Shaken Not Stirred

Last Minute Christmas Excursions

2009-12-16T17:20:00.002-05:00

I still have a headache from my trip to the mall yesterday. I was there to do some almost last minute Christmas shopping. The lines were horrible. The sales were not really sales--for the most part I think they were just regular sales, but the holly and pine cones surrounding the signs made them more appealing or seem like real deals.

I don't know why I get grumpy when I'm at the mall. Maybe it's because I don't like shopping. I do however like getting gifts for people. Maybe yesterday was more tiresome because I waited in register lines forever!!!! Because when I did get home and I was organizing all these gifts, I got a bit excited about the prospect of giving them to my friends, family and loved ones. I can't wait to see the smiles on their faces.

I think next year, I will just start early. I sort of started early this year. Whenever I would see something that I thought would make the perfect gift, I would store the idea in my Treo. Next year, I will just make the purchase right then and there. It will save me from having to go through the shopping rush again.

I think some eggnog will help me get over this mood.

Slow Down, You Will Cause An Accident

2009-12-11T11:45:00.002-05:00

I have never understood why people go faster than the speed limit. Yesterday I witnessed two accidents waiting to happen. Accident waiting to happen number one was some guy in a flatbed truck weaving his way in and out other cars going the speed limit. He was going faster than a flatbed double wide extended truck should be going. Why this man felt the need to go this fast was beyond me. I don't think he was going to the hospital, as he completely by-passed that exit. And it didn't look like he was being chased.

In accident waiting to happen number 2, a woman was on a cell phone, going pretty fast and she turned onto a "do not enter" one way traffic street. I think because she was on her cell phone, probably talking about new shoes (yeah, I know...pretty bad an assumption) she was oblivious to the two do not enter signs that were posted. I saw and heard her come to a screeching halt when she realized what she had done. Afraid that she would smash into me, I stopped my car and waited for her to correct her mistake. She stayed on the phone the whole time.

The only time I think it's fun to go this fast is on some Xbox games. Other than that, I'm scared of going through my windshield face first.

Music With Many Voices

2009-12-03T16:18:00.002-05:00

One of the first Christmas songs I heard for the season was the song with the chorus "ring Christmas bells"--where the choir sings in unison and then each singer weaves the different verses in a way that sort of blends, but at the same time drown one another out.

While listening to it and fighting back the start of a migraine, I remembered someone trying to describe to me what hearing voices was like. This person said that sometimes the voices spoke in unison, with a common theme/argument. Other times, they spoke all at the same time, trying to drown one another out. I wonder if it sounded anything like this song.

For the most part I love Christmas music. I have a huge collection of different artists and varied interpretations of the many classics. This song however is not one that I have ever enjoyed. I do however enjoy seeing an older cast of comediennes from SNL make fun of it.

A Different Purge

2009-11-27T15:41:00.002-05:00

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. Once again, thanks to my brother-in-law, we had two awesome deep fried turkeys on the table!! And he hit the yum buttons with these delicacies.

So now, after stuffing myself senseless, eating like I've never eaten before (hey, I usually only have pecan pie this time of year) and scarfing down every side dish imaginable, I find myself still feeling like I could throw up. I guess this is how many people gain approximately 15 pounds over the holidays. They just eat. And it doesn't really seem like you are eating when you are in a social situation. You converse, only to take a breather from conversing to fill your plate again. Several times I didn't even realize that I had eaten because I was either listening intently to someone recap their year, or else doing the recapping.

All in all I had a great thanksgiving. I hope everyone else did too!

Purging

2009-11-22T15:26:00.003-05:00

I was going through the closet, putting away summer crap and unfolding winter crap. And I've realized I have a lot of crap. Some of this stuff I've never worn, some of it I rarely wear and some of it I wear over and over again. The big realization hit me...we don't need that many clothes. The bigger realization was that this was just taking up space. Thank goodness I'm an ordinary guy (as opposed to being a celebrity) and nobody really takes note of what I wear or cares for that matter. So I don't really need to have that many different outfits to change in to.

So on my few days off for turkey day, I'm going to purge everything. Everything must go. It just takes up space. It's more stuff to wash. I don't know why I'm hanging on to most of it anyway. I know that I'm sort of a pack rat--but that is mostly with sentimental stuff--things that were birthday, Christmas, and just for being me gifts. But clothes? There is no reason to hang onto these things.

And I know just the place to donate most of this stuff. Someone else will get better use of it. And it will get worn and not just gather moth ball smells.

Ouch At The Gym

2009-11-15T13:30:00.000-05:00

Today at the gym, three women were talking. From the sound of it, they were all really good friends. As soon as one of the pack left, the other two pulled out their fangs. One of them said something like "she really hasn't lost as much weight as she thinks". The other agreed and said it was not time for her to wear tights yet. They also said something like just because the woman worked out, it didn't give her liberty to still eat fast foods.

Ouch!!

Wow. I don't ever remember being with a pack of guys that talked like that. I wonder when I leave if my buddies say things like "he still has a belly". I wonder if they even notice things like this. At least I don't wear tights.

"Healthy" Salad Bars

2009-11-10T10:30:00.003-05:00

Have you ever noticed that salad bars now how the fixings that can create a 2500 calorie salad? Items like genuine real chopped up bacon bits (my favorite--I usually get a bowl full and then add lettuce leaves as garnish), butter fried croutons drizzled with shaved parmesan cheese, cheese blocks themselves, anchovies, and even the dressings themselves are loaded with calories.

So at times I like to fool myself into thinking that I'm eating healthy by opting for the salad bar, however just ordering a steak and baked potato, minus the bar would have given me less calories than the nine trips I've made creating a "healthy" salad.

With A Little Help

2009-11-01T13:35:00.000-05:00

A few days ago, I did something that I don't ordinarily do. It's not that I don't believe in charity. I give money to charities whenever I can. I sponsor my friends in fund raising marathons/walkathons and other events. But I usually don't give money to those asking for it on the street.

A few days ago, I was passing a man who stood outside his car asking for a few bucks to buy gas. Apparently his car had run out of gas in the middle of a mall parking lot. I noticed that a few other persons ignored this man, not even stopping to let him finish his sentence. As I passed him, he told me that he only needed a dollar or so, just to get enough gas into his tank to get home. I told him that I didn't carry cash and that I was sorry. As I passed his car, I saw a baby carrier in the back seat of his car. There was an infant in it.

I turned around and gave the man some money. I told him to have a good night and to drive home safely. He smiled and said thank you, opened his trunk and searched for a gas container. When I saw that child seat in his car, something inside told me that he wasn't lying, that he had honestly broken down in the parking lot. Maybe it was the fact that he wasn't holding his child outside the car and using the child as a prop to get sympathy. The cool chill in the air may have had something to do with my sudden feeling of compassion. I don't know. And I had already felt bad for lying in the first place (telling him I had no cash).

I hope wherever they are, they had made it home, safe and sound.

If I am not mistaken, I think Lee Ann, had written a similar post to this one about a year ago.

Happy Halloween

2009-10-29T16:35:00.001-04:00

Have a happy halloween!!

I will be gaining weight because of all the left over candy I'm sure I will consume...

Everyone have a safe and fun weekend!

Late Night Sales

2009-10-22T20:26:00.002-04:00

Late at night, you see some of the funkiest commercials and items for sale. Some of these commercials make it to day time too (like that shammy cloth one--you know the product, I'm not going to give it any press here).

But a couple nights ago, there was an info-commercial for sex toys!! For sex toys!! And of course I was interested and watched. All kinds of different stuff. Stuff made of glass, microwaveable sculptures and even freezer friendly stuff. Every color, shape and material too.

I thought it very professional that the sales girls kept straight faces while selling these items.

I also have seen the increase one's size and longevity commercials. And the companies have patrons that aren't afraid to admit they needed the size increasing magic bean. Very open minded and brave that they are able to admit on television that their tally-whacker isn't up to par. They can even do it with a smile on their face. I don't think I would be smiling if I had to talk about my danglies in an open forum with cameras and crew members surrounding me. But you go guys!!

Just some weird stuff that happens in the wee hours of the morning.

Scary Movies

2009-10-16T22:05:00.002-04:00

A friend of mine is trying to get me to watch one of the Halloween thrillers with our other friends. I'm such a chicken, that I refuse. I am that person who was freaked out by the witch in the Wizard of Oz (as a child, I could never watch the whole munchkin scene because she popped out of nowhere). Even those B-rated thrillers with horrible make-up and costumes scare me (you know like Friday the 13th Part 900)!!!

I continually tell them that I will scream like a woman and will jump 10 feet out of my chair. I think they actually want to catch me on video and put it on youtube. Not sure why they insist on dragging me to these things. I do not enjoy them. I can't sleep for days (after the last movie they dragged me to, I slept with the lights on and then a night light for about a week).

I'm going to pretend to be sick, just until they watch these flicks.

The Future

2009-10-12T13:02:00.003-04:00

One of my favorite new shows is Flash Forward.

The premise of this show is that everyone passes out at the same time and has a glimpse of their future.

I am wondering, since they do have this privilege, can they do something to change it? They are fully aware of what they see, so in the course of time, should they do something to change that path?

If my future "flash" weren't favorable, I may do something to alter it, to make it more favorable.

At the same time however, I don't think I would do anything to alter my past. Yeah, maybe there are things that I could change. But should I? After all, everything that has happened in my past has made me the person that I am today. There were lessons learned and people that I met because of the course I took.

I may try and change the future, but I'm pretty happy with my past.

Halloween

2009-10-07T15:27:00.002-04:00

Walking through the mall yesterday, I noticed the costume sales. This brought back memories of shopping for my Halloween costume as a child. I know that I dressed up every year (up until about the age of 12 or thirteen), but I really can't remember wearing any of the costumes. I do have vague recollections about how it felt to shop for costumes and sifting through the aisles to find something unique, but not wearing anything in particular.

There is only one costume that I remember wearing for trick or treat. The costume was a Slestak from Land of the Lost. My older cousin was a huge fan of the show. I remember going to the mall and and him suggesting to me to buy it. I vaguely remember watching the show on Saturday mornings with him. Since he had such an influence on me, I wore the costume. My younger brother also bought it. This one costume sticks out in my mind for some reason.

Now, whenever I go to a costume party or have to dress up, I go simple. Nothing that covers my face (my looks are horrifying enough). I usually just buy a cape and false teeth and do the vampire thing.

Anything Fried Taste Better

2009-10-02T22:23:00.002-04:00

I'm convinced that if you fry any type of food it taste better.

On the Travel Channel I was watching a show called Deep Fried Paradise...and it made my stomach do the good kind of somersaults, you know the kind that make you want to stuff your face.

They were showing different types of fried foods. They showed a restaurant that started out making fish and chips, but eventually was deep frying pizza!! How much yummier can you get than that? This restaurant is in New York, so when I go to visit my friend Mulan (this isn't her God given name, but I'm going to call her Mulan forever) this will be the first stop I make. And I'm getting a couple slices of the deep fried pizza.

I know that it's all bad for you. I know that I shouldn't be eating this kind of food. I know that it hinders my exercise routine. One day, I had some Chinese take-out and I was sluggish on my run. It took me almost 18 minutes to run a mile. 18 minutes!! But the thought of eating like this makes my mouth water. And so, just that once, when I go to visit Mulan, I'm going to eat a couple slices of deep fried pizza and top it all off with a deep fried twinkie.

Routine

2009-09-29T22:02:00.001-04:00

Has anything become so routine to you? My drive from the gym to home or from work to home can happen in the blink of an eye. Or it can happen without eyes. I feel like I can drive with my eyes close.

I know I've been gone for awhile. I always promise myself that I'll keep track of my life, by writing my thoughts down here. And I forget. But I have vowed to myself that writing here will become something routine, something so common that I will do it with my eyes shut.

I'll be back later this week!!

Douchebags

2009-09-09T23:00:00.003-04:00

I am tired of hearing about the dude who has eight children and a pending divorce. And really, now he has no real life to speak of, except for the fact that he is always caught in a "what? look at all this" pose. Enough, this is all the blog space he'll get from me.

So the new season of television is beginning and I'm a bit excited. More for reality shows than for anything else. Well except for The Big Bang Theory which cracks me up!! And The Office, which I love (and own all the seasons on DVD). Okay and of course How I Met Your Mother. So I do watch more television that I would like to admit.

Maybe I should get a life...I've become a couch potato. Maybe I'm the douchebag.

Save Money, Go Full

2009-09-03T14:32:00.002-04:00

I recently went grocery shopping after having dinner with some of my buddies. I noticed that I didn't spend that much, didn't spend as much time gawking and deciding over junk food or the varieties of frozen pizza or even candy for that matter. In fact, I got just the essentials--cereal, vegetables, milk and bread (really more than that, but these were the things that I was suppose to buy, or rather that were on my list).

So from now on, I'm going to go do my groceries after dinner.

Like Stone Soup

2009-08-28T21:28:00.002-04:00

I was watching a cooking show a couple weeks ago where one of the challenges was to create a dish using vending machine purchases. I wondered what the frick one could create out of Andy Capp Hot Fries, beef jerky, peanuts and Butterfingers (can you tell what I buy from vending machines). So I watched as these "chefs" bought certain vending machine goodies (and by the way, I'm sure the producers stocked the vending machines with certain items of cookable flavor) and brainstormed their expertise about what could be created from MSG laden fried mish mash.

However, what I didn't anticipate was the fact that these vending machine goodies were just going to be part of the recipe. They were also given meats, vegetables, seasoning, and other kitchen pantry items. In effect, the vending machine items were just going to be incorporated into a real dish.

I automatically thought of the fairy tale about stone soup. Not sure if anyone is familiar with this story, but an old lady with a bare cupboard cons the other towns people into giving her all the ingredients for soup. She tells them that she could make a delicious meal out of water and a stone. While she stirs this concoction, she says things like "hmm, I need some carrots, I need some celery...." and these items were added to the pot by unsuspecting townspeople who scurried to find these indredients.

Well, these cooks started out with preserved mish mash, but then they added some meat, a vegetable, some seasoning...until they ending up with a five star plate of food.

It didn't turn out to be the vending machine delicacy that I had imagined could have been created.

The Deep Crevices of My Mind

2009-08-25T16:47:00.002-04:00

While flipping stations today, I was Rick Rolled. I couldn't believe my ears. I can't stand that song. But while I can't stand it, and it is still playing in my mind three hours later, I know some of the lyrics. I've never listened to the song in it's entirety, but yet those lyrics are bouncing between the left and right brain like a golf ball that has been dropped down a flight of stairs.

There is a lot of music that I know the lyrics to and yet I don't own the albums or even like the artists. I wouldn't be able to pick out the artists in a line up and I've never listened to more than 5 to 10 seconds of any of these songs. And yet, there it is, those verses or lyrics which are buried deep within my memory, surfacing when I hear a snippet of the song.

Does this happen to anyone else?

Just Talk Into It

2009-08-20T20:32:00.002-04:00

One of my friends recently got a new phone. And all he could do during lunchy was talk about it, while he was playing with it. I don't think our lunch time conversation could be considered a conversation. I basically ate by myself, while he texted and played with this gadget. Every now and then he would try to show me the things that this phone can do. He suggested that I get one, that once I had one I wouldn't be able to live without it.

I'm just not that interested in things like this. For me a phone should be functional...I should be able to dial a number and reach my friend of choice. I should also be able to hear them and they should be able to hear me. And I do use the text option when I don't want to disturb someone. If they should so desire to have a conversation with me, they'll call back and if they would just rather keep it short, text me back.

I don't want my phone to double as a MP3 player...that would just drain the battery and when I would need to use my phone as a phone, there would be no power left to place a call. Plus when I'm using my iPod, I'm running and would not want to drop/destroy my phone or be interrupted during my exercise regimen by a call.

So for me, a phone is just a gadget used to communicate with people, this is function enough for me.

No Way To Go

2009-08-16T17:39:00.000-04:00

While I was on the treadmill at the gym today, I saw an add for that movie Final Destiny (and it's coming at us in 3D). One of the clips showed a character getting sucked down to the bottom of a pool by a faulty drain. Ugggh!! What a way to go. Just the thought of that happening made me panic a bit...and it was just the commercial and not 3D yet.

I think that would be the worse way for me to go...drowning. Just running out of air would be the worse...any tortured way in which I couldn't breathe would be horrible. Being buried alive would be another way that I wouldn't want to go.

Reality is, I'm not ready to go yet. I still have so much left to do with my life. One of which is traveling!! I think I'm ready to venture to a far away village and just check it out, do a touristy thing (like pay way too much for a boat ride or pay triple the value for a t-shirt that shows I've marked territory somewhere else). And I still have some other stuff to do...the list is way to long to post here.

Anyway, I digress. Back to what I was writing about...the loss of air. Would not be able to go that way.

Stewing in Sweat

2009-08-05T12:39:00.002-04:00

I've noticed something at the gym that more than gets on my nerves. After using certain machines, I always use the disinfecting spray to wipe my exertion excretions off the seats. Not all people do this. I think they feel it's okay for other people to pick up their nasty juices. It's unnerving, not to mention gross. So I feel like I should spray before and after. What is wrong with people?

On the brighter side, I'm doing good!! Everything is going pretty well for me.

I'll write more when I'm not so pissy about sitting in other people's filth.

Topics of Conversation

2009-07-19T18:43:00.003-04:00

I was walking behind some elementary aged kids the other day and they have some of the funnest conversations. There is no pretense to a child's topics of choice and everyone involved in the circle usually ends up agreeing or fascinated. And most of their conversations don't end up in heated debates in who is right or wrong.

The topic of this group was burping. It started when one kid said "I burp best when I drink soda. Not so much when I drink juice".

Another kid piped in "that's because burps are made from bubbles. Soda has bubbles, juice doesn't".

Another said, "I wonder if you shake the juice box hard enough if there will be bubbles".

And yet another said "Let's try it someday".

Simple conversation. What happens when you grow up? Do you lose that simple view of life? Or do you just end up learning the truth behind the burps?

Real or Fake

2009-07-10T15:18:00.003-04:00

Once again, I don't believe people should talk to loudly if they don't want others to rate their intelligence, or judge them as a person.

While at the mall the other day, I was behind two college aged people. One was bitching about how unprofessional they thought the last sales person was. She said something about being ignored and not waited on properly. The saleslady apparently didn't show her everything that could possibly have been available or look hard enough for clothing apparel.

The other person engaged in the conversation said something to the effect of the sales person needing to get a "real" job. She said that the sales person was probably pissed at life because she didn't have a real job or have "real" goals?

I was taken aback at how idiotic this conversation sounded and could not wait to get off the elevator. I purposely got off on a different floor because had I heard anymore I probably would have gone off. Who are they to judge anyone who is working? Granted, I don't know the whole story. Maybe the salesperson was rude or not catering or living by the rule "the customer is always right". But for them to say that someone's job isn't real, is a bit condescending.

Am I the only one who sees the idiocy of their conversation?

Rest In Peace

2009-07-02T18:04:00.002-04:00

I think it's sad that the media has given no time for Michael Jackson's family to grieve. And do we as a public really have a right to know what was in his will, what his autopsy will show, and the fate of his children? It's one thing to be a celebrity and be in the public eye, it's another thing to have even the most private moments make headline news.

I didn't know MJ has anyone but a musician. And for the most part, I think it should have been kept that way.

Maybe it's time we let his family grieve for a man who was more than just a celebrity. For them he was Michael, a son, a brother, a friend, and a father.