Sunday, November 30, 2003

Love of Lists

Now listening to: John Coltrane (The Last Giant)

Well finally got off work. It was a little harrowing there at the end, but I managed. I'm now just drinking water and cooling out to Coltrane. Smooth jazz. Fits my current mood, laid back. I now have a weekend to look forward to and it's gonna be sweet.

I watched Fever Pitch this morning (I got up at a shockingly early hour considering the relative drunkeness of previous night) and it was pretty good. I'm a sucker for Nick Hornby anyway and this was a screenplay he wrote based on his book. Colin Firth was cool, he plays a cool surly character that I can relate to well.

After that I watched X2, which is excellent. I'm a sucker for super heroes anyway and I've always loved the X-Men (well I was bigger into X-Factor, but it's practically the same thing). I then watched the end of the Tech/UVa game. Yay Cavs. And then I trundled off to work, for some real fun. (Note: Sarcasm)

I did end up doing dinner with Trip and then we went to the mall where I bought a coupla magazines. One being the new Rolling Stone with the list of the Top 500 albums ever. I'm a sucker for all lists anyway. No quicker way to get me to buy a mag than to put a big list into it. Love reading lists, making lists and talking about lists. Maybe it's a love of a certain type of organization caused by my mother being a librarian or maybe it's a need to classify everything. Actually I think it's more just a desire to find out how other people rate things and see if I agree i.e. a desire to fit in (or not).

While there are some specifics on the list I have troubles with, all in all I think it's pretty well put together. Hard to argue with Sgt. Pepper at No. 1 and I'm not really a big Beatles fan. I do think the Ramones were pushed a litte farther back than they should have been. I love the Clash, but how can they be in the top ten and not the Ramones. Would there have been a Clash without the Ramones? Also the lack of Fugazi's Repeater or 13 Songs is a gross oversight.

I actually have 111 of the 500 albums in one form or another.

Saturday, November 29, 2003

Alone in a crowded bar

Now listening to: Portishead

So I went out to Greensboro tonight and hung out with Adam, Mike, Greg, Nick and his wife, Abby. I had a pretty decent time, got a little buzzed and just hung out. Bars always make me feel like I'm excluded from everyone else, even when I'm with a decent sized group (like tonight) I just get the feeling that I have no chance of interesting any woman in a club anywhere. I couldn't possibly woo her with intellectual conversation since it's so loud there that you have to shout to order a beer and be understood. (Newcastle...what?....NEWCASTLE!!!) Plus being of above average girth (aka I'm fat) I'm never going to be the guy in the bar that some chick just fixates on and wants to hook up with, so I always feel inadequate. All this just punctuates my singleness.

But I did enjoy hanging out with the old crew. I miss seeing those guys on the regular. Admittedly when I saw them all the time, there were times I could barely stand it, but I think I'm like that with almost anyone. Mike still wants me to move to New York next fall and I can't say I'm not intrigued. His arguement is "What do you have to lose?" I have no real response to that. My life is simply adequate, nothing more. Not exceptional...just ok. Do I want more than that? Wel, yes. But it's a big move...and I suck at money and the saving of it. I don't know.

Yesterday I didn't blog because everything sucked and I didn't want to get into it. Thanksgiving just blew. Work was incredibly bad. Long and just bad. Couldn't handle it. I did play quite a bit of Gladius before I had to return it to Blockbuster. It was good, but I got the sense that there was going to be a point where it just got frustratingly difficult. I could be wrong about that, but it was the impression I got. I may look for it used or something, but there is really no pressure to find it.

Wednesday, November 26, 2003

For a minute there I lost myself

Now listening to: Radiohead (OK Computer)

Managed to survive another day of work. This one was a bit more tolerable, but still not good. I'm just hating all things work of late. After I finished working I tooled over to Trip's and we played a little Crimson Skies online. It's pretty cool, but I am tired of sucking at it. I have no idea what it will take to improve. Ohh and after dinner, Trip and I hit Roses. It was like a timewarp...a foul-smelling timewarp. Old products that noone wants. How do they stay in business? That place is a dump. We also hit Kmart (I was putting off going back to work) and I bought a pretty kick ass pair of bedroom slippers. So far they get the thumbs up. Comfy and warm.

I finished Good Omens last night, it was excellent. I started reading On Writing today, but haven't delved very far. Just a few pages in I don't know if it's really what I was looking for. I'll give it a little more time, but I'm not very optimistic. I may go ahead and switch to Christopher Moore's Coyote Blue. I've read several of Moore's books and they are all good. Somewhat odd, but good. I like a bit of the absurd thrown in.

So it's now officially Thanksgiving. Woo. Holidays suck more than I can say. I will be working and undoubtedly wishing I were dead a number of times. Work should keep me busy is much to do, but everything will probably finish early. Hopefully it'll all run smooth and I can not be stressed out.

I'm gonna go and play Gladius and listen to Starflyer 59.

Soup is good food

Now listening to: The Weakerthans

Well I managed to survive work, but it was no easy task. I was on the verge of a tri-state killing spree. But now I've had a nice bowl of soup and have managed to calm down some. Isn't it funny how when the last thing you want to do is talk to people, that's when they decide to become chatty.

Anyway I'm preparing to let the vegging commence. I think I may just lay back and try to finish Good Omens. It's chock full of armaggedonny goodness. Laugh out loud funny moments of a highly surreal nature.

Tuesday, November 25, 2003

Somewhere else

I'm soo stunned with work right now I can barely stand it. It all started at 2:30 p.m. when I got a call that told me that in addition to doign page layout all week, I would be trying to get not one but two basketball previews written and photos done for Mondays paper, with Thanksgiving thrown in the middle.

I hate when they pop shit on me and so that started things off wrong. So for the rest of the evening I've been in a bad mood. Mostly because of that, but also because nothing seems to want to go right. Lots of little things building up.

Mike called. He's coming in and we're probably going to hang on Friday night. Hopefully that'll be cool. He definitely could tell my stunnitude on the phone as I made no effort to hide it.

Anyway, back to getting this god-forsaken paper out. I can't wait to go home and veg. I think maybe some beer is merited. Wish I could get some hefe-weisen off the tap.

Monday, November 24, 2003

Seig heil?

Now listening to: Morrissey (Kill Uncle)

A funfilled day of total slackness. It's been pretty nice, a good rainy blah day to while away. I started with some internet highjinks then graduated to the couch. I managed to watch the Triumph of the Will and it was a beautiful film. Beautifully shot that is and the Nazi iconography is striking. Leni Reifenstahl was definitely an innovator, great camera angles. It's just odd to see these people so honestly captivated by that imagery. My whole life I've been taught that the swastika and Nazis were bad people, then to see people rapt with delight at seeing such things. Listening to speeches that are racially motivated and being moved by them.

It's interesting to compare to some of the American propaganda films. Both feature loads of common people working for the good of their nation. It's funny to think that all those Germans were merely following an inherently evil regime, but none of them felt they were evil. How could they? They had been told that the success of their homeland and its people depended on getting rid of these "evil people." Therefore they wanted to do the "good" work of eradicating the Jews from their ranks. I found it striking that in one of his speeches Hitler noted the fact that the people had to be obediant to succeed. I don't like obedience from anyone except maybe my dog. Just goes to show you can't accept what you're told.

Anyway I think I've done a good job of rambling incoherently on that topic. It's hard to collect my thoughts about it. Simply odd to see the "good" side of a regime whose eventual destruction is so tied up in proving the beauty and courageous nature of the American way of life.

I also played a bit of Gladius, which is pretty good, but I haven't delved deep enough to really make a call on it. Just went through the initial plot points and training. We'll see if it can really capture my interest, thanks for renting it Trip, I'm putting your money to work.

I wish I had a coupla more days off to do some reading and play video games. It's just so hard to stay current and I do a lot better than most, as I have no real life. I could also maybe get into some writing, something which I haven't been able to do outside of this blog.

Small Man, Big Mouth

Listening to: more minor threat

So I did go to Winston-Salem today (no surprise) and I somehow managed to control myself spending-wise (surprise). The foray into NC was pretty cool and we had a decent time. I was disappointed that I couldn't find any new cds worth buying. Of course, lately anything I do buy is less good than I hope. I dunno. Well except for this minor threat thing. I've been listening to Rancid's new one, which is pretty good, and we listened to some of the Distillers today, but let me tell you there hasn't been a punk band recording that can exceed the raw explosion of Minor Threat. Their music just shreds everything. It's like sticking your cock in a blender...in a good way.

No games really jumped out at me today. There are some I'd like to have, but I can't in good conscience spend $50 on a game at this point. I need lots of other real things like a new car, clothes, a clue and so on.

For the last few hours I've been prowling around gaming sites, reaffirming my dedication to nerditude. Not that it was in question. Not sure how I'm gonna spend the rest of tonight. I'm thinking of playing some old school games on my comp. Or maybe I'll just flip through some magazines. Woo I'm a partier.

Saturday, November 22, 2003

Hang out with the living dead

Now listening to: Minor Threat (first demo tape)

Well, here I am almost at the end of a night's work, looking forward to a weekend. The job has only been moderately grueling today so I shoudlnt complain too much about that. Today I spent most of the afternoon reading. I finally finished Goodkind's new one, it was pretty good, sometimes I get a little bogged down in his in depth descriptions of "philosophy," it seems like a bit of an attack on Christian beliefs. Not that I mind that, it just can get longwinded. My next book to read is Good Omens by Gaiman and Pratchett. I've heard good things and am hopeful.

Tomorrow Trip has offered me the option of going out of town. While the idea is certainly pleasant, I'm not sure if I should. I'll end up spending too much money that I don't really have. I couldn't be worse with money, it's dreadful. I am still yearning for a new game. Maybe I'll trade some things in. Like Madden and maybe Advance Wars. I dunno, hard to say. Not sure what I'd get anyway. Perhaps the new Final Fantasy game. Or perhaps I'll go retro. Odds are good that I'll go with Trip as a day at home will probably stun me a little. I'll simply have to control myself.

I think this weekend I am also gonna hook up my SNES and go for some old school gaming. I could jump into a little Castlevania or F-Zero. I should play those games as I did buy them.

Fuckity Stew

Sooo tonight's game wasn't as bad as I thought. It was a 3-0 defensive battle, with the home team holding on. Wooo, I enjoyed it actually. Hanging in the pressbox, chillin', talking with one of my fellow sports writers about whatnot. The clock kept running and so everything went quick. All in all, a good game.

Then of course I come over to Trip's and we hang some. Corb shows up, we get Wendy's and watch the Triumph the Insult Comic Dog DVD woo, god I'm exciting. Of course then I whipped Trip up at THUG, scoring a sweet million point trick. Oh man I rule. Ohh we also watched part of the Paris Hylton sex video. Pretty hot. Ahh how manly a night, football, video games and porn. Couldn't be better.

Anyway, I that's about all for now. I may add more at some point.

Friday, November 21, 2003

Destroy 2000 years of culture

Soo another fun filled day. I get to head out to another football game and hopefully not freeze my goodies off this time. We'll see.

I slept in today i.e. didn't get up until 1:30 p.m. and only then because There was a rooster crowing outside my window!!! I don't live on a farm and am thinking of turning that little bastard into McNuggets. But I needed to get up anyway. I have to stop staying up so late reading. I'm trying to finish that Goodkind novel.

Before the game today I'm not sure what I'm gonna go...I'm still debating getting a new game, but I probably shouldn't. I need to resist, especially since I have no less than two games I've barely played (Tactics Ogre and Disgaea).

I think I'm gonna try and watch the rest of the Tenacious D DVD and try to play some of ogre. Or perhaps I'll just read a while. Hmmm.

Standing on my neck

Now: eating a strawberry pop tart

I just watched the Daria movie "Is it college yet" man I love Daria. I think the fascination is derived from the fact that Daria and I are a lot alike. Misanthropic, antisocial, annoyed by the behaviour of people, with a strong disenchantment with a world set up for the lowest common denominator. All these things I can relate to, hence she may be my ideal woman. Well a real non-cartoon version of here. So watching any Daria episode is like a sweet balm that takes away the suffering of everyday life, if only for a moment.

Note to all government officials emboldened by the Patriot Act: I am in no way a nazi or in anyway antisemitic or endorse anything having to do with Hitler's regime (aside from the word blitzkreig because it is fun to say and led to a kickass Ramones song Luftwaffe is also fun to say). I say this in clear language because this weekend I will be getting Leni Reifenstahl's Triumph of the Will in the mail via Netflix. I've heard it's really a well done film and I'm not sure Leni deserved all the hell she caught because she worked for the Nazi propaganda machine. In my mind it was merely a question of an artist struggling to survive. Of course I'm not very well versed in the story so I could be offbase, but that's certainly the impression I get.

Listening to the Eels again, as I never seem to get tired of them. They fit into every mood somehow.

Thursday, November 20, 2003

Down Helm's Deep way

Now: dreading going into work

Another day of fun. Last night I came home and watched the Two Towers...it lived up to the billing. I did have some trouble recognizing scenes that weren't in the theatrical release (as I only saw it once a year ago). Still the action is exquisite. After that I watched some crap TV, although I did get to see an old TV Funhouse episode on Comedy Central. Ahh how I love the Anipals. I also wached Quentin Tarantino on Stern. It was significantly less interesting than I thought it would be. I don't really care if he banged Uma Thurman or not.

Anyway I have to go to the office early today to try and call the away team for Friday's football game. Nothign better than going to work early. Hopefully I will be able to get out of there quick.

I started re-reading Douglas Coupland's Microserfs for like the 30th time. For some reason that book just makes me feel better about life in general...not sure why.

Wednesday, November 19, 2003

My beloved monster

Now listening to: The Eels

I'm once again in a rather foul mood to start the day. It's gonna be a busy afternoon and the weather is fairly crappy. I don't really feel like doing anything today, I'm just pissedoff at the world. I'm tired of always being poor. It's frustrating to drive around in a shitty car. It's bothersome that I live with my parents. It's really annoying to not be able to get out from under a mountain of credit card debt. I'm considering a career change, but what would I do? My best option would be to teach (how sad is it when notoriously underpaid teachers make so much more money that I do) and teaching around these parts isn't exactly a guarantees job...not with our current superintendent of schools.

On top of that, the part time sports guy who does layout on sundays (to give the fulltime guys a decent weekend) doesnt want to work on Sundays anymore. This means less weekends for all. A less than thrilling prospect for me.

Perforated into tiny fragments

Now listening to: At the Drive-in
Now recovering from: A bowl of nastiness

So I finally made it out of the office. It took forever and I had to deal with Cameron, which is always a pain. Drove home in the soggy, yet surprisingly warm weather. Nuked a bowl of Chunky's Ham and Potato soup and man did that suck. Ick. How can you fuck up ham and potato? They found a way. Yesh.

Well I'm tired and it's way too late to start watching The Two Towers so I'm just gonna surf for a while, then read. I'm still amused by Satan's favorite color being green. Hehe.

Tuesday, November 18, 2003

Violent reaction to mind-numbing boredom

Can't wait to watch: my new Two Towers Extended Edition DVD
Now reading: Terry Goodkind (Naked empire)

Bored now. At work, got roped into doing the layout somehow and stunned. I still have some little things to do and only two hours to do them. Sucks.

On the plus side, I have caught up with some national news reading. In a development that may prove not everyone in our government is a total tool, the Mass. Supreme Court ruled that it was unconsitutional to forbid gay marriages in their state. While this has no real bearing on my life, I'm all about granting freedom and ended the stupid bias against gay people. I'll never understand why the "Pro-family right" has such a problem with people who want to get married, even if they are of the same sex. It's this lack of comprehension that separates me from those bigots I suppose.

Perhaps more later.

It's not easy being green

Well, when I woke up this morning (that's right the a.m.) I was in a tremendously foul mood. Fortunately, I have found some levity to brighten up my day. I followed this link to a Christian website decrying Harry Potter as Satanic. Oh it has some wonderful information on the site. Some things I found absolutely hysterical:

1. Satan's favorite color is green and Rowling uses the color green throughout the book. I admit Rowling does enjoy throwing green things at us, I wonder how we found out Satan's favorite color? Did we ask him? When he's out on the town does he wear lots of green I have no idea. Red, apparently, is also bad because occultists like it. So what colors are good I ask?

2. President George Bush (the elder) is a member of a group called Skull and Bones "one of the blackest of black Satanic secret societies." I still wonder how this information was obtained. Oh and apparently black is bad now too.

3. The potions class is metaphorically telling children about the wonders of drug use.

4. A child's nature is inherently evil. I never thought about it, but I think this is a pretty mainstream christian belief. I mean since you have to accept Christ to be saved i.e. good. Therefore the rest of us must be evil by nature. (This is less humorous and more of a simple observation of mine.)

5. Unicorns and the phoenix are symbols of the Antichrist. Never heard of that. Just a couple of fantasy creatures made to amuse children (and adults), but somehow became linked with evil. Of course anything that isn't directly Jesus is linked with evil to these idiots.

6. There are homosexual undertones in the storylines. OK, I'm all for trying to find the hidden homo subtext, but c'mon. This is just ridiculous.

7. The writer of the website (www.cuttingedge.org/news/hpmain.html) honestly believes witchcraft is real. He details how rowling uses actual witchcraft techniques in her books. Isn't that going against the Christian grain? This guy has dreams of burning witches and starting the inquisition again. It's just scary. Fledgling Torquemada.

So yes reading the writings of morons once again serves to make me snicker. I just can believe there are people out there who really believe this sort of crap. It's a children story...not a treatise for satan. Get a clue.

Monday, November 17, 2003

Easy places to get away to

So it's Monday and I'm doing my usual web crawl. Nothing too exciting. Another day off to waste as I will. Not sure what to do, it annoys me that I usually have Sunday and Monday off and DVDs are released on Tuesdays. Be much easier if I was off the day they were released and could watch them then. Is that a nerd dilemma or what?

Maybe my next netflix movie will have arrived (The Maltese Falcon). Or I could just watch Futurama with commentary. Hmmm.

Sunday, November 16, 2003

Cocking it up

Now listening to: Radiohead (I might be wrong)
Preparing to read: Salvatore (The Thousand Orcs)

Soo it's been a relatively uneventful day, sat around watched a little football, beat all the goals on THUG on the normal difficulty. Woo. After I did that, I went over to Corb's were Trip, Corb and I had pizza and played video games. Playing on Corb's ginormous TV was cool, although F-Zero for the SNES did show its age a bit. Mostly we played Super Mario 3 (where whoever was played was lambasted with rants against them...accusing them of "Cocking it up" ...I can't imagine who started that), although there was a little Tony Hawk and a little Soul Caliber 2 thrown in.

Anyway now I'm considering mixing a drink, or getting some wine and settling in to read. I haven't delved far into "The 1,000 Orcs" but it seems up to scratch. This of course is one of the books that Trip describes as "Books with dragons on the cover." That description encompasses all fantasy novels, when in reality most of them don't have dragons. They have elves or wizards or orcs. Hehe, a fine distinction, I know. Still his bias is only part of a larger PR problem for fantasy novels. I'm not sure why fantasy has this stigma, the Dungeons and Dragons nerd thing. It's really bothersome. Just because I like swords and sorcery I get branded nerd. Why not do the same thing to people who read spy novels or that silly overly militarized Tom Clancy crap, or even Stephen King. It's all just an attempt to escape from reality anyway.

OK I admit many of the D&D types are intolerably nerdy, but there plenty of us Fantasy fans who aren't lost causes. I can have a conversation about other things and I don't like the stigma. I'm going to start my Nerd rights political action committe any day now.

Blank check for mayhem

Now watching: Carolina vs. Washington football and Queer Eye

I return after a missed day of blogging. My trip to Bluefield was everything I thought it would be...that is to say it was excruciating. Bad drive up through the mountains into West Virginia, country music, bad football game and then the dreaded return drive.

After I finally finished my work day I got some groceries and came home for vegging in front of the tv. I ended up watching most of SNL and an episode of monster house that was kinda cool. I finally went to sleep and slept like a damn rock. Not just any rock, a damn rock. So now I'm thrust into my weekend. I don't really have anything to do so I may go into cave recluse mode and stay here and try not to spend any money.

As for what I will be doing to kill this weekend, I'm not sure. I should do some reading, maybe try and get into Suikoden 3...although I'm not sure that will happen. Anyway I'm off to goof off, more later.

Friday, November 14, 2003

Frozen Artic Tundra

Now watching: Trip play Tony Hawk
Now putting off: writing a game story

Well I am finally starting to thaw after an incredibly cold evening at the Magna Vista football game. I sat outside with Danny and it was cold as a motherfucker....Never been sure why a motherfucker is cold, but what can you do? The game was ok, too many stupid penalties. I have to get to work soon so I don't have to get up at a ridiculous hour tommorrow. I still have to go all the way to Bluefield...which sucks. On the plus side, Martinsville will probably lose and that'll be one less football team to cover next week.

Anyway today I sat around most of the day and beat Tony Hawk Underground's story mode...woo I rule. After I did that I watched easy rider. I don't think I smoked enough weed to truly enjoy it. Totally a hippie movie. Then of course I hooked up with Danny and we had dinner with Trip, then off to the cold ass game. After that we came back here and played some Crimson Skies, which was pretty cool.

I really just don't want to write that story now, I really don't want to work at all this week. I've been writing a ton this week, and while the hours are light, I still find it more draining. Of course there is the dread of hitting the road tomorrow. Well, I suppose I should get to work, it's not getting any earlier.

Never a Frown with Golden Brown

Now listening to: Snatch (soundtrack) to start but switched to the Ramones (NYC 1975)

Just watched the movie Identity. That was really cool. Of course John Cusack was in it so I expected it to be pretty good. But I'm not really a big fan of thriller type movies on the whole. There are a few that stand out and this was one of them.

I'm currently looking up Daria merch on ebay...why? well why not. I'm a big daria fan and am considering buying the stuff that's out on dvd. Nothing serious, just pricing. I'm a little scared to order anything tho, as I had a bad credit card experience earlier today. I went to fye at the mall and found they had a new used cd section which I plowed through and found no less than four cds I wanted to buy. Cool stuff — Sonic Youth, Cat Power, Ugly Casanova and...ummm...I can't remember but it was good. Anyway when I went to check out, my card was refused, which befuddled and embarrassed me. I tried a different card (that I know is good) and it too was refused. I think their system must have been down as the clerk was a little quick to tell me it didn't work. I may go back tomorrow and see if it works then.

So today the wind hit hard huh. This was especially unpleasant in my jeep, where the top is so raggedy I can barely stand it. I'm considering just getting a new car, one without a rag top. It all depends on how much debt I'm willing to accrue.

Well that's plenty of rambling for now.

Thursday, November 13, 2003

Won't you please...kill my neighbor

Now listening to: Whatever godforsaken pop, R&B shit my downstairs neighbor has cranked

So I'm more than a little pissed. At around 9:30 a.m. the people downstairs began to play the crap music outside. This, of course, woke me up. Being far to early I got to lay there in a sort of half sleep, occasionnally nodding off between songs or when they changed the disc. At 11 a.m. they played my least favorite song. I'm not really sure what it is, but I could play the baseline as that's all I ever hear.

Usually they are up all night playing music, which is annoying but at least I'm not trying to sleep. My parents are undoubtedly unpleased, but what can I do.

Anyway I have to get ready and go to work as I have several stories to write and calls to make. Arrggh.

The stage in history

Now listening to: The Flaming Lips (Yoshimi Battles the Robots)

Just got home from Trip's. Had a slack day at work and then went there and we played Tony Hawk and Soul Caliber 2. I've lost some of my SC2 chops, but can still throw a beating. Wish I had more people to play, fighting games are always better if you have a larger group to work with. You get different levels of advancement and several different strategies. Oh well. I still think Virtua Fighter 4 is better.

This weekend I have to drive to Graham for a football game. Not sure why I dread the traveling so much. I just do. I've become set in my routine and kinda hate to break with it, or at least hate to have it broken by work.

Ohh tonight trip and I watched Bumfights, video of people fighting and these complete bastards either subduing bums and doing a Steve Irwin impression or getting bums to do stupid shit for money or beer or something. On one hand, those bums did do it of their own free will. They had let themselves fall so far that they were willing to do bodily harm to each other for drugs or alcohol. On the other hand, how demented do you have to be to even think of that sort of thing. It was disgusting. I mean I'm all for televised idiocy — note my support of Steve-o and the whole Jackass crew — but there is something wrong in getting people clearly not possessing the wherewithall to take care of themselves to do those types of idiotic things.

Well I am gonna make a sandwich and do some more reading. Hopefully I can get to bed at a decent hour as I need to go to work relatively early.

Wednesday, November 12, 2003

Do you like robots?

Now reading: Running With Scissors by Augusten Burroughs
Now playing: Tony Hawk Underground

I'm in a haze. I stayed up too late playing Tony Hawk and reading Running with Scissors. I would switch off when my thumb got too sore to continue for a while. Anyway I didn't get up until almost 1 p.m. and now I feel all groggy. I've got to get back to working out regularly and get my energy level back up.

I need to go in to work early today to call some coaches, but I really don't wanna. I just want to lay around and do nothing. No surprises there.

Running with Scissors is living up to my hopes. Tales of a disturbing childhood that are all the more scary because they are true. The segment on how a psychiatrist believes God is communicating with him through his poo is sidesplittingly funny.

Tuesday, November 11, 2003

Minor malaise and maladjustment

Just feeling a tad anxious today as nothing seems to be living up to my anticipation of it. I can't find a video game that will hold my interest and all the cds I've bought of late haven't really caught my ear as well as I would have hoped. I dunno, I just don't seem to be overly interested in anything of late. Like I'm just searching for something I can't find.

Today I slacked off most of the day then visited with Danny in the evening. His four-year-old is a nice kid, but makes it obvious to me that I have NO desire to have children. I couldn't handle it. I was there for under threee hours and my nerves were shot.

After that I went to Trip's where we had some epic Tony Hawk Underground struggles. I managed to best him more often than not, but he's becoming more and more dangerous. Now I know how Gabe felt with me last year, when I started to be able to compete with him Of course, Gabe then rededicated himself to the game and started to really kick my butt.

Been on a soup kick of late. When the weather drops, soup tastes better for some reason. Campbell's Chunky soup kicks ass. Well I suppose that's it. I'm gonna jump into a book for a while before I go to sleep, not sure which one tho...hmmm

Monday, November 10, 2003

Hypermediocrity

Preparing to play: Suikoden 3

Well I've been browsing the web for the hour I've been up. I keep reading about Final Fantasy XI, the MMORPG (massively Multiplayer onling role playing game). Apparently it's very good and I'm jealous of people who get to play it. With my mere dialup connection it would be excrutiating to try to play, plus I don't have a Windows machine and the anti-mac gaming facism continues.

Finished R.A. Salvatore's Sea of Swords last night, it was pretty good. Only two more books to read and I'm caught up. I'm considering taking a break and trying to read something not fantasy-related. The problem is I'm caught up in the story. I want to know where it's going. But even if I read all the books out now, I still have to wait until next Nov. to read the ending. That's the trouble with these epic fantasy storylines that go over so many books.

Anyway now I'm going to go do some gaming, hopefully Suikoden 3 will live up to my memories of the first game. I never got to play the second one as the disc was defective after so many hours into it. (Discovered by my father.) So I sold the game...now it's worth $200 online. I hate my life so much. My only hope is that the third increases in value like that.

Sunday, November 09, 2003

For me to poop on

Sooo I'm at work and kinda bored, once again. I have already completed all my pages for the night and have nothing left to do. On one hand, I'm glad as I can relax and surf the net, or say type up a blog, on the other I'd rather be allowed to finish and go or be kept busy so I don't get bored.

Anyway, I had a good time in Greensboro yesterday, some nice shopping, good meal, good company (although trip and I don't see eye to eye on shopping time). But a good time was had by all. We saw elf, which kicked ass. Lots of hilarious moments. On the way home trip, corb and I laughed our asses off. So I'll chaulk it all up to time well spent.

Today I went to see the Matrix Revolutions with trip at a matinee. Not bad, it was non-stop in its action. I've heard a lot of people criticize the sequels, saying they just weren't as good as the original. Well, duh. You can't unsee things. The first one was perfect because you had no idea what the matrix was and if people were fucking with neo. You got to follow this incredible revelation and it was simply breathtaking. The latter ones the mystery is no longer there and you are simply watching an action movie, a very good action movie by any standard, but simply an action movie. You've seen bullet time (done to death these days) and you've know what the matrix is. You have to get over it and appreciate the incredible visuals the wachowski bros. offer. The battle in zion is so amazing. frantic, frenetic, fantastic and other word that start with f.

Anyway enough of a tirade on that. The steelers won today, so that was a pleasant surprise. I have tomorrow off and I'm planning to pay video games, read and perhaps visit with Danny.

Saturday, November 08, 2003

I'm being cut to shreds

Now listening to: Radiohead (I might be wrong)
Now watching: The Matrix Reloaded
Currently flipping through: Official Playstation magazine

Currently at trip's geeking out. for some reason I am kinda tired, even though I slept late today. All I've done is done today was read and of course drive to Tunstall for a football game. I then wrote my story and now I'm here with trip. Anyway this tired thing, I hope it means I'm not coming down with something.

Tomorrow my plan is to collect my friends and go to greensboro to see a movie and grab some lunch and do some minor shopping. perhaps get some new music and a new book. I'd like to see the new matrix movie, despite the reviews but if corb comes along he's not gonna be interested in that. So we may be forced to see elf, which would be fine as well.

trip is now questioning the readership of this blog, claiming to be the lone visitor. He may be right, but screw him. ok I'm outta here.

Friday, November 07, 2003

Fuck that guy

Now listening to: Cat Power (You are Free)

So I am finally home and, surprisingly, my phone is working. However, these small victories mean little compared to the suffering I had during my final hours at work. Computer crashes, being bitched at by the boss and having to suffer through the opinions of the man I think is the biggest asshole ever born, Let's call him Cameron...cause that's his name.

This is my coworker. He is the most arrogant, pretentious human being and knows it and revels in it. He must die. If I had a nickel for every time someone at the bulletin discussed killing him, I'd be able to buy the paper with plenty left over. Tonight I made the grotesque error of mentioning that I saw the movie signs and thought it sucked. He went on a tirade about how it wasn't that bad and there were so many movies much worse. Now, I can allow someone to have a different opinion than me in a discussion and not be bothered by it. I'm open-minded and believe in respecting others' opinions. Cameron has no such concept. His idea of a discussion is something akin to a battering ram, bludgeoning dissenters into a state where they are simply unable to care enough to fight his onslaught and simply opt out of the conversation.

Anyway, I do feel better now that I have that off my chest. Perhaps I can relax and do some reading.

Ohhh, something I've been meaning to do. In the unlikely event that someone reads this that doesn't know me and already have my email, I can be reached at prometheus9000@hotmail.com feel free to write me.

Thursday, November 06, 2003

I'm not here, this isn't really happening

Now: wishing I had brought my cd player to work

BORED. I'm at work and bored. Sure I could be working on that story, but really, why bother? I'm in a fairly foul mood. The whole B-day doldrums coupled with my jeep sieve (it once was a canvas top, but now it definitely fills the roll of sieve better) leaking water all over everything. hence i suffered a wet ass on my way to work and my sock is still soggy. Also my phone went out today and so I won't be able to get to the internet at home. Woo, I'm loving life.

On the up side, trip did make every attempt to pull me from depression so kudos to him for that (what-the-hell-ever a kudo is anyway...is it that granola bar thingee? cause those are kinda good...) Still despite his best efforts, I remain in a pissy mood. What can I say, I'm moody. Currently all I want to do is go home, drink some wine and read on the couch. Two more hours....

On the down side

Now listening to: Radiohead (Kid A)

Well it is officially Nov. 6, my birthday. I am 29-years-old and feel a deep depression coming on. I am another year older and nothing has changed. I'm still single, stuck in Martinsville in a job that pays terribly. I still live with my parents (which is becoming more depressing by the minute) and I still have no idea of how to change these things.

My life is certainly nothing like I pictured it when I was a kid. I figured by this point I would have a decent job where I could live comfortably and never be overly concerned about money. I'd be married to the perfect woman and just basking in life's wonder. Instead I'm awash in waves of inadequacy and economic distress. I haven't been on a real date in so long I'm considering giving up the idea and accepting the idea of just being alone for the rest of my life. I'm pretty good at filling the time in with mindless entertainment.

Last year, I made an attempt to break with my status quo and move to NYC. None of that went off well and I ended up back in the same old, same old. Now I have even less belief that I can get out of this rut.

I will be working on my birthday and have made attempts to be working on all the winter holidays. I specifically chose this because when I am off and have to fill those holidays with activities I am always disappointed. Whatever I do seems pedestrian and mundane. At least when I'm working I have an excuse for my lameness.

Anyway, now that I have revelled in my pathetic nature I am going.

Wednesday, November 05, 2003

Rocking the vote

Currently listening to: Radiohead (Amnesiac)

So today was election day here in my little burg. Normally I try and ignore the local elections as I feel that most of the time they don't affect me a whole helluva lot. But this time round I was forced to go out and vote against some of the raving morons that were running. I'm not kidding, I wouldn't allow this type of slack-jawed imbecile to clean my toliet, much less run the school board. So I had ot vote against them. I didn't really know the platform of their competitors, but when confronted with a worst-case scenario, you go the other way regardless of what it is.

Fortunately, none of those idiots got elected, admittedly I didn't like the result of a few of the local races, but it could have been much worse.

Of course, working at a newpaper on election night meant that I had to work late waiting for everything to get in. As the sports world was pretty quiet, this meant that I had to sit around for about two hours after finishing my pages and do nothing. Quite exciting.

Now I am pretty tired. I think I'm gonna go and read until I collapse. Nighty-night.

Tuesday, November 04, 2003

Two sides to every story

Preparing to watch: Signs

So my resolve isn't what it used to be. I am currently slacking off instead of going to the gym. Sad sad sad. The lure of my sofa has won out again. I'm just hoping this movie will be good. I'll probably end up playing Advance Wars 2 throughout it so as to multitask and not be so slack...yeah I know I'm still really slack.

I also need to get my shit together and make some cds for my brother. He wants the radiohead catalogue. I could probably do that at the same time. I'm off.

Everything's gonna be cool this Christmas

Currently listening to: Eels (The Electro-Shock Blues show-live)

Just got off of work and damn glad to be home. Work wasn't too bad, just kind of dull. (I should learn to appreciate these moments, they are becoming more rare.)

Anyway, on the way home I was listening to the Eels (and still am now) and the song everything is gonna be cool this christmas made me smile. Funny how the Eels can make you laugh one minute and cry another. My plan to sit outside and read was foiled by Netflix. I ended up watching "Y tu mama tambien" It had a sexual tone that permeated the film...my that does sound pretentious.

In spite of Netflix's interference I did manage to finish the Salvatore book I was reading at dinner. So, of course, now I'm moving on to the next in the series. I read four more and I'm caught up. I also have to work this book I bought the other day in, "Running with scissors" I heard a review of it on NPR I think, or maybe read an interview with the author on Salon, can't remember. I have high hopes.

My plan is to get up and go to the gym and try to get back on the workout tip tomorrow. We'll see if my resolve holds.

Monday, November 03, 2003

Go with the flow

Just roused from bed a little while ago and have been browsing the usual sites on the web. It's amazing how much time I can kill just sitting here and surfing through stuff I'm really not terribly interested in. I could page through ebay all day even when I'm completely broke.

So I'm relishing the few hours I have before I have to return to work for a full day of page layout, argh. I suppose it could be worse. It's a beautiful fall day outside, i think i may go outside and read for awhile. Of course, that could be forgotten if my netflix came in today. I'm awaiting Mumford, Y tu mama tambien and Signs.

I think that's about it for now, I have a rant planned on the CBS at 75 tv special, but am simply not in the mood to get into it now. Something to look forward to for both of you who are reading this...

Sunday, November 02, 2003

Stop....continue

Currently listening to: Jane's Addiction (Strays)
Currently reading: R.A. Salvatore (The Spine of the World)

Well, I've spent around an hour fiddling with this whole blog thing and hope I have started to figure out how I want things to go. After reading a couple of other blogs, I've decided to never say "Nothing much to talk about today." I find myself emailing that to friends and it's just pathetic. Who wants to read that? Noone. So if I don't have anything to say, I won't post and save everybody some time.

Today has been relatively uneventful, went to see Scary Movie 3...ummm the less said about it the better. Part of me always regrets seeing that type of movie, I go into it knowing it's going to be bad but see it nonetheless. I suppose it's a simple desire to be in the know and also have something to do socially.

I recently read the book "Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides, it was excellent. The story of a hermaphrodite raised as a girl and then determined to be male at age 15. It was really more of that, going into the history of it's greek family and the move from the old country to America. I can't say enough about this book, it was really well written and interesting. I didn't care for Eugenides' first novel "the Virgin Suicides" it was more depressing and just didn't strike the same chord with me.
Well this is my first post. I'm basically starting this blog as a way to think out loud and get things off my chest. It's purely an attempt at catharsis. Psychology online.

Well a little bit about myself: I am a 28-years-old white male. (I'll be 29 on Thursday.) I live in Martinsville, Virginia and am a sportswriter for the local paper. This will not be a sports blog however as I have no need to really get into it here, I'm paid to write about that stuff and find it boring to talk about off the job, with a few exceptions. I read a lot and that, in and of itself, sets me apart from the vast majority of people I come into contact with everyday.

My other hobbies include video games, movies and playing devil's advocate with my friends. Anyway that's about all for now. I shall return