Lunch with laughter

I had lunch today with an old friend. It's been a while since we had lunch together and I forgot how nice it is to have lunch and share old memories together. I'm glad for the friends I have in my life. That's all I have to say about that.

Red rover, red rover, send the sleepy sheep over

I have had problems sleeping this week. I'm not sure if it's because I'm still stuck on PST time or if there is other factors at play here. The funny thing is that when I was in California, I would be tired around 10:00 because it was midnight in Houston. I was usually in bed by 11:00pm and asleep.

Now that I'm back, I still can't go to sleep. Last night I was up until 3:00am and I have a feeling tonight is one of those nights. Weird indeed. I'm sure typing on a computer is not helping.

Let it be

And all the broken hearted people
Living in the world agree,
There will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is
Still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be.

- Beatles

It may seem cheesy, but pure genius here

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I want to be a Pa, Pa, PANTS man

Am I the one?

I just viewed a Youtube video where this girl asks if "You're anyones favorite person?" I sat back and had to really think about this. I wouldn't think I am someone's "favorite" person. There is a lot of responsibility with that question. If you had to pick one person in the whole world to name as a favorite person, could you do it?

She did not think she was anyone's favorite person in the video. I would agree with those sentiments. I can not think of one person that I would be their "favorite" person.

And before you go on this self esteem rant, it's not about self esteem. I actually have a whole lot of self esteem right now. At least I think I do. It's just the fact that I don't think I have that much in me to be a favorite person to someone.

I don't know. A question like that can really humble a person.

Where are we going to go from here

I've waited and I'll wait some more
Won't see me knocking on another door
But all this is crazy and amazing
There's only one half of us that I'm saving
So I'm praying just to let it go
Watch from a distance just to see you glow
Seven hundred places seven hundred faces more

- Mat Kearney

Home sweet home

So I'm back now and tired as hell. I feel as though the whole day was spent travelling. I am so glad I took this trip. It was very much needed and I think I came back as a different person.

I found a way to replenish my mind, body, and spirit. I know it sounds all hippyish, but it is so true. Especially the spirit part. I was a broken man before my trip. I'm still pretty cracked (spiritually), but I feel 1000% better now. It's like I left behind a certain aspect of my persona in San Francisco and feel a weight lifted from my shoulders.

I don't expect many people to understand what I'm talking about. That's why when I first express those thoughts and I receive blank looks back, I just answer "It was great". I don't think people really expect to get a heart felt emotional answer to a question of "How was the trip?"

Anyway, I'm exhausted but may try to post some pictures later. Yeah right, I said that about the last three trips I went on in the past few years. I still need to work on the whole Flickr account thing.

Fan confliction

So I'm sitting here watching a Giants game and feel guilty for cheering them on. I shouldn't feel guilty becausethey are not our rival, but it feels weird cheering for a non-Astro team. Other than that, I'm having a great time. Only paying a scalper $10 for the ticket and sneaking into better seats also helps (or so I hear).

Oh shiny

How do you know you're in a rich part of town? The siewalks sparkle. That's right, they SPARKLE. I don't know exactly what they mix with the concrete, but it's almost like walking on granite with diamonds mixed in. I have to watch myself because I was almost run over looking at the damn sidewalk and not paying attention to the cars. Shiny things have always distracted me.

Like a lone sheep around a pack of wolves

I have never seen a city so clickish as San Francisco. It is like High School, but only worse. I know that I don't fit in around my hotel. That area is way too trendy for me. With their tight jeans, big cowboy boots, and small foo foo dogs. I stand out like a big wart. I like to walk around and just make faces at them. That us exactly the reason I didn't join the Greek system. I know there has to be casual people out here, I just haven't found them yet. Oh well, I'm off to continue searching.

like a life puzzle

Isn't life funny? I went on a soul searching trip earlier this year and discovered nothing. I go on a random vacation and somehow find a big part of myself. I didn't really like what I found, but I accepted it. At least I know more about myself now and where to go from here. Life has a way of sorting itself out when you leave it alone.

random thought

Life can always be explained with some sort of Beattles song.

Red, red, wine

Have you ever had one of those days that was just emotionally exhausting? I'm nothing but an empty shell right now. I'm half tempted to open a bottle of wine and fill my soul with precious red wine.

It's a bird, it's a plane...

Is that a banana in space or are you just happy to see me?

Mark your calendars

A day of remembrance

Today is a very special day and I wasn't sure what I wanted to post. I wanted it to be perfect because it would feel wrong to post something random today. I realized the best way to make this post perfect is to be honest about my feelings.

I have gone through a roller coaster of emotions this year. Looking back, everything I have gone through emotionally is insignificant compared to the feelings associated with this date. I remember my feelings six years ago like it happened this morning. I remember the fear, the anxiousness, and then the sadness.

I also remember the pride I felt that day. As a country we huddled together to get through the tragedy. We grew stronger because of those feelings.

These words I put down in writing do not give my emotions justice. It would be impossible to express the mixture of feelings I feel today. I feel sadness, anger, pride, and love. Yes, love. I realize how much I am loved and how much I love those around me.

Anyone could have been on one of those planes that day or in those buildings. It is important to not take those you love for granted. They could be gone in an instant for any number of reasons. For that very reason, I recommend you tell someone you love how you appreciate them.

That's it. I can not get any more honest than this.

Dust in the Wind

I close my eyes, only for a moment, and the moment's gone
All my dreams, pass before my eyes, a curiosity
Dust in the wind, all they are is dust in the wind.
Same old song, just a drop of water in an endless sea
All we do, crumbles to the ground, though we refuse to see

- Kansas

Fantasy is better than reality to some people

This is why the Internet is so fucked up.

Christmas is here, bringing good cheer

What better way to start the day than with a cup of Embarrassment.

I just finished walking my stupid dog for 30 minutes. Mind you, thirty minutes ago, it was dark outside. (I feel there should be a semi-colon somewhere in there instead of two commas). Anyway, back to the story. So I work a twelve hour shift yesterday and eat some food around 9:30 last night. I was so tired, I crashed around 10:00 last night. Out like a log. I wake up at 6:30 this morning. Very, very unusual for me. So I'm up but still groggy and have this stupid idea to walk my dog at that time.

I figure, "Who the hell will see me at 6:30 in the morning? Besides, it's dark outside so it doesn't really matter much." Um, yeah. No one told me day break starts around that time. I normally don't wake up until after 7:00, so the daylight has already arrived when I wake up.

So what do I wear? Oh, I throw on these frumpy old shorts that are two sizes too large and this tight ass t-shirt that is two sizes too small. Can you mentally picture the awkward looking wardrobe I'm describing? I looked like some kind of freak human bell. My shorts were swaying all over the place and I kept pulling at my shirt because man boobs just aren't made to be contained.

I thought it would be a quick one minute walk and back inside. Do your business dog and let's go. Nope, fate had a different idea for me this morning. So we are walking in the darkness and she refuses to go back inside. I pull at her and she pulls back. This is a sign from her she still has to go some more. So we walk. And we walk. And walk somemore.

Next thing I know we are at the other end of the block and here comes daylight. Fucking neighbors everywhere are morning people. So I'm ringing my bells shorts all over the street while saying hi to all these people. All the while, it looks like I could pull an Incredible Hulk with my shirt at any minute.

So, what's the lesson for the day kiddies? Always look somewhat presentable when going out in public. You never know what may happen. Either that or just accept the situation and rock those bell shorts like the Carol of the Bells.

Back to school (for one night)

You know what's a scary realization? When you attend your daughter's "Meet the Teacher Night" and you're older than most of her teachers.

Yeah hear me up there? I thought we had an agreement. I was not supposed to get any older.

They have us start out in our child's first period class and scramble to each class like they do with 5 minutes between each class. It's a cool thing to experience what our child has to go through on a daily basis. Definitely brought back memories of when I had to do it at her age.

The highlight of the night? I can't decide if it's my daughter's science teacher that winked at me before class started. Gotta do what I can to help out my daughter... know what I'm saying? You know what I'm saying. (Nudge, Nudge) Yeah, you know.

Or... the Clay Aiken doppleganger that is assisting my daughter's choir class. Straight out of college. That's probably the only thing straight about him. Did I just say that out loud???

Oh, no. Wait. I know the best part of the night. It was this father that had horrific BO and was in a lot of my daughter's classes with me. I would go to a different class and then I would smell this smell. It freaked me out, because for the first three classes I thought it was me. I was afraid to raise my arms because the smell was awful.

Then in one of the later classes I couldn't smell it anymore. Fuck. I must have gotten used to the smell by now and was still funking up the classroom. Then BAM! The smell smacked me in the face again. That's when I noticed the pattern. The guy kept sitting close to me in all of the classes. I know people probably thought it was me because it was wafting from my general direction. I wanted to nod over in the guy's direction so other people could realize it was him and not me.

Yeah, that's a bad thought. Going to lose some Karma points for that thought. Anyway, all in all it was a good night. I better enjoy this year becuase next year she starts High school. Damn, I getting fucking old.

I've found my true love and her name is Apple

I was wondering if they were going to do something along these lines.

How can you not love this company?

Mothafu...

Ain't being an early adopter a bitch?

Apple just announced today that they dropped the price of the iPhone by $200. Yes, that's right. TWO HUNDRED DOLLAASSS.

Oh well, I knew it was bound to happen. I just didn't expect it to happen after two months. I thought I had a good six months before the price drop. On a positive note, that means there will be more iPhones out there in the world. Which means more iPhone development in the very near future.

They already released the ability to purchase songs wirelessly today. I can sit on the beach and purchase a new song that pops into my head. Then it will sync back up with my computer when I connect it to iTunes. About time Apple.

My only other complaint. Wireless synching of my .Mac information (calendar, contacts, etc.). It's coming soon. I can feel it in my bones.

I left my heart in...

Two weeks and counting. I leave for San Francisco in two weeks. I have so many sights to see and don't think I'll have enough time there. I still have so much to do before I leave.

Request time off - check
Dog Boarding Reservation - check
Plane ticket - check
Pack - kinda check (made my list)
Hotel - Nope, no check here

I'm taking a gamble on the hotel thing. I keep getting these e-mails from Marriott Hotels with these last minute deals for the weekend. San Francisco has been on every one the past three weeks. The catch... you can only book the room for that week coming up. I'm not going to book my room until the very last minute to see if I can get a better rate.

If that doesn't work, I'm packing light and sleeping on the streets. Well, that really isn't much of an option now is it? I'll figure it out.

I'm also jazzed because I bought the new Moleskine City Notebook. A Moleskine notebook combined with San Francisco information. I love those notebooks.

Only 336 hours to go.

Where We Gonna Go From Here

I've waited and I'll wait some more
Won't see me knocking on another door
But all this is crazy and amazing
There's only one half of us that I'm saving
So I'm praying just to let it go
Watch from a distance just to see you glow
Seven hundred places seven hundred faces more

- Mat Kearney

How to annoy me @ a bookstore

1) Act like the bookstore is a daycare.
- Have your very small child run around screaming from aisle to aisle.
- Encourage the screaming by chasing your child while taunting, "I'm gonna get 'cha. I'm gonna get 'cha!"

2) Smack the upstairs railing with a cane to get the woman's attention on the floor below.
- She didn't hear you the first four times, so why do you continue?
- What is your thought process? "Oh she didn't hear me, let me keep hitting the railing and calling her name."

On a positive note, I did find Lamb's book and only paid six bucks for it. Bless the Half-price Bookstore and their Labor Day sale.

Wise words

"The hardest part is not choosing, it's living with the choice we make."

You know you have no life when...

You know it's just a job right? The freakin Starbucks employees are a little too serious when it comes to coffee. Okay, a whole lotta serious.

They will always have the regular coffee addicted customers. No fat soy, whipped, extra-room, extra-hot latte... blah, blah, blah. But they also get the regular joe people that go to there for some reason just to get some coffee. They are stressed because of the long line and don't know what the hell to order.

They ALWAYS order the same thing. Everytime. "I just want some coffee. A medium coffee." I have been going to Starbucks far too long and I know what he wants. Everyone in the shop knows what he wants, everyone except you Starbucks lady. No, you had to embarrass him.

"Sir, I do not know what you want. I am confused." She actually said SHE was confused. How fucking hard is it to understand a MEDIUM COFFEE. Not a latte, not a capucino, not an expresso. Just regular old brewed coffee. Fuck the Italian sizes. You know a medium is a grande. He did not know.

I don't want to stereotype all of the Starbucks employees. I have had some really low key cool people serve me, but I have also had my share of these experiences from these pompous assholes as well. You're a damn COFFEE MAKER, I don't care if your title is "Barista".

I apologize for the rant, but I had been holding that in since 8:25 this morning. I just had to let it out.