You could learn a lot from a map like this

got ya

We ate these veggie dogs that were pretty bad, no matter what Emily or Beth says about doctoring them up or whatever. I bought a book at Barnes and Noble with Gift Card money. Beth, Em and I ate El Campesino. I was pleased. I talked a lot for me. It was different. Decided on getting wine drunk, like the song, but didn't. Watched Arrested Development, The Office, Freaks n Geeks, and My So Called Life. Also, we caught another mouse, but his paws are stuck in the trap and we, of course, do not know what to do. Megan is living with us and we have to get her room ready. Lil Scratch. Em is doing most of the work; ie all of it. Guess how my stomach feels. I should be asleep.

I miss you, previous post

My blog is missing things. Which reminds me of what I did last night. First I came home and the roof was missing. I thought, "That's a touch odd." What was truly a touch odd was that it was raining but the rain was not dropping in the house. It was as if the rain had a memory of our roof and was in denial. I was like, "So what, Rain. Who cares?" I went over to play musical seats with my friends for awhile. One of the seats was missing, WTF? Got a call from Lucky. Don't know about that. I guess he misses things. I do know about the three Guinesses I had - which I should not have had. Ate 4 pieces of pizza with strawberries and Frosted Flakes on them. That's why I miss Rosecliffe, no crazy ass pizza. Went to the South Side with Dustin and Steve, got a hitch in my giddy-up and fell asleep at the bar. These girls were like "Crap." Then I ran with scissors and told the truth. The scissors were missing the shears though and I was missing the truth.

When I sit down my gut comes out onto my lap and past my knees. I need to get in shape. I'm really missing out.

I'm hoping that when I post this things will re-appear.

Gotta get myself connected...

i)There is a lot of noise outside. WTF? Some crazy truck.
ii)Em and I are going to eat at the trucks by CMU. I'm excited. Sexually.
iii)I finished the story I was writing for the City Paper. I do have to re-read it a couple of times to iron it out, but I've finally reached an end. I just have to remember that winning isn't everything.
iv)We were going to play frisbee yesterday but instead walked on the riverview trail at Schenley Park with Kim. It was so nice out. It was the perfect way to spend it. We then met up with James to eat at The Union Grill, which was very good.
v)I bought six pairs of socks yesterday. They better be breathable.
vi)I need to get a new nose, one that isn't clogged all the time.
vii)I did not want to be up this early but here I am anyway, writing a blog.
viii)Em and Kim each wrote a list of their top ten favorite fruits. They should have put themselves on that list - ouch. Burn.
ix)The next number is ten, but I'm stopping here.

Just lick it, stick it, see ya later bye.

In no order, as I thought of them, these are ten of my favorite things.

i) sleep
ii) honesty
iii) drums
iv) food
v) laughs
vi) friends
vii) family
viii) consistency
ix) pagan lore
x) empathy

If Emily ever puts me on her list, I'll add her in for Pagan Lore, even though it will be tough taking that out. Did you know there was once such a thing known as 'Pagan' (Pay-Ghen)? That fascinates me.

Now here's ten things I hate about lists:

i) they are fixed
ii) forces you to summarize things, thus taking away their spontaneity
iii) even if they are not fixed, they feel that way to me
iv) you can never just stop at three, you have to go to five or ten
v) they are always public and showy
vi) sure you can make a top ten for yourself, but why would you?
vii) ok, so you do, great - awesome.
viii) all I'm saying is that they make me feel weird inside
ix) but there is something fun about them
x) ok, the thing I hate about them is that they are not fixed, to the point that one can attempt to make a list of reasons why he hates top tens and realize they aren't so bad.

huh.

this life is sunny for today and so much

ska times

There he is. Mr Austin Shifrin, the lead singer of Cut Once, the band I was in throughout my time at the University of Pittsburgh. It was always odd playing in Cut Once because I wasn't listening to the music on my own, ska that is. But I was in a ska band. And none of my friends were into ska, although some of them truly enjoyed Cut Once shows. But for the most part it was difficult and, although there's a much better word, odd because I couldn't really be proud of what I was doing. I didn't feel I could tell people that I was in a ska band without adding on stuff like: "but we're more like old ska", or "it's more like reggae". It sucks that people thought all there was of ska was reel big fish and they took no time to look into for themselves. I mean it started back in the 50s and, if I remember correctly, was a combination of calypso and jazz.

The Skatalites were one of the first bands to do ska, and began by backing Bob Marley. It's really good music, nothing to scoff at. So it was always annoying to have to feel asahamed, I mean I understand I didn't have to feel ashamed, but the way people thought of ska sure didn't make me want to broadcast the fact that I was in a ska band. Quite the opposite. I will say this, the one thing I have always liked about ska is that it is one of the only types of music that makes me want to dance, especially the skatalites stuff. The constant upbeat on the guitar is good for that effect. It's also good for driving guitar players crazy.

nanners

Woke up today and found out two things. i) We have no hot water. ii) We caught our second mouse. He's an asshole. I woke up and went in the kitchen and he's like: "Yeah, you guys don't have any hot water and it's because you caught me." I mean that hurts. What an asshole. We were only trying to feel free of rodents and he has to go and cast an asshole-no-hot-water-spell. We don't deserve this!

I feel very anxious today. When I feel like this my day goes by really quickly. I need something to calm me. Maybe I can smash that mouse's head in with my chest. I'll hold it to my chest and fall forward while screaming bloody murder. That will calm me.

I started writing a new story. Its tough. Here's an exerpt: (oh the topic is sex)

The monkey scratched his head as he saw the irate humanoid. "What's this humanoid doing with my nanners," he thought. "Here's your fuckin' nanners you monkey shit," said the humanoid, placing a bundle of bananas in the monkey pen. The monkey decided to have sex with himself. The humanoid watched with amazed intrigue.

So it's tough. I think it will win and all, it's just tough writing about reality like that. I'm more into sci-fi shit. Ok, my real story is nothing like that, but you probably knew that. The real story involves Clive and Edith. For real. I mean, for keeps.

Guess how many hours I just worked? Nope, more. Wait, not that many.

I'm going to play drums now.

I will most likely be boring tonight and only want to go to bed.

But there's a chance that I will be up for something - a small chance.

But what do you care?

by the way, the sun is out

It's early. I was a little bit of a crank last night. I don't know why. Sometimes I get in weird moods and that's my night. There's no getting out of it. But I enjoyed the show, and enjoyed Whole Foods, and Life is still Cool. Here's a rundown of last night.

I worked until midnight, which sucked, but lucky for us the Page France show wasn't until 3 am. It was in Baltimore. So we got there just in time. Saw the show, it was good, then we drove to Eat n Park in Irwin. Mike and Tessa were there, so were James, Kim, Chuck and Jeremiah. We talked with Chuck and Jeremiah the entire time about PennDot.

I was getting tired at this point, I mean it was like 7 am, an hour ago, I guess, so I wanted to go home. Which is what I did; I just got home. I guess Em, Beth and Teresa will have to find their own way home.

Ok, you caught me, that was a lie. I work a long day today. Wish me luck. I have a feeling that this weekend is going to be a sleeping bag weekend after today and tomorrow's schedule. I need to combat this approaching tiredness. Any tips? I think I need to get good sleep, eat healthy and exercise a bit; oh and take vitamins. Seems like a good idea, IF I WAS GAY! ha, oh man.

I'm still a little bit tired, does it show?

My book reading update. I just read a story by Hemingway called "The Short Happy Life of Francis McComber." I listened to it actually, in my car, until it started skipping, then I read the rest. Books on CD are the best, they're the best. I will not be reading "A Million Little Pieces." I keep thinking about the fact that the book is a fraud. The more I think about it as I look at the book, the less and less I want to open it up. Sorry Frey. So the next book shall be "On Beauty" by Zadie Smith. Because that's the book we are reading for this book club I'm involved with. We're getting pretty serious. But not too serious, not just yet. Like I didn't read the first book, and I don't comment on the forum all that much. And there's this supplementary classic we can read, which I have no intention of reading. Its just like when you're first dating a girl and she assigns you to make out with her. And there's the supplementary material too: getting to know her and her family. Like with Emily, I never got to know her or her family. It's a shame. Hi Em! Hi Beth! Hi Joel! Hi Jerry! Hi Colleen! Hi Olga! Hi Chet! Hi Virginia! What if I didn't stop?

Anway, I have successfully made as little sense as I could.

in the end, things are true

Watching "My So Called Life" by Krakow. Jordan and Angela had complete sex, can you believe it? We watched the first three episodes and cringed and winced, but I also got to thinking. This show, aside from all the awful outfits and awkward moments, really did touch on issues that no other tv shows touched on. The proof is that it was cancelled. If it was unrealistic and a pile of bullshit it would still be on the air.

Almost done with "Angels and Demons", which I am glad about. I'm sick of being consumed. I will read "A Million Little Pieces" next, even if it was BS. I don't know if I will read it actually.

I have a ton of dandruff. Interesting story about dandruff. It was invented by King Benjamin.

Now to put food in the pantry. King Benjamin also invented putting food in the pantry.

Happy Birthday Teresa!!!

Here's that guy you wanted to have sit in a tree outside your window. I hope he's nice enough for you. His name is Squeak King (His friends call him Squeakin').