2007 Year end wrap up

Yup, it’s time for another one of these.

The year started out quite well. There were a lot of good things happening for me both personally and professionally during the beginning of the year. The year was really starting out exactly how I would’ve wanted to start the year. There was a sense of excitement in the air.

Of course, as things often happen to me, it was all just a tease. It was probably not even after the first quarter of the year. Things just deteriorated and got increasingly worse. Pretty soon, I was too busy putting out fires rather than being able to plan ahead.

I had a trip in the middle of the year that I was really looking foward to. It was going to be my first getaway in quite a while and in a place that I hope I can move to eventually. That didn't turn out so good.

Next thing you know, the year was slipping past me.

I made for a big play at the beginning of the fourth quarter. I don’t know what I was thinking. It was a desperate move. I have been so upset with myself for putting myself in that position where there was a very unlikely success rate. I knew that. I still went for it in a moment of weakness. I am quite embarrassed that I would even try something like that when I know it's not really what I wanted. It's just pathetic. I hope I never do this again.

I’m still having problems with being old. I’ve probably mentioned this. It’s not the age that I have a problem with. It’s with the fact that I have no direction. No plan like I’ve had for the last few decades. I don’t know what the next step is. That pains me and puts me in a very uncomfortable place. I was really hoping to be able to develop a plan with someone that would involve us for the rest of our lives.

So here we are. End of the year. Objectively judging, this was a big waste of a year. Nothing happened that advanced anything. Only things I can see is mistakes after mistakes all year long. I had better not repeat this year in 2008.

Being goal oriented, here’re some things I will do /have planned this coming year:

Be in Summer league shape by the time Spring league begins
Finish revision of sci-fi Movie Script
Finish writing romantic comedy movie script
Don’t let the chances slip away. Take that chance, make something happen even if it doesn’t turn out
Do something new -personal skill-wise
Have a year that I would be proud of at the end of the year
Go out of the country - 2x if possible
Make a short term (2-3 year) plan by end of March


Here’s to a good year.

First Choice

I know this sounds a bit conceited and/or perhaps narcissistic, but I don’t think it’s that much to ask. Most everyone has at least one. Many people have many. I’m just looking for one.

What I’m asking is just to be someone’s first choice. When they think about a situation or maybe wanting to do something, is it so much to want them to think of me first?

That’s all I really want. I don’t think that’s smothering or anything stupid like that. I think it’s nice and the way it should be. You don’t have to do everything with the other person, but they should be your first thought when something comes up.

I want someone to think of me first when they get some good news. I want someone to think of me first when they have bad news to share. When you just want to chat aimlessly, I’d like to be that person that you go to.

I don’t get it. Am I that bad that I can’t make the tops list for anyone? Hell, I don’t think I make the top 5 list for anyone I know.

For once, I’d just like to be someone’s first choice.

A Pup-mas Party

This last Saturday, I finally got around to having another party at my place. I haven’t had one since I moved in about 15 months ago. The housewarming was 2 weeks from when I moved in. Then 15 months. For me, that’s quite a while to go without a party.

The party went very well from what I remembered. The food was great thanks to A who did most of the preparing. I did have my secret recipe that I stole from Jamie that got everyone drooling and begging for more. The oh so delicious bacon wrapped smokies in brown sugar. I’m telling you, those things are more addictive than crack. Like bacon wrapped crack. Mmmmm

The Wii was a big hit as expected. It’s games are easy to learn and with 4 controllers, that’s a good time for all.

But the good times weren’t just in the living room. No, the good times was in the dining room too where we were playing drinking roulette. In case you’ve never seen it, it’s a roulette wheel with 6 shot glasses. The numbers are spilt into the 6 shot glasses. If the ball lands in your shot glass number, you have to take the shot.

This is a very dangerous game. I don’t think I’ve ever played this without some major consequences. Luckily, I know which shot glasses to take now so I’m not taking the shots (for some reasons it never hits certain numbers).

The crowd wasn’t that big, about 15-20 people, but they did very well in the alcohol category. Through the night we finished:
1 bottle of Vodka
1 bottle of Jack
1 bottle of Tequila
½ bottle of Jager
½ bottle of Gin
about 16 beers

Not too shabby.

As expected, I don’t remember much about the end of the party. I’m not that responsible when it comes to partying at my house.

I am glad that everyone came out. My suburban friends, of course Tricia who I will never have a party without, and even my neighbors who turned out to be very fun. I know these parties are going to become more and more rare. Hopefully, this will get me through for another 15 months.

What would you choose?

I think I've posted this before, but in case I haven't.
Answer in the comments!

A spouse that was horribly ugly when people around and gorgeous when you’re alone,
Or
A spouse that was gorgeous when you’re with other people, but horribly ugly when you’re alone?

Your spouse gets into a car accident, would you rather
Their face be scarred and had to be reconstructed to something completely different,
Or,
Their body injured to the point where you have to help them move for the rest of their lives?

Your spouse be extremely nice and sweet to you, but nasty to everyone else
Or,
You spouse be nice and sweet to everyone else, but generally disagreeable to you?

You spouse be very attractive and openly flirts with everyone that she meets
Or,
You spouse be less attractive and is cold to everyone?

Be someone that was unable to sleep
Or,
Be someone that was unable to stay awake?

Your spouse never drinks and nags at you for drinking
Or
Your spouse that binges every weekend?

For Your Holiday Cheer

Check out Pup Elf!

http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1192909339

Good Call Award

This week’s Good Call award goes to the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. Way to stand up after the extremist called for the execution of a teacher because she let a kid name their teddy bear Mohammed.

It’s one thing to be religious and to believe in the teachings of your lord. However, there is a point where you need to have common sense. Killing a person, who not only did not know this is such a sin, but also apologized profusely for her actions, would not put you or your believes in such good light. If your job is to spread the word of your God, this would be an example of how NOT to do it.

All you people that have called for this execution really need both an education and a job. I promise you anyone with an education and a job would not be out there in the streets demanding a teacher be killed. Imagine how silly that would look on your outlook calendar.

12-1pm – protest death of teacher.

Not that you would read this, but if you do, don’t be thinking that I’m hating on your religion or somehow making fun of your God and faith. No, I’m cool and respect that.

I am hating on you. Yea, YOU the person. The pathetic ignorant ass can’t get no job naïve worthless piece of crap. I hate you. Don’t make it out to anything bigger. No. You I hate. You. Just you. You are a waste. The you that I think isn’t worth to share the same air as the rest of the sensible population.

Anyway, good call to you Mr. President.

Topic.

Sex is like Money in terms of its relationship with happiness.
Having lots of it doesn't necessarily make you happy.
However, not having it would make things more difficult and less enjoyable.


Discuss.

You know you’re old when…

I was at Toys R Us tonight buying some toys for ‘Toys for Tots’. It’s my annual ‘I can’t buy toys for me anymore, but I still like buying toys trip’. I remember hearing on the radio that they especially needed toys for 10-12 yr olds.

When I was wandering around the store, I noticed that I was actually reading the labels on the toys to see what age certain toys are for. You know who does that? Old people. Old people who doesn’t know what’s going on.

I know you don’t think this seems like a big deal. It might even seem like a good thing that I don’t know what 10-12 yr olds play with. Well it’s not. It’s just more proof that I’m old.

The only thing that made me happy was the fact that I could buy any toy in the toy store. A kid can’t do that.

Question for you to ponder

If you can choose 3 people, and those 3 people would choose the person you would marry, and you cannot object to their decision, who are the 3 people you would choose?

Please answer in the comments.

Pup’s Movie Corner

Today we will review the movie Hitman

Based on a video game (sheese, can people not get any original ideas here? I’ve got a script that’s ready. You just need to ask.), Hitman is definitely targeting a specific group of audience with this movie. The target group that likes lots of people getting shot, fancy clothing, and a very hot Russian girl.

There’s really not much to this movie. If you’ve seen the Bourne Identity, this is pretty much the exact same movie. The Hitman does dress better than Bourne though.

I know this is really not much of a review, but there really isn’t that much that stands out in this movie. There’s nothing there that hasn’t been done, or seen.

I would hope that if you decide to go see this movie, you’re not thinking that it would challenge your mind or this is a movie that will change the world or that this would be an Oscar contender. If you get all those thoughts out of your head and just expect a movie with a lot of people getting shot in flashy ways and a gorgeous Russian girl, then I think you’ll have a good time.

Rating: 3 Paws (out of 5)

Pup’s Movie Corner

Today we will review the movie Beowulf.

Based on a just a poem (albeit quite long), Hollywood managed to make this into a full length movie. To make things more interesting, they made a good part of the movie fully CGI. While it was interesting watching part of the movie completely in CGI and almost like a game, I went to the theaters to watch a movie, not to watch the intro to a game.

The movie itself was fine. The plot was simple enough. Men can’t resist the hotness that is Angelina Jolie and they’re pretty much cursed forever. I’m not quite sure how they got a PG-13 rating on this. Not that I’m complaining, but there was a lot of nudity going on (don’t worry ladies, there is male nudity too). Even if it’s supposed to be digital nudity, it was still nudity.

So here’s my problem with the movie. It doesn’t have that much to do with the movie itself. I have more of a problem with the idea of Beowulf as a ‘hero’. For in my mind, he is no hero at all and that kinda ruins the movie for me.

Beowulf fought for personal glory. He fought for the sake for fighting. He fought so that his legend would grow, so that there would be stories told about him. Everything he did was about him wanting to be glorified and show off that he’s better than others.

I understand that this problem is strictly my own issue. Beowulf is just not my idea of a hero. Sounds silly but a hero is a hero because they didn’t want to be a hero in the first place. Heroes are people who are put in or fall into a difficult situation and they perform above and beyond themselves and what others would have done. Heroes only fight when necessary and fight for a purpose/goal greater than themselves. That is the definition of a hero and the complete opposite of Beowulf.

Given the choice, a hero would never have wanted to be a hero. That’s what makes them so great. They rise when they have to, when no one else would. They rise to protect. They fight when necessary, but only as a last resort.

Perhaps I’m being too critical about this. I think most people will enjoy Beowulf. It’s a fun movie to watch with a very interesting obvert use of CGI and good special effects. However, I regard my idea of a hero quite highly. Beowulf contradicts every idea I have for a hero and I believe I was too caught up on that to enjoy the movie.

Rating: 2 Paws (out of 5)

Look what I just got...

I was at Target going to get batteries, some birthday cards and a new bottle of Mr. Clean. I love that Mr. Clean. Have I ever told you? It doesn't work any better than any of the other products, but I sure do like using Mr. Clean. I think I feel better cause I think he's there cleaning with me. It's more fun when you and Mr. Clean are cleaning and singing to songs on the radio. Ok, that might be TMI..

Anyway.

So I walked by the electronic section and there it was. I didn't believe it when I first saw it. I thought it was just for display. Then I saw a lady come up and ask to buy one. I started freaking a bit. There was 2 left in the display case. I tried to be calm and pick out my birthday cards, but my mind was elsewhere. I kept staring at the case with the Wii.

What do I do? What do I do? As you may or may not know, I'm not good with randomly spending money. Not that this would be random, but it was not in the plans for today. I was there for batteries, cards, and Mr. Clean. All of which I had coupons for. That's right. Coupons. Suck it.

Then I saw another dreaded thing. A guy with his daughter going up to the counter and asking to buy the Wii. OMG. They're going to run out before my eyes. I have no time to make the decision.

I made an executive decision. I went over there very hesistently. I asked for the Wii. The sales guy gave me a nodd of approval and said 'right on'. He seriously said that. Strangely, that made me feel a lot better.

Now I'm sitting here with a Wii. Part of me wants to hold it and sell it (the cheapest price on Amazon is $383), but part of me wants to bust it out and start playing it.

I think you guys all think this is a no brainer, but it's not for me. I know what is probably the right decision, but it's hard to do it. You don't need to tell me I'm crazy.

Guess I'll go and think about it...

Weekend Update

This weekend, at the expense of the annual They Might be Giants concert that I always attend, End of fall season Ultimate tournament, and some good football time, I went to San Antonio to hang out with some friends and attend the wedding of an old college friend.

- I finally went and saw the Alamo this trip. It had been eluding me all these times when I’ve been down there. It was very interesting as I’m a big fan of historical war sites. At the site there was someone who told the story of what happened at the Alamo and a lot of the history leading to it. The legend behind the Alamo was definitely more glamorous than what had actually happened. For example, the battle only took 90min. It wasn’t days of holding the fort as many movies would lead you to believe.

- Went to happy hour with my friend’s wife’s coworkers. Nothing like starting to drink at 3:30pm. I should work for that company. I found out some very interesting thing about one of the coworkers that I’ve met a few times before. So this coworker, who is quite attractive, like turning head attractive, knows Pi to the 20th digit or something. She also has a Pi tattoo and graduated with a Physics degree. Seriously, when does that happen? The mix of beauty AND a Geek.

- Not everything’s bigger in Texas. I had some of the most pathetic pours of Jack and Cokes ever. Nashville still wins for the best pours. I don’t think they even put coke in my drinks.

- This was the 3rd totally secular wedding ceremony that I’ve ever been to. I love it so much more than the religious weddings. They actually talked about and focused on how much the bride and groom loved each other without having some diversion to God or something silly. Seriously, take a back seat today. This is their day, not yours. Back the fuck off. It’s not always about you. FYI, I make this comment to religious PEOPLE, not to the actual ‘God’ cause I’m sure he/sure would be cool about just sitting back during the ceremony and dancing to ‘I want you to want me’ during the reception.

- If I ever get married, I would like to do the whole Have Nagila thing. That is some fun stuff.

- I had one of the most delicious appetizers ever. It was potato strings that wrapped around a shrimp and lightly fried. It was crispy on the outside with a soft shrimp on the inside. Yum!

- Thumbs up to the bridesmaids at this wedding. They all danced a lot, and danced very well. Very awesome.

- Everyone went back to the hotel for the after party. Now that was fun. They brought back all the left over alcohol so we can now pour my own. Good times ensued.

- The second amazing woman I met during this trip. This woman was hilarious. She too was very geeky in that she talked a lot of video games. She named her cats from Harry Potter. Somehow we got to throwing signs with our hands. She was trying to show me how to do the Vulcan hand sign which I cannot do to save my life. Then it lead to gang signs, which I cannot do as well. She finally said ‘You can’t do geek or gang! I can’t work with this!!’

- This same woman is rail thin. However, she has one of the biggest appetites I’ve ever seen. I can’t even describe to you how much she ate during the after party. She talked about how she has to eat every couple of hours. Her friends all confirmed this and actually said that she’s eating a little less now. That is crazy. All I know is that she has a very understanding boyfriend cause he has to keep the fridge stocked and cook her food all the time. Funny enough they live only about 5 miles from me. I’ll definitely have to give them a call.

- This wedding concludes the 2007 wedding season for me. Later, I’ll write about the 2nd one that I went to where a real life Sgt Pepper marching band appeared after the wedding ceremony. It was something to see. Definitely in the tops list for things I’ve seen at a wedding.

What if...

The night was dark with only the moonlight to guide their way. The two rushed to stay in the shadows. They know there were not safe. They were being hunted. Every second away from the room meant being exposed in the open. They would be no match for their hunters. Running and hiding was the only way. They must reach the room. The room their only salvation.

The two rushed pass the abandoned building and into an alley. The surrounding buildings blocked the moonlight completely. The alley was so dark the two can no longer see each other. The two continued to walk down the alley, but unable to see, they let their hands be their guide. Feeling one brick at a time, moving as fast and as quietly as they can around the building. They know the others would not be impeded by something as trivial as darkness.

Scratch. In the darkness, her hand felt against a metal door. She breathed a quick sign of relief at the discovery of the door. Scratch. Scratch. He gently pushed open the rusty door to gain entrance. It was all still pitch dark. They were not sure this is the way, but anything is better than staying out there.

A flickering light lit the hallway of the room they entered. She may have cracked half a smile if she wasn’t so exhausted. This is the where they were headed for. This is where the room and their safety would be. He grabbed her hand and they rushed up the stairs. The moonlight shines down on them as they pass the windows. With each passing, their excitement built. They know they’re close. Close to the room.

They got off on the 7th floor and headed straight to room 251. They were finally there. Looking at a door never made anyone so happy. She took off her necklace and revealed a key that’s been around her neck. She fumbles to put the key into the lock. She finally managed to put in the key and with a quick flick of her wrist, nothing happened.

The key did not turn.

There were too many thoughts going through her head. She had to use every ounce of her will to not scream. She could not stop thinking, the key doesn’t work. The key doesn’t work.

It seemed like a life time had pass, but it wasn’t even half a second. Her mind was no longer useful, the shock of the key had taken over. Scratch. Almost instinctively, her hand turned the key the other way. The clicking sound of the door unlocking snapped her back to reality in an instant. The thoughts all instantly fade away as joy took over.

They arrived. In this room they knew they would be safe. They’ve made it.

“You’re safe now. I’m glad to be able to deliver you to the room without harm.”

“Thank you so much. He will be very happy to know what you have done for me. I owe you my..….”

He could not react fast enough as he watched her bloodied body fall slowly to the floor. He looked at her and he was unable to speak. He had failed her and he had failed him. He could only look out at the window where everything so suddenly ended.

A loud thud could be heard as he crashed through the door. There he saw a dozen men, all armed with bows pointing out a window. They didn’t even flinch at his deafening entrance. He had hoped they would notice, hoping they would focus on him. No, these men were professionals. They knew their job and nothing would sway them.

He tried to get to them, to stop them. He knew what they were aiming at. There just wasn’t enough time. Before he could make a move, he could hear the strings spring loose from their master’s grips. The arrows ready to deliver its one message to its target.

He knew. It was over. His dreams with her passed as quickly as the arrows reached their targets. There was nothing now. Nothing for him.

As quickly as the arrows were released, two men came swiftly through the door behind him. They knew too as soon as they entered the room. The assassins had done their job. They were too late and they had failed to protect her.

“I owe you my…”, she tried to finish her sentence but was interrupted as an arrow broke through the window with a loud crash. The first arrow found her heart with indiscriminate accuracy. The arrow was followed by a dozen of its friends as they all hit their targets. She fell slowly to the floor. Before darkness took over, she was able to look out the window. She saw him there. She knew he had tried as hard as he could, as did all his friends. All for her.

Scratch. Her sight was clouding over as the end drew closer. She looked out the window one last time. She saw the sadness in his eyes. She smiled one last time. Hoping that he would see. Hoping that he would see that she knew and appreciated everything.

His hand drew close to his weapon. There were no words to describe his feelings. He had lost the only thing worth protecting.

He muttered lowly, “Kill them. Kill them all.”

Finally...

After 12 years or so of playing Ultimate, I finally did 1 of the 2 rarest feats in all of Ultimate this last weekend. I'm not sure how it's actually spelled, but it's called a 'Callihand'. I know, me not knowing how to spell something. Big suprise.

A Callihand is when the other team has possession of the disc. Somehow the defender intercepts the disc and lands in the end zone. So basically, intercepting in the end zone for a score. This very rarely happens for a number of reasons. Too many actually for me to go into, but you can probably figure it out yourself.

We were playing a 3x3x1 zone and I was in the cup. It was a great pull that gave the cup time to set up. By the time we got there they still had the disc at the goal line. They swung the disc around a few times. The disc was going back to the center handler. It was a little high, but completely catchable. Just as he was about to grab it, a puff of air blew the disc up. He tipped the disc in the air instead of catching it.

We both jumped for the disc and I came down with the disc in the end zone.

Score.

Damn I'm smooth.


PS - The disc at the top is a disc design for the Vancouver ultimate league that I randomly played pick-up with when I was there earlier this year. Yes, I was randomly wander around Vancouver and found an Ultimate game. Geeky I know.

Rest in Peace Dear Cleo

I just go news that Cleo, with whom I lived with for a couple of years during grad school has passed due to brain cancer.

I’ll always remember you for being much bigger in life than you were in actual size. Your barks to greet me at the door were always welcomed and very much appreciated.

We’ll miss you Cleo.

This is why I'm not allowed to buy my nephew books anymore.

Who’s with me?!!!!!!

I just had 2 kick ass Halloween ideas from my dream last night.

Kick ass idea 1:
I need to get a small group of people, I’m thinking 8 to 12. This group will dress up like a scene in a horror movie. Perhaps half can be monsters and the other half victims, maybe some chainsaw yielding people, or maybe just all aliens. It’s open really, just need to have a theme.

The group will travel around town and hold a pose/ scene for a certain period of time. I’m thinking like 15 min max.

Ohhhh… that’d be so much fun and freaken awesome!!!

Kick ass idea 2:
You know how there was a thing with flash mobs a while ago? Where through IM/internet people are told to show up at a specific area and form a flash mob?

Same concept. Except it’s a flash ZOMBIE mob.

I don’t know how to get people involved in this flash mob thing, I’m not young and in the hip crowd. Wouldn’t it be totally awesome to have a bunch of zombie all showing up at one place? It’ll be just like the movies/10 years from now.

Flash zombie mob!!!!

OMG. Just thinking about it gets me excited.

Reason # 1,786 why I'm not going to do well being old.

As many of you know me knows this, I don’t do well with getting older. I'm not doing well now with it. I don't do well with everything about it. I just don’t do well with the whole concept.

Well now, I have even more reasons.

After months of nagging from many friends, I finally went to see the doctor. I’ve always known this, but to make it official is something else.

Whenever I go to a Target or Kroger I generally go try out the blood pressure machine. It started out just for fun, but I continued to do it every weekend when I went to the store. This has gone on for years. I’ve always thought there might have been something wrong with the machine. The readings were generally insanely high. Like ‘Your heart may explode right now’ high.

It’s never concerned me that much. I’m generally healthy. Sure I could lose a few pounds, but the ultimate keeps me in ok shape and I don't eat too badly (except for that whole peanut obession).

I see a doctor about every 5 years. Even that’s a stretch for me. Everytime they see me, they generally have a concern, but since I don’t see them for another 5 years and I’ve moved to another city, nothing ever happens.

For some reason, the last few tests concerned me. Not that it was any higher, just that it’s that high in the first place. I told a couple of friends, then the nagging started. Lots and lots of nagging.

Finally I gave in and went to see the doc this week. I don’t know if she was acting, but she seemed quite concerned. She put me on 2 blood pressure medicines right away. I’m going back next week. I may have a 3rd.

Nothing makes you feel older than having this thought.

“Hope I don’t forget to take my blood pressure medicine today.”


Getting old sucks.

That's what I want.

You watch The Office tonight?

You know how Pam and Jim are?

That's what I want. That's happy.

WHAT the Fuck is wrong with you people?!?

If there were ever a standard comparison among countries, something to measure and compare how well the countries of this world are doing, I would say currency comparison would be a good judge. How much each country's currency vales compares to another country's currency is probably the best that we have.

The US dollar used to be a great and strong currency that others compared to.

Today:
$1.41 US = 1 Euro - this is at an all time high
$2.01 US = 1 Pound - Also ridiculously high
$1.00 US = $1 CA - We should be quite embarassed about this. The Canadian dollar is worth the same as the US $ for the first time in about 30 years. It generally trades at $1 US = $1.5 CA.

For all you out there that doesn't care or think this is beyond you, this is a big deal. This affects our ability to buy stuff. This is a big reason why all the prices are going to go up.

This country is in Trillions of dollars of debt. You know who owns the majority of that debt? China and Saudi Arabia. How does that make you feel? We pay them billions of dollars a month just in interest.

China is not exactly a model citizen in this world. No one seems to care and no one is really able to stand up to them. Politican are either taking money from China or do not have the influence to do anything about it. Saudi Arabia is just as bad. We rely on them like a crackhead relies on a dealer. They're also not exactly our BFFs.

Yet, we pay them billions of dollars in interest. Can you be sure what they do with all that money?

This is the latest news. Dubai is about to buy a 20% stake in the NASDAQ. While financially it's not THAT consequental, symbolically it really is.

The Iraq war has cost this country over $450 Billion dollars and we're no where near done. Do you know what you could have done with $450 Billion dollars? Let me tell you.

For starters, the annual budgets of the National Science Foundation and the National Cancer Institute are $6 billion and $5 billion, respectively, the $1 trillion war cost is equivalent to 170 NSFs and 200 NCIs. Now I'm not positive as to what putting 170X more science can do, or 22X more cancer reserach can do, but I'm willing to bet, we'd be getting something more back then this war.

What do you think kills more people in the US and the world? Cancer or terrorism?

If they just mail every american a check, each of us would get a $3000 check. How's that for boosting the economy? If the money was spent in an even more ecumenical way and a global mailing list was available, the Treasury could have sent a check for more than $150 to every human being on earth. The lives of millions of children, who die from nothing more serious than measles, tetanus, respiratory infections and diarrhea, could be saved, since these illnesses can be prevented by $2 vaccines, $1 worth of antibiotics, or a 10-cent dose of oral rehydration salts as well as the main but still very far from prohibitive cost of people to administer the programs.

You could have made this country into one that the rest of the world would be envious of. This could have paid for universal health care, rebuilt New Orleans, provided funds for the country's infrastructure, and most importantly, keep this country a super power on the world stage.

But No. You did not decide to go this way. All you scared little ignorant self absorbed bitches who were crying for war. All of you had better not complain when they come take your fucking house. You did this. You did this to us. This is ALL your fucking fault.

Your poor judgement lead us into a war. Your rash reactions, your insights of stupidity. You may not have made the original terrorists, but you are now making the new generation of them. You are the ones that are nurturing them. You are allowing this to happen.

Wake the fuck up people, this country is in a LOT of trouble. We as a country have a lot of problems. We are NOT doing well.

Human Tetris Game Show

Why don't we have awesome shows like this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZWHaor6LOU

Expectations

I fly a lot for my job. Once a week, or at least one every couple of weeks, I pack my bags and head off to the airport to travel around the country. To an extent, I see flying as a very common thing. It’s really not a big deal for me to have to fly.

Often times, I get a little annoyed at the people that are slow at security, or doesn’t know where to go or when to get on the plane. I used to wonder, what’s wrong with them, this is so simple.

On my flight out to Vegas last week, I sat next to a couple from Georgia. They said they’ve never been so far out west before and that this will be their first time traveling flying away from home. They had just retired and they were spending a week in Vegas. They were going to rent a car and drive to the border to say that they’ve been in California.

Just imagine. They're in their mid-60s and they've never left the south! Never seen the Pacific. There has been several times when I've seen the Atlantic and Pacific ocean in the same week.

I didn’t really think much about it at the time, but then something dawned on me later. I shouldn’t have been as shocked at this couple as I was. There are probably a lot of people out there that are in the same boat as this couple. They are probably more the norm than I think. People who live their lives in one general area and never traveled around. While that seems very strange to me, my idea of things are probably skewed.

This lead me to think about some of my other ideals. I wonder what else I think is/should be usual or something simple that really is not for other people. Is working a 12 hour day and then wanting to go out not the norm? Is it not a normal expectation that people not get tired? Is preparing for a zombie uprising not something everyone does?

I know this gets me into trouble. I have theses ‘expectations’ or ideas about things and how things should be. Naturally, they’re not always as I think. I know it shouldn't but when things are happening as I think they should be, it greatly upsets/surprises me.

I guess knowing is half the battle.

In light of 9/11

A great commentary from Olbermann:

http://video.msn.com/v/us/msnbc.htm?g=3260355f-9c9d-4e98-a478-496e9996d074&f=00&fg=copy

The terrorist caused a sensational act of destruction on 9/11 in 2001 which lead to an unity within this country and around the world. A real leader would have taken this unity and made not only the United States a stronger country and one that would be the shinning example of democracy, but that would also fight terrorism at the root of the problem which is not any group of people, but an ideal.

As we all know, this was not the path that we took. We do not have a good leader. This was not the way that the president saw fit to solve the problem. Like an immature child, the president and his war hawks seek to solve this problem only through force and war. This is exactly what the terrorists wanted. Six years later, the terrorists are winning because we are still in this battle.

The terrorists have nothing to live for other than war. Without the identity of war, without an ability to die as a martyr, they have nothing. By being in this war, we give them the oxygen they need to live, we give them the reason to grow, and we are the ones that give them their reason to die.

The United States in involved in a war that it cannot get out of. Instead of having the strong democratic government with checks and balances that this country has worked so hard to build and ask others to follow, we have an out of control executive branch that is corroding everything the constitution stands for. No longer are we the country that a developing country would look to as an example of what they would like to become. Instead of teaching other what is best and what to be like, we've become the shinning example of what not to be like and how not to run a government.

Make no doubts, this country is in a state of disarray. This is not the time for foolish pride and chants of 'We're #1, We're #1'. We need to recognize that this country has been falsely lead into a war that is draining all our resources. The leaders of this country are wasting our money on war and at the same time ignoring and under funding everything that has made this country great such as education, science, arts, medicine, research, humanitarian efforts, etc.

Internally, the country's infrastructure has been way under funded. Our education system has terrible needs that really need attention. Health care is out of control. Everyday, the wealth gap grows further and further. These are the kind of things that rots a country from within. These are major problems that takes generations to fix.

Internationally, we continue to fall behind on everything. The dollar's at an all time low vs. the Euro and the pound. Other countries are producing more scientific research, more highly educated people, and even healthier people than us (there are 40 nations that has higher average life spans than the US).

All because we are all focused on this 'terrorism'.

How much worse does things have to get before we realize that battling 'terrorism' and being in a war is what the terrorist wants. We are helping them by being in the war. At the same time, we are ignoring the biggest reason why the terrorists want to fight us in the first place. Our biggest beam of light. Our democracy and freedoms. Our ability to help those in need.

This president is ignoring and eroding all the good things about this country with fascist programs like surveillance of the public and everything having to do with Patriot Act. An act that couldn’t be more against what this country stands for. The president has the same mentality as the terrorist who thinks anything can be achieved through force. The president is making us more like the people we fight every day. Soon, we will be nothing but an empty war machines that doesn’t know anything other way of life.

Something needs to change, and it needs to change soon. The longer this goes on, the deeper the hole we will be digging ourselves. We are already losing our status as the best country in the world. Let’s not lose our status as a relevant country in the world. It’s not improbable. The way we’re going, it will happen.

Good night, and good luck.

Vegas, Vegas, Vegas!

You guys know the drill.

Yada Yada.. Going to Vegas.

Yada Yada.. Need numbers from you to play roulette.

Yada Yada.. Big Money... Big Prizes... No Whammies!!

Survey Survey Survey

Because I’m a sucker for this kind of thing.

1. What time is it? 10:06am
2. What's your full name? Pupbert
3. What are you most afraid of? Being unprepared for a zombie uprising.
4. What is the most recent movie that you have seen in a Theater? Stardust. Go see it!
5. What color are your socks right now? I almost never wear socks.
6. Favorite food? Pork Chops, Bacon, tofu, BBQ
7. Ever dyed your hair, if so what color? Yes. Red.
8. Ever been to Alaska? No. On my list.
9. Ever been toilet paper rolling? Yup. Lesson learned? Don’t take T with you.
10. What are you listening to right now? Regina Spektor
11. Been in a car accident? Yes. 4 to be exact. Only 1 my fault.
12. Croutons or bacon bits? Bacon of course.
13. Favorite day of the week? Thursday
14. If you were a crayon what color would you be? Green
15. Favorite sport to play? Ultimate Frisbee
16. Favorite sport to watch? Football
17. Favorite drink? Jack and Coke, Sweet Tea
18. Favorite ice cream? Gummy bear Swirl. No one makes it though :(
19. Can you drive a stick shift? A little bit. Yes, a little bit. Don’t give me no arguments on this woman.
20. Ever been on a ship? Yup.
21. What color is your bedroom carpet? Beige
22. How many times did you fail your driver's test? Zero. Got passed with a D
23. What was your favorite toy as a kid? Other Kid’s toys
24. What do you do when you are bored? Don’t really get bored.
25. Bedtime? 1-2am
26. Favorite season? Fall
27. What states/Provinces have you lived in? California , Georgia , Kansas, Colorado, Tennessee
28. Last person you went to dinner with? Dad
29. Favorite TV shows? The Office, Heroes, So you think you can dance, The Daily Show if i had cable
30. What’s the most important thing you have? Pup
31. What are your favorite colors? Red, Orange, and Green
32. How many tattoos do you have? None
33. Which came first, the chicken or the egg? The chicken. No seriously, that’s the answer. 34. How many pets do you have? None. I want a dog though.
35. What do you want to do before you die? I have a list.
36. Favorite Holiday? Halloween
37. Have you ever been to? Nope
38. Have you been to countries outside your home country? Yep
39. Time this survey ended? 10:22 a.m.

Quickies

Interesting tidbits from this last trip.

Overheard at the airport:
“I know he’s still in jail now, but he’s getting out soon and I heard he’s putting the band together and they’re totally going to take off and be huge!’

I had to control myself to not slap this girl and shake the crap out of her.

On the flight back:
A couple of the players from the little league championship team was on the same flight as me. One notable player was the kid that hit the game winning home run. The pilot announced that the kids were onboard and the plane cheered pretty loudly for a while.

Go Team! USA! USA! USA!!

Jersey
I don’t think I can ever live in New Jersey. Nothing personal against people who live there. I’m sure there are plenty of lovely people there, but I don’t think it’s the place for me.

I always get cran-apple juice on the plane.

After another delay, I got home around 11pm. I had to start working till about 2am. I seriously need to do something about this. This is so wrong.

Pup's Movie Review

Tonight Starring: Stardust

I saw this movie this weekend and I gotta tell you, other than knowing that Neil Gaiman (author of the sandman series) wrote and produced this movie, I didn’t know what this movie was about. Since I’m a big fan of Sandman and Claire Danes, that was enough to get me to go.

This movie was a very welcome surprise in the fantasy genre in a summer full of sequels. Sure, the overall plot has been done several times (nerdy boy searches for love, nerdy boy transforms to hero to save the girl, they live happily ever after), but this movie does a good job in putting a new angle on the storytelling. For those of you that tries to 'figure out' the movie instead of enjoying the story telling, cut it out. It's not that you couldn't figure out the plot and ending of the movie within the first 5 min of the movie, but you'll miss out on the beauty of this movie which is the storytelling.

Also, different than many movies this summer, this wasn’t a movie that seemed like just a 2 hour commercial (e.g., transformers) for its merchandise.

If you liked the Princess Bride from many years ago, I think you’ll like this movie as well. There are many elements in Stardust that are similar, but not so much as it seems like a copy. The supporting cast for this film is wonderful. You’ll see Robert De Niro as you’ve never seen him before and I don’t know what kind of movie magic they did on Michelle Pfeiffer, but she looked amazing.

Besides the story, what I found amazing was the soundtrack. I believe the composer is Ilan Eshkeri and he did a very good job in a score that really help emphasis the emotions of the scenes (especially the chase and fight scenes) and the mystifying setting of a fantasy movie.

Overall, this was a great fantasy romance movie. Those of you that know me know that I like the cheesy movies, and this is surely one of the better ones I’ve seen in a while.

Go see this movie. Take a date. You won’t be disappointed.

Official Pup Rating – 2 Paws up

End of Season Summer 07’

For those of us who doesn’t play at the club level, the end of season summer league tournament is pretty much the biggest tournament all year. After months of regular league play, this was the chance to shine with all the teams playing together (over 35!).

I’m not going to say that I haven’t been a bit disappointed with the season this year. Unlike the other years, I got on a really good team this summer. Looking at the roster we were sure to be a top 10 team. Especially after winning the spring league with the majority of the same people, we were suppose to be in the elite group.

It all started falling apart after a very impressive first week when we won all of our games. We easily beat the 4 teams that we played. One of our main players got hurt. It was like a disease as the injuries spread to over half the team. All but one of our best players was hurt during most of the season. A few of us had some bad traveling schedules that didn’t let us go to the games, so we played short handed most of the season.

The week before the end of season tournament was the first time we had everyone back. Just like the first week, the team won all their games. However, unlike the first week, it was close and very hard fought.

As many of you know who have played team sports, it’s not enough to just have the talent. If the team chemistry is not there, it’s not going to work. We struggled against teams that were far less talented than us, but because they’ve played together all summer, they have the teamwork and chemistry that lets them play much better as the sum of whole then each individually.

During the tournament we were put in a bracket with 2 top 10 teams and a top 20 team. There are 5 teams in our bracket and the top 2 goes to the A bracket which will compete for the championship.

We lost our first game to the first top 10 team, and then what I think is our best game of the tournament, we upset the other top 10 team in our bracket. We just have to beat the top 20 team and we’ll be in the A bracket.

Everything that could go wrong did during this game. It was a good competitive game, but we couldn’t pull it out in the end. We ended up being 2-2 for the day and that wasn’t good enough to make it.

We ended up being in the C bracket and we did win that bracket on Sunday, but like beating a kid in a wheelchair at basketball, it’s not something to brag about.

The C championship game was pretty fun though. Before the game, everyone first shotgun a beer before play started. During most of the game, there was always at least one person that was drinking on the field. I was trying to sober up a bit so I was drinking Jack and Coke.

Another reason not to be bragging about winning the C bracket.

It was a fun time overall. I’ll miss the playing 3 – 4 times a week during the summer. I’m gonna have to find another way to stay in shape.

Well, there’s always next summer.

Fall league starts soon. We’ll see what happens with that.

One is not like the other.

I’m not much into organized religion. It’s not that I have anything against God(s) if he/she/it/they do exist. I’m just not that big of a fan of all their followers.

One thing I couldn’t help but notice between 2 very big religions.

This is the 8 ‘awakenings’ that Buddhist live by. Basically, this is a big part of their belief system.
The First Awakening: The world is impermanent. Countries are perilous and fragile. The body is a source of pain, ultimately empty. The five skandhas are not the true self. Life and Death is nothing but a series of transformations, hallucinatory, unreal, uncontrollable. The intellect is a wellspring of turpitude, the body a breeding ground of offenses. Investigate and contemplate these truths. Gradually break free of death and rebirth.

The Second Awakening: Too much desire brings pain. Death and rebirth are wearisome ordeals, originating from our thoughts of greed and lust. By lessening desires we can realize absolute truth and enjoy peace, freedom, and health in body and mind.

The Third Awakening: Our minds are never satisfied or content with just enough. The more we obtain, the more we want. Thus we create offenses and perform evil deeds. Bodhisattvas don’t wish to make these mistakes. Instead, they choose to be content. They nurture the Way, living a quiet life in humble surroundings their sole occupation, cultivating wisdom.

The Fourth Awakening: Idleness and self-indulgence are the downfall of people. With unflagging vigor, great people break through their afflictions and baseness. They vanquish and defeat the four kinds of demons, and escape from the prison of the five skandhas.

The Fifth Awakening: Stupidity and ignorance are the cause of death and rebirth. Bodhisattvas apply themselves and deeply appreciate study and erudition, constantly striving to expand their wisdom and refine their eloquence. Nothing brings them greater joy than teaching and transforming living beings.

The Sixth Awakening: Suffering in poverty breeds deep resentment. Wealth unfairly distributed creates ill-will and conflict among people. Thus, Bodhisattvas practice giving. They treat friend and foe alike. They do not harbor grudges or despise amoral people.

The Seventh Awakening: The five desires are a source of offenses and grief. Truly great people, laity included, are not blighted by worldly pleasures. Instead, they aspire to don the three-piece precept robe and the blessing bowl of monastic life. Their ultimate ambition is to leave the home life and to cultivate the Path with impeccable purity. Their virtuous qualities are lofty and sublime; their attitude towards all creatures, kind and compassionate.

The Eighth Awakening: Like a blazing inferno, birth and death are plagued with suffering and affliction. Therefore, great people resolve to cultivate the Great Vehicle, to rescue all beings, to endure hardship on behalf of others, and to lead everyone to ultimate happiness.

This is the first time I’ve ever read these Buddhist ‘awakenings’. I couldn’t help but notice the difference between this and the same ‘rules’ that are in Christianity.

ONE: 'You shall have no other gods before Me.'
TWO: 'You shall not make for yourself a carved image--any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.'
THREE: 'You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.'
FOUR: 'Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.'
FIVE: 'Honor your father and your mother.'
SIX: 'You shall not murder.'
SEVEN: 'You shall not commit adultery.'
EIGHT: 'You shall not steal.'
NINE: 'You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.'
TEN: 'You shall not covet your neighbor's house; you shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male servant, nor his female servant, nor his ox, nor his donkey, nor anything that is your neighbor's.'

Can you tell the big difference between these two sets of ‘rules’? Yes, I know, some of you will say that’s old testament, and Jesus is not as old school. Still, this is a big part of Christianity.

I’m not saying one is better than the other, but just reading this it sounds to me that one was written to make you a better person, the other is like a narcissistic parent talking down to a child. One talks about doing everything you can you help others, end poverty and suffering. The other talks about not having sex with someone you're not suppose to (twice). If that really is the biggest problem you/your God is worried about, you may want to do some rethinking on your priorities.

Just thought it was interesting.

New York Minute Update

In lieu of an awesome show which would have allowed me to kick people in the face and some last-week-of-ultimate-before-our-tournment-this-weekend-games, here's some highlights of my stay here in NYC.

• Went to Brooklyn for the first time. I know it's not a big deal, but for some reason I thought it was since I've never been there.
• Went to a place call Barcade. It had one of the better beer selections I've ever seen and the place had wall to wall 80s' video games for a quarter. Sweetness.
• Ghost n' Goblins, Spy hunter, and Zaxxon are all still impossible games. Don't waste your money.
• Rampage and Gauntlet are good ideas for about 3 min. Then it's painfully boring.
• I'm not as good at Dig Dug as I've previously claimed. Someone at barcade had over 2 million points.
• I played Qbert all night so I can take out Furdell next time we meet.
• Having a great room in the middle of Times Square is still boring if you don't have anyone to go out with.
• You can't beat meat on a stick
• I have mastered the NY subway system. Owned.
• I had one of the better burgers ever. It was simple and plain delicious.
• I don't want to be an adult. I've seen what it's done to my friends and I don't like it.
• I just had a very delicious cupcake. I don't usually like sweets that much but I do like cupcakes. For some reason, cupcakes conjures an image of a cute girl with pig tails. Don't know how to explain that, but I like cupcakes.
• I hope Pup did not destroy the house while I've been gone. I'm hoping to get home early with an earlier flight. That way I'll catch him cleaning the place after the wild party he's probably having right now.

Sir, the line was back there.

I don’t mind the 50+ hour weeks. I don’t mind that I have customers that call me on the weekends or late at night. I don’t even mind the never ending load of work.

This however, is crossing the line.

I’ve been looking forward to going to a concert for a few months now. The concert is going to be next Tuesday. A concert that was surly going to kick ass and one that will allow me to kick other people’s ass in a fun friendly way.

Then I get the call yesterday. A customer wants me in NYC next week from Monday to Thursday. Oh.. I so don’t think so.

I argued and argued but they wouldn’t have any of it. It’s not that I’m not customer focused, but the meetings they want me for are for 2 hours each day. It’s not a good use of my time to go to NYC for 2 hour meetings each day that I can easily do over the phone. This all stems from the project manager leaving for vacation and is too anal to not have everyone onsite.

So, no kick ass concert for me. I’ve been waiting for years for one of the bands playing.

Talking to my boss yesterday, he mentioned that I may have to go up to NYC again (for another customer) the following week. I don't mind that, but of course, he picked a day when I was planning on going to another concert. What the hell? These are the first 2 concerts I’ve wanted to go to all year.

This does not make for a happy Pup.

So Tempting...

"Tickets are now available to next week’s tapings of So You Think You Can Dance!!

Due to your place on the waiting list, we are notifying you of ticket availability to the tapings ...."


I'm calling all my customers in LA to see if anyone needs a visit from their favorite Pup. How fun would that be to be at a live taping?!

Bleach

I just finished episode 135 of this anime series. It still amazes me that there’s nothing remotely like this anywhere in the world. Apparently, only one culture recognizes that cartoons are not just for children.

Over 135 episodes, a lot of character development can happen. Sure there are the big action and fighting episodes that you would expect from any good anime. With 135 episodes though, there is plenty of room to develop the characters to be more than these people who fights all the time. There are a lot of people who wouldn’t enjoy these episodes as they’re kinda boring in comparison, but I think these are the episodes that makes the show great.

These interlude/plot/silly episodes make the characters more than just ‘cartoon’ characters. These are the episodes that make the show more than just good guys vs. bad guys. Sure, fighting bad guys is one thing, but knowing why the good guys really fight for makes you cheer for them so much more.

The main character nearly goes insane because he blames himself for not being strong enough to protect his friends and family. Many times you see him just get beaten down badly and you feel for this guy cause you know why it’s so bad. It’s not just bad because he’s getting his ass kicked, but you feel bad because of his feelings of not being able to be strong for others. You also cheer that much more when he powers up and fights back (yes, I know most anime I watch has the exact same pattern).

How often do you see a cartoon that has that level of story? No, most of the ones out there are good guys beat bad guys the end. That’s the other thing, why do good guys always win? They really don’t you know. Just think, how much do you know about cobra commander reasons for taking over the world? OK, that’s a silly example, but you know what I mean.

I’m sure no one really knows what I’m talking about. I just wanted to make sure I remembered.

Going to the Chapel and we’re….. Gonna get marrrry….

This was the 2nd of my 4 wedding this year. For some reason, the weddings are picking up again. I went to quite a few for a few years there in a row, like 5-7 a year. Then it quieted down to 1 a year. Now, we’re back into wedding mode. I am running out of unmarried friends though.

I think unlike a lot of people, I enjoy weddings. It’s a very happy time for all involved. There’s the happy married couple, happy families, and happy people that hasn’t seen each other for a while. I am particularly happy with the dancing (even though most of the time the music is questionable, but it’s the one time I don’t mind. It’s wonderful to see the old people out there dancing). We’ve totally lost dancing as part of celebrations in our society, but that's another post.

Weddings are also great in that there's generally an open bar that keeps me happy.

I flew into Boston to meet up with my old roommate and his girlfriend, then picked up my friend and first go down to Foxwoods then the wedding. Once again, I was hit with a delay flying in. It’s been such bad luck for me on flying lately.

Instead of getting in earlier, I got in right in the middle of a Friday rush hour. What’s even worst is that I was driving to Harvard Square where to celebrate the new Potter book, they transformed the place to Diagon Alley. This was insanely cool and everyone was dressed up. I felt like such a muggle in my car. The only bad thing is that it meant traffic was pretty much at a standstill.

I eventually picked up my friend and we went on down to Foxwoods. In case you didn’t know, Foxwoods is a casino. It was strangely located though. You get off the highway and drive around in a forest in a while. Then all of a sudden, boom. Huge casino.

My old roommate and I pretty much grew up gambling together, so it wasn’t that big of a deal. The inside of casinos all look the same. However, my friend from Boston had never gambled before. This was pretty exciting for her. It was great for us too that she picked up the game (craps) amazingly fast and was enjoying it. New blood is always refreshing. She gets very excited about things too so that made it really fun.

Yada Yada.. a few hours later, I had a yellow chip. Go me!

The next day was painful as it was a morning wedding (10am). We had about a 1.5 hour drive from the casino and we stayed up till about 3 or 4am. This is so not a good idea. It was painful. What made it worst that it was a full on traditional Catholic wedding. Mass and everything.

The wedding itself was a bit long, but nice. The reception was good as it was at this old house over looking the river. I don’t know what they were using, but they served some of the best meatballs I’ve ever tasted. Seriously, the recipe must’ve called for ground beef, bread crumbs, and crack.

After the wedding, we checked into our hotel room. My old roommate and his gf left because they had a really strange schedule of flying out of Boston at 6am. Being that we’re about 4 hours away, this made the logistics very difficult. I think they were just going to go to the airport and sleeping there.

My friend and I went out after they left. We first went to this seafood place for an appetizer of oysters and crab meat. Then we walked around for a bit and found this great little place for Italian. The day and now night was just perfect. Around 80 degrees, no humidity, and a slight breeze. You really can’t beat that as we sat outside and ate under a strangely bright star lit night.

I order this shrimp pasta dish that had the biggest shrimps I’ve ever seen. The menu said it was soaked in egg, but sheese. Size of your fist. We ended up having to bag a good part of our meal which I tried to avoid, but there’s just too much good food to leave here.

We walked around a bit, then found a bar that had some darts. I’ve been fancying darts a lot lately. We drank and played darts for a while which was amazingly fun as we’re pretty competitive with each other. That’s the thing when you know you’re with a good one. It doesn’t have to be that exciting, just being with them is all that’s important.

Eventually, a couple started to play darts next to us. Being a bit drunk, my friend and I were very friendly and they were as well so we started playing together. They were such a fun couple. It was like we were old friends as we all had similar sense of humor and all. It was probably just the alcohol, but whatever.

This couple was telling us what they did, and they were chefs for movies and TV shows. They’re up there for a movie and next month they start on 30 Rock. Yup, they cook all the food for the crew and cast. So cool!

After playing for what turned out to be hours, we headed back to the hotel. By the time we got back, we were starving. We sat on the bed and just pigged out on our leftovers. We didn’t have utensils so we were just picking up the pasta and giant shrimps with our hands. Classy I know.

This was an amazingly good trip. We really didn’t do anything extraordinary the whole weekend (we drove about 500 miles, so we were in the car most of the time). Being there with good friends made all the difference. It really is all about who you’re with.

Of course, I wasn’t going to get off that easy. My flight back was delayed as well (seriously, it’s getting old) and I didn't get home till pass midnight. Oh well..

What If?

I met a really cute girl last Thursday night during our game. She came out of nowhere as I got to the field and was getting ready. The first thing that came to my mind was wow, she’s so out of my league. She was very friendly, nice, and painfully cute with a smile that could melt your heart.

We spoke for a while and then started playing some silly Frisbee related game while we waited for our game to start. We were clicking like old friends. What the hell is going on? My mind was racing with what’s she doing? I’m not even on her team or have ever met her before.

Then comes the ‘what’s wrong with her’ excuses. Too young? Nope, she mentioned having graduated college. Crazy? Maybe, but she seems to be really nice to this kids and the dogs likes her. I trust the dogs. What the hell? My mind kept racing with stupid thoughts, but none seems to be sticking.

After our game, there was a hang shake and a hug. She also offered some beers after hearing that I’ve forgotten to grab some. Serious points here. We talked a bit more while drinking the beer then departed from the fields.

I thought that’d be the end of that.

I saw her again on Sunday during the tournament. I had gotten a haircut since I’ve seen her. I was wearing contacts and had on some very different clothes. She recognized me immediately. Even before I saw her and we talked for a while about the games going on.

Not much of a story I know.

Hopefully, it’s a developing story.

Bravo, Bringers of War.

War is and should always be, the absolute last resort. Whatever the excuse, whatever the reason, war should not be on the table unless absolutely necessary.

This is obviously not a philosophy this administration subscribes to.

War does not just affect those on the battlefield. People on the battlefields chose to be there. They have been trained and are equiped to be there. The majority of the causalities of war are not the ones that are killed on the battlefield.

There are no winners in wars. Just people who’ve lost less.

This administration went into Iraq to take down one person. Under the lies and manipulation of facts, this administration coerced the American public that this was the only way to make us ‘safer’.

Do you feel safer?

That’s not what I want to argue here though. Personal opinions on safety is a very pointless topic living here in the US.

What this short sighted administration has grossly ignored are the people they have made unsafe as a result of their pointless war. These are the real causalities of war. Compare to many, the ones that perished were the lucky one.

From a recent report by Richard Engel of NBC.

“There are dozens of clubs just like this one the outskirts of Damascus -- a red light district built on the slender shoulders of little Iraqi girls in belly dancing costumes. The girls are nearly all Iraqi refugees forced into what U.N. relief agencies call “survival sex.” The reason why is cold math. There are 1.4 million Iraqi refugees in Syria. Syrian laws do not allow Iraqi refugees to work in Syria, which struggles to provide enough jobs for its own citizens. But Iraqi children can often slip under the law, especially if they work on the black market. They work to support their families. Many were traumatized even before they left Iraq, and had relatives murdered or kidnapped. Now they are forced into prostitution -- victims of war, victimized again every night.”

For the full article, please click here.

Iraqi children, having to work in sex trade to help their families survive. These families that have been displaced by the war. Families with parents that used to be engineers, scientists before the war and are unable to work now. Now, they have to see their daughters sell their bodies to provide food and rent money.

So it is worth it? Our minor, if any, increase sense of security? Is it worth these children working as prostitutes? The trauma that these children goes through on a nightly basis. Is that worth what we’ve gotten in following this administration to war?

Anyone with any decent sense knows the effects of war. Wars do not stop on the battlefield. This is not a damn video game where after you win the war, it’s over. No. When the battles are over, that’s just the beginning of the real war.

We used to be a country that helps the weak. A country that comes to the aid of those that can’t help themselves. We used to be a country that would willingly take a punch rather then allow an innocent person receive the punishment.

Under this administration, we’ve now become the ones that create and expose the weak to their predators. We’re now the country that bullies other countries that we don’t like.

This foolish administration has opened Pandora's box. They have no plan nor intention of closing it. For during chaos, those that are the loudest and spreads the most fear will rule. The wise and moderate will be silenced.

List List Lists…

Gone on a blind date X

Skipped school X

Seen someone die X

Been to Florida X

Been to Mexico X

Been on a plane X

Been lost X (ha)

Been on the opposite side of the country X (on the same day)

Gone to Chicago X

Swam in the ocean X

Felt like dying X

Cried yourself to sleep X

Played cops and robbers when I was little X (mainly robbers, and what do you mean by ‘played’?)

Recently colored with crayons X

Sang karaoke X

Paid for a meal with only coins X

Did something you told yourself you wouldn't X

Made prank phone calls (Does Drunk calls count?)

Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose X

Caught a snowflake on your tongue X

Danced in the rain X

Written a letter to Santa Claus

Been kissed under the mistletoe X

Watched the sun rise with someone you care about X

Blown bubbles X

Been topless on the beach X

Crashed a party X

Gone roller-skating X

Gone Ice-skating

Gone skinny dipping

1. Nick-name? If I gave you my Alias, I’d have to kill you

2. Mother's nick name? Sue

3. What is your favorite drink? Sweet Tea

4. Tattoos? 0

5. Piercing? 0

6. How much do you love your job? Besides the fact it’s killing me, it’s fantastic!

7. Favorite vacation spot? Anywhere... with the right person

8. Ever been to Africa? No

9. Ever eaten cookies for dinner? No

10. Ever been on TV? Yes (briefly on ESPN once for ultimate)

11. Ever steal any traffic signs? I can neither deny or confirm that

12. Ever been in a car accident? 3

12. Was it your fault? 1 of them was

13. 2 Doors or 4 Doors? 4 doors

14. Salad dressing? Balsamic Vinaigrette

15. Favorite pie? Banana Cream

16. Favorite number? 3

17. Favorite movies? Too many…

18. Favorite holiday? Halloween!

19. Favorite dessert? Ice Cream

20. Favorite food? Pork Chops

21. Favorite day of the week? Friday

22. Favorite brand of Body soap? Lush

23. Favorite TV show! So you think you can dance, Meet the Press, Scrubs, Family Guy
24. Favorite smell? Fruity or floral smell on a girl

25. What do you do to relax? Staring contest with Pup

26. Do you have a message to your friends reading this? You owe me $5

27. Where do you see yourself in 10 years? Having a much different life than now hopefully

28. What do you do when you are bored? I don’t get bored. Boring people get bored.

Now what?

Any help or suggestions you can give me about a plan would be greatly appreciated.


Thanks,

When life give you lemons..

This was one hell of a one night trip.

I should’ve known this was going to be a bad trip when I drove up to my usual parking lot when I see a sign that said ‘Lot Full’. I proceeded to 3 more lots with the same sign. Finally, I get to a lot that was miles away with a few spots open.

Thing did get better as I was in first class of a very nice international plane. There was enough room for me to lay all the way down like a bed. Yea, that’s how nice the first class has it. Although I was feeling guilty and hating all the whiny first class passengers. Seriously, I’ve never seen people act so damn whiny in coach.

We got to about 12 feet from the terminal when the rain and lightning really started to come down. Because they didn’t want to endanger the ground crew, we waited for 2.5 hours on the plane before the opened the door! That’s right. 12 feet from the gate. Waited 2.5 hours.

It got a bit better as I checked into an insanely nice hotel. It was so nice the very accomodating attractive young lady that checked me in walked me to the door of my hotel. I wasn’t sure what’s going on. Was she coming in with me? Am I getting a nightcap? Is this why this room was so damn expensive? Hmm..

Sadly no, but it was still excellent service. The room too, was most excellent.

Check out this bed. Swanky.

Sadly, I was working till 3am and only got to enjoy that super nice bed for only 3 hours. The meeting in the morning went off just fine. When we got to the second meeting, the meeting that I was actually there for, they informed me that it was going to be cancelled because the team was running late.

I was actually quite excited about this. This meant that I would be able to catch an earlier flight and make it in time for my ultimate game. It was a bummer that I flew out here for nothing though but nonetheless, I’ll be back early. Yay!

I went to the airport and I was put on standby for the earlier flight. This is when all the bad started.

I was number 14 on the list. They put the first 12 on the plane. So I missed this flight. My flight wasn’t going to go for another 3 hours. I checked the schedule a few hours later, and it had been delayed an hour, then 2 hours. The final straw came when they cancelled my flight along with sever dozen other flights due to the weather in the Midwest and the South.

There was a mad scramble of people trying to rebook their flights. I talked to the travel agent that we use who wasn’t able to book me on anything on any other airline, nor was she able to find me anything the next day. The earliest flight she could get me on was Sat. afternoon. So instead of getting home early by 3 hours, I was going to get home 2 days late.

Due to the mass cancellation, all the hotels around the airport were booked as well. For some reason, almost all the hotels in the city were booked too. The cheapest hotel the travel agent could find was around $500. I was not about to stay at a place that expensive without some approvals.

I ended up calling my friend A & R. They lived closed to the airport so I thought that might be a good idea. Luckily for me, they said it was ok for me to stay with them. They’re cool like that.

The rest of Thursday night was a bit of a blur. As I mentioned before, I had 3 hours of sleep and I haven’t really had anything to eat. So while waiting for A & R to get home, I went to a nearby bar.

I think most of you who have drank with me will attest that I’m no light weight when it came to drinking. I had a couple of drinks before R got back from work. Then we had a couple together before heading home.

I had no recollection of getting home at all.

Luckily and unluckily for me, I can do my job anywhere there’s a high speed connection. So I work all day on Friday. Sad I know. So boring. I believe a certain Ko and I are switching roles.

Friday night got a bit more fun. A makes jewelry (awesomely pretty jewelry if I do say so myself) and she had a show at an event called ‘Girls night out’. Basically, it’s 2 floors of vendors so the girls can shop. The girls pay $20 to get in and it’s all you can drink. As she described it to me, it’s just wall to wall drunk women. Women to men ratio was about 400 to 1.

Now those are odds I can work with.

As she warned though, it’s insanely annoying. I threw her warning back in her face. Damn it, I need to explore it for all men out there. Is it the paradise we dream of or the nightmare A warned of?

I was all proud when I went into downtown from queens using the train. I know it’s not a big deal, but it was still a bit exciting to be doing it all by myself.

I met R at work and we went to grab some food and drinks before heading to the ‘Girl’s night out’. Walking into the place, it seems like some secret club that men have never seen. Girls everywhere, drinking and cutting up with each other. Not having a care in the world cause they’re not thinking of impressing some dude.

At first the whole thing was quite amusing. That lasted about 10 min. Just as A warned, the novelty of it wore off and it’s just a bunch of drunk women being loud. Being that I’m old and bitter, I was just generally unamused.

Since it’s a Girls thing, they catered the drinks to the population they were serving. The menu involved sweet drinks that were blue, red and orange. There was also coffee liquor (which was surprisingly good), and bud light. Wow, you’d think that selection would almost make me not drink.

It was still fun hanging out with A & R despite the women. Afterwards we went out for some real drinks. There was darts, pool, and meat on sticks (not a metaphor) involved. Good time for all.

I’m lucky those nights were there to salvage my crappy days. I left Saturday afternoon. There’s a funny story about how I amused a 7 yr old for 2.5 hours that involved paddy cakes, some other hand slapping game, drawing, writing a letter to her mom, and painting her finger nails with a highlighter (which she then returned the favor) during the flight.

Maybe another time. Just glad to be home.

The Game of the Year is Coming!

Just when you thought it couldn't or wouldn't happen. A new game is being developed for the Nintendo DS.

Are you ready for this?

Ultimate Frisbee. The game.

http://ds.ign.com/objects/898/898907.html

I forsee them selling exactly 3 copies of this. Pup and I accounting for 2 of those copies. It's awesome that they're thinking in the right direction though.

I'm Back!

I'm happy to say that I did pretty much Zero work (emails, calls, etc.) for the last 10 days while I've been off on vacation.

I just checked my email. There are 672 messages in my inbox.


It's gonna be a long night.

Go Buy this CD NOW. Comply.

Today, a CD by more than 50 artists are taking part in the Amnesty International campaign which combines the music of John Lennon with new technology and human rights activism.
Highlights include: U2 ("Instant Karma"), Green Day ("Working Class Hero"), R.E.M. ("#9 Dream"); Christina Aguilera ("Mother"), Avril Lavigne ("Imagine"), Corinne Bailey Rae ("I'm Losing You"); Snow Patrol ("Isolation"), The Flaming Lips ("(Just Like) Starting Over") Regina Spektor ("Real Love"); Lenny Kravitz ("Cold Turkey"); Los Lonely Boys ("Whatever Gets You Thru the Night"); Jakob Dylan with Dhani Harrison ("Gimme Some Truth") and Ben Harper ("Beautiful Boy").

Up to 400,000 people have died in Darfur, Sudan, while another 2.5 million have been displaced from their homes. Some 4.5 million people in the region and hundreds of thousands in neighboring countries Chad and Central African Republic are at risk of starvation, disease, and further attacks.

"Instant Karma: The Campaign to Save Darfur"

This is a real crisis the world is facing. A real problem that we have ignored for far too long. Iraq is not a problem before we created it. Iran is not a problem before we created it. Darfur is a real problem with real implications that are unspeakable and unimaginable that we push under the radar.

You sit there being bombarded with poor Paris having to go to jail and think that’s news worthy. Boo fucking hoo. Send her to Darfur and let the roaming gang raping militia have their way at her on a daily basis and see what you think is important to focus our attention on in the world.

I’ve read the reports. I’ve read the first accounts of what’s happened to the people there, and especially the women. There are thing going on over there that I can’t even repeat. It’s so horrifying that even I can’t dwell on them too long without wanting to drink till I puke these memories out. No one, absolutely no one, should have to endure the shit that they’ve gone through over there. Sadly, since they have no oil or other valuable resources, we obviously don’t give a damn about them.

All you righteous religious types out there. I don’t care if you’re Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist, or whatever. Don’t EVER fucking talk to me about the importance or the value of a life. You like to talk big when it’s about stupid trivial things, but when there is a real situation where you could actually do good in this world, when you can prove that you actually do care and value life, where the fuck are all of you? If you actually are doing your God’s work, then fuck your God. They’ve obviously failed in their work since their disciples can’t/won’t help the people that need it most.

You wage your little childish religious wars for the glory of God. There is no glory in death, nor is there glory in killing. Glory is saved for those that saves lives and sacrifice their own life so that others can live. There is no honor in living in some idiotic ideology. It’s through actions that you do in the world that matter. Where are all of you when the world needs you?

Are you willing to help those in need that you have absolutely no relation to? Are you willing to help those in need for no other reason than it’s the right thing to do? Not for the glory or reward from some mystical ‘God’, not for some eternal brownie points, but just because that’s what we should do. We all live in this world. We should take care of each other. When there are horrible things like the situation in Darfur, we should expend every ounce of energy to stop what’s happening.

You all complain about your lives and create all these reasons of why it's bad. Any of the millions in Darfur would trade their lives for yours in a second. You have absolutely no excuse to complain. You may face annoyance on a daily basis, but they face death and things far worst on a daily basis.

Buy a CD. It’s the very least you could do.

For more on this, please visit here.

I could have a problem

My work computer sits to the left of my home computer. I like this set up. During the day I can use one for work and the other as a distraction. This was a wonderful set up when I first started working from home. I would be able to surf the net while on a web meeting on the work computer when it got too boring.

I sit in this room a lot. Mainly because of work. I would say I’m in this chair over 14 hours a day. There always just seems to be more and more work. It piles and piles. Good for the company I suppose. Even when I’m playing on the home computer that work computer stares at me. Pay attention to me it would say.

It’s staring at me and the home computer with jealous even now as I type this.

I walk around the house to escape this room and that computer, but there’s really no avoiding it. It’s here. With both computers going, there’s a strange heat wave when you enter the room. No fans or open windows can subdue the heat glowing from the room. You know when you’ve entered the room.

At first, the heat was distracting and uncomfortable. I found myself leaving the room pretty often to escape the uncomfortable sensation. I felt like I had to refresh myself from this constant bombardment of electrons that shot out from these screens.

As the months went by and the hours I spent in front of these computers grew. Something changed. The heat in this room was no longer uncomfortable. It’s warm here. Not a temperature warm, but more like warmth. No matter how hot it is elsewhere, it always seems cold compared to this room. Even when it’s unbearably hot in this room, it’s where I want to be. It’s comfortable now. It’s no longer warm. It’s warmth that’s in this room now.

I found it harder and harder to tear myself away from the room.

Of course I know this is all in my head. It's so hot in this room that it's not physically comfortable for anyone.

When I type on the home computer, I find myself constantly sneaking a peek at the work computer. Seeing if there is an email I need to tend to. As if I don’t work on that computer enough. It still stares at me even during my time off. Even during time that I know I should be away from the work. It’s always there. Always tempting me to get something else done. Always just sitting to the left of me.

In less than a week, I’m going to take my real first vacation since I’ve started working. I have already promised that I would not take the work computer. I have been telling my clients that I can’t be reached during this week for over a month now. I don’t care if the sky is falling. Don’t contact me.

When I think about this, I start feeling anxious. I don’t think I’ve been away from the work computer for over 24 hours in the last 2 years. This is how you realize it’s a problem.

You know how I really know it’s a problem? After a night of drinking, if I haven’t passed out yet, I’ll still come to this room. Most of the time I can even get a little bit of work done.

Is it because I’m such a good employee?
Is it because these things are so urgent I had to get to them right then?

No. I sit there because I can’t resist the warmth and the computers must be attended to.

That is a problem.

Let’s see how the week without the work computer pans out for me. Maybe I'll be able to escape or maybe I'll just find a quick fix where I can and sneak some emails in.

Pup-lic Enemy #1

“OMG, I’m getting detained at the airport for having a butcher knife”
That was the text message I sent some of my friends last Wednesday.

It started with a 6am flight which I had to wake up at 4am for. I’m ok with coming home at 4am, but wake up at 4am I do not do. So even with the alarm blaring, I overslept a bit and didn’t get up till 5am.

It was a big ‘Holy S#@!’ moment as I put on a suit and ran out of the house. It usually takes about 40 min to get to the airport. I got there in under 20min. The footage of the drive would work great at a driver’s ed course for how to break every traffic law there is.

When I got to the airport, the check in machine notified me that I was too late to check in. It made me book on the next flight. I CANNOT miss this flight. This is a meeting that can’t be missed or be late for. I ran to the security line which for some insane reason was really busy (seriously, who the hell is flying at 5am?). Add to the fact that I always pick the longest/slowest line does not help me in getting to the gate quickly.

I ran to the gate counter and luckily they just called all seats and all rows. I ran to the guy working the ticket and just pleaded and begged. As fortune smiled on me, there was a seat for me still and he got me right on.

By the time I got on the plane, I was sweaty from the running (ATL airport is way too big and naturally my gate was almost the last one), and a suit is not good running attire. I felt bad for the guy sitting next to my sweaty ass, and he thought he was going to get seats all to himself. Ha.

This is probably the highlight of the trip. When I landed in NYC, there was a guy with a sign that read ‘Pup’. My customer had sent a car for me. OMG, I’ve always wanted a driver with my name on a sign. SO cool.

The meeting went well overall. My customers looked good in front of their bosses, so that looks good on me.

Before I left, they gave me a gift bag with lots of t-shirts, hats, and other little things. The guy I had been working with mentioned that he checked and there wasn’t any liquids in there. I said thanks and took off for the airport.

When I got to security the strangest thing happen. They asked me if I wanted to take my bag outside and come back later. I’m like ‘uh no?’. Then they ask again, ‘are you SURE you want to run this bag through security?’. Once again, I’m like ‘yea’. Finally they asked, ‘are you sure you want us to check your bag?’. I’m like ‘sure, go ahead’.

They all just shook their head. You see, I’m not very good with hints.

The lady checking bags pulled out a big butcher knife out of the bag that my customer gave me. I said ‘what the hell is that?!’ We tried to warn you, the security guys said.

Following procedure, they had to call their supervisor who in turn called the security with the M-16s. They took me away and asked me questions. Mainly, ‘Why’re you flying with a big knife?’

My answer was ‘I didn’t know it was there?’
They would ask ‘How did you not know what was in your bag?’.
My reply was ‘Cause I’m a dumbass.’

After what seemed to be forever of this, they took my driver’s license and went away for a while. The only thing I could think of was me listening to airport announcements that said ‘Make sure you know the contents of your bags’. I’ve always wondered what kind of dumbass doesn’t know what’s in their bag.

Obviously, I’m the dumbass they make those announcements for.

They came back with a good cop/bad cop thing. I thought that was just a movie/TV thing. They gave me the 3rd degree and eventually decided that I’m not a terrorist but just a dumbass. No laws against dumbasses yet.

It was strange, but I really didn't get that nervous during this whole thing. Even though I'm sure they couldn've sent me away to Gitmo forever. Although after such a long day, maybe that'd be a nice break.

Lucky for me, my flight was delayed. So I did catch my flight. I got home around 1am.

Now that’s a long and eventful day.