Wednesday, January 25, 2006

J-E-L-L-O

Here we are again, siting in front of the computer, bowels full, balding, sore feet, mouth tasting of old cinnamon altoids and even older pork sandwich.

This morning I turned on Jeannie's computer to check my e-mail and it froze up so I restarted it and it wouldn't boot up and kept telling me it couldn't find the primary hard drive. I freaked out for a few minutes but then it started working. I hope it's ok.

Last night I went out to the Charles Village Pub with Patrick and Elizabeth from work (we were orginally going out to see The Metal Hearts at the Ottobar but we arrived just as they were finishing their set). It was a good time, I was in a quiet mood so I listened a lot and commented a little, and I was the designated driver so I did good at staying under (or around) my 2 beer maximum (stretched out over several hours).

I remember that as I was falling asleep last night I started missing all my friends terribly, thinking that the fact that we're spread out all over the country is the worst thing ever, and it hurt really bad and I wished everybody was all in the same place agin. But I think that was just an abnormal falling-asleep feeling because I usually don't feel that way. And today I feel more normal, I still miss everyone but I think it's kinda cool that everyone is spread out and occasionally paths cross and we get to swap stories of "I talked to so-and-so the other night" and "Mr. Stinky came to visit last week," and shite like that.

Anyway, that's about it. Pat invited us over for dinner tonight so that's what we're doing. We're bringing Jello.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Hey Howdy Chris Bosco!

I had the most whack of all the whack dreams last night and I must write down some of the details before I forget them. The dream centered on the premise that I was attending Chris Bosco's wedding...here are some of the strange details, in no particular order and in convenient bullet point format...

1. The wedding itself was not strange, but when I got home I realized that through the entire ceremony I had been wearing my tux shirt open at the collar, unbuttoned to the navel--disco style.

2. The reception was held at the power plant, in a strange non-existant air-conditioned room next to the boilers.

3. Some Asian girls crashd the reception, and nobody knew who they were. I hypothesized that they must work at the power plant but they must be "in a different union."

4. It was discovered that there was a homeless Brazilian man who slept under various locations in the power plant, much like I did.

5. BJ Gailey showed up at the reception. The homeless Brazilian man told me that BJ and Tom Waits had been "teaching [him] about Jesus Christ."

6. Jeannie was at the reception, and at some point she grabbed my wang, which was out.

7. There was a post-reception party on a boat that Chris' mom and dad owned called the Christopher Michael.

8. At the post-reception party on the Christopher Michael, veryone was wearing ringmasters' outfits, i.e. red tails, white knickers, and black top hats.

That's about all I can remember. I'm sure you'll agree that this was a strange dream, no? I must get ready for work...

Monday, January 23, 2006

Double Duty

If I haven't been writing, it's because I've been spending most of my time getting my new MP3 player set up, and the rest of my time I've been consciously spending with my wife so that she can't accuse me of spending all my time getting my MP3 player set up.
Which leaves very little time for blog writing, indeed.

Not too much interesting has been going on. Been working a lot because I'm going to have 4 days off this weekend to work on set and lights for 'Imaginary Invalid.' Every time I write the name of that show, I feel like I'm writing 'Imaginary InVALid' which doesn't make much sense, but just in case that's the way you're reading it, it's actually 'Imaginary INvalid.' As in, 'Imaginary Sick Person.' I'm glad that's been taken care of.

I will, as always, be glad when this show is over.

The new MP3 player is, so far, wonderful (knock on wood).

Reading Drew's blog today made me miss Drew.

I just finished a nice little book about trout fishing by John Gierach (apparently he writes lots of nice little books about trout fishing) that was lent to me by Jeannie's brother, and it made me think of Sean a lot, and a lot of times I heard Sean's voice in the stories, so I think that I'm going to have to buy a copy for myself and send it off to the Seanyboy. As it is the middle of winter, I'm guessing they ain't got that much sunlight right now in Alaska. Does one do a lot of reading when there's no sunlight? I have no idea. My guess is that one does a lot of going to bars.

Off to make boom-boom.

Oh, I almost forgot, the other day I made some great progress with the lyrics/vocals for the last song I did, and now all it needs, I think, is some more mixing and EQ work. Woo-Hoo!

Thursday, January 19, 2006

"Every second of the night, I live another life..."

I had some strange dreams last night. In one, I got shot and killed because I was hanging out with Leonard from the book, "My friend Leonard." I die in my dreams every now and again, and it's usually not too bad, everything just goes white and it gets very hard to breathe and then I wake up.

In another dream (and I don't remember any other specifics about this dream other than what I'm about to write), Joey from 'Friends' was being catheterized and I had to hold some sort of strange bag that the catheter was attached to. I think this dream occurred because I was watching an old 'Friends' episode where Joey has kidney stones and when he's in the hospital they tell him they might have to give him a catheter. I hope that's why I had this dream. Let's assume that that's why I had this dream.

Have Jeannie and I been watching American Idol?

Yes. (shamefully)

That's about it. The new MP3 player should be coming soon. I am pumped about this.

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Dick the Donkey

Here's some things that stick out in my mind from the last few days:

I went through our music collection the other day and sorted all of our music into different genres. I learned that if I put your music into the categories "Folk Rock" or "Alternative" then I probably don't like your music very much. Exceptions to the rule are Soul Coughing (alternative) and some Greg Brown stuff (folk rock). On the whole, though, anything labeled "Folk Rock" is pretty bland.

Side note: How does one categorize Tom Waits?

I watched most of the new show "Love Monkey" last night. It has the guy from "Ed" in it. Most of me wants to not like the show, but for some reason I really like the guy from "Ed." And it's about a guy who starts his own record label, so I was drawn to it. I don't know. I think it will probably be a guilty pleasure.

Hmmm. So I guess not much has been going on the last few days...

Monday, January 16, 2006

Post Inventory

We just finished doing an inventory at work. It went pretty well. It's nice because I get paid to go to work late at night when there's no customers. Work without customers isn't like work at all, it's like getting paid to hang out in a music store, except that you have to count all the CD's.

What's been rolling around the ol' noggin lately? The answer is: "Surprisingly little." Jeannie and I have started babysitting again now that Samuel and his Mummy are back from jolly ol' The United Kingdom. Which is kind of a downer because it was nice to not have to babysit over the weekends, and it was nice not having neighbors above us. But, the extra money is handy and it's really not a big deal to watch him for a few conscious hours.

I have the day off tomorrow and my goal is not to waste it. I want to go running, either through the neighborhood or at the gym, and I want to take our recyclables to the dump. And I suppose I will spend probably too much time sitting in front of the computer drooling over reviews and pictures of the Creative Labs Zen Touch, waiting for mine to ship (estimated ship date 1/20/06).

I skipped work on Saturday to attend the 'design rehearsal,' which was a little bit of a waste of time but valuable, too, I guess. The show will be pleasant, I think, nothing too too exciting going on but nothing dreadful or boring, either.

For awhile there, I was just sitting watching my cursor blink, and it was keeping pretty good time with the ticking of the surprisingly loud $1.00 clock that I referred to in this blog a few months ago. Bonus points to any nerds who go back and find the reference. Besides me, that is.

I wonder if this will still be floating in cyberspace after we're all dead?

Friday, January 13, 2006

"I've seen your hand turn saintly on the radio dial..."

Day off.

Jeannie and I are going in to CSC to work on the set.

Tonight we're going to have our date, which looks like it's going to consist of a dinner at Applebee's (we have a gift certificate) and then maybe a trip to the library! Is this lame? It actually seems really fun...does that make ME lame? Am I lame?

I have begun reading 'The Imaginary Invalid,' and it's not too bad. And it feels kinda good to get a head start on things and actually start thinking about the lighting before I'm on a ladder hanging lights. So thank you Ellen-stage-manager-of-Imaginary-Invalid-who-got-me-to-get-off-
my-ass-and-get-started-early.

Tried to record yesterday but am experiencing some technical difficulties. Must be having problems with my computer or my equipment or the cables connecting the two.

I'm using a gift certificate that Jeannie and I recieved as a wedding present from my aunt and uncle to put towards the purchase of a new MP3 player. Jeannie has assured me that she doesn't mind using something that was given to both of us towards what will essentially be a present for me. She's always very nice that way. Anyway, I'm going to get a 40GB Creative Labs Zen Touch. I am very excited, as we will be able to fit our entire music library on it and still have room to grow.

My brother might be coming for a visit in March! Which is a very pleasant surprise, indeed...

Thursday, January 12, 2006

I love it!

Rich's 'Sodalicious' machine strikes again! I love it! I am absolutely enthatlled by this machine. I want to take a pilgrimage to Chicago just to see it and put money in it and try to get a whole bunch of sodas... 12 sodas for 65 cents! Doesn't that put the best mental image in your head? It does for me...

If you don't know what I'm talking about, click on the link over there to the right for "Rich's Blog" and look at his entry for Friday, December 2. Then read the entry for January 11th.

Yesterday was a fine day. Some highlights include doing some cooking and cleaning, and especially a phone call from one BJ Gailey. BJ Gailey is now teaching the college-aged youth of America, which is frightening, funny, and also creates wonderful mental images. Also, he informs me that he is sporting a beard and short hair, which I think is his best look (aside from the MEDEA ring-of-hair-around-an-entirely-bald-top-of-head). Maybe I think it's his best look because it's MY look. That is a frightening peek into my own personal psyche, I suppose.

I finished the DFW book. I would catagorize it as "good." I skipped one essay, which isn't too bad, but there also wasn't any essay that was tremendously awesome.

Right now I'm going back and forth between strumming a B7 and an Em on my first guitar, a junior-sized acoustic that my mom got for my dad one year for Christmas but which sat under a bed until my mom asked if I wanted to take guitar lessons when I was, I think, eleven years old. The guitar is now old and doesn't stay in tune very well, but for some reason I still like it's plunky sound.

I'm off to grab a bite to eat and maybe attempt some recording.

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

A full plate

It's getting harder and harder to come up with titles for these blogs when most days are very similar...

Right now I'm staring at a plate of 3 hot dogs, with relish and ketchup (no mustard for me, thanks) and sipping a warm FRESCA (the FRESCA is courtesy of one Mary Ann Walsh, who came over for dinner last night with me and the Jeanners. The menu was baked potato, salad, and BBQ pork roast was also available, although I don't think anyone ate any.).

Anyway, today is my day off, and though it is only noon-time, I have already accomplished many of my goals for the day. They were:

Go to B&N for errand-type business. Go to the gym. Answer qustions posed in an e-mail from the stage manager for 'The Imaginary Invalid' regarding lighting issues. This e-mail has put me into a slight panic mode about the show, despite the fact that tech week doesn't begin for another 17 days. But, I'm realizing that I'm actually going to have to break down and 'read the script.' (shudder). And do some actual design-type things instead of just hanging the lights, asking the director what he/she wants and adjusting the instruments and cueing according to what the director tells me.

Also, I was planning on playing hookie (hookey? hooky?) from work tomorrow, but have decided to just go to work and not call out sick. This is for several reasons: 1. I'm scheduled to close tomorrow night with Jeremy, and I haven't closed in awhile and I'm kind of looking forward to it; plus, I like Jeremy, and we're going to have a discussion about whether he should quit his job as a high school counselor and go into some sort of private practice or just stay a high school counselor. 2. I found out that I absolutely have to call out sick from work on Saturday in order to attend a 'design run' for IMAGINARY INVALID. I'd rather not call out 2 days in the same week, especially since doing so would mean that I was away from work for 4 days straight.

Jeannie and I are planning a date for Friday night.

Finally, probably only Jeannie and Mary Ann will get this, but here goes...

Chuckie, if you're reading this on your dad's computer, GET THE HELL OFF THE COMPUTER!!!

Monday, January 09, 2006

Saved the Day

Well, I was blah again today, work was boring, blah blah blah, poop poop poop. But then the Jeanners and I took a nice long walk to go check out the new Daedalus (sp.?) bookstore that's opening near our place (it's not open yet). On the way home we stopped at the Giant G and picked up some groceries, including a nice pork roast that we're going to chuck into the mofo crock pot and let that bastard cook while we're sleeping.

Then I called my good buddy Rich R. and caught up for a little while. 'Twas good to talk to him, it sounds like he's doing well, and I'm interesting in reading how his next couple of weeks plays out.

I wanted another vanilla bean frap today but I made myself abstain so I don't get addicted.

It's amazing how a nice long walk can change my attitude. At least for tonight.

Sunday, January 08, 2006

The Lord's Day

A few awards to hand out tonight:

1. Favorite drink at the B&N cafe: a grande vanilla bean frap. With the employee discount, it ends up being a buck seventy. And damned if it ain't deliciouso.

2. Absolutely, hands-down, the best public restroom in the world: Trader Joe's in Towson, MD. Here are some of the qualities that set this one apart: it's a large single occupancy room, with a nice lock on the door and nice thick walls. A constantly running fan right over the commode. Fake plants, a scented candle, nice fake wood cabinets hanging on the walls with extra paper towels and TP, some decorative Pier 1 style small mirrors hanging on the walls. Jesus, I love to go poo in there. All it needs is a nice hand-held Soduko game (maybe chained to the toilet) or a magazine rack.

I've been a little sad lately, don't know why. Not too bad, though. Also, I have what may be an ingrown toenail (although I'm not convinced that that's what it is) and it hurts like a mofo.

The David Foster Wallace book has peaked and is starting to go downhill. I actually skipped most of an essay on Dostoevsky. And I like Dostoevsky. But the essay I'm reading now is starting to get interesting, so maybe it'll pick back up.

Friday, January 06, 2006

"Magical Markers"

Well, yesterday turned out to be a pretty damned good day. Talked to my buddy Mary Ann for a little while, Cooked a delicious roast and some mashers and some brownies for me and my lady's dinner, did some chores, and then went to the Baltimore Art Museum (BMA) with the Jeanners because on the first Thursday of every month it's free to go to the BMA. When we were done at the museum we were walking through Charles Village back to our car and it made us both really want to move there very much. So I think we decided that we're definitely going to move to Charles Village when they kick us out of here (sometime before August).

Today was good as well. Spent all day working at CSC, building a frame for and hanging some double doors. It wasn't too bad, and Chuck Leonard was there to help for part of the day, so it was enjoyable. They turned out better than I expected they would. Hopefully I have not screwed up my back like I did last time. I guess I'll find out tomorrow.

Jeannie and I are starting to plan our next visit to St. Louis, which should be at the end of February, and I've got some days of vacation to use up so maybe it will be a nice, long, leisurely visit. Maybe we could stop in Columbus for awhile? I'll have to check it out with the cool kids. Either way, I'm looking forward to it.

Not looking forward to work tomorrow, though. That's fo' damned sure.

The David Foster Wallace book is very good, if you're like me and you think that DFW is just about the most awesomest thing to happen to literature in a long long time.

Thursday, January 05, 2006

What to Do?

Ahhh, so nice to have a day off. Tomorrow I'm going to be working on the set at CSC for most of the day, so I'm going to have to try to enjoy today extra hard.

The Ipod is officially dead. RIP Ipod. I'm thinking of smashing it with a hammer just for therapuetic closure.

Things I am thinking about doing today:

1. Depositing some cash at the bank.
2. Dishes
3. Laundry
4. Picking up my gratis copy of Season 1 of FAME from the B&N because the copy that we were playing in the store is no longer being played in the store and I claimed it.

I'm guessing I'll do #'s 1,2, and 4 but doing laundry today just seems like too big of a task. Maybe we'll do it tonight after Jeannie gets home. Laundry, that is.

Side note: many thanks to Eric Elz for the "Greatest American Hero" season 1 Christmas gift. Jeannie and I have watched the pilot episode (which I believe was 1.5 to 2 hours long [probably was a 2 hour TV movie when it included commercials]) and the first episode, "The Hit Car." When I watch it, I feel the same mixture of entertainment and embarassment that I feel when my sisters play their home movies from when I was 11. So bad it's good.

CSC had a meeting the other night at a Chinese restaurant regarding the upcoming summer shows. We're doing 2 shows in rep this summer, and it's going to be a big job, but it looks like I'm going to get by without actually having to do much of anything. Woo-Hoo! I think we've finally reached the point when other people (i.e. Chuck Leonard) are finally stepping up to the technical plate. Which means I have to do far less, which makes me happy. And the meal at the meeting was pretty good, I had been craving chinese for awhile, and I enjoyed the car ride with Pat.

That's it. Oooo, I'm going to add a #5 to things I'm considering for the day:
#5. Grocery shopping.

Exciting, I know.

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Many boxes of receiving!

If you worked in the music dept. at B&N, you would understand what I meant when I told you that it was a changeover day and we recieved almost 20 boxes of merchandise. Since you don't work at B&N, I will translate for you: today wasn't fun.

I just finished 7 days of work in a row, and I've got the next 2 days off, which I'm looking forward to. My boss won't be coming to work for the next few days because his kid has....scarlet fever. Which is either very terrible or the worst excuse to take several days off work that I've ever heard.

Today a woman came in with her boyfriend/husband and her infant daughter. I thought she was annoying because she kept asking a lot of questions about where different cd's were when most of them were right in front of her. Then, as she was paying, I gave her 63 cents in change and she said she was going to put it in her daughter's college fund. It sent shivers down my spine and made me feel like crying because it was so sweet.

I'm hungry and my Ipod isn't working again.

I'm reading the latest David Foster Wallace book of essays, "Consider the Lobster." I usually am not a huge fan of his essays because they're way too brainy for me and not always on subjects that I'm interested in. This book has been pretty good, though, because the overly brainy ones have been very short.

I love my girlfriend!