brittan and johnboy's video

cheers . . ..

31jul07 today's quote

exile, for no other motive than ease, would be the last defeat, with no seed of future victory in it.

-lois mcmaster bujold-

some dancing to finish out the week

80's night was great! just as i was getting ready to leave and ride downtown, amy hatcher showed up. her and ben were going to play some games. sequence i think? jonathan had that game, but we never played it. it has a funky looking board. since i've not been educated on sequence, i've no idea how to play or what it's even about. i think there were some dominoes to be had as well. ben was telling me about playing dominoes with these black guys while he was working as a bus driver. ever notice the taylors are amazing at telling stories? i'll pretty much stop whatever i'm doing to listen to one. ben has some awesome stories, too.

i hope they had a good time. so i'm ready to ride downtown. i was debating on which pair of 70's plaid golfer pants to wear dancing. i retrieved the advice of a lady since there was one present. amy suggested the smaller plaid design. that pair was the darker of the two. after thinking about it, i ditched the golfer pants altogether. i remember dancing once in them. they're tight and "bunch up" and cut into areas i neither want bunching up or cutting to be occuring. plus, they are bell bottom-ish and that's no good for riding - the pant leg's always getting caught in the chain. my dickies that i wear everywhere have no problems with undesirable chain interactions. so i wore those. typical. and i headed out.

i enjoy riding at night. less people around. i can ride in the streets easier. it's also cooler. and dark.

as i was locking my bike up outside of bricktop, my friend paul approaches. after a brief chat we head inside. he offers to buy a drink for me. you rule paul.

i find a place to lay my belongings; my backpack, a stray raccoon that quickly became my friend, a small stick resembling a lower case letter "k", and an old truck tire i figured would come in handy. the backpack (the only one of the aformentioned belongings i really had with me) was placed in its usual spot. it is at that time that i noticed my friend ben sitting two chairs away. hmmm... didn't even notice him as i walked past. he was with darcy, matt, jen, and janelle?. i can't remember the last girl's name. i hadn't met her before and then she was gone before i knew it.

[approacheth paul]
[scottie thanks paul for drink, proceeds to introduce paul to those whom which paul is unfamiliar]
[paul gives salutations]
[salutations returned]
[in walks chastity]
[again, salutations]
[scottie dancing around in seat as music plays]
[get into the groove, by madonna begins to play]
[scottie names tune in three notes, proceeds to cut off current conversation with matt, apologizes, states mildly embarassing fact that he likes dancing to madonna]
[scottie now on dance floor dancing]
[others eventually follow]

the music was really good tonight. there was a good mix. and there were a lot of people there. paul, ben, matt, jen, janelle?, darcy, chastity, jenny p, jenny m, jessi p, jessie, molly, tina, david, joey, matt, pinky, steve-o, aaron, katie, jamie, crazy laura, jerry, dan, theresa, cvo, and chris. i don't know everybody there, but just about. i spent most of the night dancing with jessi p. she rules. very fun to dance with. she's very expressive and has a good time. i like that. most people fear dancing because they think they can't do it. but they are wrong. dancing is not about knowing a set of moves, or even having moves. it's about expression. dancing is expressive.

no parties happening afterwards that i wanted to attend, so i rode on home. the night air felt sooooo good. i rode by hazel abel park. i passed a car on the right as it was making a right turn. i was going faster than the car. i didn't slow down and follow behind it because i am impatient. as i arrived home, i still had a smile on my face, which was about four hours old. i literally peeled the shirt off my body. then i peed. yes, in the toilet. i cleaned up. then i blogged (while listening to 80's music). what a fantastic night. i love ending my weeks like this.

now to bed i go. cheers . . ..

30jul07 today's quote

today's public figures can no longer write their own speeches or books, and there is some evidence that they can't read them either.

-gore vidal-

29jul07 today's quote

don't worry about the world coming to an end today. it's already tomorrow in australia.

-charles m schulz-

and a wet bike ride it was

i went to john's tonight. rode my bike there. when i began to leave, i noticed it was raining. my bike was outside and wet already. but the seat was tucked into a pine tree as the bike leaned on it. much to my happiness, the seat was not wet. wet seats? yeah. there the worst. i rode off, the rain picking up at about highway 2. it was definately no downpour, just a nice shower.

two important things to remember. first, always keep a plastic bag with you when you ride. it will keep your cell phone, wallet, and any important doccuments dry. second, dry the bike off after riding. leaving a bike wet will allow rust and corrosion to set in. parts can rust FAST so drying is essential.

it's been a while since i was out riding in the rain. i enjoy it. cheers . . ..

burrito making 101

i turned in an application at oso burrito yesterday. and yesterday, i got a call asking i come in for an interview. weeeeee! the interview was this morning at 10. i think the interview went fine.

a second job would add much needed income. oso is close, i like the people who work there as well as the owner, and i'd be around food. three cheers for free or discounted food (at oso and yia yia's). most of all, i'm just wanting a job that i'm happy doing. i think oso offers that. i'm very excited and hopeful right now. by tuesday, i should know if i'm hired. cheers . . ..

28jul07 today's quote

art is indeed not the bread but the wine of life.

-jean paul richter-

i love the 80's

i found a site that had the top 100 songs of each year in the 80's. that's 1000 songs. talk about nostalgic! i then went on to download about 300 of them. i'd like to download them all and have my own 80's radio station. lol. 80's night is sunday. see you there. cheers . . ..

27jul07 today's quote

have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it.

-salvador dali-

26jul07 today's quote

nothing is a waste of time if you use the experience wisely.

-auguste rodin-

a little on the tipsy side

before we start, there weill be no spelling correction on this post.

work was work today. that means, i'm ptretty close to jumpning off a cliff about the time i leave. so, i arrive home around 11pm-ish. i was really looking forward to listening to the 200-some 80's songs i downloaded this morning. in the refridgerator, there sat a bottle of st peter's cream stout from england. it was purchased for a special occasion and this just happened to be one. weeeeeeeee! due to an empty stomach and having drunk coffee on and off throughout the day (dehydrating), i instantly felt "happy" after just one sip. and after 1 pint .9 ounces, i couldn't get the smile foff my face if i tried.

wait a second. why am i writing (presently) in the past tense? :shrug:

sussudio, by phil collins is playing right now. har!

anyshow, i'm a happy little camper right now. great music, an amazing breeze coming in through the windows, my smile, and nothing but restand relaxation ahead. ah yes. okay then. goodnight. cheers . . ..

funny commercial on yahoo, laser level

yahoo has always had really funny commercials. hope this one gives you a laugh. cheers . . ..

25jul07 today's quote

speak when you are angry, and you'll make the best speech you'll ever regret.

-laurence j peter-

24jul07 today's quote

laughing at our own mistakes can lengthen our own life. laughing at someone else's may shorten it.

-cullen hightower-

23jul07 today's quote

study without desire spoils the memory, and it retains nothing that it takes in.

-leonardo da vinci-

miles per gallon

i was quite happy with the mileage i got out of the last tank of gas i went through. i'm trying to remember when i last filled up, but i can't. the gas tank holds a little over 12 gallons. i drove 325 miles. that's at least 26 miles per gallon (using 12.5 gallons as the tank size). my serpentine belt is loose an quite squeaky, my check engine light is on (ben rented an automotive diagnostic tool and it says the light means there is something wrong with the emissions control), and i was 3000 miles overdue for an oil change. taking all that into consideration, i'm quite happy with the 26 miles per gallon this last tank. i've gotten over 400 before, but that was all highway miles and my car was a lot younger then. sometime, though, i want to try and reach 500 miles on a tank. i think it can be done. it's not so much how efficient the car is as how you drive. an experiment will most likely take place next year, probably in the spring, to see how many miles i can achieve out of just one tank. cheers . . ..

22jul07 today's quote

there is no den in the wide world to hide a rogue. commit a crime, and the earth is made of glass. commit a crime, and it seems as if a coat of snow fell on the ground, such as reveals in the woods the track of every partridge, and fox, and squirrel.

-ralph waldo emerson-

silly hats, by don hertzfeldt

most of his other stuff is more out there. i'm not going to post the entire rejected video, but here's a link to it:

rejected


cheers . . ..

21jul07 today's quote

we hate some persons because we do not know them, and we will not know them because we hate them.

-charles caleb colton-

the door to door salesman, and the lady with him

yesterday afternoon, the doorbell rang. i had just spotted a black man and woman walking along in front of my place and assumed the doorbell ring was initiated by them. turns out, i should be a detective. i spoke with the man on the front porch, in the upper 90* heat. for some reason the woman (much younger) remained on the sidewalk, afar.

the man tells me he is trying to become a junior executive. he didn't use these words, but he was selling magazine subscriptions. i believe he said something about "positive periodicals". he needed 3500 more points to reach 20,000. since half the teeth on the upper right of his jaw weren't there, his clothes were outdated and a little grungy, his glasses were old and bent way out of alignment, his speech was below average, and since he was going door to door with this woman selling magazine subscriptions, i wondered (in my mind, humorously) what kind of junior executive he was going to be. i did not think that he couldn't make it as a junior executive. there are managers of gas stations and there are managers of tiffany and company. the level of junior executive was in question.

i told the man that in my place in life, a magazine subscription is a luxury and one that i cannot take part of. he said i should still get the subscriptions anyway because it would be helping him out. i told him that was not what i should do. what i should do, i remarked, is be wise about what i can do to help others. shortchanging myself and causing difficulty for me to help him isn't wise at all. he then asked for some cash at least. my wallet was empty, nothing but spider webs. he began to look defeated and started the whole "thank you i need to be nice i'm going now" routine. i said "wait."

"where ya going? you said you were hungry, right? i've got food upstairs. not much, but it's something." i had actually just finished frying up some sliced potatoes and a few sausage links right before the doorbell rang. actually, the sausage links were still frying and i was worrying the whole time i was talking with the man that they would burn to a crisp. the man asked the woman if she wanted some food. she wasn't really answering. i ran inside and grabbed two plates and put potatoes and a link of sausage on each. then i ran them outside. as i got outside, though, i thought it awkward to sit outside in the sun. it was hot, there was no shade, and no place to sit. instantly, i invited them inside. they both thought about it, the man coming to an affirmative conclusion before the woman. i told them i don't have much to offer in terms of seating. they didn't mind sitting on the chairs i have. the man told me his name again (i had forgotten it). his name, leroy. the woman's name, monica. they asked for ketchup. i also brought them each a glass of water.

leroy asked me if i could change one thing in the world, then what change would i make. i told him that's a pretty big question and an immediate answer would only make me sound foolish. enjoying time off his feet, out of the sun, and having food to eat, i don't think he minded waiting for me to answer. i soon told him that i would want people's hearts to be softened and not so hard. i'm not sure he understood what i was getting at. we chatted for about half an hour. monica wanted some lotion. she was rubbing her leg and giving me, dare i say, a flirty look. she looked to be in a daze, out of it. it was sad. i thought of her age difference with the leroy and her situation. bad things came to mind. poverty, sickness, drugs, sex. i definately wish better for them, that's for sure.

they left heading out to the library. i gave them directions and also suggested doing some sales downtown. lots of people there. they said thanks and leroy said "god bless you". it was good to have them in. leroy only wanted a sale, or some money. he thought that's what he needed. monica stood off in a distance probably thinking the chances of that need being met were slim. she seemed ready to move on before leroy and i even started the conversation. that saddens me. they really needed substance. food not money. an honest and true interaction with a human being, not a sales pitch to a potential buyer. i'm not so sure they even got it while they were in my apartment. but it brought me great happiness to see them happy, safe, and comfortable. man! those potatoes were getting old, fried up in cheap super saver oil and black pepper, and topped off with best yet seasoned salt because lawry's is more expensive. but leroy was so happy eating them. wow! the expression on his face, i don't want to forget. it screams joy.

i'm thankful that i am able to sacrifice like this for others. it reminds me that even when i think things are bad and can't get any worse, that they really can get worse. it reminds me of what i have and what others may not have. also, i am thankful that god chooses to work in my life and through me. situations like this one with leroy and monica show me so much. not just new things, but those things that i "forget" or just don't often enough think about. thank you lord... for you.

have a good day all. cheers . . ..

20jul07 today's quote

so act, that your principle of action might safely be made a law for the whole world.

-immanuel kant-

hear ye! hear ye! thy internet hath finally arrivedth!

the internet company told me between 9am and 11am there would be an installation of internet services at my apartment. a nice little window, i thought - two hours for something that should take 20 minutes. okay, okay. maybe i just don't know their system. i'd just have liked it more had they said they'd be here at one exact time, say 9:15. a bigger window means a bigger time spent waiting... and i don't wait well.

9am rolls around. no one pulling up in the drive. "shucks!" i say to myself. it would have been nice to get the day going. i plug in my cell phone to charge its low battery. then i notice the icon denoting a new message is there. hmmm? didn't hear the phone ring. there was a missed call in the missed call log. the number was from the internet company. no mention of new messages, though. i check the answer phone. SEVEN NEW MESSAGES!!! holy cow! didn't i just check the answer phone last night? seems sprint (or my phone) is a little sloooooooow. i had an unchecked message from four days ago. this is very odd. and angering. before i get going on a rant, i should get back to the topic at hand - internet service installation. the installer DID call and he DID leave a message. but he called before 9am, roughly 8:55am. since i didn't answer (missed the call), he went on to the next job.

um? hello? excuse me? 9 to 11 window?

i call the company. they tell me they'll contact the installation guy and they'll do their best to see if it can still get done before 11am. what? arghhhhhh! less than three minutes later, i spy the installation guy getting out of his van. he rings the doorbell. this is nice because it lets me know he's here. i let him in. he's done in under twenty minutes. he tells me he arrived early, didn't know which apartment was mine (there's only two), didn't want to get the wrong apartment so knocked not so loudly (did not use doorbell), and then called me. he waited a couple of minutes to watch for any movement in the apartments. none that he could see. standard operating procedure was to move on to the next appointment. well, that person was not there. frustrated with two-in-a-row, he returned here to wait. i spied him then and stood in the window so he could see.

everything worked out fine. and now data is flowing at high rates of speed in and out of a little cable coming out of the wall. cheers . . ..

19jul07 today's quote

the truth that many people never understand, until it is too late, is that the more you try to avoid suffering the more you suffer because smaller things and more insignificant things begin to torture you in proportion to your fear of being hurt.

-thomas merton-

18jul07 today's quote

the least of learning is done in the classroom.

-thomas merton-

17jul07 today's quote

i am in earnest, i will not equivocate; i will not excuse, i will not retreat a single inch; and i will be heard.

-william lloyd garrison-

16jul07 today's quote

we are continually faced with a series of great oppurtunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems.

-john w gardner-

15jul07 today's quote

to refuse awards is another way of accepting them with more noise than is normal.

-peter ustinov-

14jul07 today's quote

in the united states, doing good has come to be, like patriotism, a favorite device of persons with something to sell.

-h l mencken-

13jul07 today's quote

thanks to tv and for the convenience of tv, you can only be one of two kinds of human beings, either a liberal or a conservative.

-kurt vonnegut-

hey roomie, it's your birthday

happy birthday ben! number 26! weeeeeeee! and you've a request to update your blog. have a good one. cheers . . ..

12jul07 today's quote

advertising may be described as the science of arresting the human intelligence long enough to get money from it.

-stephen leacock-

11jul07 today's quote

i think that i shall never see,
a bilboard lovely as a tree.
perhaps, unless the billboards fall,
i'll never see a tree at all.

-ogden nash-

10jul07 today's quote

where all think alike, there isn't much thinking.

09jul07 today's quote

dreaming permits each and every one of us to be quietly and safely insane every night of our lives.

-william dement-

some things about me that you didn't know

just a few of them for you:

-i have never lost to a girl in a game of chess.
-i have seen 10 things i hate about you well over 100 times.
-my left leg is an inch and a half longer than my right leg.
-i have moved 12 times since i've graduated high school.
-i irrationally fear that toilets will overflow when i flush them.

well. there you have it. have a great sunday. cheers . . ..

08jul07 today's quote

divide and rule, a sound motto. unite and lead, a better one.

-johann wolfgang von goethe-

wow! over 300 posts!

all since the end of january. crazy. this month i've been slow because i still don't have internet access at my new place. i can detect a wireless signal from the neighbor but i can't utilize it for some reason.

i'm finding myself inactive these days. i think it springs from the fact that i don't have a lot of active people to hang out with anymore. it's making me bored. and i don't like that. cheers . . ..

07jul07 today's quote

the remarkable thing about shakespeare is that he really is very good, in spite of all the people who say he is very good.

-robert graves-

06jul07 today's quote

history is moving, and it will tend toward hope...or tend toward tragedy.

-george w bush-

05jul07 today's quote

the reason that there is so little crime in germany is that it's against the law.

-alex levin-

some pics of bananas i've brought to work

these pics were taken over the course of four days. each day i brought a banana to work. bananas are cool in that you can write on the peel (since you toss it away) with no damage to the actual fruit.



cheers . . ..

04jul07 today's quote

the great french marshall lyautey onced asked his gardener to plant a tree. the gardener objected that the tree was slow growing and would not reach maturity for 100 years. the marshall replied, "in that case, there is no time to lose. plant it this afternoon!"

-john f kennedy-

03jul07 today's quote

one can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.

-helen keller-

02jul07 today's quote

yield not to evils, but attack all the more boldy.

-virgil-

01jul07 today's quote

when i woke up this morning my girlfriend asked me, "did you sleep well?" i said, "no. i made a few mistakes."

-steven wright-