Hmmm... Did I Get Everything?

Well, in just 14 hours the lovely wife and I will be flying to Florida to see my parents and my brother for 5 days. Man, did I NEED this. I have finally finished packing, and I'm as tired as a fat guy after four flights of stairs. It's now 12:44 a.m. and I have to go to work at 9:00...
Yeah-I want to know what the Hell I'm doing up so late too.
Honestly, I believe I must have conflicting cases of Attention Deficit Disorder, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. You would think they cancel each other out, but sadly, that is not the case. Once those two disorders go to work, it's all over y'all.
I first become CONSUMED by the desire to not forget anything, so I make ten lists which continue growing until I leave the house. And that is exactly the other problem. While trying to stick to the list I'm currently working on, my mind and body bounces around like a pinball, coming up with new items to not forget, and simultaneously rushing to collect those items before I forget them. Can you imagine how long it takes me to get totally packed? Don't try unless you're partial to headaches.
All that disorderly organization sounds Nuts huh? Yeah, I think so too.
But eventually I get all my crap packed, and it's all good from then on.
Before I think of any more stuff I don't want to forget, I'm going to hit the hay.
Peace till I return to my computer.

Comin' Off The Top Of The Dome...

Just a bit of stream of consciousness here... Not too much went on today, so I'm just gonna pull something out of my posterior. Oh yeah, I met a lady today who was very wise and worldly despite the fact that she had never really left her hometown of Canton Ohio. She told me all sorts of things about what to expect in the near future concerning my relationship with my wife when the sprout arrives. She also divulged ways to keep the relationship fresh and (somewhat) exciting when there is a kid present.
We have to complete a living will, and it's one of the weirdest, and unsettling things I have had to ponder. I mean, a LOT of thought has to go into a living will. Things like who we want our kids' guardian to be if we both croak, how we want our remains to be dealt with when we croak, and who we want to get all our crap when we croak have to be considered and discussed before we set it on paper. I'm gonna hate it, but what's gotta be done, gotta be done, right?
The weather's starting to get colder and I'm NOT happy. I'm just not a fan of winter. (Actually I HATE winter) It seems the older I get, the more I hate it...
Which reminds me that it's a day closer to our FLORIDA trip baby!
Fish fry
White Sand
The Ocean
Sunshine
Mom&Dad
My Brother is in town (Didn't think that would be the case)
I'm about to read to my lovely wife and the baby (Island of the Blue Dolphins), it went well last night although the wife conked out on me 1/2 in to the second chapter. But I know you listened intently sprout. Mom will just miss a great novel.
I just watched a clip on The Daily Show where Jason Jones did a report on investigative reporting and the lows reporters go to for a story. I guess this guy named Carl Monday out of Cleveland spent weeks on a report concerning some guy who was caught masturbating in the library. Again, I said WEEKS. He followed the guy around, went to his house, and even followed him to the mall. Well, Jones did a stereotypical investigation of Monday, and posing as his biggest fan, he grilled him in the same unrelenting way monday grilled the guy in the library. Pretty damn funny stuff, but I guess you had to be there. Watch the Daily Show so you can see some funny stuff of your own.
O.k., It's 11:26, and I still have to read a couple of chapters to my lovely wife's stomach.
Peace.

Books, books, and more books...

So after a while of indecision, I've decided to read The Island of Blue Dolphins (Scott O'Dell) to the baby each nite, so he/she can become aware of my voice while in the womb. I know, at first it sounds kinda hokey, but according to several books and our doctor, the sprout is able to hear our voices right now. And in order to bond earlier, and easier with the baby, I guess it's recommended that the father speak to him/her directly. So, what I've chosen to do is read. I enjoy doing it, so why not just do it out loud? Island of Blue Dolphins was and remains to be one of the many books that I have enjoyed immensely, and the lovely wife never got to read it, so hopefully I can create two more fans of the book.
I have also been re-reading the Hobbit (J.R.R. Tolkien). It has become a totally different book for me now that I am an adult.
Subjects like self-doubt, acceptance of differing individuals, progression toward maturity, reliability, and responsibility pretty much took a back seat to the action, and material to be used as inspiration for my Dungeon Master duties. (What's up fellow D&D geeks!) All in all, it has become much more than the novel it was previously, and I'm glad I picked it up again. Next up will be Life of Pi (Yann Martel). I've been told it's pretty good. But not until I get back from Florida, so I've got to finish The Hobbit quick. (I'm 1/2 way there)
For Florida I'm taking a novel that a guy I know told me about, and keeps getting on me about finishing. I'ts called "A White Merc With Fins"(James Hawes). It's about a slacker, a latin chef, a female getaway driver, a guy with a Reservoir Dogs fetish, and a bank heist.
This winter, I plan on reading the speeches of Thomas Paine to get me all hyped up, Player Piano (Kurt Vonnegut) to appease my science fiction bug, ALL my comic boo- er, Graphic Novels (see Avengers assemble entry), and I will try to get through Titus Andronicus (William Shakespeare) because the sheer brutality that occurs within the book is intriguing. (Yeah, I like that kind of stuff)
Well hopefully, that should keep me away from the t.v., and it's hypnotic glow for a while. Stay tuned for the inevitable reviews of each.
Peace.

Hey Maaaaaa!!!!

The countdown has officially begun. Only a matter of days until the lovely wife and I will be Florida bound! White sand beaches, the wife in a swimsuit, hot ass weather, a fish fry (hint-hint), and most importantly, we get to see my parents! I haven't seen my parents in a little while, and so I'm pretty excited. I'm also pretty amped about my parents seeing the lovely wife's baby bump, but I'm MOST excited about seeing my mom. Don't get me wrong, seeing my dad is pretty up there on the list, but nobody treats you as well as your mom can treat you. My mom is EXTREMELY attentive, and we NEVER want for anything when we are in her company. She's the kind of lady that can hit you with a buttery smooth "Are you hungry? Have you eaten yet? Let me fix you something to eat. I'm just gonna pop this TURKEY in the oven, and then I'll whip you up some dressing, macaroni and cheese, cranberry sauce, sweet potatoes, and a pumpkin pie for a snack till dinner."
Seriously. she would do all that if you let her.
She's pretty much THAT selfless.
By the way, can you tell I'm ready for Thanksgiving?
(It's my favorite holiday, and as it approaches I'm sure I will write all about why it happens to be my favorite)
Anyway, my mom is a very special lady and I can't wait to see her. It's weird-we have many of the same personality traits and get along like clones probably do. The only thing I have to remember is to EXPRESS my appreciation for all that she does for me/us while in her presence. I have a tendency to try to act all hardcore, like I'm not fazed by all the Super-cool things she does to make sure that there is absolutely nothing we need. It's great that she does all this, but sometimes I feel guilty accepting all the hospitality that she offers. So I tell her not to worry, and not do the things that she seems to want to do to make us (her house guests) comfortable during our stay. I think I can relate to how she feels about being hospitable. Whenever we have guests over, I make sure that EVERYTHING is taken care of for each and every visitor in order to keep them entertained and happy, while often sacrificing my own needs until theirs are met. Hey that's the mark of a good entertainer, and if they're happy, then so am I.
Given how my mom feels about folks visiting her home, and how she makes them feel cozy and most important, I'm looking forward to basking in her sunshine for at least a little bit while down in Florida.
See you soon mom!
Love You, and Peace.

Comfort Doesn't Feel So Good...

As I said friday, I found myself in the dog house. The primary reason was because nothing new was going on between the wife and I in terms of our relationship. Complacency had reared it's ugly parasitic head YET AGAIN. This time it decided to suck the life out of our communication. By using a host of factors like:
Television...
umm...
television and-
Hmmm.
I'm starting to notice a trend with the t.v. (see Duhhhhhhh... entry)
Usually after work we come home, whip up something to eat, gulp it down in about five minutes, (We almost never take our time and enjoy our meals like we know we should. We realize that that time can be used to wind down, and catch up with each other in terms of what went on that day. But the wife and I have the same occupations and within them, you have to EAT FAST when you get a chance, otherwise, your lunch is gonna be cold and nasty by the time you get to it. Lunch breaks simply do not exist in our field. Because of this, we seem to have developed a reflex where, whenever food is placed in front of us, we feel we have to eat it fast. What's weird, is, we know we can just heat it back up, but we don't, because for some reason it just doesn't seem as appealing.
More on that in another entry.
Anyway, we would blaze through our dinners, then head right for the t.v. Once we sat down and got comfortable, t.v. became an exit from what went on outside it's fuzzy gaze. We would sit quietly, blurting out 1 to 2 word questions and answers.
"Tired?" "Uh-huh."
"Hungry?" "Nah."
"Going upstairs?" "Yup."
Zombies.
When t.v. time came to an end, we'd go upstairs and go to bed, only to get up and relive the previous day.
Now don't get me wrong, we've had some good interactions over the past couple of weeks, but for the most part, we pretty much have fallen into the same nightly routine. The wife was the first to realize how crummy this habit had become, and made me aware of how important it was to discontinue the lack of interaction between us. I never realized how routine can actually deteriorate a relationship. Fortunately, my lovely wife mentioned her dissatisfaction, and because of this, we have consciously taken steps this evening to keep from falling into this habit again or at least for the time being. We spent less time in front of the t.v., meditated together (and liked it), consciously slowed down and talked AND listened to each other during dinner. We plan to repeat these steps every night, because we have interacted with each other more this evening than we have the whole of last week. I have faith that this plan, if carried out diligently can prevent or at least keep routine down to a minimum.
Meditation. Me? Who'd a thunk it?
Huh.

In Jail Without The Bail

Not too much to write about today. I'm in the dog house for being inconsiderate, AND forgetting about dinner plans for tomorrow. Now I've got to contact the cat I planned on hanging out with for a coupla' drinks with and cancel. I also have to fink out on my neighbor who invited me to check out his band later tomorrow night.
Damn.
I've chosen not to divulge what it was I did to piss the lovely wife off, but let's just say she didn't appreciate it one bit. I truly am sorry, but I guess my response and attitude concerning her feelings was flippant. That's what earned me the silent treatment. She then found the reminder I'd written to myself about tomorrows plans and then came to me mad as a wet cat and asked if I'd forgotten about dinner. I had. She then told me that dinner wasn't THAT important, and that it was no big deal if I went out with my friends.
I know I will be dead meat if I do.
So, Mr. SRH, I am sorry about the short notice, but I must postpone our evening of drunken debauchery. It is with extreme embarrassment that I must forsake that beer you owe me, (Oh, I haven't forgotten) and hopefully the offer stands. You, my friend are also a married man, and therefore I know you know what it is like to share the cold company of a woman scorned, and I trust you understand the conundrum I'm facing, and the safest solution.
To my lovely wife, I really am sorry, and hopefully when you read this, I will have apologized fifty times for my inconsideration, and if not, expect to hear fifty apologies.

Ready for Freddy (or Frannie)

My lovely wife and I were sitting in front of the television just about an hour ago, and she guides my hand underneath the shirt, and the yoga pants that she has on. (!) She then tells me to sit very still for a moment. So I sit. After about twenty to thirty seconds, I respond by saying, "You wanted me to feel your stomach gurgling? Do you need to go to the bathroom? (Thanks to me, there is a lot of toilet humor that exists within our household. Heh-heh.) Not amused, (she seldom is) the wife responds by asking if I ALWAYS have to make with the toilet jokes. I then realized it was time to be serious. She explained that the "gurgling" I was feeling was in fact, our little sprout moving about inside her. (?!!!?!!) I then waited for the next little flicker, and what do you know, not another minute passed, and there was another light twitch.
WOW.
I mean, WOW.
I am seriously in disbelief.
I can actually FEEL evidence of the baby flipping around inside my wife.
This is nuts! The way I am feeling right now is incredible. Again, I'm reminded of the fact that I will soon be a father. What I need to do is log this memory in the "never forget this file" along with all my other important and life altering experiences. This evening certainly has a place within that file.
as a result of this wonderful occurrence, my level of impatience is growing exponentially. We had decided early on that we wouldn't find out what we are having, but the wait is just so hard. Excruciating in fact. I'm the person who as a kid, went snooping for Christmas presents in July. I know the surprise will totally be worth the wait, but I'm ready to see what the person we've created looks like. I'm ready to see my kid come into the world. I'm ready to carry my baby in my arms and sing soft songs in it's ear. I'm ready to read the sprout bedtime stories, making up different voices for each and every character's speaking part. And I'm ready to pass on all my corny toilet humor to someone who won't think I'm mentally challenged.
I'm READY, baby!

Bang-up Weekend pt. 3

As I said in last night's post, the wife and I went to the Columbus Museum of Art to see the Kehinde Wiley exhibit, and happened upon the Richard Avedon photographic exhibit. We were lucky, because it was it's last day. Stark photos of drifters, oil workers, miners, slaughterhouse workers, physical therapists, truck drivers, bee keepers, and ranch hands stared out from the walls and into our souls, making each beautiful portrait slightly disturbing. Each photo was taken with black and white film, and every single detail, wrinkle, or scar was evident on each person's face. Whether beaten down by the sun, age, or life, all that each subject had experienced seemed etched on their faces by an old blunt razor. There were photos of beautifully hardened women with soft endearing eyes, (Charlene Van Tightem, Physical Therapist) Grizzled drifters with an air of distinction despite their dirty clothing, (Clarence Lippard, Drifter) handsome and unstable looking characters with roguish faces, (Roberto Lopez, Oil Field Worker) and a ghostly bee keeper covered in bees which contrast his hairless pasty white skin (The Beekeeper, 1985).
The exhibit was scary, ugly, beautiful, and sensual, and appealed to many aspects of the psyche.
Check out Richard Avedon's photo anthology In The American West online, or get it from your local library. It's not to be missed.
Peace.

Bang-up Weekend pt. 2

We went to see the Kehinde Wiley: Columbus exhibit at the Columbus Museum of Art this weekend, and we were treated to a surprise. I had forgotten that the Richard Avedon photographic exhibit was still there. Come to think of it, it was the last day of that installation. But, back to Kehinde Wiley. (I will dedicate tomorrow's post to Richard Avedon) As we approached the exhibit, we saw a video monitor which showed the work Wiley and his assistants did to prepare the models, and it also showed preliminary sketches done with graphite. When we entered the ornately decorated room where the paintings were, we were hit by multiple blasts of varying shades of pink, green, blue, orange, and red jumping off each of the 8 foot canvases. Images of black males (all inhabitants of Columbus, Ohio) in curious poses evoked thoughts of B-Boy stances, and Hip-Hop bravado, while each individual was clothed in bright and colorful garb, showing off name brands, and expensive jewelry, expressing their importance, and affluence. (Bling, if you will) Each painting's subject was surrounded by expressive flowers and designs which were reminiscent of paintings which are centuries old, adding to the over the top feeling/attitude of the Bling subculture. What was interesting was, all these paintings were reinterpretations of Renaissance and Baroque paintings. The originals were paintings of significant, affluent, and historical people (the titles of each reinterpretation are the names of the individuals in the original portraits) holding the poses Wiley chose to place HIS subjects in. Nearly all the individuals within the old school paintings were dressed in finery and had jewelry, and expensive accessories which expressed THEIR social standing and affluence. It was cool to see elements of Hip-Hop and Renaissance culture blur and overlap, making for a very interesting dichotomy.
Check out Kehinde Wiley's work at the Columbus Museum of Art, or just do a web search at KehindeWiley.com, and Kehinde Wiley Columbus.
It is well worth the time, and you just may learn something about Hip-Hop, and the Baroque era of painting.
Peace.

Bang-Up Weekend pt. 1

On saturday night the lovely wife, our homeboy, and I went to El Arepazo for dinner. It has got to be one of the best and most authentic latin restaurants I have been to in town. The joint is great! They offer food hailing from Venezuela, Argentina, and Cuba. I must say, the cuisine and the service are impeccable. The wife and I have hit them up every so often since they opened, and I feel they have trimmed all the fat from the early days. (Although there wasn't much to begin with) The interior is more inviting, and the level of efficiency has increased. In short, El Arepazo is located on Gay street in Pearl alley downtown, and they are seriously on point. Check 'em out so they stay open!
Anyway, we were headed to the restaurant, and while walking we saw lots of people hanging out, and there was a d.j./m.c. combo called the LabRats. (Avant Hip-Hop) They sounded decent, and I was glad to finally get to hear them. I had been hearing about their shows around town, and I had a desire to see them, but the fates deemed it not the right time prior to now. We had to inch past a B-Boy break dancing, and I ran into a really cool client of mine who d.j's and produces hip-hop music. We stopped and chatted for a while and because he was apparently hip to what was going on, he filled us in. Basically, the ROY G. BIV gallery, and Greater Columbus Arts Council produced the idea of Edmund Gaisie. This idea was an art festival called Streetspace. Gaisie, along with other artists (Ashley Puckett, Steph Davidson, Craig Dransfield, Klutch, and Ali Calis) intent on promoting urban growth, and cultural enrichment here in the city participated in the installation of a graffiti/sculptural mural in Pearl Alley. The project began last week and the unveiling was tonight. The mural was part of a festival of art and urban culture that went on all day saturday. (12-10p.m.) As I said, the Lab Rats were there, but earlier the Rackets, Brainbow, Camu and Flip The Early Riser performed differing genres of music made to shake the ass of the savage beast. I feel very privileged to have been able to experience Streetspace, and look forward to the next festival/installation in the (I hope) near future.
Just a few reminders:
Check out El Arapazo
Look up the Lab Rats and Edmund Gaisie
And finally, log on to Streetspace.com (and don't forget the links)
I did, and I am now a much much better person for it...
Awright, that may be pushing it, but I can say that because of my research, I honestly feel I'm getting back in the cultural/artistic loop.
More on my weekend activities tomorrow.
Peace.

Can you hear us sprout?

The lovely wife has been feeling the sprout wriggle around quite a bit as of late. At first, she wasn't sure what the ticklish fluttering within her was-but now she knows that it's the baby. What's interesting is, she feels movement at very specific times. On her way to and from work she blasts a Keane CD, (Under The Iron Sea) and sings (yells) the lyrics along with the tunes. She said the baby will usually respond to this by flipping & rolling around inside. This is great, because as important as music is to me, it's cool that the little one is getting a jump start on her/his appreciation of music. Soon I will be compiling a bunch of songs for baby's first CD. I'm gonna collect songs from different genres that evoke different moods and feelings & play them constantly while he/she is still inside mom. Hopefully that will help the kid be more receptive to varying types of music, and hopefully mom will be able to tolerate my taste in music.
The wife has also noticed that when she doesn't speak, and just relaxes and settles in, she feels the sprout moving around. She thinks I should spend that time talking to the baby. I thought the idea was weird, so she suggested I READ to the baby. Now that's right up my alley! I get to hear myself talk, and I'm doing some good for the kid. One of the million books, manuals, articles, and journals we have been reading said that it's good if the babe hears dad's voice on a more regular basis, in order to get him/her accustomed to his voice as well as mom's. I say Good Idea. Now to confer with the wife and determine what books she thinks the sprout and she would like to hear.
I think those may be my first parental responsibilities that can affect my kid in the long run...
Wow.
I can't believe I am somebody's DAD.
Heh, heh. Pretty cool.

Watch and be happy like me

Last night I cheated and watched a movie and a music video compilation, rather than fulfilling a promise to myself to write daily in this blog. To be truthful, I'm glad I did. The movie was a 1948 Film noir gem called Naked City. It had everything a great detective movie needs-stark black and white cinematography, Hard boiled cops and killers, grotesque caricatures of people seemingly out of Charles Burns' comics, or Weegie's forensics photos, and a slightly fetishistic feel that seemed to be a precursor to the sweaty, and lusty films of the same genre made in the 50's. There was an obvious attempt to set this film apart from all other detective films made at the time and the most evident examples of this were 1. The fact that the ENTIRE film was made on location in New York, and 2. They wanted to express the "8 million stories" concept by giving the audience glimpses of the multicultural makeup of the city. Unfortunately, the ethnic characters shown were overtly stereotypical. (Thank God they didn't go to Harlem) This didn't hinder the movie, but it was certainly noticeable.
Another thing I thought was cool about the film was the interconnectedness of virtually all of the characters. Each situation bled into another-creating seamless and fluid detective work, and each tidbit revealed left me with an "aha!" sort of feeling. By the way, the film featured a young Baron Von Zipper from all those Frankie Avalon/Annette Funicello Beach Blanket movies!
As I watched, it was TOTALLY evident that Frank Miller's Sin City stories were HEAVILY influenced by elements of this film, and being such a big fan of Miller's work, it made me appreciate the film as much as Miller obviously did.
The film's climax takes place at the Williamsburg Bridge and there are lots of decent gratuitous cityscape views to accompany the crazy gun battle between the cops and bad guys. Worth checking out.
Oh yeah, the ONLY drawback was the cheesy narrator who was incredibly annoying. His presence made it seem like a glorified Ed Wood directed film. But it was definitely not enough to ruin the movie as a whole.
I also watched Fatboy Slim's "Why Make Videos" greatest hits dvd. There were a plethora of good music videos included, but the standouts were 1. (again with the numbers?) Weapon Of Choice, with Christopher Walken wearily sitting on a hotel chair one minute, and breaking into a pretty highly choreographed dance number the next. Don't sleep on it, Mr. Walken can seriously cut a rug, as well as FLY apparently. 2. Don't Let The Man Get You Down which tells the story about a racist man, and the fate that befalls him for being so. 3. Slash Dot Dash is a video that features a man and woman defacing a bathroom and then each other with graffiti while running, jumping, rolling around, and smashing into each other on the floor, ceiling, and the walls. Very sexy video indeed. and finally, 4.Ya Mama, which happens to be one of the funniest and original music videos I have seen in a long time. In a nutshell, three guys try to make a buck off something they randomly receive in the mail, and end up in jail because of it. But not before the inhabitants of the small village in which they live are affected by their entrepreneurial venture. Two words, Total Hilarity. See this video at all cost. Unless you happen to be a huge Slim fan, downloading it from the web or renting the dvd will probably be your best bet, but I definitely recommend seeing it if you are a fan of creative and imaginative films.
Well, there you have it. Two dvds for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy.
Peace.

...Can't... Stay... A-Awake... (Snore) (Snore)....

Well, I had about 1/2 a page of stuff written out about something I witnessed today at work, but came to the conclusion that it was pretty slanderous and libel. It had to do with viewing an older man hitting on a much MUCH younger woman.
Not the way Roger Moore did as James Bond where you felt kinda gross after watching, but then figured what the hell, it's James BOND-
(for the record, in my book, Moore was Bond like Adam West was Batman. Limburger! Cheesy AND it Stinks friends.)
but nasty, in a Hugh Heffner TODAY kind of way. You know, shuffling around on dance floors ogling and tongue-kissing three bottle blonde floatation worthy women-younger I'm sure, than his grandchildren would be; trying to maintain a facade of virility for those who still deem him "cool" in the MCL set. Catch my drift?
Anyway, I realized that the pathetic droolings over a young lady nary in her 20's by this guy were pointless to try and document, not to mention uninteresting, so I left my post to watch a movie (and a Fatboy Slim music video collection) because it's been a while since I've seen something I actually WANTED to watch on t.v, & not felt obligated to just because it was on t.v.
Which leads me to my point.
Alas, because I had a long day at work, and because I am now writing at-what time is it anyway? 1:14 a.m., I will be cheating. I'm not really going to be writing about much of anything because I spent the evening watching the film "The Naked City", and Fatboy Slim's video compilation "Why Make Videos". I plan on doing a full review of both bits of dvd goodness on tomorrow's post, and will NOT be sparse in any of the details I will divulge.
I apologize dear Blog Gods, and I swear upon all that I hold dear and true that I will most assuredly appease you come the morrow.
Peace.

Duhhhhhhh...

Television, in my case, is a drone maker friends. When the t.v. is on, nothing else occurs around me. When a show is on, ANY show mind you, (and the less intelligent the better) my eyes cloud over, and slobber hangs lazily from the corners of my mouth. I blame this behavior on the AWESOME programming of the mid 70's to late 80's. During this time period the Golden Age of Television was in full effect. Countless hours of my young life were spent watching all my favorites-Electric Company, Battle of the Planets, Fat Albert, The Monkees & Star Trek reruns, Different strokes, S.W.A.T., Dukes of Hazzard (despite the big ass confederate flag on the top of the GENERAL LEE [!] why I watched that show, I will never fully understand ), and MTV!!!!!!!
Because the shows back then had crazy entertainment value, and imagination, I was unable to move from in front of the t.v., until my wise parents made me ( and later my brother) turn it off and go outside. Those shows fueled my imagination and creativity when I was away from t.v. My friends and I watched the same shows, and acted out situations which occurred on them. All those games were fun, but Star Trek was my least favorite. Because of Lt. Uhuru's and my similar complexions, I always had to be her. Oh well, Ce la vie.
Unfortunately, now I can't pretend to be Alf, or Thundarr the Barbarian. I would have to emulate the more age-appropriate people and situations that I now see on on t.v., and with modern programming overrun with (hardly) "reality" programs and seriously lacking in the smarts department, the only people I would WANT to pretend to be are those that appear on PBS,C-SPAN, and the Daily Show. Jon Stewart is cool, but I don't see him jumping on top of a bomb threatening to explode like G.I. Joe would.
So I guess in order to stop being a zombie, I have to pull away from the t.v. a little more, utilize a LOT more of the percentage of my brain than I'm currently using, and express more creativity.
Although, what I'm doing now kinda helps...
Peace.

Your heart makes me happy

The lovely wife was in for her 20 week checkup, and we were able to listen in on our sprout's heart again. I can't begin to explain the feelings of joy that go along with hearing those beats, man. As she again placed the jelly covered microphone on my wife's stomach, we again heard the beat almost instantly. Just like last time, I was extremely proud to have created a human being. Overcome by happiness, I could only express my feelings by emitting the low chuckles of a dullard, coupled with a glassy eyed stare and the grin of a simpleton. I was sure the Doc had seen and heard these same expressions many times before, so I didn't feel any reason to be embarrassed. So I kept on smiling my big goofy-ass smile. The wife was all smiles too, and seemed to be on the verge of tears of happiness. I'm glad she didn't start bawling, I don't know how I would make up for crying TWICE in front of the doc.
It's such an Amazing feeling to realize just what is happening within my Lady. Incredibly, we have produced someone who will look, act, and have the same personality traits (GOOD & BAD) that we do. Boy, do we have some serious responsibility ahead of us. I have a feeling it is going to be Damn Hard being parents.
(At least the kind we want to be)
Parents that have it easy are the ones who administer discipline from the couch, don't monitor what it is their kids are being exposed to, and the ones who's wills have been conditioned to crumble against loud shrieks in the toy aisle when the word "no" is used.
I don't want easy, I want to produce good people.
Time is moving at a rocket's pace and there is so much for us to still do, but we are keeping up with the program, and doing what we need to stay on top. I guess that's called discipline. I guess that's what being an ADULT is. I guess if we just keep the mindset that we have, and keep our nasty habits of procrastination to a minimum we'll be alright.
Peace.

With onions and cheese on a warm toasted bun...

Tomorrow night is the big Ohio State/Texas football game and I am Stoked! I have been excited for about two and a half weeks. I'm gonna dress up in OSU clothing, wear OSU buttons, put on a foam OSU #1 finger, and hell, my eyes may even well up when the Alma Mater is played by TBDBITL. This is funny, considering I'm not even a football fan. Come to think of it, I'm even less of an OSU fan. My biggest reason for not being a fan of OSU, AND their football program is, the fact that just about the ENTIRE city is crazy about game day saturday, but because of politics, and the corporate machine, the average joe (who happens to be OSU football's biggest proponent) can't even purchase a ticket to view the team he loves and supports so much.
Then why am I so hyped about the game?
Well, my lovely wife & I have a tradition, and that's eating chili and Frito's Scoops for at least one game. I usually get the ingredients together the friday nite before, start it the next morning, and let the chili slow simmer all day while we're at work. That way, when we get home we've got some bomb-ass chili waiting for us. I'm sure our dogs go nuts smelling the stuff all day. But, dear friend, the chili alone is not the reason for MY anticipation for the game either.
At least twice a year, I get an unnatural craving for CHILI-DOGS. Coneys if you will. I don't know what it is, but I'm unable to function properly until I get a coney when the desire for one sets in. I've thought about coneys nonstop for two days straight. I've thought of multitudes of topping combinations. I've thought about how many I would attempt to eat. (I'm gonna try for 3/4ths of an eight pack of hot dogs) I've even thought about how many I'd be willing to share. I plan on eating chili dogs until I get sick, because I love 'em so much.
Yeah I know, I'm a pig. But hey, if I have to endure an OSU game, I may as well do it while in a coney coma, right?
GO BUCKS!!!

Fulfilling an obligation...

Awright. The ONLY reason I'm at this computer is, I made a promise to write from Mon. thru Fri., giving myself weekends off.
So I plan on just describing my evening. That way, I won't break my re-promise of the promise I made to myself to write every night. (I've been backsliding) About 2 weeks ago, a co-worker invited all her co-workers out to a concert. She then burned us all cd's to help us become acquainted with their sound. I must admit, I listened to one song on the disk, and was indifferent. So, I put it in a stack of cds that I don't really listen to. That weekend, she made mention of the band again at work. When I got home, I grabbed the cd again, and listened to the whole thing while checking emails, writing bills, and other kinds of crap. I thought it was o.k. I mean, it had nice melodies, and the guitars and bass were nice, but I wasn't sure what to make of the band. Oh, by the way, the bands name is Criteria. I will admit, that I didn't get the full effect of the band's music, because I listened to it with computer speakers which sound a bit like transistor radio speakers. So, needless to say, I had no clue as to what they really sounded like. There was also a band there called Smoking Popes. I have a song by them on a compilation tape made by Mr. Nick Action, (1/4 of the band The Rackets) so I felt being there was slightly predestined. My co-worker and her brother met me there, and were completely AMPED. They were ready to get started. When Criteria came on, I was blasted in the face by a wall of sound. The band had two guitars, a bass and drummer, and as per their request, the sound guy made sure that each of their amps were LOUD. So much so, that I had to back out of the pit in front of the stage. They played punchy, melodic, songs that were guitar driven, but each tune had a heavy rhythmic bass line. The musicians were on point, and I didn't hear any flubs as they played. Criteria had a beautiful layered guitar effect that rippled on some songs, and the two guitars smashed heads on others. The Bass and drum layered underneath the battling guitars, forcing you to nod slowly as they carried you through each tune. I did mention that my co-worker and her brother were amped, right? Well, the two of them rocked out, screaming
and thrashing their bodies, and singing along with Every song except for the new ones. They let themselves become immersed in the music, and had a Hell of a time. Their energy was palpable, and contagious, so I found myself rocking out with them-although only at about 3% of their energy level. The show they put on was great, and I am really happy for the invite to hear an exceptional band.
The smoking popes had a nice sound as well. I only knew one song of theirs, (Before I'm Gone) and it was an excellent rendition, complete with improvisation and witty banter. They did earnest, almost pleading songs about love-both lost, and found, rallying cries, and failure. The guitars seemed to be there to pick them up and dust them off, like good friends are supposed to. Each tune sounded weather-worn, and the audience seemed to relate to the lyrics. About 3/4ths of the crowd knew the songs and sang along, making the atmosphere kinda familiar. By that, I mean, I sang along with them, even though I knew none of the lyrics.
Criteria and Smoking Popes are two bands that I now have the pleasure of saying I got to see.
(Pay no attention to the posting time listed at the bottom of this post, it is now 1:13 a.m., and so I gotta go to bed now.)
Peace.

We wanna be 1/2 full glass people

Self awareness can either be ego swelling, or crushing, depending on what you let it do to you. Becoming more aware of who you are can either make you more aware of who you DON'T want to be (or become), or proud of the individual you are (or are becoming). Self awareness can prompt individuals to notice the positive and/or negative aspects of their lives, and can create a desire to retain that positive energy, or cue the acceptance and perpetuation of predominant negative actions, and/or emotions.
My beautiful wife and I feel it's our responsibility as intelligent beings and parents to make a conscious effort to become as full as possible with positive energy, thus moving us closer toward actualizing the desire to become "better people" by shedding our negative "personality quirks".
We've decided to devote small amounts of time to achieving positive self actualization by using meditation, conversation, and verbal expression of gratitude, and positivity directed at each other. I feel that if we do these every day, gradually increasing the time spent doing them, we will continually exude positivity and maybe pass it on to each individual we happen to encounter.
We know it will be a long, long road to travel, Hell-it's hard to be impervious to negative energy.
But I have faith in the fact that we will accomplish what we set forth to do because we recognize the good it will do us as individuals, as well as the fact that it will establish a greater sense of connectedness between the two of us.
Peace. (To us)

Here's to good friends, tonight is kinda special...

So, tonight the wife and I were visited by 1/2 of our favorite couple. Jess of Matt-n-Jess, our "L.A." friends came for a visit. (I hope I sounded as pretentious as you're supposed to sound when saying you have friends in Los Angeles) It was great to see her again, because she is such a beautiful person, she always exudes positivity, and she always gives my wife and I food for thought.
I must say, I am quite disappointed by the fact that Matt could not accompany her. His creative intellect inspires me to expand past the boundaries of my own. Next time friend.
Jess, my lovely wife, and I simply sat and talked over some wine (fake wine for mom to be) and it was great. We discussed self-awareness, ways we can try to achieve it, bringing order to the chaos that is life, creating a magical room for our coming little one, mutual marital bliss, downsizing the clutter that accumulates in our closets and minds, and techniques which might make meditation easier. It was nice to come home, and use our brains for a change rather than turn on the t.v. and veg out-not speaking to each other till bedtime. (Or rather, not paying attention to what my wife is saying until the breaks and only if there are no good commercials-and she, getting pissed off and not talking to me until she decides to go up to bed) That's one I really have to work on. That though, is an entirely different blog entry to be written in the near future.
I love seeing Jess, because her excitement about living a life full of mental, physical, and spiritual PEACE is always so infectious. Thanks for gracing us with your presence, the stimulating conversation, and prompting the two of us to perpetuate this type of evening friend.
Matt, we miss you, and look forward to hearing from and seeing you soon, slick!

You wanna supersize those vows?

Well, I guess Nevada-specifically Las Vegas has become a little less hypocritical. Recently, the city ruled that marriage licenses were now unattainable during the hours of 12a.m. to 8a.m.. That doesn't sound like much to cheer about, but for a state that supposedly considers the act of marriage a serious, and sacred ritual between a man and woman in love I guess that's good news. Good news indeed, because those specific hours are PRIME times that drunk assed folks pull up to the drive-thru window and place an order with elvis for a marriage certificate and fries. How's that for serious and sacred?
Why do I even care you ask? Well, I care because the state has very clear views on the sanctity of marriage, and what makes one "valid". Fine and dandy, but when inebriated weddings like Angelina Jolie and Billy Bob Thornton, Carmen Electra and Dennis Rodman, and Britney Spears, and whoever that guy was, constitute as valid in the eyes of Nevada's governing body, but mike and james' or sharon and debbie's marriages do not, well now we have some serious hypocrisy. Now, I'm not saying that all same-sex unions are gonna be peachy keen, continuing until death do they part but c'mon- don't gays deserve the chance to get drunk, wake up married, and divorce just like celebrities and the rest of us do?
What I'm trying to say is who cares about WHO gets married and HOW they do so. What matters is WHY they want to get married. If two people claim to love each other (no matter how close or far from sobriety) and want to get hitched, then so be it. As a married man, I have no problem with it. I don't feel as if I'd be cheated out of something just because a couple of guys or ladies want to be legally considered a couple. Hell, misery loves company. Besides, it's one of the last civil rights issues, and I cannot ignore anything to do with civil rights given who I am and where I come from.
Just pass the bill approving same sex unions Nevada. Personally, I don't think the rest of the country would be too surprised if you did. It's not like we consider you to be the pillar of morality. For God's sake, you have an ad campaign that promotes the old "hush-hush" in terms of questionable behavior that occurs within your borders. And do I even need to bring up the legalized prostitution?
Buck up Nevada. You're one of the cool states. Other states want to be just like you. Legalize same sex unions, and you might just prompt a few states to follow suit.(including mine) Maybe with your help, the whole nation can come to accept people for who they are, and who they want to be with will be a non-issue.
Peace?