Saturday, January 31, 2004

Sassifrassindagnabit...

Well I feel fucking awful. The claritin/Nyquil combo didn't do me as right today. I wish I could just get over this sick thing. Arrggh.

Today is gonna blow. I have to do that story on the little kids basketball tournament, which is gonna suck. After that i get to do tons of layout. Yay. All while feeling like butt, it's terribly exciting.

Friday, January 30, 2004

The devil is six

WellI am now officially on two medications, which is the first time that has happened in a while (not counting various liquors and beers). I got some claritin (actually it's kroger brand, but shhh) and took that and now that I am nigh-ready for bed, I had a nice cup of NyQuil (or its generic equivalent). I could drop at any minute.

Today was fairly slack. Had lunch with cousin Mike, which was ok then went to work for a while. Got a haircut, which I'm not sure if I like or not. Then hung with trip for a while playing some video games (I own him at Soul Caliber II and Tony Hawk).

Once I made it home (after my generic shopping) I watched the rest of the UCB stuff, well except for the extra stuff. Man do I love that absurd humor, pure genius. The little Donny episode may be the best dick joke of all time.

But there must be another season as there was no "Splangey" episode and no pro-thunder ball. I can't wait for them to get the second (and probably final) season out on DVD. I may try to go and see a show at the UCB theatre while I'm in NYC.

Now I must go collapse as the drugs have taken hold.

Thursday, January 29, 2004

I always pay with ass pennies

Now listening to: Sleater-Kinney (One Beat)

My throat still hurts, but I'm actually in a good mood. My Upright Citizens Brigade DVD came along with this Sleater-Kinney album and both rock my fuckin socks off. UCB is so mighty, you haven't lived until you know the dangers of a poo stick. It's sidesplitting. Incidently, ass pennies are pennies that you would put in your ass and then spend. After so long you can be sure that whoever you deal with has had a penny that you had in your ass in their hand. This gives you a psychological edge in dealing with them.

This album is the shiz. These girls take off the gloves and pummel you with rock and roll goodness. I don't think I've actually bought an album this good in a long while. Well maybe Embrace and Rites of Spring...or the Shins, whatever, this shit drops it old school.

Had Trip's B-Day thingee, which was a bit abbreviated, but fun. We got him Counterstrike for Xbox, which he seemed to enjoy. Now he and I have to find something for Danny's B-Day in Feb.

Monday, January 26, 2004

I'll stab you in the face with a soldering iron

Now watching: American Choppers

Well it's been a pretty relaxing couple of days. I haven't really done much. Enjoying the snow and kicking back. The only problem has been my throat has been kinda sore and my sinuses are draining. Not pleasant. Mom thinks I should go to the doctor, but man I hate that crap. A doctor's office is the only business where you make an appointment for 10 a.m. and they expect you to sit there and wait for two hours before the doc sees you, even when you show up on time. I've been late to stuff, but I've never expected someone to wait two solid hours. It's ridiculous.

Other than that not much has went on. The poker game was snowed out unfortunuately and so I sat at home and did nothing. Well not nothing, I did watch Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and take a nap. Those were important activities. Oh and I couldn't stop eating, which is bad. I continue to swell at an insane rate.

Today I was anticipating a dreadful drive into town for work, but was saved at the zero hour. There were no less that 10 messages on the machine when I got up (I'm the only one who can delete them apparently) and four of them were from work, notifying me of an early press time. No surprise. So I made a couple of calls and talked to Andy so he wouldn't have to come in and he just volunteered to work for me since his drive was shorter and less treacherous than mine. So that was cool.

So instead I spent another day of slackness on the couch, watching TV. I got the 25th Hour (Spike Lee's latest) in the mail today and watched it. Ed Norton is just good, he plays great characters that you can't help but to relate to. Did I mention Anna Paquin is hot, as is Rosario Dawson. I think that's about it. I think I'm gonna goof off online for a while, then do some reading.

Sunday, January 25, 2004

Howdy, name's Hank Himmler

Well today was spent goofing off. Trip and I had dinner at El Parral, where I ordered way too much. Then we rented a coupla movies and watched them with Corb. We watched A mighty wind, the new Christopher Guest mockumentary. It was a little slow really. Kinda funny, but not the best. Plus folk music...not really funny.

We also watched Fletch lives and it was quite good. Chevy Chase doing what he does. Good stuff. Need to get those Fletch movies on DVD...they'd be good to see on the regular. Sharpen up my asshole sidetalking skills.

I also watched the end of Mulholland Drive today. Some hot chicks in the movie, but it was typical David Lynch.

Tommorrow is the poker game. Wondering if I'll do well. Hard to say, but I definitely need to work on my skills before the tournament next week.

Friday, January 23, 2004

Life interrupted

So I get to wake up to a lot of banging and rattling this morning as they continue to work on the pipes. So that's fun. Not to mention the fact that I can't pee or brush my teeth until that guy leaves...makes for a nice way to start the day. Finally that guy finished and left and my bladder got relief. So now I'm not seeing the world with a yellow tint.

Last night I finally found an online casino that's Mac compatible, plus it has poker for funsies, which is good. I'm not really up for paying for online poker at this point. Need to test my skills a little more before going for the big bucks.

Hopefully work won't be too painful today and I can get my wekend started.

Thursday, January 22, 2004

United States of Whatever

Now listening to: Sonic Youth (Confusion is sex)

Work was tedious as always. My basketball game couldn't have been less interesting. Plus I got to not take a shower before work because there is a leak somewhere underneath the apartment adn they were looking for it, so I smelled like beefass all day. I was unthrilled.

I read a bunch of "The Biggest Game in Town" at dinner. It's about the World Series of Poker and includes a snapshot of the Binion's Casino circa 1981. It's pretty interesting stuff. Good stories from Poker's old guard.

I'm currently looking up airfares for my trip to NYC and can't really find any good deals. Kinda annoying. The cheapest flight I can see is $234, which is around 34 too expensive really. OK expedia hooked me up. It's still more than I would like, but $210 is workable for nonstop both ways. To book or not to book...hmm.

Days of blarg

Well I'm preparing for another day of work. It sucks. Have to do some wrestling interviews before I hit the basketball game tonight. Not looking forward to it. I'm just in a bleah mood anyway.

I finished Digital Fortress last night and it was pretty good. Lots of twists. Seemed like it went on a little longer than it should have at the end. Not sure what I'm gonna read next.

Is it Friday yet?

Tuesday, January 20, 2004

Drink Deep

Now listening to: Rites of Spring followed by Teenage Fanclub

I'm feelign kind of down. My uncle Bob is dying of cancer and likely to go this week. Sucks. The males in the Cardwell line are notoriously bad at dealing with the death of those close to them and I'm no exception. We have a tendency to avoid contact with the ill and try to stay away from funerals and their trappings. I know some people need that closure, but I'm not really one of them. I'm good at dealign with things alone most of the time and all the accoutrements of death seem superfluous and hurtful to me.

Now that I've brought everyone down I'll shift gears. This weekend went ok, watched football, relaxed and trip and I went to Greensboro. Had a pretty good time.

Today work was painless and I got out at a decent hour. Now I need to get down and do some poker reading to prepare for the weekend. I also hope to read some more Digital Fortress. Not sure which will take precedence.

America Online in England

Now watching: Mullholland Drive
Now reading: Dan Brown (Digital Fortress)

Well it's been a busy afternoon. I got up when my brother called me to help him cancel his America online account. Since he's in England it doesn't work for him. I pointed out the irony of getting AMERICA online while you're in Britain but he wasn't amused. Anyway I have to try and take care of that.

Then I talked to Adam for a while, I now have to book our flight, yay. And then I talked to Mike Weaver, who will be playing poker with us on Sunday, if I can get a game up.

I also put some stuff in my new address book. Filled in the blanks as it were. I'm now watching Mulholland Drive and it's a typical confusing David Lynch movie. Loosly strung together narrative with odd dialogue and weird characters. Some interesting shots and a definite touch of a magical undercurrent.

Trip seems to think that I've been slacking off on my updates so this is a quick one for him. Bitch.

Saturday, January 17, 2004

Glazed ham

Now: finishing up work, well...actually killing time until I can go.

A rather uneventful day so far. Watched Storytelling (another Todd Solondz film featuring no likable characters but is somehow entertaining) and some more firefly.

I then came to work and wrote a dull game story of last night's fiasco and then proceeded to hit the layout scene. Dullsville. But not a bad night really, so far no crises.

My plan is to go home and drink some wine, maybe watch still more Firefly and finish the series out or perhaps read. I finished Animal Farm at dinner. It was definitely worth the little time it took me to read. Not sure what's next on my list.

Must find something cool to do tomorrow. Mayhap I'll spend the day playing Beyond Good and Evil and try to finish it out on Monday. That way I can catch up with Trip who has destroyed the game already.

As for the title of this post, there is no real reason for it. Just a surreal moment of a fat guy.

Friday, January 16, 2004

Sweet Zombie Jesus

Well the decision comes tomorrow. I'm going car shopping with mom and I need to figure out what I'm gonna do. Stress....building...must retain slack nature...

Watched a bunch of Firefly today. Great show and, of course, its cancelled. Hoping there will be a movie. Thinking I may go watch some more now. Not really a lot to report at this time. Work=boring, life=mindnumbing, sex life=nonexistent. That pretty much covers all the bases.

Wednesday, January 14, 2004

I always wanted to get into gooning

Now watching: World Poker Open

Today kinda blew. I didn't do much really, but I did make it to work. Had dinner and felt awful. I left work early I felt so bad. Not good. After I got home and hit the bathroom and some pepto I felt better.

I'm feeling a little bored. I'm not sure what I want to do, again. I'm thinking maybe watch firefly or maybe do some reading.

I forgot to call my cousin and confirm trip and my spot at the poker tournament. I have to remember to do that tomorrow. I still need to get up a local game for some practice.

Bleah

I have got to stop sleeping all damn day. I didn't get up this afternoon until almost 2 p.m. and so I have next to no time before work to do anything. It sucks. I'm tempted to call in sick this afternoon, but don't know if it's a good idea. It'd probably be better just to go ahead and get it over with.

I watched the celebrity poker showdown finale last night. It was cool, lots of talk about tells and whatnot. I wanted David Cross to win, but Nicole Sullivan played well and had the cards. It was entertaining. I particularly liked it when the other losers came into the Loser's Lounge to chat. Had kind of a Dean Martin anything can happen vibe for a minute...especially since everyone is drinking.

Anyway I need to go an salvage the last few minutes of relaxation before work.

Tuesday, January 13, 2004

Quality time

Yarrggh. Another day to ponder things. Work looms and my desire to go is, as always, lacking. Last night, instead of reading I played Beyond Good and Evil. It was pretty cool, some well integrated puzzles.

I'm not sure what I want to do today. I probably should get out of here early and go price cars, but I don't think I'm in the mood. I'm considering putting off the whole process indefinitely. Or at least until after my New York trip. The only problem is that leaves me out in the cold, literally.

Perhaps I'll just lay around all afternoon and stare off into space until I've got to go into work.

Monday, January 12, 2004

Your emotions are nothing but politics

Now listening to: Rites of Spring

Have felt overcome by an undeniable sense of dread all day. I thought about my monthly expenses and how a car payment is going to affect them. I'm not happy about it. I hate my current debt and now I'll be accruing more. I'm considering just putting a new top on the jeep and trying to tough it out for a while and use the car payment money to reduce my credit card debt. May be a good idea, but a new car would be nice. I don't know what I want to do.

Listening to Embrace earlier, they have a song called "Money." It's an indictment of our consumerist society that emphasizes the continual effort to collect more and more things. The innate self indulgent nature of capitalism. While I do agree with this intellectually, I find it difficult to not want more. Of course I am probably under the monentary level of the people this song targets, but I still feel like a bit of a hypocrite as I realize that possessions don't really make my life better, but I continue to chase after them.

On a related note I saw details on a big unadvertised video game sale at Circuit City. I may have to check it out and see if it's legit. Although the last thing I really need is more video games. I have tons I haven't played.

I did go to the library after Trip and I had dinner and checked out a couple of books. "Animal Farm" and this novel some how related to Sei Shonagan and her pillow book. I'm gonna try to finish Animal Farm tonight, which shouldn't be a problem unless I get distracted. I did manage to waste too much time watching crappy Monday night TV.

in the numbing span of eternity even the most monstrous among us need love

Now listening to: Elvis Costello (Brutal Youth)

A relatively slack day. Watched some football and hung with Trip and Corb. Mom saw an ad in the paper for a 2003 Toyota Echo with under 600 miles on it for under $10K. It was at a Nelson Dealership (I loathe Nelson), but the price is nice. The problem currently is that to get the advertised financing I have to put $1000 down, which I don't have. Plus it only has a cassette deck, which blows. I'd have to put a cd player in it, which is more money I don't have. I'm in a quandry.

I'm going to go look over it tomorrow and see what they have to say. I may also ask about their gallants, although I like them less and they have more mileage. I hate the whole new car thing, more debt, more responsibilty, less being able to just do what I want, when I want.

Anyway, while watching football Trip, Corb and I played Castle Risk and I got annihilated quick. Corb seems to have a knack for world domination. Be afraid. I ended up playing my game boy so it all worked out I suppose. I'm nearing the end of Fire Emblem, but it's getting ridiculously hard.

I finished "The Minotaur Takes a Cigarette Break." It's sad how much I can relate to the struggles of a freakish mythical beast put into modern times. The book was a little depressing, but pretty good. Not sure what's next on my list. Perhaps Dostoyevski's "The Gambler" or I may get back into "The Hero With a Thousand Faces." After reading "The DaVinci Code" I'm pretty interested in reading analysis of mythology. That reminds me, I need to google symbology and see what come's up.

Sunday, January 11, 2004

Most painful eliminations

Now listening to: embrace

Well I successfully did absolutely nothing on Friday. It was nice. Lots of slackness. Today I had to work and that sucked. I won't bitch about it as I have nothing new to add to my endless rants about work. Same ol' shit.

Mom did let me drive her car instead of suffering through a jeep ride. I am scheduled to get a new car on Friday, so let's hope nothing happens between then and now.

Got my coat in the mail today, doesn't fit and I'm pissed about it. I know I'm fat, but shouldn't I be able to purchase clothes in my size? It's all so frustrating.

Adam called me on Friday and mentioned going to NYC for Mike's B-day and hanging out there. I couldn't think of a reason to say no and so I'm heading out there. It'll be my first flight. I'm looking forward to it. Now if I can just save some cash up beforehand. I hate that I'm bad with money. I just spend it, that's what I do. I have so many interests that I always have something I want. The price of being eclectic.

Friday, January 09, 2004

Nailed to my forehead

Now listening to: Still more Shins

It's cold. I'm caught between books and not sure what to read now. I should probably be doing some reading for the poker tournament, but I'm not in the mood right now. I don't really know what I want to do. I thought about watching a movie, but nothing really jumped out at me. I don't feel like video games and of course my book conundrum. I'm left doing nothing and feeling guilty about it.

I'm kinda hungry but nothing seems appetizing. I think I'm just in a contrary mood and won't be satisfied no matter what happens.

I think the poker game I was trying to put together on Sun. has all but fell through. One of my coworkers seemed less interested when he realized football was on at that time and pretty much sold out. That leaves three players, which is too few. I'm a bit put off.

It's supposed to snow tonight and that is both a good and bad thing. Good as I won't have to drive to Patrick County and watch a basketball game tomorrow night, bad because I'll probably have to go in and write another stupid story. I miss when a snow day meant that you were absolved from work that day. Snow is also bad as the snow may delay the delivery of my new coat even longer and I really could use it.

Thursday, January 08, 2004

Fighting in a sack

Well I've been making good on my promise to do a lot of reading this week. I'm almost finished the DaVinci Code and have read Poker Wisdom of a Champion by Doyle Brunson and finished the Buddha of Suburbia. I rock.

The DaVinci Code is excellent. I enjoy it's biblical conspiracy theory and have little doubt a lot of it is true. That's the way these things work. It's all about the grasp for power.

Other than reading not much has gotten done. I've watched some poker on tv and went to several basketball games, which hasn't been so bad. Watching the Reno World Poker Tour thing on the Travel Channel was a little bit of a letdown tho. T.J. Cloutier, a poker legend, went out on the second hand and I wanted to see him get into the action. Very disappointing.

It has decided to become winter in a big way again and I am suffering the consequences. Still no new car and I can't find the title to my jeep. This sucks. It's supposed to snow tomorrow and I'm not really looking forward to it.

Tuesday, January 06, 2004

My head's like a kite

Now listening to: The Shins (Chutes too narrow)

Well I did manage to make it to work for a little while. I wrote a soulless story and then left. I went to circuit city and bought Beyond good and evil for the PS2 for $10. There was a big sale and I took advantage. The game is pretty cool so far, although Im not that far into it.

After plaing it for an hour, I decided to watch some tv and flipped between Billy Madison, Castaway and American Choppers. My cousin Mike called and invited me to a poker tournament on Super Bowl Sunday with a $50 buy-in. I don't know if I have to work then or not, but I'm gonna try to get it off and play. I need to do some serious reading tho. After another losing session to trip my confidence isn't what it was (although I did ok and then just got moody and more or less gave up).

Anyway after that it occured to me how much reading I need to do. I still need to finish the Buddha of suburbia (which about halfway through starts to pick up a lot). Mom also brought me the Davinci Code from the library so there is that, plus the need to study poker stuff.

This Shins album gets better every time i listen to it. It's switches between a beautiful starkness and a lush playground. Plus there are some great lyrics, I'm gonna pick up their first album next time I get a chance.

Monday, January 05, 2004

Beyond good and evil

I'm not feeling very well today. I'm glum. It's all rainy and I'm annoyed at the world. I don't want ot work and am considering calling in sick, although that's probably a bad idea. It started last night, Trip and I were playing poker and a mood just hit me. I ended up practically giving him my last six bucks just to go. After that I came home and tried the normal avenues of escape from reality and finally went to bed.

This morning I was awoken by some moron banging on the door for 10 minutes. I thought it was downstairs, but Bill finally got up and let him in. Apparently he was here to fix something in hte bathroom. So after much beating and banging to keep me awake (not to mention unable to pee) he left and I nodded off. Now I'm just in a foul mood for no reason at all.

Anyway I think I'm just gonna finish watching the Tick and play fire emblem until I have to decide whether to go to work or not.

Sunday, January 04, 2004

An interesting day

Now listening to: The Shins

As the title suggests today was intriguing. Went to Greensboro with friends who choose to remain anonymous. We had a pretty good time. I did a little shopping, got some new hats and socks as well as spending too much on books. We then decided to try some place new to eat and hit the Gate City Chop House. It was amazing, the best steak I've ever had. I had a nice merlot to go with it and everything was fantastic. Maybe the best meal I've ever had. I look forward to returning.

After the meal, we were still in a new experience kind of mood I suppose and I jokingly suggested the exotic car wash. Somehow we ended up there and had nearly naked women cleaning our car. Now traditionally I'm not a fan of strip clubs and the like, they make me feel weird and like some kind of leering, mindless oaf incapable of securing attention from a woman without paying her (which is closer to the truth than I care to get into). But the attitude of one of the girls there made me more at ease this time.

Of course, the fact that I'm seeing attractive, naked women and not allowed to do anything about it is still very frustrating. The blood had drained from my brain into other areas and I was horned up for the evening. One of my cohorts had this same thing happen clearly as we missed our exit, not once but twice.

There is also the realization later, after the blood had returned to my brain, that I'm missing out on a big part of life here. I'd like to see naked women on the regular...actually I'd be more than willing to settle for one specific naked woman on the regular to hang out with in addition to the oggling. Seeing this attractive girl eager to please me (to a point) makes me wish for that sort of behavior regularly with someone I don't have to have a financial transaction with to get it. To put it simply, naked chicks make me lonely in the long run.

After the trip I came home and read one of the books I bought today. It was called "Kissing in Manhattan" and was pretty good. A series of related vignettes about people living in the Preemption Building in New York. Stories about sex, relationships and life with a mystical touch.

Friday, January 02, 2004

I can't come around down here

Now listening to: Frank Black

I can't tell if I'm tired or just so bored from work that I can't think straight. It was DULL tonight. I spent most of the evening trying to find something interesting on the internet and failing.

My new year's was relatively uneventful. Went to Trip's and watched the UFC pay per view...which was simply reruns and was pretty dissappointing. We played Lord of the Rings Risk and I won, which was pretty cool. Not really an exceptionally good time, but, all in all, pretty high on my list of new year's celebrations.

I'm supposed to be going car shopping with Mom tomorrow. It could be an excruciating exercise, as Mom can be a handful and I loathe car salesmen. I hate pushy people and salesmen are trained to be pushy. I'm hoping to find a reasonably priced used import sedan. Nothing flashy, I just want the mobility at a decent price.