it sounded right, yeah
Wrong
Wrong
Too long...
6. That Was a Crazy Game of Poker- O.A.R.
And I walked into the bar yesterday
Cause I had something to do, something to say
And Johnny walked in right behind me and I didn't turn around
Til I heard the sound of his feet falling on the ground
I looked over my shoulder and I saw a clown
And I said what'cha doin' in the bar tonight.
So I said Johnny whatcha doing tonight?
He looked at me with a face full of fright
And I said, how bout a revolution?
And he said right.
I say of, you say a
I say revolution, and you say jah
I say of, you say a
I say revolution, and you say jah jah jah
Jahova!
And I said, what'cha looking at?
He hit me across the face with a bat
I grabbed my .45 and I said let's get out and go
So he opened the door and said do what you're here for
I said I'm wandering round the road four to four
And I said I been walking for about a thousand years.
And my feet are growing tired
My eyes a little wired
Don't know what to do unless I retire
And he just said let's play some crazy poker
7. Just the Way You Are- Barry White.
Don't go changing, trying and please me
You never let me down before
Don't imagine you're too familiar
And I don't see you anymore
I would not leave you in times of trouble
We never could have come this far
I took the good times, I'll take the bad times
I'll take you just the way you are
I said I love you and that's forever
And this I promise from my heart
I could not love you any better
I love you just the way you are.
8. Chasing Cars- Snow Patrol.
We'll do it all
Everything
On our own
We don't need
Anything
Or anyone
If I lay here
If I just lay here
would you lie with me and just forget the world?
I don't quite know
How to say
How I feel
Those three words
Are said too much
They're not enough
Forget what we're told
Before we get too old
Show me a garden that's bursting into life
Let's waste time
Chasing cars
Around our heads
I need your grace
To remind me
To find my own
All that I am
All that I ever was
Is here in your perfect eyes, they're all I can see
I don't know where
Confused about how as well
Just know that these things will never change for us at all
If I lay here
If I just lay here
would you lie with me and just forget the world?
9. Your Body is a Wonderland- John Mayer.
We got the afternoon
You got this room for two
One thing I've left to do
Discover me
Discovering you
One mile to every inch of
Your skin like porcelain
One pair of candy lips and
Your bubblegum tongue
And if you want love
We'll make it
Swim in a deep sea
Of blankets
Take all your big plans
And break 'em
This is bound to be awhile
Your body is a wonderland
Something 'bout the way the hair falls in your face
I love the shape you take when crawling towards the pillowcase
You tell me where to go and
Though I might leave to find it
I'll never let your head hit the bed
Without my hand behind it
10. Come on Get Higher- Matt Nathanson.
I miss the sound of your voice
And I miss the rush of your skin
And I miss the still of the silence
As you breathe out and I breathe in
If I could walk on water
If I could tell you what's next
I'd make you believe
I'd make you forget
So come on, get higher, loosen my lips
Faith and desire and the swing of your hips
Just pull me down hard
And drown me in love
So come on, get higher, loosen my lips
Faith and desire and the swing of your hips
Just pull me down hard
And drown me in love
I miss the pull of your heart
I taste the sparks on your tongue
I see angels and devils
And God, when you come on
Hold on, hold on, hold on, hold on
Thursday, August 05, 2010
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
No Caffeine
Yesterday I went an entire day without caffeine for the first time in a VERY long time. I've gone deep into a day recently before grabbing a can of Pepsi or something else at home or out to dinner, but I still have had at least one caffeinated beverage each day. Until yesterday.
There were plenty of times that I WANTED to grab a pop with caffeine in it yesterday because I was dragging ass at work all morning, but I made it through the work day without having one....without having any pop at all actually, with or without caffeine. Being somewhat busy most of the day really helped me survive at work. Riding after work helped me sustain that, and it wasn't until I had my dinner at the movies that I ordered a Sierra Mist. Normally I won't drink an entire pop in the movies, but that 32 ounces didn't last til the credits.
While it was great to go an entire day without caffeine, and most of it without any pop, there was one drawback. After the movie I was completely drained and in bed by 8....well, I was actually passed out on the couch by 8. It wasn't until I woke up just before 1 am that I realized I had completely slept the evening away. Sleeping as soundly as I did on the couch also had another drawback....I am stiff as hell this morning, and kinda unhappy that I have to turn to my good friend Motrin for help again. It could be worse of course, but I hate feeling dependant on a pill.
I'm already dragging again this morning, but I am hoping to get through it without any pop. I've already sucked down about 30 ounces of ice water, so I shouldn't be thirsty much from here on out as long as I keep my water cup full. I didn't have too hard of a time staying away from the pop yesterday....I hope it's as easy today.
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Why Take a Chance?
A year ago, the 21st was a great day. One of my very favorites as a matter of fact. A month later, the 21st wasn't so spectacular....the following month, things changed around again. Anymore, I have no idea what to expect when it comes to the 21st.
I may not be the most superstitious of people, but I have to say that the date today did come into my decision making when it came time to choose which vehicle to bring to work today. By all weather forecasts, today should be a great day to ride....but I drove my truck in today instead. Hey, why take a chance?
Friday, July 16, 2010
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Saturday, July 10, 2010
The Three Big Egos
While I have been pretty much sickened by how much press this has been getting, I must admit I am interested to see if this experiment works out. I'm not normally a hater but considering this involves "King" James and the Miami Heat, I won't try and hide my hater status. Normally I don't care if things like this work out or not and every sport has had something akin to this happen at one time or another which I didn't really care about....with only two exceptions I can think of.
When the Lakers geared up for another title run with Kobe, Shaq, Karl Malone, Gary Payton, and the rest in 2004 I really didn't care too much....until the Pistons signed Sheed. Then I wanted to see the LA experiment fail miserably....and it did. Before that, there was the three-headed monster of Aikman, Emmitt, and Irvin in Dallas. That "dynasty" just pissed me off, even though I really like Troy Aikman. Alas, he played for the Cowboys....one of the few teams I actually loathe.
This situation in Miami is somewhat similar to the Dallas trio. I like Bosh, I really like Wade, and Lebron is definitely an impressively rare talent (and and even more impressively rare douche) but mixing those ingredients up in the bowl that is Miami just makes me lose my appetite.
I'll be watching the standings with interest, and hoping to see this turn into a ego-fueled trainwreck.
Unfinished Business
Sunday, July 04, 2010
Saturday, July 03, 2010
Days Off
The last few years, I have gotten pretty spoiled in terms of my days off. I always had the weekends off unless I volunteered to work the OT when it was available. For the foreseeable future, I will be working just about every Saturday and Sunday, with my days off being sometime during the normal work week. I have also been spoiled in the fact that I pretty much always worked day shifts, unless I asked for/agreed to work an early afternoon shift for one reason or another. This weekend I am working three consecutive midnight shifts.
I technically don't have Saturday, Sunday, or Monday off during this long holiday weekend....in reality, I kinda do. I don't normally sleep all that much at night as it is, so working the night shift and having an option of sleeping right before or right after work isn't so bad. Truth be told, on the days that my light sleep schedule catches up with me I will often sleep right after work as well as right before work. It's pretty much the same on midnights, I just haven't had a chance to get used to it.
Today I slept on and off throughout the day, but the flexibility of not having to be at work during the day let me take advantage of the time I wanted to, and sleep at the time I wanted to. I know it wasn't as efficient of a sleep pattern as I could have had, but I enjoyed the day much more than had I just slept straight through the morning into the afternoon. I hope to do the same thing tomorrow, then with Monday and Tuesday being my actual days off, I can do whatever I please with sleep or anything else.
While I couldn't head out of town with Mark, Mike and Dave for the weekend....I'm not completely unhappy that I am here with this schedule. Things have worked out rather well so far.
Friday, July 02, 2010
The Best is Yet to Come
I had a great time at the show last night. Both bands put on a great show, and it doesn't seem like either lead singer has lost much, if any, in terms of their voice. The seats we had were very nice, especially for as little as we paid. We were about halfway up/down in the pavilion and just a little left of center and settled into the seats a song or two into Cinderella's set.
Luckily for us, I noticed that Heather was walking up the stairs next to our row at one point and ran out to say hi to her. After a big "I haven't seen you in forever" hug, she explained that her seats were too close to the stage for her kids to enjoy. Her daughter was crying like crazy on the way up the stairs. After that, she offered me two of their 4 tickets from Miro's company to go down to the seventh row and watch the rest of the show. How could I say no to that? I thanked Heather and took the tickets back to our seats, and we immediately headed down the 20 plus rows to check out our new vantage point. Much nicer.
On the walk down to our upgraded seats, I noticed they were in the row right in front of a pair of our company's season tickets (which were not available to me when I asked about them) and was very interested to see who had those seats for the night. It didn't take me long to recognize who was there, but I looked a little different than I do at work (Slayer shirt, torn up jeans, black bandana around my forehead and some crazy hair above that) so I was not recognized right away. When I finally was recognized, I got the usual "what is HE doing here?" look. Because of who I work with on a daily basis, most anyone who sees me out when they are having fun gets a little uncomfortable....as if I am going to rat them out to their bosses. The way that I was dressed seemed to lessen that effect though, and no one seemed uncomfortable after the initial recognition.
With the company tickets that Miro and Heather gave us, we were able to get into the VIP lounge where they have better food and drink than anywhere else in the venue. We took full advantage of that between sets, and ran into another person I know from work. This time, I was mistaken as someone else because of the way I was dressed (and the amount of alcohol he had consumed) and he was very amused at my appearance when he finally realized who I was. He doesn't work for our company, he just comes in a lot so I gave him a pass on not recognizing me right away. I guarantee that he would recognize Missy again though. She was away from our table when I started talking to him, and as she approached he actually turned to point her out to me. I think he said he was in love with her before she was even within 20 yards of us. I just smiled a big crooked smile.
We made it back to the seats just before The Scorpions started their set, and we thoroughly enjoyed what we saw. We ended up leaving a little bit early because we were both completely exhausted. While I was disappointed I wouldn't see Winds of Change live, we were really much better off leaving when we did. Had we waited, I'm not sure I would have had the energy I needed after the show....to give her a piggy-back ride to the car because her foot was REALLY hurting. Not too long before we left, they played a song from their new album which I really enjoyed.
The Best is Yet to Come
Across the desert plains
Where nothing dares to grow
I taught you how to sing
You taught me everything I know
And though the night is young
And we don't know if we'll live to see the sun
The best is yet to come
I know, you know
That we've only just begun
Through the highs and lows
And how can I live without you
You're such a part of me
And you've always been the one
Keeping me forever young
And the best is yet to come
Na na na na
Don't look now, the best is yet to come
Na na na na
Take my hand, the best is yet to come
Thinking of the times
How we laughed and cried
I wouldn't change a thing
I couldn't even if I tried
Through the wind and rain
The spirit of our song remains the same
And the best is yet to come
I know, you know
That we've only just begun
Through the highs and lows
And how can I live without you
You're such a part of me
And you've always been the one
Keeping me forever young
And the best is yet to come
Na na na na
Don't look now, the best is yet to come
Na na na na
Take my hand, the best is yet to come
Oh can you feel it in the air
It's in your heart and everywhere
We got to keep that dream alive
We cross another road
And face another day
Soldiers never die
They only fade away
How can we grow old
When the soundtrack of our lives is rock and roll
And the best is yet to come
I know, you know
That we've only just begun
Through the highs and lows
And how can I live without you
You're such a part of me
And you've always been the one
Keeping me forever young
And the best is yet to come
Na na na na
Don't look now, the best is yet to come
Na na na na
Take my hand, the best is yet to come
Na na na na
Don't look now, the best is yet to come
Na na na na
Take my hand, the best is yet to come
Thursday, July 01, 2010
Six Months Behind Us, Six Months to Go
What it's NOT going to do is stop the ones who just don't give a f*ck from texting while driving, and these are the ones who end up accidentally sharing a lane with me on the highway when I am riding. The only thing I think that will eventually stop that crowd is strict enforcement, like the seat belt patrols you see every now and again. When the seat belt law came into effect in MI years ago, the result was pretty much the same. The responsible people listened, the rest didn't. It wasn't until it was made a primary offense and the fines were upped that it began to really make an impact on drivers as a whole.
July; The Month of Many Concerts
This month starts with me attending a concert, and will end with a concert as well. Tonight is The Scorpions and Cinderella at DTE Energy Music Theater. The 31st is Kings of Leon, also at DTE. I also have tickets for 311/The Offspring as well as the Goo Goo Dolls/Switchfoot. Both of those at....DTE of course.
From the very first concert I ever went to at DTE (it was still Pine Knob then), I completely dug the venue. I got lucky the first few years I went to concerts there because I always got lawn tickets, and it never rained. I think the first time I actually got pavilion tickets was the first time I saw it rain there and how terrible that hill can be in inclement weather. Since then I have gone to very few concerts there where I haven't been in the pavilion. I'll be in the pavilion for all four shows this month, and while I will be dry if the weather takes a turn for the worse, I'll also be a little warmer than I'd like. It always seems to get hotter the closer you get to the stage. And I have to believe tonight is gonna be a hot night. ;-)
While the concerts give me something to look forward to nearly every week, there's plenty more for me to look forward to in the coming weeks....and all of this is much more important to me than a few shows. I'm eagerly awaiting everything that will happen over the next six months.
Monday, June 28, 2010
I Don't Like Mondays
When I left for work this morning I thought about doing a music playlist since it had been a while, so I took note of the songs I listened to on the way in. Once I got here, I read something that solidified it and cleared up why I had such a strong urge to do it.
Morning Music, 6-28-10
1. I Don't Like Mondays- Irish Party Animals.
Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
Tell me why
I don’t like Mondays
I wanna shoo-oo-oo-oo-oo-oot
The whole day down, down, down, shoot it all down
2. Your Love is My Drug- Ke$ha.
Maybe I need some rehab
Or maybe just need some sleep
I got a sick obsession
I'm seein it in my dreams
I'm lookin down every alley
I'm makin those desperate calls
I'm stayin up all night hopin hitin my head against the wall
What you got boy, is hard to find
I think about it all the time
Im all strung out my heart is fried
I just cant get you off my mind!
Because your love your love your love is my drug
Your love your love your love
Your love your love your love is my drug
Your love your love your love
Wont listen to any advice
Mommas tellin me I should think twice
But look into my own devices, im addicted its a crisis
My friends think ive gone crazy
My judgments gettin kinda hazy
My esteem is gonna be affected if I keep it up like a love sick crack head
I dont care what people say
The rush is worth the price I pay
I get so high when your with me
But crash and crave you when you leave
Hey, so I got a question
Do you wanna have a slumber party in my basement?
Do I make your heart beat like an 808 drum
Is my love your drug? your drug?
Hi, your drug?
Hi, your drug?
Is my love your drug?
I like cold beer. :-D
3. I Will Follow You into the Dark- Death Cab for Cutie.
If heaven and hell decide that they both are satisfied
Illuminate the no's on their vacancy signs
If there's no one beside you when your soul embarks
Then I'll follow you into the dark
4. The Kids Don't Stand a Chance- Vampire Weekend.
I didn't like the business,
But that was at first glance
Your pillow feels so soft now
But still you must advance
5. Marshall Mathers- Eminem.
New Kids on the Block, sucked a lot of dick
Boy/girl groups make me sick
And I can't wait 'til I catch all you faggots in public
I'ma love it.. (hahaha)
I was put here to put fear in faggots who spray Faygo Root Beer
and call themselves "Clowns" cause they look queer
Faggot2Dope and Silent Gay
Claimin Detroit, when y'all live twenty miles away (fuckin punks)
And I don't wrestle, I'll knock you fuckin faggots the fuck out
Ask 'em about the club they was at when they snuck out
after they ducked out the back when they saw us and bugged out
(AHHH!) Ducked down and got paintballs shot at they truck, blaow!
Look at y'all runnin your mouth again
when you ain't seen a fuckin Mile Road, South of 10
And I don't need help, from D-12, to beat up two females
in make-up, who may try to scratch me with Lee Nails
"Slim Anus," you damn right, Slim Anus
I don't get fucked in mine like you two little flaming faggots!
6. Champange Supernova- Oasis.
How many special people change?
How many lives are living strange?
Where were you while we were getting high?
Slowly walking down the hall
Faster than a cannonball
Where were you while we were getting high?
Someday you will find me
Caught beneath the landslide
In a champagne supernova in the sky
Some day you will find me
Caught beneath the landslide
In a champagne supernova
A champagne supernova
'Cause people believe that they're
Gonna get away for the summer
But you and I, we live and die
The world's still spinning round
We don't know why
Why, why, why, why
7. Say it Right- Nelly Furtado.
I can't say that I'm not lost and at fault
I can't say that I don't love the light and the dark
I can't say that I don't know that I am alive
And all of what I feel I could show
You tonight you tonight
Oh you don't mean nothing at all to me
No you don't mean nothing at all to me
But you got what it takes to set me free
Oh you could mean everything to me
From my hands I could give you
Something that I made
From my mouth I could sing you another brick that I laid
From my body I could show you a place God knows
You should know the space is holy
Do you really want to go?
8. I'm Yours- Jason Mraz.
And nothing's going to stop me but divine intervention
I reckon it's again my turn to win some or learn some
I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait, I'm yours
Well open up your mind and see like me
Open up your plans and damn you're free
Look into your heart and you'll find love love love love
Listen to the music of the moment babay sing with me
I love peace for melody
And It's our God-forsaken right to be loved love loved love loved
So I won't hesitate no more, no more
It cannot wait I'm sure
There's no need to complicate
Our time is short
This is our fate, I'm yours
Scooch on over closer dear
And i will nibble your ear
9. Sincerely- The Moonglows.
Sincerely, don't you know that I love you?
I'll do anything for you, baby
All you gotta do is be mine, mine, mine, mine, mine
Oh love, won't you tell me?
Won't you tell me? Won't you tell me why I love you?
'Cause I want you, 'cause I want you, want my sun
10. Chemicals Collide- Boys Like Girls
I got a couple addictions
But I swear that I'm coming clean
I got a new way of thinking
Yeah, you're bringing out the best in me
I got a bit of a history
But you're telling me that you don't care
I've been a bit of a mystery
The only thing that I could find
to wear tonight was you
So come on, come on
You want to
Shut your eyes
And feel the chemicals collide
You and I tonight
You're the sugar in my high
Shut your eyes
I feel the chemicals collide
Stars and satellites
Spinnin' round and round
On the night you saved my life
I got a couple of problems
A thousand puzzles runnin' through my head
But I think that you could solve them
You're always just one step ahead
I've had a couple heartbreaks
But you're telling me that it's alright
'Cause all the others were mistakes
Yeah, I think this time I finally
got it right with you
So come on, come on
You want to
Shut your eyes
And feel the chemicals collide
You and I tonight
You're the sugar in my high
Shut your eyes
I feel the chemicals collide
Stars and satellites
Spinnin' round and round
On the night you saved my life
When the mornin' is breaking
And your heart is shakin' up
Remember how it feels right now
When we're lost in the moment
The sky is exploding
Just keep on floating
Shut your eyes
Feel the chemicals collide
You and I tonight
You're the sugar in my high
Shut your eyes
I feel the chemicals collide
Stars and satellites
Spinnin' round and round tonight
Shut your eyes
I feel the chemicals collide
I feel so alive
Spinnin' round and round
On the night you saved my life
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Recovery
After an intial album listen, and replaying a few songs here and there, I like this CD a lot. It hasn't hit me like The Eminem Show did, but I already think it's ten times better than Relapse. Obviously, as with any CD, a few different songs will get more plays than the rest, and it's not always the ones you'd think....but I already have one leading candidate.
Here are some lyrics from 'So Bad'.
So bad
So good that I'm so bad
Guarantee I'll be the greatest thing you ever had
Cause you aint never met nobody like me
And you aint gonna want no-fucking-body else again.
I'm equivalent to a shot of Cuervo, first I kiss your navel
Work my way down, baby you can lay down on the table
But you may wanna find something more stable
I told you I aint fooling from the gate, this aint the first day of April!
But thank you for staying April, I'ma make you learn
To appreciate me, differentiate me
From these phoney, little fishy and sissy fake G's
Skip over the huggy-bear and all the kissyface, please
Initiate phase three! Missy now service me
Take another shot of Jager, shake it so nervously
Take your time baby, ooh you're the bomb baby!
Ooh you're doing that even better than your mom lady!
I told you why I'm Shady, you didn't listen now, did you?
Relax woman, you know that I'm only kidding with you
Got a twisted sense of humour, it's warped, but I didn't hit you
I think you're finally starting to get the picture, I'm...
So bad
So good that I'm so bad
Guarantee I'll be the greatest thing you ever had
Cause you aint never met nobody like me
And you aint gonna want no-fucking-body else again.
I got you caught up in the rapture
Make you recapture the feelings you had for your last boyfriend before he slapped you
You never wanted someone so bad you're sweating
But if I'm what you wanted, why'd you panic when I grabbed you?
Girl don't be so frantic I'm just a hopeless romantic
Don't try to fight the feeling of something that's so organic
You can't ignore it, so don't just stand before it
Just drop them panties to the floor, let's get to camcordin'
Damn shorty, I told you this was bound to happen
Soon as you wrote your number on a napkin I was bound to work a number on your back and
Throw your spine out of alignment
My love has got you so blind that you couldn't pick Amy Winehouse out of a lineup
So stop at the store, pick a pint up
Let's get the pineapple schnapps going, no one'll knock cause I'ma hang a sign up
Saying "Don't Disturb", shorty I'm so superb
I say the right things, don't I spit the dopest words?
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Worm
:-D
Friday, June 18, 2010
Joe Theismann: Finally Good for Something Else
It's no secret that Joe Theismann is not one of my favorite people to hear, hear about, see or even hear about someone else seeing....but this is one time I actually liked hearing about something he said.
From the NFL.com blog:
Sometimes you wish that Joe Theismann would really come out of his shell and lay into a player. And yes, that last statement was facetious. Theismann is one of the go-to guys for outspoken opinions. If you want Joe Montana to lead your team on a two-minuted drive, Theismann is one of the first choices if you need a two-minuted soundbite.
So you can imagine Theismann has a pretty strong opinion about the recent stalemate between the Redskins — his Redskins — and enigmatic DT Albert Haynesworth. Theismann appeared on SIRIUS NFL Radio’s “The Sirius Blitz” on Wednesday, and called Haynesworth a “classless” player. (Via the Red Zone.)
“Lets just put it out there, we’re not looking at Albert Haynesworth as a very standup individual, ok?” Theismann said. “So the fact that he took the money — which he had rightfully coming to him — doesn’t surprise me. But I remember last year sitting down with him before the season, when he signed the big contract, and everybody talked about ‘Hey look, are you gonna be a guy who gets the money and runs?’ And he told me point blank, he said ‘I want to be not just the best defensive player on the field but the best player on the field.’”
Do not fret, Theismann was not done. Here are some of the other highlights.
“He’s not a team player. He doesn’t give a damn about anybody but himself, which has become painfully obvious. And you know what, Albert doesn’t care what anybody says. He’s pocketed 21 million dollars.”
“And he’s classless, ok? I mean, there’s nothing else that you can say, but the man has very little respect for teammates, very little respect for anyone. Last year at the end of the season, he chose to stay home on Christmas Day to open presents and not go to work when every other member of the football team had to go. That, to me, spoke volumes about Albert Haynesworth. You have a person that the Redskins are gonna be much better without than with.”
“He really offers nothing as a person, as a player, as a teammate.”
“He’s selfish, but he’s also limited in what he can do.”
“He doesn’t respect authority. He only respects his own opinion, and he has a very lofty opinion of himself.”
If Theismann’s quotes were a tackle, Lawrence Taylor would be waving to the trainers on the sidelines to come attend to Haynesworth.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Bamboozled
My quick thoughts of each band I saw last night.
Good Charlotte: They still have more ink visible than skin, and still rock like they did the first time I saw them all those years ago.
Third Eye Blind: Their flamer of a lead singer was barefoot, had a gold tipped microphone and a stupid douchey hat, to go along with that annoying voice. No wonder they haven't been relevant in over a decade. The guitar player from Dublin was by far the best thing about the band, but they were still fun nonetheless.
LMFAO: Everybody loves a dancing midget who looks like a mix between Pudge Rodriguez and Angel Salazar. They had amazing energy and a bunch of party rock songs that all sounded the same but got the crowd jumping like crazy....like a ridiculous version of Andrew W.K. I only had one question; how the hell did one of the lead singers get that fat jumping around on stage the way they do?
Boys Like Girls: Better in person than I expected. I definitely liked the Floyd-esque transition halfway through the set and the 744 guitar picks that made it into the crowd.
I had an absolute blast and got some great pictures and video of the bands as well as of us.
Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Oh, June...
OK I know I used this same pic last year when June rolled around, but I felt the need to use it again. She did a phenomenal job with the roll and I'll always have a soft spot in my heart for her character.
I can't believe Summer is less than three weeks away. I am excited and surprised all at the same time. While a lot of this year has seemed to drag on, it's also gone by very fast.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Oh Lord, Please Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood
1. Tik Tok- Ke$ha.
I sure didn't feel much like P. Diddy when I woke up today....unless he is always sleep deprived and dreading the upcoming work day. Well, now that I think about it, maybe he does feel like that.
Aint got a care in world, but got plenty of beer
Aint got no money in my pocket, but I'm already here
Now, the dudes are lining up cause they hear we got swagger
But we kick em to the curb unless they look like Mick Jagger
I'm talkin' bout - everybody getting crunk, crunk
Boys tryna touch my junk, junk
Gonna smack him if he getting too drunk, drunk
Now, now - we goin' til they kick us out, out
Or the police shut us down, down
Police shut us down, down
Po-po shut us down
2. Midnight Confessions- Grass Roots.
The sound of your footsteps
Telling me that you're near
Your soft gentle motion, baby
Brings out the need in me that no-one can hear, except
In my midnight confessions
When I tell all the world that I love you
In my midnight confessions
When I say all the things that I want to
I love you
Staggering through the daytime
Your image on my mind
Passing so close beside you baby
Sometimes the feelings are so hard to hide, except
In my midnight confessions
When I tell all the world that I love you
In my midnight confessions
When I say all the things that I want to
I love you
3. To Where the River Flows- Collective Soul.
Give me a moment
Got to get this weight up off my chest
Don't feed me sorrow
Pain is a poison I digest
4. Even Flow- Pearl Jam.
Even flow, thoughts arrive like butterflies
Oh, he don't know so he chases them away-yeah
Oh, someday, yea, he'll begin his life again
Life again, Life again
5. Sex and Candy- Marcy Playground.
Hangin' round downtown by myself
And I had so much time
To sit and think about myself
And then there she was
Like double cherry pie
Yeah there she was
Like disco superfly
I smell sex and candy here
Who's that lounging in my chair
Who's that casting devious stares
In my direction
Mama this surely is a dream, yeah
Yeah, mama this surely is a dream
Dig it
MMMM, Cherry Pie
Hangin' round downtown by myself
And I had too much caffeine
And I was thinkin' 'bout myself
And then there she was
In platform double suede
Yeah there she was
Like disco lemonade
6. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood- Santa Esmeralda.
Being the classic rock purist that I am, I'd never have guessed that I would like this version of the song. It's probably good I didn't even know this version existed until a few years back when Kill Bill came out. Had I heard this too much before then I would have disregarded it all together or completely loathed it as I did with so many other classic rock covers when I was younger. It's definitely a good thing that I have grown even more open minded as I have gotten older.
Baby, sometimes I'm so carefree
With a joy that's hard to hide
And sometimes it seems that, all I have to do is worry
And then you're bound to see my other side
'Cause I'm just a soul whose intentions are good
Oh Lord, please don't let me be misunderstood
If I seem edgy
I want you to know
That I never meant to take it out on you
Life has its problems
And I got my share
And that's one thing I never meant to do
'Cause I love you
7. 4am- Our Lady Peace.
If I don't make it
Know that I've loved you all along
Just like sunny days that
We ignore because
We're all dumb and jaded
And I hope to God I figure out what's wrong
I walked around my room not thinking
Just sinking in this box
I blame myself for being too much
Like somebody else
I never thought I would just bend this way
8. Cruel Summer- Bananarama.
The city is crowded my friends are away and I'm on my own
It's too hot to handle so I gotta get up and go
It's a cruel ... cruel ... cruel summer
Leaving me here on my own
It's a cruel ... it's a cruel .. cruel summer
Now you've gone
9. Wild Horses- The Rolling Stones.
I always liked this song, but for some reason it never felt right when the Stones sang it. A few years back I heard Jewel cover this song and was amazed at how much she added to it with her voice and the way she sang it. To me Mick seems to just be singing these lyrics while Jewel seemed passionate about them. Just my thoughts.
Wild horses couldn't drag me away
Wild, wild horses, we'll ride them some day
10. Followed the Waves- Auf Der Maur.
Break my heart
The cards of fate
Seal the deal
My heart lies, my heart lies to you
I followed the waves to you,
I cannot see it through
But my heart lies to you
You’ll never have me true
Between my fire sighs and my burning eyes
My heart burns wildly in his eyes
He's just a drunken, gambling man
Dealing with the hand of desire's thing
I'm gonna shuffle his deck clean
I'm gonna shuffle his deck clean
Thursday, May 20, 2010
OTA Link
For almost a decade I had season tickets for the Lions. Most of the Barry Sanders era was encompassed in those years. How many mandatory training camps did Barry ever go to? He held out ALL of preseason during his ROOKIE year....that year he was only the best rusher in the league, and even passed at a chance to go back into the final game of the year so he could win the rushing title over Christian Okoye, who was already done for the season. Barry finished a scant 10 yards behind the Nigerian Nightmare that season, and in accepting second when he could have led the league in rushing as a rookie showed a lot about his character. I mean, how many rookie RBs would do that same thing if given the chance? My money is on the under, no matter what that might be. Still, Barry never went to training camp.
I found this article about the OTA fury that has surfaced lately and thought it was worthy of a link. Check it out if you are at all interested.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
More Random Dreams
Waking up throughout the night makes it easier to remember my dreams, and this week I have had a hard time sleeping through an entire REM cycle....so I have had a few more dreams stick to my memory.
Last night/this morning I had a dream about planning a trip to Vegas. Not strange in and of itself, but the fact that I was planning to drive there, and it wasn't a really long trip, is very strange. I think I also estimated the drive time to be somewhere between 8-12 hours....I only wish Vegas were that close. Probably a good thing that it's not.
At one point in the dream I remember suggesting we drive to Texas instead because looking at the map, Texas was a lot closer. And by that I mean it was closer than Vegas and closer than it actually is in reality. I thing the panhandle extended up to where southern Indiana would normally be when I looked at the dream map. And as opposed to Vegas, I am kinda happy that Texas, or more accurately the Texans who reside in Texas, is as far away as it is.
The next dream I remember is shorter and less detailed. I was driving home from work, and when I got to Chase and Hemlock I saw a HUGE tornado on the east side of chase moving west toward the area where my house is. Somehow my truck disappeared from under me and I was suddenly walking, although that didn't seem the slightest bit abnormal to me in the dream. With the tornado changing course a few times and looking like it might come toward me, I ended up looking for cover but finding nothing but an open field. The tornado moved on without hitting me, nor destroying anything anywhere it actually traveled, but it was still pretty intense nonetheless.
The Only Exception
When I was younger
I saw my daddy cry
And curse at the wind
He broke his own heart
And I watched
As he tried to reassemble it
And my momma swore that
She would never let herself forget
And that was the day that I promised
I'd never sing of love
If it does not exist
But darling,
You, are, the only exception
You, are, the only exception
You, are, the only exception
You, are, the only exception
Maybe I know, somewhere
Deep in my soul
That love never lasts
And we've got to find other ways
To make it alone
Keep a straight face
And I've always lived like this
Keeping a comfortable, distance
And up until now
I had sworn to myself that I'm
Content with loneliness
Because none of it was ever worth the risk
Well, You, are, the only exception
You, are, the only exception
You, are, the only exception
You, are, the only exception
I've got a tight grip on reality
But I can't
Let go of what's in front of me here
I know you're leaving
In the morning, when you wake up
Leave me with some kind of proof it's not a dream
Ohh---
You, are, the only exception
You, are, the only exception
You, are, the only exception
You, are, the only exception
You, are, the only exception
You, are, the only exception
You, are, the only exception
You, are, the only exception
And I'm on my way to believing
Oh, And I'm on my way to believing
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Miss USA
I don't see how they could justify using these shots to promote their show, AND take away her crown for the material that came out yesterday....especially when she shows a LOT more skin in these two pics than in the "controversial" material. Truth be told, those pictures aren't even worthy of a post on this blog. They were kinda dumb, to be honest. These on the other hand....they were good enough to bend my 1 picture per post rule. :-)