Typings of a Guy Who Types

Bunch of blog entries from MySpace

2007-09-10T14:19:00.000-04:00

September 10, 2007 - Monday

Ten non-comedic movies
Current mood: satisfied
Category: Blogging

I see that I promised top ten comedic movies for today, but looking at my schedule, its actually top ten dramatic movies on the hook for today. I think you'll all somehow find the way to cope.

Before we start the listy goodness, I wanted to say I have good news.
Well, it's news whether it's good or not will have to be decided later, but anyway, I have another job interview. This one's with the public defender's office in Macon, GA. The interview is on Friday the 21st, at 10:00AM, wish me luck, because, as we've seen so far, I need it.

Now, on with the movies that don't fit into the category of comedy! ('s 1 & 2 on this list are so close together it was really hard to pick. Ask me on another day, and I might inverse them. Onward!)

10.Braveheart
I'm sure most of you are familiar with this movie, so I'll just say that before Mel Gibson went crazy, he could sure play a mean Scotsman. Just enough violence, action and history to make an excellent film.

9.Pulp Fiction
This was an odd choice for me, but as I was sitting trying to come up with this list, I couldn't leave it off. I love the non-linear storytelling, and Sam Jackson is one bad mamma jamma, and this might be his best role.

8.The Departed
Belinda and I have a thing were we end up renting the movie that wins best Oscar the week before the Oscars. Well, we've done it the last two years anyway, and last year it was this movie. Considering it dealt with a topic neither of us are particularly a fan of, this movie was 100% engrossing throughout the 2+ hours. It may not be Scorsese's best, but it's the only one of his films I've seen, so it fits in here.

7.Sin City
A comic book movie the comic of which I've never read, I was still very impressed with this movie. Telling a few different stories from the City, taking scenes from the comic and recreating them scene for scene, certainly the best movie ever to come from a comic book. Gives me hope for the upcoming Watchmen movie.

6.The Matrix
I'm just talking about the first one here. Seeing this movie in the theatre, the moment when they do the reveal and show what the Matrix really is, was truely eye opening. While it is mainly remembered for its special effects, its the timeless story of man v. machine that really stays with you long after Neo flies into the sky.

5.The Lord of The Rings
Really, these three movies redifined epic. If anything gives me hope for a movie or movie series based on Stephen King's Dark Tower books its these movies. One of the grandest adventure stories ever told, and told well, with amazing special effects and staying true to the heart of the books.

4.The Shawshank Redemption
Hope is a good thing. Maybe the best of things. This movie also gives me hope for the Dark Tower movies as this is the best movie from a Stephen King story. A lot of people don't realize that King's works go beyond monster movies. Basically, this is a story of true friendship in extremely harsh conditions, and the story of how hope never dies.

3.Fight Club
A most unconventional buddy movie. One I wish I'd seen in the theatre, it remains powerful on the small screen. A movie about what it means to be a man, as well as what it means to live in modern society. The movie led me to the book, and while they're both good works, I prefer the movie, maybe because I saw it first, but probably also because of the visual effects and tricks possible which are hard to do in a book.

2.Garden State
I've mentioned my Zach Braff man crush before, so this movie shouldn't be a surprise. Zach wrote, directed, and stars in Garden State. While at times its hard to get past the JD from Scrubs image he puts forth, this movie is really amazing. A coming of age/finding love story... This movie involved Matthew Largman (Large) coming home to NJ from LA to attend his mother's funeral. He meets up with old friends, and makes new ones, and along they way realizes that his troubled past wasn't what he thought it was, and begins to truley see the world around him for the first time. Excellent movie, one I wish more people would/could see.

1.Rounders
This movie has a bit of a cult following, and it along with Garden State is one of the two movies I can watch over and over again. Rounders stars Matt Damon as a law school student who plays poker on the side, early in the movie he loses $30k and decides to stop playing poker. An old friend of his, (played by Ed Norton, aka the main guy in Fight Club) gets out of jail, and talks Matt back into playing cards. This starts Matt on a path of realization, that cards really is his life, not the law, and that maybe just because you have old friends, maybe you shouldn't loan them a ton of money. My favorite movie today, with a fun cameo by John Malkovich as the underworlds' Teddy KGB. Tomorrow I might be more in the mood for a sadder more love oriented story, then it'd be Garden State. Can't go wrong with either one.

Currently watching :
Election
Release date: 19 October, 1999

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September 8, 2007 - Saturday

Weekends are for resting, right?
Current mood: artistic

Well, I've decided to wait until Monday for the next installments of my lists. I think its better for everyone. We're in the home stretch now, where every choice on every list is heart rending.

Belinda and I went to the Mall of Georgia yesterday (I think its the biggest mall I've ever been to) and I picked up the new Eldar Codex, and I wanted to get the Chaos codex, but it doesn't come out til the 22nd. That's life. I also picked up a Rune Priest. Hooray. (if the preceeding paragraph made little to no sense to you, forgive me, I'll explain it in detail if you want, just lemme know)

There's another football game in town today. South Carolina. Football game days are crazy here in Athens, but at least the team didn't lose to Appalachian State.

Oh, while at the Mall of Georgia we saw Superbad again. My goodness, but that movie is hilarious. (hmm and top ten comedies is on Monday? Hmm I say hmmm)
Let's see, what else? Painting is going well, and ritz crackers + cheese = crazy delicious. I think I might be losing my mind, so I'm gonna head out to play video games. Look for the lists starting again on Monday.

Currently playing :
Guitar Hero 2 Bundle
Release date: 03 April, 2007

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September 7, 2007 - Friday

Top Ten Television Shows
Current mood: artistic
Category: Blogging

So, my day has been spent applying copious amounts of boltgun metal over a black undercoat of my Grey Hunter's bolters, while watching The Dark Side on the Sci-Fi channel. The Dark Side is not on this list.

This list was a fun one, and I've left some really great shows off of it. I thought about doing top ten per category, but no one would really care about top ten reality shows, top ten game shows, or top ten soap operas. There are none of them on this list anyway. However, I do believe that 1 on this list is/was the greatest television show of all time. Looking it over, the top three shows are from Fox, and 4/10 total. Pretty amazing. In Fox's early years they were willing to take risks with shows other networks wouldn't touch. I think it shows through. Enjoy the list; wish me luck with the continued painting.

10.Sports Night

If only more people had watched, I wouldn't have been left with the stupid cliffhanger series finale. I choose to believe that CSS was bought by the employees and they continued their misadventures in the newsroom for years to come. This show really hit its stride mid-way through the first season, and the fast paced dialogue+social message+hilarious situations make it a perfect choice for number 10. Could have been much higher had it been aloud to continue.

9.Good Eats

Alton Brown is a personal hero of mine. A combination of Mr. Wizard and a tv chef, he combines science, comedy, and food to make the only cooking show I regularly watch. (His other series, Feasting on Asphalt is more of a traveling show than a cooking show, and is excellent in its own right.) Alton Brown makes learning how to cook fun and he makes the recipes easy to understand and educational.

8.Seinfeld

A few years ago this would be much higher on the list, but having seen every episode about 20 times, its slipped a little. Not its fault, as the show is still hilarious, and it set the ground work for the future shows. Never have the adventures of 4 horrible horrible people been more entertaining. George Costanza is one of the funniest characters in TV history.

7.Family Guy

Thanks to the selling power of DVDs this show came back from the dead. Lucky for all of us. So many of this show's jokes come out of left field, which plays directly into my sense of humor. Stewie is simultaniously offensive, sweet and annoying. Hard to pull off, but Seth McFarland has pulled it off.

6.Lost

This show could be much higher, and one day it will be. There are just too many unanswered questions for me to put it higher now. Of course, the unanswered questions are a large part of this show's appeal. Belinda and I picked up the first season even though we had never seen it. We were hooked from the first scene and haven't missed a 'sode since. A lot of people get frustrated because they feel the writers don't have a plan, or that the writers haven't revealed enough secrets. Niether of these bother me. When I start to write, I often know the ending but not how I'll get there. And sometimes it changes before I get there, so I can't fault that. As for the secrets there have been so many revealed, but each one comes with two more. As I said, that's part of the appeal for me.

5.The Office

I'm talking about the American version, as I consider the British version more of a movie than a TV show. This show is hilarious as Steve Carrell plays the dimwitted boss to a T, Rainne Wilson as Dwight is hilariously akward, and John Krasinski as Jim plays the 20-something wise-cracking everyman better than anyone. The cast of characters are all real, and each serve a purpose, even if its just to yell "Back of the Line... BOOOO!" or "visit my web page www.creedthoughts.gov.www/creedthoughts" the characters make you laugh. Great show.

4.Scrubs

I have a bit of a man-crush on Zach Braff, so Scrubs takes the 4 spot. This show is extremely well written and laugh out loud funny. JD and Turk's relationship is hilarious, and Dr. Cox is just the right mix of mean+condesending+caring to be right up there with George Costanza as funniest tv show character of all time.

3.The X-Files

The truth is out there. I want to Believe. The truth is a lie. Trust no one. The X-Files was way ahead of its time. Even so, it is clearly one of the greatest TV shows ever. The early seasons were the best, combining episodes of "monster of the week" with the "conspiracy" episodes, leading viewers deeper into the mythos of the show. Fox Mulder and Dana Scully had great chemistry and the upcoming movie has me very excited for the future of this show. (Maybe a Family Guy style revival? We can only dream)

2.The Simpsons

The clear number one choice a few years ago, alas, the Simpsons has been eclipsed, but it hasn't dropped far. The quality of episodes aren't what they once were, but it would be impossible to expect a show to maintain that level of excellence over the years. And the new episodes are still better than 90% of what's on TV these days. The mid-90's shift of focus from Bart to Homer signaled the golden years for these guys, and, if we're all lucky, this show will be on the air for 20 more years. (You all realize this show has been on TV for-basically-ever? There are people in college now that have never lived in a world without the Simpsons. To think my mom used to not let me watch it because it was 'dirty.' Don't have a cow, mom. )

1.Arrested Development

Without a doubt my favorite TV show of all time. I believe the greatest ever. I'm willing to hear arguments for other shows, but I don't think anyone will be able to convince me otherwise. This was the disfunctional family to end all families, the humor was off the wall, from out of no-where and right in your face. David Cross's character, Tobius Funke, a repressed homosexual analrapist(Pronounced a-nal-rep-ist... a hybrid of an analyzer and a therapist, obviously) is the highlight, but absolutly every character is hilarious. Each episode ties in with seemingly every other episode, and as someone who's watched every episode dozens of times, I can say that each time I see something new that I somehow missed before. Steve Holt! If you haven't seen this show, I implore you to give it a chance, preferably with me with you, 'cause I don't want to miss you awakening to the light. (A good starter episode would be the one with the Church and State fair (the state was losing money, and accepted a donation from a local church in order to have a fair) where George was taken from prison to talk to troubled teens about staying out of jail... unfortunatly, they took him to the wrong "Scared Straight" tent. Muwhaha.. Seriously watch this freakin' show.

Oh, one reason A.D. might have stayed good is that with the limited episodes they never had a chance to get bad. That may be true, but I still really really miss this show, and I wish it could come back. At least it didn't end on a total cliffhanger like Sports Night.

Currently watching :
Arrested Development - The Complete Series (Seasons 1, 2, 3)
Release date: 14 November, 2006

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September 5, 2007 - Wednesday

Top Ten Books
Current mood: groggy
Category: Blogging

Well, after a few days off, I'm back to the grind of top ten lists. Top ten novels sounds straight forward, and it is... generally. You'd think as an English major I'd have some classics on this list, but there isn't an As I Lay Dying, or The Old Man and the Sea on my list. Though there are at least three, numbers 9, 8, and 4 which are generally thought of as great works. In any event, what follows are my top ten books. Enjoy.

10.World War Z, by Max Brooks
This is the follow up to Brooks's Zombie Survival Guide, which is an excellent read in its own right. While that book concerned itself with instructing the reader how to survive after the dead rise, this book describes, via interviews with survivors, the aftermath of the Zombie War after the humans work to reclaim the lands from the walking dead. Funny, at times gross, suspensful, certainly worth a read.

9.Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe
A classic story usually taught in universities' world literature class. Things Fall Apart tells the story of Okonkwo, a prominent member of a African tribe. It deals with his life before and after European settlor's come. It is an amazing look at how trying to force religion or "civilization" onto a culture leads to destruction.

8.Slaughterhouse 5, by Kurt Vonnegut
Perhaps Vonnegut's best known work, I've found it to be his best. It involves time travel, aliens, and a semi-autobiographical account of the firebombing of Dresden during WWII. This story is an indictment of war, told from the point of view of someone going through it not only while the war is happening but even when put into an alien zoo.

7.The Stand, by Stephen King
Most view this as King's best book, but its only his third best on my list. Even so, it is an amazing tale. Armageddon is a good place to start a story, and The Stand shows exactly how the world got into the shape it ends up in. Of course, that's only the background. King introduces so many characters in this book, but keeping up with them is easy as they feel alive. Two factions emerge from the rubble, one obviously good, one evil... Setting up a final confrontation of Bibilcal proportions...

6.Salem's Lot, by Stephen King
One of King's earliest books, and it is one of his best. This is the only book I've ever read that has scared me, and the thoughts of little baby vampires still give me the creeps. Oh, this book is about vampires. At first only one, then many more taking over a small Maine town. The house in this story is one of the creepiest buildings ever constructed. Recommended, if you don't mind being a little scared.

5.Ender's Game, by Orson Scott Card
Andrew Wiggin, Ender, is one of the smartest most tactically gifted people in the world. He's also six. He's taken from his family and enrolled in "Battle School" where he's forced to play a game of super laser tag to prove to those in charge he's gifted enough to lead a fleet to fight the aliens that attacked earth years before. Ender finds out a lot about himself, and the meaning of the game by the end of the story, and readers are left to wonder how they'd feel in the same situation.

4.1984, by ~~Orson Welles~~ George Orwell (because I'm an idiot).
This book was ahead of its time. Written in the middle of the 20th century, the fears that form the major portion of this book are almost constantly true in today's society. One thing to mention here that I latched onto, is the weakening of language that Big Brother uses in the story. Without language, thought is lessened, and Big Brother would perfer as little thinking as possible. One of the characters in the novel notes that eventually they'll get everything down to one word. Chilling. Of course, the most chilling part of this book are the final four words.

3.American Gods, by Niel Gaimen
An adventure story unlike most others. The main character, Shadow, in prison at the beginning of the book learns his wife has died, gets out of prison and tries to get on with his life. Moving across America helping the mysterious Wednesday, he realizes something is up when his wife visits him, dirt still under her fingernails from digging herself up. From there it gets weird. A story of birth and rebirth, of findng yourself when you were pretty sure where you already were, and of seeing Rock City this is a book you're only hurting yourself for not reading.

2.The Dark Tower Series, by Stephen King
This is seven books, but the story is one long continuous work. King's masterpiece it ties together virtually every other story he's ever written. (Including major characters from both the Stand and Salem's Lot making major appearences here.) A Lord of the Rings type adventure with a western/magical flair, Stephen King himself makes multiple appearences and serves as a key plot point as the characters realize that they need to protect him or else they will never exist. Great stuff, and well worth the time and effort required to work through it.

1.The Watchmen, by Alan Moore
The greatest story ever told in comics. Some of you might say that doesn't mean much, but between Mark Waid, Frank Miller, and other Alan Moore work, this story fought through some stiff competition. There's a movie coming out soon based on this, and I can't imagine it will do it justice. The story takes place in the near future, super-heroes have been outlawed unless they work for the government. Suddenly an old retired hero is murdered and one of the few renegade heroes still working starts investigating. It leads him places he never expected. Along the way we learn how these former heroes got to where they are, and why they chose this in the first place. Eventually a vast conspiracy is unveiled leaving the characters with a very difficult choice. The characters have real depth, and readers end up caring what happens to them. Perhaps that's what makes the ending so poignant and thought provoking.

Currently watching :
The Office - Season Three
Release date: 04 September, 2007

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September 4, 2007 - Tuesday

Still recovering...
Current mood: sleepy
Category: Blogging

I'm still recovering from this last weekend, which was a ton of fun, but very draining physically. Also, I didn't have a lot of free time to post here, let alone figure out what my next top ten list was going to include. Look for it tomorrow, I'm sure you'll be able to survive until then.

To tide you over, check out my pics section, I've uploaded a few fun pics from this weekend. (Dragon*Con folder...) Enjoy.

Currently listening :
Icky Thump
By The White Stripes
Release date: 19 June, 2007

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September 1, 2007 - Saturday

No list today either..
Category: Blogging

There's not going to be a list today; probably not tomorrow either, as Dragon*con is apparently going to take up a lot of my time. I'm sure you'll all figure out a way to pass the time until Tuesday. Take care.

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August 31, 2007 - Friday

Top Ten Websites
Current mood: complacent
Category: Blogging

Before I get into this list, I want to mention that as I write, I'm watching Diff'rent Strokes on TBS, and this show is way ahead of its time. I can't help but laugh, it has really held up better than most early 80's TV shows, makes me wonder how many of the jokes I got when I was little. Anyway, on to the show...
Ahh, top ten websites. This was one of the easier lists, as its something I interact with everyday. I mean, I don't listen/watch comedians or play all my video games everyday, but the internet? Hell yeah, I got that.

That said, it wasn't 100% cut and dry. I spend most of my time online at various baseball sites, (And during the winter, its hockey.) so I boiled those down to just the one. Even so, four of my top ten are owned by the same company, but it was unavoidable. Oh, and most of you probably know alot of these already but I encourage you to check out the ones that sound mildly interesting.

10. Cockeyed.com
The most obscure of the sites on my list, Cockeyed.com is run by Rob Cockerham. Rob's an interesting guy, and he began writing an blogging a long time before the rest of us, and he always brings his camera, which is a big draw. Currently, Rob has covered an old TV dish with mirrors and uses it to destroy things with the heat of the sun. The archives are the real treasure here though, as Rob has done tons of crazy things, (like walking around his town's downtown with a wheelbarrow full of trophies to give away, or measuring how many pumpkin pies he could make out of a huge prizewinning pumpkin, and his never ending crusade against Herbalife) and it's the pictures and humor behind these articles that really make the site shine. You're sure to find something here you'll enjoy.

9. MySpace.com
A month ago, this isn't on my list, but I've become a believer. The simple fact that this website has brought me back together with people I hadn't seen in years was enough to do that, the ability to write top ten lists puts it over the top.

8. Amazon.com/ imdb.com
I linked these together because they're owned by the same company. I know I didn't do that with some others, but it's my list. Basically, if I'm buying a book, or dvd or whatever online, its coming from Amazon. Its the free shipping for items over $25 that gets me, everytime. IMDB is also an amazing resource, when you just really have to know the actor's name on that episode of the X-Files you just watched. Of course, you all know these things already.

7. Maps.google.com
Google makes its first appearance on the list in a big way. Google maps is the best. True dat; double true. I trust Google maps more than Mapquest, especially now that you can drag the route to create custom maps. Whenever I need to know where something is in the real world, I check here. Plus the satellite images are just clear enough to really creep you out.

6. Gmail.com
Another Google site, who's name made Belinda's mom think that it was called G-Mail just because of my name, but that's neither here nor there, G-Mail is revolutionized e-mail with its essentially unlimited storage, search features, and conversation way of organization. I've been involved in a 7 person e-mail conversation over the past few days, and without G-mail's system of organization, it'd be impossible to tell who's said what, when, and it response to what. Thank you Google. Oh, and the chat client that's on the webpage is great to, as I have a horrible aversion to Instant Messaging systems.

5. Wikipedia.org
Whenever I want to know something, this is where I go. You can't believe everything written here, as anyone can edit pages, but by and large things are usually correct. There's a tightnit community of editors that really care about what goes into wikipedia pages, and very often you can find links to more appropriate sources. And as Stephen Colbert says, you have to respect an institution that has a longer article on Truthiness than on Lutherans.

4. Youtube.com
Youtube has really taken the internet, and this list, by storm. It amazes me the videos you can watch now. Basically any music video from any song you can think of, crazy moments from TV and movies.... Classic television shows, hilarious commercials you vaguely remember from 1986. AskANinja. Wonderful creation, it can only get better from here.

3. BaseballThinkFactory.com
One of my first, and longest stops on my internet day, the former BaseballPrimer.com is alot like 2 above, in that it links to a variety of site's news stories and articles. Of course, every article/news-story is baseball related. There may be better sites to get baseball research, baseball stats, or baseball news, but if you want everything in one place, there's no contest. Oh, and I'm a fairly regular poster in the Braves' game chatters (which is where fans go to post online during the games); if you do a search for "LatNam" I'm the first 5-6 hits, and they're all from BBTF.com.

2. Fark.com
This is a site that's broken into the mainstream over the last few years. Basically just a link site, but its where I get most of my news. And I manage to stay very informed about things I care about. Go figure. A good place to go for a laugh, or to find out news before the major news outlets pick it up. Oh, also, the comment threads can be hilarious at times.

1. Google.com
Really how could this not be 1? Google took the search engine and made it an unescapable part of everday life. Without Google, could I have found any of the above sites? Maybe, but it wouldn't have been as easy/fun. Soon, Google shall overun the Earth, enabling one to search for lost keys or pets. Seriously, though its hard for me to think of a compelling reason to not put Google in first place.

Currently reading :
Speaker for the Dead (Ender, Book 2)
By Orson Scott Card
Release date: 15 August, 1994

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August 30, 2007 - Thursday

No top ten list today, BUT....
Current mood: blah

Well, I don't have time/energy to give you the top ten websites today, look for them tomorrow. My computer is driving me crazy by locking up for a second every 5 seconds or so. Really hard to type. I'll use my laptop for the next entries here.

Anyway, there is a "But" if you click on "pics" I've added a new category called recent additions, which is where I'll put new pics that don't fit anywhere else until I think they're not "new" anymore. There are some fun ones today I think. Oh, and I also uploaded a video, though I have no idea if it work/works, but check that out too.

Check back tomorrow for the list.

Currently reading :
Speaker for the Dead (Ender, Book 2)
By Orson Scott Card
Release date: 15 August, 1994

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August 29, 2007 - Wednesday

Top Ten Video Games
Category: Blogging

This was an incredibly difficult list to come up with. I mean, do I do
top ten of all time? Or top ten of the moment? Or just something like
the top ten games I like to play? I mean, Super Mario Bros. is
probably one of the top ten games ever. Maybe the best, but its not on
this list, because I just can't play it and get into it like I can
some of the others. Of course, this same list 20 years ago (holy hell
that's a long time ago) would've had SMBs at the top. (Of course I was 6, so what did I know?) And that's not to say that the games on this list are the ones I play the most. My methodology is really scattered on this one, and I'm sorry.

Also, because so many games have sequels or various versions, they are
gonna be lumped together for purposes of this list. It just makes it
easier for me, so deal with it.

10.2K Sports MLB games:
I had to include a baseball video game, and 2K's line is the best.
Though, honestly, its still not very good. Baseball video games amost
always suck. Its just the way things are. There's always a few days of
eeking out 2-1 and 3-2 wins before you get the hitting and pitching
system down and roll towards 14-0 games everytime. Still, baseball's
my favorite sport, and these games are great fun against other people.

9.Madden:
The only NFL game on the market, Madden continues to slip as far as
greatness go, but still its a very entertaining game. I'm having a lot
of fun in the new superstar mode, even if I was drafted by the Jags
and not the Titans. I figure I'll be the all-time leading rusher in a
couple of weeks. Also an excellent game to play with others, 'cause
sometimes you can pass a ball right through their guy.

8.Halo:
I was late to the Halo party, but I'm there now. I hadn't been able
to get into a FPS since Goldeneye, but Halo delivers. The health
system was really a stroke of genuis, as having a self recharging
force field makes much more sense than having to find a first aid kit
or two that would take you from death's door to fully healthy by
walking over them.

7.Dead Rising:
A game I wanted to play for a while, but kept putting off. I wish I hadn't. Excellent, excellent game. An idea so simple I'm amazed it hadn't been put into game form before. A guy stuck in a mall full of zombies. Fun enviornmental combat, with zombies getting more powerful at night. Oh, and unlike most games of this nature, I didn't get completely freaked out by this game. I mean Resident Evil 2 gave me nightmares, but not this game. I think its because this fits more into an adventure game format than a survival horror game. Fun times.

6.Tekken:
The only fighting game on the list. Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat are both better known, but Tekken is the fighting game I had/have the most fun with. I remember house rules forbiding the use of Eddie Gordo and epic Jin v. Hwoarang battles. This list needed a fighting game, and Tekken is probably my favorite, so there you go.

5.Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic games:
Wow, these two games were instant classic. Without a doubt the best Star Wars video games of all time. The stories were well put together, taking place years before the movies. The wide range of playable characters, and powers available, mean that one never plays the same game twice. My only criticism is that once a character gets to a certain power level, the game becomes much to easy, as the force powers are simply too powerful for a balanced game. Still, highly recommended games.

4.Oblivion (not necessarily other Elder Scrolls games):
I've never played any of the other Elder Scrolls games, but Oblivion was amazing. The open-ended nature combined with the excellent story allows for almost unlimited gameplay. I spent most of my time doing the sidequests before I ruined the game for myself. I hate cheat codes that give you god-mode type things, but I brought it upon myself when I got to making magic items giving me Camo. At more than 100% you get all the benefits of invisibility without any of the drawbacks. Monsters just don't attack you back. I could never play the game after that, so I've logged around 80 hours, and I'm only about 1/3rd of the way through the main story. Hopefully for Elder Scrolls V they'll take that away and not let me cheat myself.

3.Guitar Hero:
I'm including I & II here, as both are great games. They cross over to non-game players too, as even Belinda enjoys playing these. If you've never played these, then you don't understand how addicting they can be.. "Just one more song..." turns into another 5 songs. One also gets a sense of accomplishment after you nail a song that'd been giving you trouble for a while. Almost impossible not to have fun on this one, highly recommend this no matter what your feelings are towards video games.

2.EA's NHL Games:
My favorite sports game is EA's take on the NHL. The latest version has a true stick control that makes it feel like you're really in control of the puck at all times. Sure, it can be pretty easy to score once you figure things out, but the AI of the goalies is getting better all the time, and against a human who knows how to use his D-Men, the game is hours and hours of fun.

1.Final Fantasy:
Really what can I say? Almost never a unentertaining game. VII is my favorite, but any number of others are amazing games as well. If I didn't combine them, the top 3 games at least would be FF games. (Including the often overlooked Final Fantasy Tactics.) I saw Princess Diana's fundral because I had it on in the background as I grinded through FFVII. (I was at the part in the snow where you get Alexander.) FFXI was my reintroduction into MMORPGs and my White Mage was a lot of fun to mess around as. FF3 was the first RPG I played all the way through, and it's probably my second favorite in the FF series, really an amazing game all the way around. I wish the FF creators would do direct sequels more often, as I've always wondered what happened to Locke and Terra and the rest after defeating Kafka... But maybe that's just me?

Currently watching :
Heroes - Season One
Release date: 28 August, 2007

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August 28, 2007 - Tuesday

Top Ten Stand-Up Comedians
Current mood: contemplative
Category: Blogging

These lists seem to be popular. Well, as popular as anything I've done at any rate. I'm still sorting out a lot of things' places in my head, but the Stand-Up list is below, and it's turned out pretty well, if I do say so myself. For each Comic, I've included a joke or two, enjoy. If you like what you see, type their names into Youtube to see more.

10. Patton Oswald:
"Here are some facts about midgets some of you don't know, I found this in Discover Magazine, don't dispute me! If you hit a midget on the head with a stick he turns into 40 gold coins, did you know that? 40 glittering gold coins you can take to the market and buy a fine fat goose for your goodly wife. Also, if you throw a midget into a tub of hot water, he makes sleepy-time tea! Aww, isn't that great? A big tub of camomille, thanks Mr. Scoops. Also, if you kick a midget in the balls, he turns into eight squirrels and they run off into the forest. But here's the thing, be careful because if you lose a fight to a midget, you become one, did you know that? In the beginning of time there was one midget and everyone was like 'Come on, motherf*cker!' and now look around, they're everywhere! Let that be a lesson: just walk away. Be the bigger man, LITERALLY."

9. Mike Birbiglia:
"I think [my girlfriend's cats] were gay too, cause they were always licking each other and spooning in the window and criticizing the way I dress. I don't think it's a biological thing, like they're gay by birth. I think it's an environment thing, like they're prison gay. They don't see any female cats ever, and after awhile it's like "look, Tony, we ain't getting any younger, buddy. This may be the catnip talking, but I really like the way your belly matches your paws.'"

8. Ellen Degeneres:
"Yes, we're lazy. Yet we also can't seem to sit still. So we've started making things like GO-GURT. That's yogurt for people on the go. Let me ask you, was there a big mobility problem with yogurt before? How time-consuming was it, really? [pretending to be on the phone:] "Hello?...Oh, hi, Tom...oh, I've been dying to see that movie...Umm, no...I just opened up some yogurt...Yeah, I'm in for the night...No, not even later-it's the kind with fruit on the bottom. Well, have fun. Thanks anyway."

"I remember one day I was coming home from kindergarten I—-well, I thought it was kindergarten, it turned out later I'd been working in a factory for two years... I was wondering 'cause it was always really hot and everyone was older than me, but, um, what did I know?"

7.George Carlin:
"Here's another bunch of ignorant sh*t: school uniforms. Bad theory. The idea that if kids wear uniforms to school it helps keep order. Don't these schools do enough damage makin' all these kids think alike? Now they're gonna get 'em to look alike too? And it's not a new idea. I first saw it in news reels from the 1930s, but it was hard to understand 'cause the narration was in German!"

"Here's a bumper sticker I'd like to see: "We are the proud parents of a child whose self esteem is sufficient that he doesnt need us promoting his minor scholastic achievements on the back of our car."

6. Demetri Martin:
"I wonder what the most intelligent thing ever said was that started with the word 'dude.' 'Dude, these are isotopes.' 'Dude, we removed your kidney. You're gonna be fine.' 'Dude, I am so stoked to win this Nobel Prize. I just wanna thank Kevin, and Turtle, and all my homies.'"

"I like parties, but I don't like piñatas because the pinata promotes violence against flamboyant animals. Hey, there's a donkey with some pizzazz. Let's kick its @ss. What I'm trying to say is, don't make the same Halloween costume mistake that I did."

"Swimming is a confusing sport, because sometimes you do it for fun, and other times you do it to not die. And when I'm swimming, sometimes I'm not sure which one it is. I gotta go by the outfit. Pants - uh oh. Bathing suit - okay. Naked - we'll see. Should I be swimming faster, or am I getting laid?"

5.Lewis Black:
"Michael Jackson is a punch line to any joke you want. If you forget the punch line of a joke, all you gotta say is Michael Jackson. Two Jews walked into a bar... Michael Jackson. Why'd the chicken cross the road? Michael Jackson. And so the farmer brought his daughter to the dinner table; Michael Jackson."

"They've gotta stop reporting wind chill. That's nonsense. It really is. I don't know where they came up with it, why they came up with it, but it's a lie. They come on, 'well, it's 27 degrees today, but with the wind chill, it's minus 3.' ... well, then it's minus 3, @sshole! I don't need to know what the weather was like if the conditions were perfect!"

4. Flight of the Conchords:

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"The day time... of the night!"

3. Jim Gaffigan:
"I get such an attitude with spellcheck. "No! That's a person's name, spellcheck! You are so dumb, spellcheck! I was right, you were wrong!" "...Oh. That is how you spell Wednesday. Thanks, Spellcheck."

"E-mail has made sending regular mail such a chore. "Wait, I stick it in an envelope and now I gotta go outside? What am I, a triathelete?"

"Nowadays, when you get a handwritten letter in the mail you're like, "What? Has someone been kidnapped!?" "Well, I'm not opening it, it's probably filled with anthrax."

2. Zach Galifinacas:
"I don't mean to be gross, but the only time it's ok to say, 'I have diarrhea,' is when you're playing Scrabble....... because it's worth a sh*tload of points."

"You know what I like to do when i'm making out with a woman? I like to whisper in her ear "Would you like to touch my vagina"...and she's like "WHAT!?!" and I'm like "That's what you're supposed to say"."

"I live in Los Angeles and I had been drinking one night. So I was on the walk of fame and I saw Tony Danza's star and I started urinating on it. Yelling out, "Who's the Boss now!""

1. Mitch Hedberg R.I.P.:
"I had a neighbor, and whenever he would knock on my wall I knew he wanted me to turn my music down, and that made me angry because I like loud music, so when he knocked on the wall I'd mess with his head. I'd say: "Go around! I cannot open the wall. I don't know if you have a doorknob on the other side, but over here there's nothing. It's just flat.""

"Whenever I walk people try to hand me out flyers. And when someone tries to hand me out a flyer, it's kinda like they're saying "Here, you throw this away.""

"Some people think I'm high on stage; I would never get high before a show, because, when I'm high, I don't wanna stand in front of a bunch of people I don't know. That does not sound comfortable. Like, when you're high, and a joke doesn't work, it's extra scary. It's like,"Whoa, what the hell happened there? I am retreating within myself. Why have all these people gathered? And why am I elevated? Why am I not facing the same way as everyone else? And what is this electric stick in my hand?""

August 27, 2007 - Monday

Top Ten Superheroes.
Current mood: silly
Category: Blogging

OK, I couldn't wait to get started, and I'm driving myself crazy already trying to think of the top ten songs. Of course, that's 1 on the list, so I'll have plenty of time to sort that out.
Before I get into the list, I also want to relay an interesting event that happened to me today. I went out to Schlotzsky's to get Belinda and I some dinner, and at the pick up window I actually had a conversation with the kid handing out the food. I say kid, he was probably 16 or 17, though he barely looked 14. He started the conversation as he saw my Strong Bad and The Cheat stickers on my window. He asked if I watched, and then if I knew the Trogdor song... Then he asked if I played Guitar Hero II's version of the song. The fact that I did, and that I could have this in depth conversation with him made me feel old. I know that it should be the other way around. I guess I just feel like I'm pretending to be young. Whatever, enough of this, on to the super-heroes!
(Note: This is Super-heroes, not comic book characters, which means that the characters need not come from a comic-book, but also that any comic-book characters that aren't super-heroes are also left out. And away we go, oh, this list isn't supposed to be a ranking of power or who'd win in a fight, just a personal preference.)

10. The Hulk
We start with the Hulk. I'm assuming everyone is basically familiar with him. He's big, he's strong, he's green. Madder he gets, the stronger he gets. Bruce Banner, the guy who changes into the Hulk, has some serious father issues. His dad was an alcoholic, and beat his mother. The Hulk is all of Banner's rage personified, an unstoppable blind wrecking ball. The Hulk has actually had a lot of different incarnations, originally he was gray and would change at the turning of the moon. Eventually he became the character depicted on the television show, which most people are familiar with. My favorite incarnation was when the Hulk had the intelligence of Banner at all times. Good enough for 10th on my list.

9. Batman
Batman is one bad mamma jamma. Again, I assume everyone's good on the basics, parents killed, swears revenge on criminals, takes in a young vulnerable ward to help him fight crime. Yadda yadda. What makes Batman worthy of number 9 is his intelligence. He's probably the smartest superhero ever, and I'd bet on him beating just about any other character in a fight. Not a fair fight, mind you, Batman would win because Batman would cheat. He's also got the whole dark, brooding, mysterious thing going for him, which helps with the cool factor.

8. Martian Manhunter
I doubt many of you are familiar with him. J'onn J'onz (John Jones) is the last Martian. Seems easy enough right? He's also insanely powerful. He's a telepathic shape-shifter who can fly and become invisible or insubstantial. Oh, and he has super strength, invulnerability, and telekinetic eye blasts. He has one weakness: Fire. But even that is a psychological limitation, not really physical. I never understood why he wasn't a more popular character. Tons of potential here.

7. Dr. Strange
Another lesser known character. Dr. Stephen Strange is the sorcerer supreme, basically the best magic user in the Marvel universe. He's also a medical doctor, surgeon to be precise. He was drunk driving one night, and he crashed his car, ruining his hands. Seeking a way to regain his career and playboy lifestyle he treked to the Asian mountains and sought out the Ancient One, who put him through trials and eventually made him his apprentice. Dr. Strange was changed by his time in the mountains and takes his position and its responsibilities very seriously. Always entertaining.

6. Superman
*Yawn* Kypton, go boom, yellow sun gives powers beyond those of mortal men... Superman is really great not because of his power, but because of his conscience. He's easily the most unrealistic superhero ever. He's basically a living god, but spends all his time helping people. Gave his life once actually. Superman always does the right thing, for the right reasons, which might make him as unrealistic as his powers do, but its comforting in a way I can't put into words.

5. Spider-man
The movies have given a good overview of his origins. So I won't get into those here. Basically, Spider-man is great because he's close to the people who read/watch his adventures. He's smart, he's a smart alek, and he's a social outcast. He learns early on that his actions or inactions can harm people, so he feels constant pressure from his own conscience as well as pressure to live a normal teenage/young adult life.

4. Captain America
If you combined Batman's will and Superman's uhh... "goodness" you'd get Cap. Captain America wanted to serve the US in WWII, but he was 4F, which meant he was rejected from the army. They took him aside and administered drugs to him, in order to improve him. It worked, and Cap helped bring down Hitler. He was later frozen in ice and revived years later to form the Avengers, but that's neither here nor that, basically Cap wins. You want Cap's side to win. Originally it was a way to instill patriotism in America's youth, but as the world has changed so has Cap's point of view. His early 90's battles with USAgent marked a turning point...

3. Wolverine
Wolverine. Thanks to the X-Men movies, I can skip the introduction and just say that Wolverine might be the coolest superhero of all time. He's nearly impossible to kill, has 12" claws sticking out of the backs of his hands, and he's Canadian. I'd use gritty to describe him, but it doesn't seem adequate. He's the best at what he does.

2. Flash
Flash, and here I'm talking about the Wally West version, is pretty amazing. His origin is exactly the same as the Flash before him (Barry Allen), he was standing in front of a case of chemicals when lightning hit him. Barry Allen was even there when it happened. Wally was a big Flash fan, and meeting his idol was cool, but getting his powers was better. He was a sidekick for a while, taking over when Barry died in Crisis. Flash's identity was well known, at one point he'd won the lottery, but perhaps his defining moment was when he breached the "speed force" finding himself in a kind of heaven no other super-speedster had ever returned from. Wally came back for the love of his life, Linda. Giving up paradise for the woman you love? That's a story anyone can get behind, right?

1. Green Lantern
Really, since there are (or will be) 3,600 Green Lanterns, this section could go on forever. Green Lanterns are basically the universe's police force. They have rings that can do anything their wielders desire. As a science fiction fan, I appreciate that aspect of Green Lantern mythos, as well as the pure fantasy of it all. I mean, anyone could have a Green Lantern ring, right? Green Lanterns just feel right in a way no other superhero does. I guess that's a silly way to end this entry, but its true. Oh, I have a better way to end it...

In the Brightest Day,
In the Blackest Night,
No Evil shall escape my sight,
Let those who worship Evil's might,
Beware my Power,
Green Lantern's Light.

Currently reading :
The Sandman Vol. 4: Season of Mists
By Neil Gaiman
Release date: 04 January, 1994

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Pot Net Stsil... BACKWARDS!
Current mood: accomplished
Category: Blogging

Ok, I don't know what that subject line really means, but there it is. Basically I want to do a top ten list, or series of lists, but I know that that seems reallty cliche, so I decided to trick you all into reading this by making a headline that wasn't a lie, but also mainly nonsense in order to get you to click through to this. Really that's all I need. I know I had 9 people read this today, so even if you people aren't commenting, I know you're here. So hah!
OK, as for my first top ten list, its a top ten things I'm going to make lists about. This is actually going to be hard because there aren't really ten things I care about enough to make lists about. (At least not enough to list ten items...) But we'll worry about that when it happens. Without further B.S., here's my top ten things to make lists about:

10. Top Ten Super-heroes.
9. Top Ten Stand-Up Comedians
8. Top Ten Video Games
7. Top Ten Websites
6. Top Ten Books
5. Top Ten TV Shows
4. Top Ten Dramatic Movies
3. Top Ten Comedic Movies
2. Top Ten Bands
1. Top Ten Songs

Now, obviously, this list will be personal, but I'll also try to be fair. Also, things listed are subject to change, as obviously good movies and books and songs etc come out all the time. Plus my personal taste can change as I grow even older than I already am. Enjoy. (And yes I know that splitting movies into two categories is kind of cheating, but I expect a few to be on both lists, and its really hard to compare them otherwise.) Stay tuned as the first of the lists should be up today or tomorrow.

Currently listening :
Queen - Greatest Hits
By Queen
Release date: 15 September, 1992

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August 24, 2007 - Friday

I never mentioned...
Current mood: indescribable
Category: Jobs, Work, Careers

I just realized, I never mentioned how my interview went the other day.
Well, it actually went pretty well, I think. Of course I've only had a couple of interviews that I didn't feel that way about, and I still don't have a job, so that's not that much of an indicator.
The attorney that interviewed me was a cool guy. Someone I could really see myself working for. That's actually a big deal, as there haven't been too many of those I've met so far. He was a younger guy, maybe 35? And he had a goatee which is a plus in my favor, as Anuj always told me I should shave. And he's seen my clean shaven, so you'd think he'd know better.
The town of Tifton was cool. Reminded me a lot of Springfield/White House, TN. Smaller than a big city, but not Cross Plains small.
The case load is decent sized, 300 or so. Which, they tell me, sounds worse than it is. But it's still a lot.
I wouldn't have to do interviews with the recently arrested. Which is just fine with me. Also I wouldn't have to handle any felonies, so again, hooray.
Basically it seems like a job I could really enjoy, and be successful at. I just hope I get the chance. Wish me luck, I'm supposed to hear by the end of the month, and hopefully Belinda and I will be really packing up and moving by mid-September. Athens is pretty empty right now, but Shawn and Dix have both called, and I've talked to Goose a bit through GMail, so its not too bad. Plus I should have some old old friends visiting next week, so that'll be nice.
Umm.. I'm distracted from my point now, basically wish me luck, and I'll let everyone know how it turns out.

Currently reading :
The Sandman Vol. 3: Dream Country
By Neil Gaiman
Release date: 24 September, 1991

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August 23, 2007 - Thursday

Thoughts ’n things...
Current mood: awake
Category: Blogging

Random thoughts as I watch the Braves lose again...
1. If alcohol tasted like chocolate, everyone would drink, like all the time.
2. The only reason we use cows for milk instead of rats or cats or whatever, is because only cows are large and docile enough to provide the milk humans demand. That's why I don't drink milk.
3. I know a lot about the law. Hopefully in a couple of months I'll have a piece of paper that will allow me to sell my knowledge to those who need it. Hopefully before then some company or agency will decide to pay me so I don't have to find people on my own who do need me.
4. People who fall for phishing e-mails shouldn't be allowed to operate a computer connected to the internet without supervision.
5. It is hot as heck outside.
6. I don't understand where trash comes from. But sure enough every week, there's like 3 bags of it I have to take out.
7. Packing up stuff sucks.
8. Improv Everywhere is hilarious. This is really the best.
9.

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10. Lists should never have more than ten items.

Currently reading :
The Sandman Vol. 2: The Doll’s House
By Neil Gaiman
Release date: 01 September, 1991

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Goings on...

2007-08-18T11:13:00.000-04:00

What's the internet for? Shopping? News? Fantasy Sports? Pornography, Communication? All of the above? Of course. But it's also for more. Obviously, I've known about MySpace forever. I do watch "To Catch A Predator" everyone once in a while you know. But I never saw the point. Well, never until everyone I know moved away from where I'm living, and a friend who I hadn't seen in 4-5 years messaged me to say hi. I logged in, amazed at myself for not having thought of it before: All my friends, who I've ever known all in one place. I found my best friend from Kindergarten. He has a kid now. He remember the last time we saw each other (August 15, 2000). I've found other friends who I hadn't seen in longer than that, and others I just lost touch with after law school.

Anyway, I've been posting over there a lot lately. (MySpace.com/latnam)There's a ton of pictures and a few "blog" entries. I'll do my best to cross post the blog entries here, but no promises. Below is a cut and paste job of the last few. See you out there. (Oh, and if you're not there yet, and I know you, which I should since you're reading this, you should head over. My long term goal is to get everyone I know into one room to hang out. I mean you all obviously have great taste in friends.)

Friday, August 17, 2007

The great question has been answered....

The question of course was this: "Superbad, great movie, or greatest movie?" The answer: Greatest movie! I'd been looking forward to this movie since I saw that Micheal Cera (Arrested Development's George Michael) was going to co-star. He's excellent in his role as Ethan, slightly nerdy/shy high school student, which is basically the same character he played on AD. I cannot recommend a movie more than Superbad, though you will see a lot of penises. Hilarious, hilarious penises.

Oh, and there's also a trailer for Harold and Kumar which 90% of the people in the theatre were surprised to see. Can't wait for that one either.

Oh, and as if Superbad wasn't Bad@$$ enough, they mention a Granville Rd. I'm like totally in the movie. OK, I'm out.

Currently listening :
Minutes to Midnight
By Linkin Park
Release date: 15 May, 2007

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Thursday, August 16, 2007

Sitting in a parking lot. (updated)
Current mood: melancholy
Category: Life

Hey all. I made it to my interview early, and I don't have anything else to do, so I'm writing. Of course, I don't have a computer,(if only I had an IPhone!) so I'm writing by hand, and I'll type this up later. This is so slow, it's making me crazy. I don't know how some professional authors do it this way. Either way, by the time you all read this I'll have edited I'm sure.

The whole way down here I was left w/ only my thoughts and the latest Barenaked Ladies' CD, so of course I did a lot of thinking. I always have likd music, and I used to always say every song was depressing. I mean, read between the lines and even "Shiny, Happy People" is practically suicidal. Anyway, I like to analyze song lyrics and I've discovered that this latest CD has a great many songs tied directly into my recent MySpace reconnections. Well, except for the song about robbing a bank that happens to be filled with nuns. That's just funny. I'll throw in some lyrics some other post. I used to always end e-mails with song lyrics. Often with double meanings. I thought I was so clever.

James added me yesterday. Or "Ken" I suppose. I mean I know it is his name and all, but when you know somone one way, its hard to change it in your head. I'll try. He has a birthday coming up at the end of August. 30 yet? I feel old, so it's nice to have some of you around who are older than me. Of course, Wesley is 23, and looks 14 so that makes me feel older.

There are many people here I neer thought I'd see again, and a few others I know I won't. At least now I can stay in touch electronically. I wrote yesterday that I was (am) good at making friends, which is true, but I'm not very good @ keeping them. Usually from the moving, but sometimes for other reasons. There's always something.

I miss everyone in very specific ways. Whether it is seeing your face in the hall, beating/getting beat by you in various video games, talking over the phone, watching you post horribly inflammatory comments directed at Mets' fans, going bowling in the middle of the week, playing lazer tag, working together, talking before during or about class. Even if its just one specific memory, you've all shaped who I am. Yet... Oh, phone, gotta go.

Edit: As promised, some lyrics:

"On the path of life, I wish you well/Divergent journeys, but we will meet again in Hell/I kept my head down and moved on/Til every friend I'd known was gone/Then, one day, I was not alone/Everything had changed, everything was strange " -BNL "Everything had Changed"

"I'm a kid in a candy store/I'm a bull in a china shop/I'm a tired old metaphor
For everything you can't afford/And everything you can't afford to be
I'm a public embarrassment/I'm a bottle of diet poison
I'm a walking advertisement/For everything I never meant
And everything I never meant to be" -BNL Bull in a China Shop

"If you are leaving then I wish you luck/I hope someone can make your heart warm/I was a baby when I learned to suck/But you have raised it to an art form
Yes I'm out of line/But you're out of your mind" -BNL Wind it up

Currently listening :
Barenaked Ladies Are Me
By Barenaked Ladies
Release date: 12 September, 2006

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Wednesday, August 15, 2007

About Me. (Cross-posted from Bulletin)
Current mood: thoughtful

Note: This is going to be all about me. So if you don't want to know about me, it is best if you not read this, because you're gonna be disappointed. Though I will say, I've led a pretty interesting life, believe it or not.

Hello, all of you reading this.

People always do those "about me" forms, and those forms actually do a decent job of letting people know who one is at the moment as well as key moments from one's life.

I personally just don't like them. Clarification: I like reading them, not writing them.

So, I thought I'd try to do a little free form writing to fill in some gaps that might be in your knowledge about me. All of you will learn something about me from this. Well maybe not Belinda, but the rest of you will, I'm sure. Even you Wesley. Some of you know me extremely well (Belinda, Wesley, Ricky); some of you were best friends I lost contact with (Jason "Johnny" Fromm, Paul "Cardinal Stump," Phillip); some of you I knew well in law school (Anna, Amy (if she ever adds me hah!); some of you I was just acquaintances with in law school, (Kimberly, Jennifer, Chris, Katie, Rachel); some of you I knew through RA work at APSU, (Scotty Dale, Naydia, Jason, David); some of you I was good friends with at APSU (Nicole, Michelle, Jessica); some of you I know almost exclusively through the internet (Ben, Kayte); some of you I only know through mutual friends (Nick "Capt. Lame," Erica, Elizabeth, Greg, Amanda, Nick, Devin); some of you I'm not sure how I met(you know who you are, oh, unless you weren't on my friends list when I wrote this, in that case I may know how I know you, but this is all I have to go on right now).

The best part to start with any story is the beginning. (I have an English degree, so I'm pretty sure on this point. And don't go throwing Pulp Fiction or American Beauty at me, they're exceptions.) Ahem, anyway, I was born Dec 16, 1980 in Newport News, VA. Shortly thereafter I was adopted by Lawrence and Anna Powers. My grandparents. Now, my mom, Anna, wasn't my biological grandmother, but had married my biological grandfather Lawrence. I've always considered them my parents, even though they told me "the truth" at a very young age. (4-5? I can't remember not knowing.) The fun thing about this, is my biological mother is my legal sister. Her other biological son is my brother and my nephew. Freaky! My mom and dad were living in Detroit when I was born, and that's where I spent my first 6 months of life. Shortly thereafter the decided to move to middle Tennessee. I have no idea why they chose that area. (My mom was from East Tennessee, dad was from the Virginia mountains. They were married in Miami, Oklahoma, and lived in Michigan. I guess the job market was good.) Anyway, we settled in Cross Plains (30 miles north of Nashville). My dad was a long haul truck driver, I'd only see him a weekend every couple of weeks, while my mom stayed at home, and even ran a little babysitting ring where I got to know a lot of other kids. I went to East Robertson Elementary, until 2nd grade, when I guess the job market wasn't that good anymore, because we moved to East Tennessee in 1988. I've moved a lot in my life. Including college moves and everything, its.. umm 13 different residences I can remember. (Belinda has had 3, oh and we're getting ready to move again.)

All the moving made it hard to keep friends (no MySpace back then. Also, I've found that people I remember, and who've had a big effect on my life don't remember me. A bit disheartening. I don't know if that's just a good memory on my part, or the fact that after I've left a place, the other people stay, so they're just missing one thing, while I'm missing my whole world, which leaves a bigger impression? I don't know. More on this later.) So, while it was hard to keep friends, I was pretty good at making them. I'd like to think those of you who know me with any degree of depth think of me as funny, affable, and generally nice to be around. Seriously, to know me is to love me. In school I did well, but I hated it so much. (I still hate the school system, and I'd say just scrap it and start over if it was at all feasible.) Eventually, the job market got better in middle Tennessee and we moved back. This would have been in 1993, 94? Somewhere around there. We ended up moving back to Cross Plains and I ended up going to the same school. It was very surreal seeing all these familiar faces, just a bit older. None of who remembered me. (Except Paul and Philip, of course, thanks guys.) All of whom I remembered. Though it was fun telling people personal information about themselves I remembered (middle names, birthdays, etc) and them thinking I was psychic. Everyone had changed so much, but I felt the same. This period of my life was hell. Walking around people I knew that didn't know me. I recently had a thought that Heaven was just a big party, and everyone you ever knew was there to talk about old times, if that's heaven then hell would have to be being surrounded by people you know who don't know you, or don't care to know you. Like that Green Day song: "Nobody likes you/everyone left you/they're all out without you/having fun." I ended up talking my mom into homeschooling me, just to escape that place. Of course, my mom wasn't in the best of health, so we never actually did any of the home-school work. I officially became a middle school drop-out leaving in the middle of the 8th grade. After dropping out, life was good. I didn't do anything except play video games and goof off on the computer. Eventually I made my way to a comic book store, and started buying and reading comics. Then Magic: The Gathering came out, and boom, friends fell from the heavens. JasonF, JasonT, Chris, and a cast of dozens at the comic book store nearly everyday. Still the Jasons, Chris and I were the core, and we spent a lot of time hanging out and playing video games and what-not. I was the youngest, as the rest of them had just graduated High School or were about to. My second job ever was at the comic book store, and the 30% discount on comics was very helpful. Soon, it was 1999.

Nineteen Ninety-nine was a big year in my life. I took the GED in the Spring. (I wasn't allowed to take it before I turned 18, or else I would've. I think at least 40% of high school freshman could pass that test on the first try, but society feels the need to have them waste 4 years learning stuff they already know or don't need. Sorry, tangent.) My mother also passed away in the summer of 1999. That sucked. She was the one who wanted me to get my GED, and I'm glad I did. She had gotten hers when I was younger, and she was very proud of it. My dad at this point was trying to force me into work. I mean, it makes sense. I was 18 and didn't have a real job. Wanting to avoid hard labor, I talked him into letting me look at colleges. The closest one was APSU, and after taking the ACT, I was in. I had to take remedial English and math, as well as 2 years of Spanish to make up my "high school deficiencies." Eh, it wasn't too bad, though I'm still not good at math.

My best friend in college was Brian Curtis, and though he's on MySpace, I haven't added him yet because of how he treated a mutual friend. I may add him one day, but that's neither here nor there. Brian was the greatest roommate ever, because he was never there, but when he was there he'd clean. Brian became an RA, and Jason and I shared a room for one very odd semester, before I became an RA. Becoming an RA happened at the right time, because during the summer between rooming with Jason and becoming an RA, my dad passed away. (This would be 2002, we're almost caught up!) Being an RA meant a free room, plus a paycheck, and that was extremely needed. David Baron, thanks for taking a chance with me. I know Brian recommended me, so thanks to you to, even if you're not reading this.

As my APSU time was winding down, I started thinking about what was next. I had no idea. An English degree? What the hell was I thinking? Anyway, Belinda was working with someone at the time who was a law student at Vanderbilt, and listening to Belinda tell her stories, I thought I'd give it a whirl. I applied to three law schools. Vanderbilt, University of Tennessee, and University of Georgia. I was wait listed at Vanderbilt, offered a scholarship to UT, and ended up choosing UGA. I used to worry that I'd made the wrong choice, but based on the friends/experiences I've had down here, I didn't. (This logic fails to account for the friends/experiences I've missed in Knoxville, but don't cry over schools not attended, or something).

Belinda and I got married in January of '04 as she was finishing up her Masters in Social Work, and I was playing a lot of FFXI. We moved to Athens in June of '04, and I've lived in the same apartment ever since. (I think that puts this apartment into 2nd or 3rd place all time in length of time in one place for me.)

Graduation was in May, the first graduation of mine I'd attended. (no high school, and skipped APSU.) Eh, it was ok. I tend to think of graduation ceremonies as a waste of time and resources, but whatever, it makes a bunch of people happy. Besides it got Wesley and Nicole to visit, and I got to meet Greg, so it wasn't all that bad. After graduation, I started freaking out over the bar. A lot of you know what I mean. Honestly, I felt good going into the test, and afterwards I was ok, but the further away from it I get the more worried I am. Its not like I have a job I'll lose if I don't pass, I just don't wanna be the guy everyone knows who didn't pass. If I do fail though, Belinda and I are going to move back to Tennessee where I'll start studying for its bar, and looking for a job up there. And that's pretty much where I am.

Oh, a few random facts: I love baseball, if I was better with numbers I work on baseball stuff all the time. Braves are my favorite team. Hockey its the Predators, and football its the Titans. I don't really pay attention to college sports, but I'll watch college football if its on, but I don't have an attachment to any team. People are usually surprised when they find out my musical taste. I actually like Heavy Metal/Hard Rock. Angry music some call it. I don't know I guess it doesn't mesh with my personality. I can remember getting angry only once in the last 10 years. Of course I could just being having rage blackouts. Haha. OK, wow, I've written a lot. If you've made it this far, I owe you a Coke. Come pick it up whenever you want. If you need directions, send a message, or if you have any questions send a message. If you were involved in any of the above anecdotes and want to make a correction, send a message. If you think you just wasted a big chunk of your day reading this, don't send a message. Why waste my time too?

Currently listening :
Year Zero
By Nine Inch Nails
Release date: 17 April, 2007

1:59 PM - 1 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment - Edit - Remove

Wish me luck everyone...
Current mood: optimistic
Category: Jobs, Work, Careers

Well, everyone, I've got an interview tomorrow, and I'm hoping it'll go well. I've had good interviews before, but things just haven't worked out. This is a job I'd really like, and I hope that things work out. So wish me luck! If things go well, I'll finally have to become an adult, which isn't too horrible I guess.

Is it horrible? Shh, don't tell me if it is. Let me find out for myself.

Coming Soon....

2007-06-22T07:01:00.000-04:00

I don't have enough time to write out the blog entry I want to, so I'm just putting this here to remind me to write it when I get a chance. Tentative title: "Episode Two, the Beginning"

"... And I must be stopped!"

2007-06-08T20:54:00.000-04:00

So, I never update this place. However, I still think that its an important thing for me to have available. Since talking about it with Gussio at lunch the other day, I've been trying to think about what the purpose of this is. I always tell anyone who asks about it that the reason I don't update more often is because nothing really has happened. Which is always a lie. Well, not technically a lie, but a misstatement of the truth (that's the Bar/Bri training kicking in).

Tons have things have been happening. I graduated law school for one. You can check Belinda's blog for the pictures. I'd put some here, but I'm tired. I'm tired because even though I've graduated I still have to learn, oh, the law in order to take the Bar in July. I'm more mentally exhausted than I've been in a long long time, and its only the second week. Plus, I'm not even doing that well on the multiple choice questions (though I'm very close to the "national averages" that the DVD guy gives us...), and I only feel somewhat confident in my essays. I spot almost all the issues in each question, but I leave things out of my analysis. I've got to train myself to write down everything I know about a topic, even if it feels redundant. So it goes.

That reminds me. Kurt Vonnegut died. That sucks. He got a little wacky towards the end, but he was a great writer. I don't understand how one becomes a great writer. Or even a mediocre one. Kurt Vonnegut though... he was great. See how much that sucked? I've got a long way to go to get to mediocre. I always identified with Twain and Vonnegut, and I guess I've always harbored fantasies of becoming the next great misanthropic writer.Probably won't happen, but that's something to strive for, right? So it goes.

The Predators are being sold. That sucks. I mean, the team finally got good, and the owner, who always swore that no matter what he'd never sell/move the team, decides to sell. The new owner will move the team to Canada ASAP. It'll be horrible for Nashville's economy, not to mention my psyche. The fans who care, care a lot, but there just aren't enough of them in the business community to make the team a viable option in Nashville. If the team would try to reach out to the music industry, it'd be something, but it's a lost cause now. I'll miss the team. I'll reduce myself to just cheering for players at this point: Timonen, Legwand, Hamhuis, Radulov, Weber, Sullivan, Suter, and of course Vokoun. Maybe in a Canadian market these guys will get the respect a team with the 3rd best record in the league deserves. (Tied with Cup winning Anaheim)

I still don't have a job. That sucks. I've given up hope on the Douglas job. People want me to call, but I past that point a long time ago. If they were going to hire me, they'd be in touch by now. Belinda and I are just going to stay here in Athens until I do get one. (Which shouldn't be too much longer, right?) I'm willing to go anywhere in the state and do any kind of work. Anyone reading this have an opening?

I've started watching SportsNight again. It doesn't suck. Of course, I only used to get to watch it because Wesley would come down to my room and we'd watch it when APSU got hit by a freak snow-storm or something. Knowing how much I miss those days, Wesley, as a graduation present, got me the complete series. I highly recommend the show, but know it can be a bit didactic at times, though when you agree with it you don't notice it. There are more than a few memorable quotes, one of which had me laughing uncontrollably for about five minutes straight. Ahhh "many, many people."

One of my old friends got in touch with me the other day. Chris Freeland. When I say old it has many meanings. First of all, dude is 30 and will turn 31 in August. Hah. Secondly I knew him when he was 19, which means I was.. uh... 15? That sounds about right. First of all, how cool was he at 19 to be hanging out with me? Haha. I was shorter than him back then. And I had more hair them him. (Of course if he's going through his shaved head phase again, I still might.) We used to get together to play Magic during the week (as his work schedule had him have days off/on during the weeks). Chris introduced me to Metallica, so I thank him for that. After Magic there were the days of the four of us (Chris, Little Jason, Big Jason, and Me... occasionally James and Delane, though they were never core members I guess. When I think of those days, its always the four of us...) Roleplaying games, video games, MMORPGs, Q-Zar, movies, Warhammer 40k, etc. I spent most of my time with JasonF(Big Jason) back then. We lived the closest together, and we were the two that didn't work. Of course, I was like 15-18 he was 18-21. And I actually had a job there for a while. Hah! Anyway, I spent most of my time with JasonF, and we were pretty close. But Chris and I really had to most in common. Chris had (has?) a lot of issues, and so did I. We would talk pretty freely with each other about all kinds of crap... I think we helped each other, if only having someone to talk to. Then there were the late night conversations in Jame's car. Something about driving around at 1:00AM would just lead to all kinds of weird crap coming out of our mouths. Those were the days...

That chapter of my life ended when I started to college. JasonF and JasonT(little Jason) followed me there after a semester or two. Chris had a good job, and didn't join us. JasonT actually graduated, while JasonF got married, so it wasn't a total loss for him either. I did both. (though JasonT might be married by now.. I have no way of knowing) School worked to tear us apart I guess. We all had less free-time, and Chris was further away. We all made independent friends, spent more time apart. I became good friends and roommates with Brian, and when he became an RA JasonF and I were roommates for a semester. I don't really remember that semester that way, because we never saw each other. That was when he first got with Melissa and Belinda and I were spending most of our time together, so it was the ending of the end, I guess. Though all of those guys were 4-5 years older than me, we all kind of grew up together. Chris got in touch with me, I'm guessing, because I sent him a graduation announcement. I would have sent them to the Jasons as well, but I have no idea where they are. I hope they're both well. I'm going to do my best to go see Chris the next time I'm in Nashville, I hope it won't be weird. Though I know it will be. The last few times I saw JasonT it was. All we had to talk about were the things we used to do. "Remember the firemen at Q-Zar who wanted to kick our butts for beating them so bad?" "He strip mined the Oasis!" We just don't know each other anymore. I called JasonF on his birthday two years ago, and it was very similar. Its sad to think that people who were so close can become strangers. (Not enemies like Brian and I, but that's another blog entry... and besides that was his fault. haha.) Despite the years and miles between us, I still consider those three guys as the best friends I've ever had. Just like "The Wonder Years," I can't help but remember those days fondly (well, except the time I tried to choke JasonF with a baseball bat, but that's another blog entry). Those days sucked, but they were also awesome.

I regret nothing more in my life than growing up.

Of course, I also wouldn't change a thing about my life now. I have a wife I love more than anything else in this world. Great new friends. A brain I've taken out many loans to fill with information which hopefully will provide me with a decent income one day. A Wii, an X-box 360 and TiVo. That last sentence was a joke. Have I mentioned my immaculate sense of humor?

I think, in my ramblings, I've found the purpose of this blog. It's my psychologist. I always work better through writing than through talking, and I always feel like I'd be cheating talking to a shrink because I'd know what they wanted me to say, and I'd just say it. But here I can just write down what I'm thinking, and even explore episodes from my past. (As the above baseball bat choking incident, along with the Brian is my enemy bit.) My life has been very episodic, and the one I'm in right now is coming to a close soon. I hope I do a better job keeping up with my law school friends than I have the other friends in my life. (Another future blog entry will concern Belinda and how even though she came into my life during my 'undergrad part 2' episode it feels like we've been together forever, and she fits in with all my other groups. That's love for you.)

Well, I've been writing for freakin' ever, so I'll stop now and go look over some more never-ending Bar review stuff. I'll leave you with this video. Its more just the song as the video doesn't go anywhere, but I like it. From the new Linkin Park CD.

What We Did

2007-03-16T22:46:00.000-04:00

This is how/where we went. We had a stop in Niagara Falls which isn't on there. And our nightly stops aren't listed either. Head over to Belinda's blog to see pictures if you haven't yet. It is good to be home.

Fun little game....

2007-03-07T10:57:00.000-05:00

enjoy

Visual Proof

2007-02-18T16:36:00.000-05:00

All pictures from Yahoo.com, except for one. Can you guess which? ;)

Day 2 of the Forsberg Era

2007-02-16T15:22:00.000-05:00

Wow, I'm just an updating machine, aren't I? This is short. I just wanted to point out that the further we get into the Forsberg era, the more I can't believe its actually happened. Barry Melrose said on SportsCenter that this the biggest thing that ever happened to the Predators. I have to agree. This tops the previous big thing, which was the signing of Paul Kariya, which topped the one before that, the trade for Steve Sullivan. Before that? Um. Well, Nashville held the draft one year... Basically, people have to take the Preds seriously now. I know most players/coaches respected the team, but now fans, broadcasters, and sportswriters have to really pay attention. Its a good time to be a Predator fan. (Whenever I stop to think about the trade, I can't help but laugh; of course that could just be the onslaught of insanity I knew was in my future.)

Couple of things before I go:
I haven't seen it mentioned anywhere, but Peter Forsberg currently holds the record for most points scored at the GEC. I remember watching the game, and I remembered him tying Gretzky, but, according to my Preds Media Guide, it turns out he passed the Great One. 1G 5A 6Pts. I remember his goal vividly. He was in the slot, he got knocked down, kept control of the puck, turned a 180 on his knees firing a blind backhand shot passed whoever it was. (I know the date, 1-1-03, but I can't find the boxscore, so I don't know who was in goal.)

Oh, and below is the postage stamp issued in Sweden following Forsberg's 1994 gold medal winning shootout goal. The game was against Canada, and the final shooter for the Canadians as, oddly enough, Paul Kariya. (He missed.)

Number 21

2007-02-15T21:31:00.000-05:00

Years ago, when I first became interested in hockey, mainly through video games with my friends, I chose the Colorado Avalanche as my team in the game as we all gravitated towards the top teams. (Dallas, Detriot, San Jose, Philadelphia, etc.) In an environment where everyone's picking the top teams and with the Predators in their second year of existence, sucking harder than a vaccuum cleaner with a clean filter, I felt vindicated in my choice. The Aves were loaded with stars back in those days, Joe Sakic, Patrick Roy, Rob Blake, Adam Foote, & of course Peter Forsberg.

Today, amazingly, Peter Forsberg was traded from the Philadelphia Flyers to the Nashville Predators. The rumors had been around for a few days, and then today at 4:30 I saw a report on hockeybuzz that said a deal may be imminant. I glued myself to the computer, for better or worse, for the next few hours. Reports kept trickling in. Forsberg was quoted as saying something would happen before Monday. He then took part in warm-ups before the Flyers game against the Leafs, but didn't come back out. Then reports that the deal was agreed to, but not yet final. Upshall, Parent, 1st and 3rd rounders for Forsberg.

Wow.

I've read a lot of reports that the Predators gave up a lot for a "rental" player who's "one big hit" away from not playing anymore this year. Well, here's my rebuttal:

Firstly, Upshall was on the team this year out of training camp. Sixty games later, he's only played 14. He wasn't playing in any of the top 3 lines, and the Preds had no space for him. Parent is going to be a good player one day. Maybe even next year. But it was a longshot for him to make the Preds. With Hamhuis, Suter, & Weber the Preds defense is already pretty young. Zidlicky has 3 years left on his deal, and Timonen is the Captain. Additionally with Kevin Klien and Cody Franson still in the minors, good young defensemen aren't exactly in short supply in Nashville. The draft picks could be a problem. However, the Preds will likely be drafting late in the first, in a draft that is considering shallow, so losing a late first is closer to losing a 2nd, and the 3rd akin to a fourth. Still, losing the draft picks could slow the Preds future, but their prospects already in the system should be enough to support the team for a while.

Secondly, Forsberg has been battling injuries lately, that's no secret. However, he's been fine recently, and his injuries aren't of the sort that will be brought on by a hard check. Of course, any player, at any time, can be injured on the ice by a stray puck or stick, or an especially hard hit, so that as an argument doesn't mean much to me. I do worry about his ankels, but from what I understand, his new skates (picked up over the All-Star break) are comfortable. At least comfortable enough.

Even if Forsberg does get injured, the Predators of this year don't lose much. And if Forsberg is healthy, and if he's inspired at all for another chance at the Cup, he can be the best player in the world once more. (And the Predators were already at the top of the NHL Standings, and the second highest scoring team.)

Additionally, adding Forsberg should help electrify a city, perhaps finally making the businesses in town realize what they have in the Predators. However, since the Preds are now the clear front runners for the Cup, and anything less than a Finals appearance will be considered a dissapointment by most.

Kariya-Legwand-Erat
Sullivan-Arnott-Dumont
Hartnell-Forsberg-Radulov
Horidchuk-Nichol-Tootoo

Timonen-Zidlicky
Hamhuis-Weber
Suter-Vishnevsky

Vokoun
Mason

H-O-L-Y Hell. How do you defend those top three lines? I dunno. I guess we'll see. :)

State of the Granville Address

2007-02-04T19:15:00.000-05:00

Well, I had to update sooner or later, didn't I? Once upon a time, I guess its been nine or ten years ago now, I would send out a mass e-mail to all my friends telling them how/what I was doing, that kinda thing. One would think that a blog is just a non-targeted version of my old State of the Granville's so I'd keep up with it more, but it hasn't happened. I think the main difference is that my life now doesn't suck as much as it did then. I would complain like no one's business about everything back then, of course, I had a lot to complain about. Now-a-days my life isn't bad at all. I'm in a great loving relationship, great friends, and besides my thinning hairline and occasional kidney stone, I'm in pretty good health. I do worry about getting a job, but I'm not too worried... I think that's another thing. I'm much less pessimistic today than I was back in the 90's. I just believe everything'll work out one way or another.

Anyway, moving onto sports news. The Braves should be a bit better this year than last. Despite letting my favorite player (Marcus Giles) go on to free agency, and trading their 30HR first baseman who sucked until last year (when he finally became good) for a relief pitcher and prospect. Oh, and despite Jeff Francouer, who sucks. They'll be better because Chipper will stay healthy all year (please?) Kelly Jo will make me forget about Marcus (I hope), and Brian McCann will become a legitimate MVP Candidate.

In football news, Vince Young is good. The Titan's should make the playoffs next year, even if Pacman Jones is in jail.

Now, Hockey news is the best right now. As I write this, the Predators have the best record in the NHL, they're the second highest scoring team, and have the best goal differential. I've been to five games in person so far this year, and they've scored at least six goals in four of them, and won the other in a shootout.(on my birthday no less, and I should mention they did lose one of the games where they scored 6 goals, as the Blackhawks scored 8, the first game of the year) But one of those games was against the Red Wings, so it counts twice. Or something. Plus, they have a David Gussio look-alike playing on the third line.

In non-sports news, I've been watching a lot of Star Trek lately. The Sci-Fi channel has been rerunning Enterprise, which isn't as bad as I was afraid of. Its no DS9, but few shows are. I've also been reading some Philip K. Dick. I really like his work. I'm about a quarter of the way through The Man In The High Castle, and I've finished Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep, and The Penultimate Truth. I highly recommend his works.

I guess that's all. All I can think of right now at any rate. I'm sure I won't go so long between updates again.

Every series starts somewhere.....

2006-09-05T22:52:00.000-04:00

Every (insert number here)(insert period measurement here) I plan to look back at an apocryphal phrase from times past. Or something like that. This week, the phrase is: "Dressed to the Nines." My partner, Shawn Rhodes, and I began to ponder the history of this odd phrase one day over a bottle of ginger ale. Of course, being the learnED and sophisticated people that we are, nary a day goes by in which we don't utter this phrase. Usually complimenting each other for achieving it, and mocking those who only dress to the 8's or, Lord in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name, forbid, the 7's. I entrusted Shawn to research the phrase, and after long hours in the library pouring over books and shorter hours in the kitchen pouring Mountain Dew, he presented me the following explanation, which I hereby declare as 100.25% accurate. The Wikipedia entry will be updated accordingly. (As soon as I figure out how to create pages instead of just editing them.)

Shawn:
"Dressed to the Nines" can be traced to the grids that a hangman/executioner places on a convicted person to determine where on the neck to hit them with his expertly sharpened axe. "Nine" was near to the base of the skull, where the cerebral cortex connects to the spine, and signifies a high collar which only the wealthiest of citizens could afford. Ironically the same chart was used by the hangman/executioner to determine which part of meat that he took home for his family's supper.

Macaulay, Thomas B. The History of England. p.412, 416, 847-48.

Sell out, with me oh yeah / Sell out, with me tonight.

2006-08-31T14:59:00.000-04:00

... The record company's gonna give me lots of money, then everything's gonna be all right. Oh, sorry, channeling some Reel Big Fish there. Anyway, I've decided that in order to increase my chances of updating this blog more often, I needed an incentive. Enter, Google Ads. As you can see on the top of the page, there's a Ad thingee. Enjoy.

Now, to make this an actual blog entry: Classes suck. They're really just so incredibly boring most of the time. Well, except for education law. I feel like I'm learning less this semester than any other semester ever. (That includes my semester taking Communications online back at APSU, so it really means something.) If any teachers of mine are reading this, then I can only suggest you teach new material, because I'm not really getting into this at all.

This weekend is Labor day. Always fun. I guess. Belinda and I may be doing something, but nothing's set in stone just yet. I'll keep you up to date. Anyway, now that I have my incentive, I'll be posting more often. I hope. Stay tuned.

Ask a Granville about a Ninja.....

2006-07-31T12:03:00.000-04:00

If you did what the title to this post suggests, this Granville would tell you that Ninjas are mystical and ancient assassins capable of carrying out a wide range of missions that would curdle the resolve of most people. Turning it into something not unlike cottage cheese (and slightly tastier). Oh, and they're hilarious. Below (if it works) is my favorite episode. Enjoy.

2006-07-30T02:57:00.000-04:00

Look, its me, where I belong, the Predator's Locker Room. Anyway, now that my delusion is done, you should look below as I've written and posted a ton of pictures from my last couple of trips to Nashville. I don't know what it means when the place where you consider yourself to be from has turned into a vacation spot, but here we are. Enjoy.

2006-07-30T02:55:00.000-04:00

Wesley and I just out having a good time. Wesley and I saw Clerks II shopped for CDs, played a game of video football (he won), watched some cartoons, watches some Internet stuff, (I highly recommend askaninja.com, I'll put up a link to it soon.) and generally remembered old times. We also have some projects on the horizon, some clues of which are below. Oh, and we took this picture ourselves.

2006-07-30T02:53:00.000-04:00

The building to the side is Sevier Hall, where the Titan's are living during training camp.

2006-07-30T02:52:00.000-04:00

Behind that fence is the place where the Titan's are holding their first training camp of the year. They're also staying at Sevier Hall, which is where Belinda used to live. I also have inside information that the school has bought connector pieces to connect the twin beds in each room into a bigger one. Also, the RHD of Sevier (the head of the RAs in that hall) had to move out for the summer because of the Titan's coming in. (Her name is Lucy, she started as an RA after me, she and Wesley were in the same interview group. Group #5, but #1 in our hearts.)

2006-07-30T02:48:00.000-04:00

This is a smoking fire pit of death that's sprung up next to Killebrew Hall. Wesley told me it'd been going for a while. If you get to close, it sucks you into the first level of hell. Its pretty easy to get out though, you just have to tell them if they let you go back to Earth you'll kill your first born child in its sleep as an offering to them. No contest really, you should check it out.

2006-07-30T02:46:00.000-04:00

"I greatly enjoyed the "My Fair Brady" wedding special, and give it one thumb way, way up"

2006-07-30T02:45:00.000-04:00

Here's the IM field. When last I was here there was no fence, and no baseball blacksplash thing. Wesley and I went out to play catch and frisbee toss. We also invented a new game, that were it to catch on, would lead to many concussions and probably a law suit or two. Its like taking a soccer pentaly kick, but with a baseball. And you throw the baseball. An no one has helments. And the batting cage you're using as a goal has sharp spikes. And its like 103 degrees outside. It was awesome.

2006-07-30T02:42:00.000-04:00

"He's my very very bestest friend...."

2006-07-30T02:41:00.000-04:00

Here's a picture of a new building on APSU's campus. It isn't yet completed, but it sure looks nice anyway, eh? There's gonna be a swimming pool, and a track, and all kinds of crap. There's a fence around it to keep out people, 'cause its a constuction site, and the building's not completed. And Stuff.

2006-07-30T02:40:00.000-04:00

This certainly isn't a picture that anyone took while being inside a building that wasn't yet completed.

2006-07-30T02:39:00.000-04:00

Belinda, Ricky, Nancy, and I attended the Jeff Fisher celebrity softball game. I mainly went to see Chris Mason and Tomas Vokoun. Mission accomplished. (See Below.)

2006-07-30T02:38:00.000-04:00

Rudy Calis on the left, a local newsreporter in Nashville. I put him here because he once snubbed my friend Wesley. One day Calis, you'll feel the wrath of the Space Barber.

2006-07-30T02:37:00.000-04:00

The future of the Titans. Vince Young before he was officially a Multi-millionaire. He signed autographs for a long time, but I didn't have a football or anything (except a puck, see below), so I didn't even try. Seemed like a nice guy though.

2006-07-30T02:36:00.000-04:00

Tomas Vokoun's thinking about coming to sign autographs, he'll come closer, but totally ignore me...

2006-07-30T02:35:00.000-04:00

I think it was at this point, I yelled to the crowd "C'mon! I brought a puck people!!!" I mean they were getting Mason and Vokoun to sign footballs and crap. Seriously. It didn't help.

2006-07-30T02:34:00.000-04:00

Tomas Vokoun, ignoring my pleas for an autograph.

2006-07-30T02:33:00.000-04:00

Here I am talking to a wonderful little girl who used her cuteness powers to get Mason and Vokoun to sign my puck. She was wonderful, and I'd give her a dollar if I could.

2006-07-30T02:32:00.001-04:00

The Tomas Vokoun signed side of the puck, you can tell I'm happy because of the sweat.

2006-07-30T02:32:00.000-04:00

The Chris Mason signed side of the puck, the sad face is because at the time I believed him to be leaving the team within a week.

2006-07-30T02:31:00.001-04:00

Here's Belinda brightening up what would otherwise be a grey day.

2006-07-30T02:31:00.000-04:00

Vokoun: So what are the lines for again?

Mason: Look, I'm here to play, I'm sorry that they don't have baseball in the Czech Republic, but we have it in Canada, eh!

2006-07-30T02:29:00.000-04:00

Look, Steve McNair and Vince Young on the same team at the same time. It was fun while it lasted. (They did a thing were each of them pitched to the other before the 'game' it was entertaining.)

2006-07-30T02:28:00.001-04:00

Chris Mason, Predator's backup goalie, has very hairy arms.

2006-07-30T02:28:00.000-04:00

He's pretty big for a SS.

2006-07-30T02:27:00.001-04:00

"I think Steve McNair is blurry that's the problem. Somewhere in Baltimore there's this large out of focus quarterback running around, and that's extra scary to me."

2006-07-30T02:27:00.000-04:00

No comment.

2006-07-30T02:26:00.001-04:00

Look at me, I'm about to be devoured by a giant miscolored sabretooth tiger head.

2006-07-30T02:26:00.000-04:00

It's the floor of the Predator's locker room. It's all I hoped it'd be.

2006-07-30T02:25:00.000-04:00

Tomas Vokoun standing behind the Yellow Page's cover. You can tell he's stopping pucks with his eyes.

I suck at making updates.

2006-05-27T22:29:00.000-04:00

Eventually I'll get better at updating this thing, because I go weeks at a time without writing. Basically I just don't think I have enough interesting things going on to warrant writing about. Basically since school's been out, I've just been sitting around playing Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion with Dix, and reading books I haven't had time to read during the school year. I finished "The Stand" and now I'm working on "Haunted" by Chuck Pala-unspellable, aka the guy who wrote "Fight Club."

Other than that, the Braves are turning it around, 3.5 games back of the Mets. The Predators lost in the first round (as expected without Vokoun).

On the plus side, the Preds did resign Marek Zidlicky, so that's good. I think they'll have a good chance next year. Well, as long as Vokoun's blood returns to normal.

One thing that I've been thinking about doing, though I probably don't have the motivation, is writing again. I actually feel like I have a story in me that needs to get out, and yes, I'm sure it's not gas. Who knows. I may get something outta my brain onto the screen soon. We'll see.
Well, till next time. Which might be a while.

Me Writer, me write good.

2006-04-17T13:13:00.000-04:00

Well, Mac, over at BravesJournal.com recently had a sonnet contest to ridicule the Braves' new pitching coach. My 4 years of studying English paid off and I won. I got to compose a Fun Mets Fact, and I get a book full of SEC stats. Wooohooo. Anyway, here's the poem, preserved for all time via the magic of the Internet:

Riding into Atlanta, the Sienfeldian second spitter
Only he can replace Leo, the front office said
Giving advice to vets and rookies to try and go challenge the hitter
ERAs just rise, while each fan bangs his head.

Reality has set in, in this the second week
A Brave starter still hasn't recorded a win
McDowell sucks, in fact he actually reaks
Can't a pitcher get an out? Someone pass the Gin

Don't think we've forgotten Leo here in Atlanta
Oh he was the best, now we're stuck with Rog
We know the McDowell era will require gallons of Mylanta
Even he knows if this keeps up he'll have to get out of Dodge.

Leo why have you forsaken us?
Like we didn't suffer enough with the Ortiz known as Russ.

I've got a boo-boo.

2006-04-10T18:46:00.000-04:00

Those of you that know me well, know that I'm a big sports fan. The above pictures show two of my favorite players on two of my favorite teams. Chipper Jones of the Atlanta Braves, and Tomas Vokoun of the Nashville Predators. In the last 24 hours both of them have been lost to me. Don't get me wrong, they didn't die. (Though Vokoun was close). For Jones he may only be out a week or 4, but Vokoun is out for the remainder of the season and the playoffs. Losing Chipper hurts, but the Braves have a capable back-up at 3rd in Wilson Betemit, and baseball is a long season, so losing Chipper for a month or two isn't that big of a deal.

But Vokoun. H-O-L-Y H-E-L-L.

Tomas was the best player on the team, in the most important position in hockey. One of the top 5 or so at his position in the world. He was *THE* reason the Predators finished as high as they have. (4th at the moment, possibly 5th by the end of the year.) With Vokoun the Predators were dangerous, a team no one wanted to play as he had the capability of taking over a series shutting them down. Without Vokoun the Predators have to rest their hopes on Chris Mason. Mason's a fine goalie for a back-up, and one you don't mind playing in 10 games or so throughout the year. Definately not a guy you feel comfortable with as your #1 netminder in the playoffs.

I think what has me most upset is the amount of effort I've put into this team over the past season. Though I live in Athens, I actually made it to 5 games this year (We went 3-2, with one shutout in those games), and I've listened to just about everygame through NHL.com's radio broadcasts. And I watched all the Predators games broadcast on OLN (both of them). It was a lot of effort, but it was worth it, even now. Its just sad that it ends here. I thought the Predators had a chance to make some real noise in the playoffs. Perhaps getting to the Conference Finals, and with an outside chance of getting to *The* Finals. Now, I have no faith that that'll happen. I'm beginning to doubt the Predators will win more than a couple of games in the first round. I would have liked to have watched (listened to?) a few playoff games with hope, now that's not gonna happen. The Predator's season is over.

There's always next year I guess.

(Oh, and if Chris Mason somehow goes out there, rises to the next level, and wins the Conn Smythe or something; I'll eat a penny. That doesn't sound like much, but you should know, I'm deathly afraid of copper.)

Two, four, six, eight, whatdoyaknow, I did an update.

2006-03-05T17:20:00.000-05:00

Hey everyone its update time! When all else fails just post a bunch of pics. Seriously, I've had complaints from numerous (ok, 2) people about my lack of updates, so here we are. Above is a picture of Belinda and I, along with David and Emma Dix in a bar in Nashville before the Predators/Red Wings game on January 3rd. The Predators lost, but I got to wear my yellow Vokoun jersey to a game, so I consider that pretty even all things considered. Belinda is looking beautiful in her Kimmo Timonen #44. Beside that day, the most exciting day for Belinda and I recently was a couple of weeks ago, when we had planned to go to the zoo to, y'know look at animals and stuff. I didn't realize it from the directions, but the zoo is basically right next to Turner Field (home to the 1995 World Champion Atlanta Braves). Driving past Turner Field, we noticed a ton of people and signs indicating that that day was the 2006 winter fan fest. Belinda, being sweet as she is, insisted that we go there after the zoo. Pictures are below. Enjoy. Oh, and I've just got two comments on these pictures I've just posted. This was done in reverse order, so whoever you are, you should really come back up and read this one first then go down.

2006-03-05T17:12:00.000-05:00

It's staring into your soul. Beware!

2006-03-05T17:11:00.002-05:00

Panda-rific.

2006-03-05T17:11:00.001-05:00

Belinda, in front of a Panda.

2006-03-05T17:11:00.000-05:00

Panda.

2006-03-05T17:10:00.001-05:00

Just in case you didn't believe me, here's electronic proof that we were at Winter Fan Fest 2006.

2006-03-05T17:10:00.000-05:00

Here's the actual bench from Fulton County Stadium. Not too comfy, but now my butt has been where some of my favorite player's butts have been. How many people can say that?

2006-03-05T17:08:00.000-05:00

Four MVP Awards. Dale Murphy's are in the back row left and right. Chipper's is middle in the back, and Terry Pendelton's is in front. Fred McGriff's All-star MVP is the crystal thingee on the right.

2006-03-05T17:07:00.000-05:00

Here's Chipper Jone's 1999 MVP Award. I always imagined them as being more impressive.

2006-03-05T17:06:00.000-05:00

Here I am posing with my free foam tomahawk, and the 1995 World Series Trophy.

2006-03-05T17:05:00.001-05:00

Here's Belinda posing next to the 1995 World Series Trophy.

2006-03-05T17:05:00.000-05:00

The Brave's 1995 World Series Trophy. Makes me happy and sad at the same time.

2006-03-05T17:04:00.000-05:00

Brave's Pitcher John Thomson telling Brave's commentator Joe Simpson that his finger grew back just fine after last year.

2006-03-05T17:03:00.000-05:00

Brave's commentator Joe Simpson, asking Braves Relief Pitcher Joey Devine how it felt to give up a grandslam in each of his first two MLB appearances.

Generic December Post

2005-12-21T16:52:00.000-05:00

Well, I have a lot to write about, not much time, and really nothing interesting to say. Let me first say happy holidays to all of you. No matter what you celebrate, I hope you do it happily, even if its just going to Hawaii to visit your brother, have fun.

Secondly, my birthday was last Friday, and it was nice. I finally got a phone that works well, and a Tomas Vokoun jersey is on its way. (Would've been here sooner, but he's just so freakin' popular, y'know? :)) I also got to spend the evening with my friends, drinking watching movies (Miracle and The 40 Year-Old Virgin), and generally having a fun time. It was much better than my 5th or 6th birthday when no one showed up because there was a Christmas Pagent that day.

The next thing to note is that Belinda and I went to see King Kong the weekend after my brithday, and as we're sitting there, I see Alex Scherr sitting down in a row in front of me. Now, I don't acutally know the guy, but he's the director of the civil clinics at school, so I've seen him around, and I know he's seen me. I don't aknowlege him, and he returns the favor. Shortly thereafter though, I see none other than Professor Brussack walking up the row and sitting somewhere behind me. I know Brussack as I had taken his Law and The Information Age class just this semester. I don't think he knows me, but after the movie I said hi to him in the lobby before getting out of there. (In an unrelated note, the next day Belinda and I were in Target, and I saw my Trusts and Estates professor in there, Sarajane Love. I was like a law professor magnet that weekend)

Next order of business is this upcoming weekend. Belinda and I are leaving for Nashville on Friday, and coming back on Tuesday. In the middle we're planning a trip up to Metropolis IL, where, barring me chickening out at the last minute, I plan on playing some poker against people who aren't my friends, for more than $5 at a time. Wish me luck. We would be coming back sooner than Tuesday, but I actually have a Call Back interview that day in Clarksville, TN. I'm a little nervous, but I'm just gonna be myself, and hope that I'm what they're looking for.

The twenty-second day of the eleventh month, of the..... look it's 2005, got it?

2005-11-22T18:30:00.000-05:00

So. Its over. The 3rd semester of law school that is. Oh, its not really over. Won't be for another 3 weeks or so as exams begin to suck my will to live out my ear. But hey, I've got Q-tips to plug them up, so I should be fine.

Yesterday the Predators' and the Red Wings' game was cancelled because a Red Wings player, Jiri Fischer, has a seizure on the bench, and had to be hospitaled (that's a word now, by the way) away. I was disappointed to not have a game, but I understand why they stopped, and I hope that Jiri gets well soon.

Now, back to today. As I'm sure you all know the X-Box 360 came out today. I know, I'm excited too. Of course, I don't think any exist as I haven't seen a non-store-display model.

One thing that was released today that I did pick up was the new System of a Down album. I high recommend it, and I say that no matter what your taste in music is. I mean its probably "harder" than most of what you listen to, (That's a general statement, but knowing the people who read this, I feel confident making it.) but good music is good music. Anyway, that leads me to this, which I hope works. Click and enjoy. Just don't have your sound all the way up.

Doing (Out)lines....

2005-11-17T10:38:00.000-05:00

Another semester here at UGA law is winding down, and that means, of course, more work than should be foisted upon mortal man. Or woman. Really though, its not too bad. I've outlines done in two of my more detailed classes, and the rest should be realativly easy to finish up. Of course finding time to actually study them will be a little tougher.

Classes end on next Tuesday (22nd, also the launch date of the new X-Box 360). Then on Wednesday night, Belinda and I head up to Nashville to spend Thanksgiving with her family. (And attend the Predators v. Kings came at the GEC. Lets go Preds!) On Friday Belinda has a day of spending money planned with her mother, as I stay at her parent's house and study as much as I can.

On Saturday I'm not too sure what my plans are during the day, but that night, if things go as planned I'll be attending the Preds v. Stars game with Wesley. Should be a good long weekend. My first test is on the following Wednesday, but since we're coming back on Sunday, I'm not too worried about everything being ok. My health-law exam is a take home, and I'll probably pick it up that Friday, and turn it in on Monday, which is the day of my Info Age exam.. Next is Copyright, but I'm not sure of the day, then I finish up with Trusts and Estates on the 14th. Two whole days before I turn 25. I've got an exciting month ahead. Here's hoping I don't blow it.

Oh, I also had a phone interview the other day with a firm in Clarksville. The partner also went to APSU for undergrad, which is nice. I think it went well, but who really knows in these things? You can be sure that if and when I hear anything positive I'll post it here. After telling Belinda of course. ;)

I'm gonna go post a pic or two now, but since they'll be above, you already know that. Unless you're reading this before I've posted, in which case, hit refresh. It's really that easy.

UPDATE: I can't get Hello to connect to the internet, so no pics for a while. Stop hitting refresh.

Ring-ing in David's 25th year

2005-11-02T15:14:00.000-05:00

My friend David Dix's birthday was this last Friday. As I wrote him on his "card" congrats on having made it through another year without... dying. It was a fun evening. In attendance were: Me, Belinda, DavidD, Emma, DavidG, Marci, Anna, Nick, Amy, Shawn, Anuj, and Justin. I really hope I didn't forget someone. There were drinks and food at TransMet. And then Drinks and Pool at some other bar. There was a near trip to a boob bar, but it was never made. There was a trip back to the SAD(Shawn, Anuj, David) house. There were a few games of Twister. I declared myself all-time spinner, and proceded to watch everyone get.. well, twisted up. Highlites include Dix cheating by sitting for his entire go-around, and Anuj screaming "You don't know who you're messing with, I do Yoga" at one point.

After everyone was twisted out, we were searching for something else to do. Someone suggested Volleyball, and despite it being 1:00AM, and 65 degrees outside, everyone was all for it. We split up into teams, and play commenced. Not 5 minutes into the game, after hitting the ball, I felt my ring fly off. I stopped and told everyone what happened. Then all of my wonderful friends took time off to dig through the freezing sand to find my ring, and after about 20 minutes of searching.... we had nothing.

Belinda and I decided at that point to head to Wal-Mart and buy a metal detector. We found one, and bought the cheapest model they had (A not-so-cheap $100). We made it back to the court, my, again, wonderful friends still waiting for us. Shawn and I put the thing together Anuj took it onto the court. (Nick: "Why are we letting Anuj do it? Is it because he's never failed at anything before?") Within seconds, literally less than 10, there's beeping. I dig under the detector and there it is, my ring, as right as it ever was.

That ended the night, as it was now 2:30, and everyone was ready for bed. I thanked everyone and Belinda and I headed off. Now, there's a part two, but I don't have time to write it now, I'll get to it when I do. So there.

2005-10-27T11:01:00.000-04:00

This is my Brother-in-law Ricky. He was jealous because there were no pictures of him below. If he'd just went to the hockey game with us there would have been pics. So its his fault. Either way here he is, hard at work.

7-0-0

2005-10-23T15:41:00.000-04:00

Well, this weekend was fun, but I don't know if I could do it again. At least not the same way. Belinda and I drove up to Nashville on Saturday, watched the Predators down the San Jose Sharks 2-1, and then drove back to Athens getting home at about 5:30AM.

I had fun, and I think Belinda did too. The Preds didn't play well, and probably should have lost, but Tomas Vokoun, the Predators' goalie, just wouldn't let it happen. He played out of his mind, and stole a win for the Preds.

There was one scary moment in the game, when Vokoun took a puck to the throat. His head snapped back, he fell, somehow pushed the puck to the corner before collapsing motionless on the ice. The entire arena fell silent in unison, as all of us feared the worse. Very fortunatly for us, he got up after a few minutes, and actually finished the game. Now, I'm as big a Scott Hartnell fan as anyone, but Vokoun was the #1 star of the game in my book, for stopping 37 of 38 shots and coming back after taking a 90 something MPH slapshot to the neck and still going.

Pictures from the game are below. Enjoy. Or not. Whatever. ;)

2005-10-23T15:40:00.000-04:00

Belinda's dad and I before the game. Look at how happy we are with the Pred's 6-0(which turned into a 7-0) start.

2005-10-23T15:39:00.000-04:00

Belinda's dad and I before the game from further away.

2005-10-23T15:38:00.001-04:00

Belinda outside the arena before the game.

2005-10-23T15:38:00.000-04:00

The Predators erected a puck wall (6 walls actually) to honor the season ticket holders who kept tickets throughout the lockout.

2005-10-23T15:37:00.000-04:00

Its a bit fuzzy, but here's Belinda's dad's puck. He's been a Predators Season ticket holder since 1998, the team's first year.

2005-10-23T15:36:00.000-04:00

Here's Belinda's dad standing next to his puck on the wall. His puck is close to Former Titan's Tight End Frank Wycheck. Belinda was very excited.

2005-10-23T15:35:00.000-04:00

Here's a pic of me as we walked down low to watch the Preds warm up before the game. I have some kind of crazy-eye thing going on.

2005-10-23T15:34:00.000-04:00

A pic of Belinda as we're going down close to the ice.

2005-10-23T15:33:00.001-04:00

This is a better pic of me. One day I'd like to have seats this close for an actual game.

2005-10-23T15:33:00.000-04:00

#29 Tomas Vokoun leads the Preds out to the pre-game warm-up.

2005-10-23T15:32:00.001-04:00

#30 Chris Mason, Vokoun's back-up, warmed up right in front of us, which was pretty cool.

2005-10-23T15:32:00.000-04:00

#29 Tomas Vokoun practicing getting hit with a puck.

2005-10-23T15:31:00.000-04:00

#24 Scott Walker with #2 Dan Hamhuis in the background. I really like this picture, but that's just me.

2005-10-23T15:30:00.000-04:00

Belinda and I during the game. Aren't we cute?

2005-10-16T16:54:00.000-04:00

What follows are pictures from the day I recently spent at Rock City.

2005-10-16T16:52:00.000-04:00

Here I am with the cutest girl in the world(Belinda came in #2), Kyra Finch, on my shoulders. For a further example of her cuteness: earlier this year we went to visit family in Nashville, and she lost her Kazoo. I was in the family room alone, looking up baseball stats or some-such, and we had the following conversation: Kyra: "Kazzo? Kazzzooooo?" Me: "Kyra, why are you yelling for your Kazoo? Do you think it'll answer you?" Kyra: "No, silly, it doesn't talks" Me: "Then why are you yelling for it?" Kyra: "Cause its LOST!"

2005-10-16T16:41:00.001-04:00

Belinda, looking very Green.

2005-10-16T16:41:00.000-04:00

My mother in law Nancy Wilson.

2005-10-16T16:40:00.001-04:00

Here you can see the corn "maize" that we went to later in the day.

2005-10-16T16:40:00.000-04:00

I think this thing is lying. I don't really think its possible to see Kentucky from there.

2005-10-16T16:39:00.000-04:00

I don't know why I look so angry in this picture.

2005-10-16T16:38:00.001-04:00

Belinda, getting an eye-full.

2005-10-16T16:38:00.000-04:00

I call this one, "Granville at Rest."

2005-10-16T16:37:00.000-04:00

The Finch family minus one. Belinda's brother Chris in the back, his wife and son Kylie and Chasten in front.

Poker? I hardly know her.

2005-10-14T20:48:00.000-04:00

Ahhh, I'm feeling punny today. Not that that's much different than normal. Can you smell that in the air? Its Hockey! Now, I know its not as popular as football, baseball, NASCAR, basketball, soccer, or cricket, its still my second favorite sport, so yay for me.

In other news, I still have not a job. I've taken Anuj's advice and set up an Excel sheet to help me get organized for my impending resume bomb. Shotgun is probably a better term as I'm gonna just lauch resumes like buck-shot and maybe take down a deer. Or something I lost the metaphor in mid sentence, basically umm, I think I'm gonna kill deer for a living now. Which I don't think is correct, but it makes as much sense as anything else right now.

Oh, as for the title of this entry, "the guys"(Dix, Gussio, Shawn, Anuj, & I. Justin too if he would show up) have started giving five dollars back and forth to each other. That is we've started a semi-regular poker game. So far, I'm up $5, and Dix is up $10. Shawn is down $10, Anuj is down $5. Gussio wins the boring player award and is even. Its actually a lot of fun, even if it reduces us into thinking of $.50 as a huge bet. Oh, and the fact us none of us really know what we're doing, so we're improving slowly.

Heading out to Chattanooga tomorrow to meet up with Belinda's family, and got to Lookout Mountain and maybe the Aquarium or something. Should be fun. I may have pictures. No promises.

Look I've updated again!

Yup, I'm cool.

2005-09-19T14:40:00.000-04:00

Things are moving. To what end, or which way I'm unsure, but move things do. I had a second interview Friday. I feel like it went really well, but who can say? I was in there with a lawyer/negotiator, whom I'm sure is good at making people feel good about themselves. We'll know if/when I get a call back. I'm not holding my breath, but I feel good as of right now. I'll let you know how it goes.

At this point I'll describe the interview process for those of you lucky enough to not be in law school. First you look at firms that are interviewing, and then send your resumes to the ones who you think might want to interview you. Doubtless you'll get an interview or two. (If I had two, I'm sure that most people get many more than that). Then, after that, if the interviewer likes you enough, I'm told that you will go on what's called a "call-back" interview, where you go to the firm's office, and get interviewed by another 6-8 people or so. If these people like you enough, then you may, I'm told, get offered, an, ummm offer. The offer is for summer employment, for me it'd be for 2006. If one has the summer employment, and does the job well enough, and is likeable enough, then one should get the "offer, offer." Meaning an offer for real employment. Serious grown up job stuff.

Its really stressful, but its the way things are. What if one doesn't obtain employment this way? I have no idea. If worse comes to worse, I can always start my own practice, right? I have a feeling that wouldn't be a good idea, but there's gotta be someone out-there that would hire me, right?

If you're a lawfirm looking to hire a summer associate, send a resume request to: granville.powers@gmail.com You won't be dissapointed, unless you wanted someone in the top 50% of the class. If so, you'll be very dissapointed.

In closing, the Braves are on their way to the playoffs, Disturbed has a new CD coming out soon. Oh and the Titans won a game. Yay.

When all else fails...

2005-08-31T20:07:00.000-04:00

So what's one to do when one runs out of things to do? Why update one's blog of course. Of course now the problem is finding things to write about.

School sucks. Well, I mean its not school that sucks I guess, just my reaction to it. It just feels so, blah. I don't know if its just my classes, or my schedule, or maybe just my personality, but this semester seems to be dragging by already. And its only the third week.

Blah.

This weekend is looking up. First of all its a long weekend, which is always nice. Secondly, my brother-in-law is coming down from Nashville to go to a couple of baseball games this weekend. Poor guy is a Reds fan. Keep him in your thoughts. Of course what sucks is that by the time this weekend rolls around, gas will cost $12.95 a gallon. At that rate 2 trips to Atlanta will cost me... Um slightly less that $3,000. I didn't do the math, its just a rough guess.

Blah.

I guess I should be thankful for what I have. A loving wife, a good group of friends, my health (such as it is). I mean I've got one hand in my pocket, and the other's giving a victory sign. So to speak. But its human nature to complain. Ever notice that? No matter how great things are for someone, he or she will always find something wrong. Of course what one guy may see as a problem, others would see as a boon. But that doesn't make it any less of a problem for the first guy. I'd like to think that most of my problems are money related. That if I could just win the lottery, most of my problems would go away. Sure, I'd be out of debt, able to buy a home, and not have to worry about working for the rest of my life, but there would be some problem that would take over my life. Of course, having said that, if anyone has an extra $20-30 million lying around, send me an e-mail, and we'll test my theory. Any takers? No?

Blah.

All of that said, I have to just relax and see where life takes me.

I hear Blahvegas is nice this time of year.

I'm funny dernit.

2005-08-25T19:01:00.000-04:00

I don't want to be one of those people, but I took this quiz today and felt the need to share. Enjoy 'n stuff

Update: I know it looks like crap. I said I was funny not good at this stuff. You can decifer it.

the Wit

(71% dark, 34% spontaneous, 26% vulgar)

your humor style:
CLEAN | COMPLEX | DARK

You like things edgy, subtle, and smart. I guess that means you're
probably an intellectual, but don't take that to mean pretentious. You
realize 'dumb' can be witty--after all isn't that the Simpsons'
philosophy?--but rudeness for its own sake, 'gross-out' humor and most
other things found in a fraternity leave you totally flat.

I guess you just have a more cerebral approach than most. You have the perfect mindset for a joke writer or staff writer.

Your sense of humor takes the most thought to appreciate, but it's also the best, in my opinion.

You probably loved the Office. If you don't know what I'm
talking about, check it out here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/comedy/theoffice/.

PEOPLE LIKE YOU: Jon Stewart - Woody Allen - Ricky Gervais

My test tracked 3 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender:

You scored higher than 91% on dark
You scored higher than 18% on spontaneous
You scored higher than 24% on vulgar

One fish, Two fish, Blowfish, Bluefish

2005-08-21T21:06:00.000-04:00

Well, it has been a while, and I think Wesley has endured enough having his picture at the top of this page, so here I am making another post.

Things have been happening recently, but obviously I haven't thought any of them important enough to write about.

Nevertheless, here we are.

School started last week, and it didn't suck. I got called on in Trust and Estates on Friday, but I didn't embarrass myself, which is always a plus. It was good to see everyone again, though I don't see everyone as much as I did last year. Except for Shawn, Dix, and Anuj. The four of us have every class together, but we're not too sick of each other yet.

Second year, for me anyway, is more laid back. (Not having any journal work to do helps there.) I'm not living in fear before every class. One thing I do live in fear of is interviews. I worry first of all, about not getting any. And if I do happen to get any, I've had one so far, I'm even more frightened. Whether its getting an interview, then a job, or just generally having to move on to 'real' life, I'm scared to death.

As Anuj often says, "everyone gets a job," of course I know that's true, in theory. And while my grades aren't Anuj caliber, I'm not at the bottom of the class, so I'm pretty sure I'll be one of the 98% of the people employed at nine months. Knock on wood.

In other news, Belinda has a new job that she's liking much more than her old one. Its much closer to home, which means I actually get to see her now, which is nice. Hopefully she can relax more and be happier than she was last year.

I think that's good for a post. These will be coming more regularly again as being back in school gives me more to write about.

2005-07-19T20:03:00.000-04:00

Here's Wesley inside his room. It isn't the best pic of him, as it was like midnight at this point, and I didn't give him any warning I was taking a pic. So to repay him, I'm uploading it last so it'll be on top of this page for a while. You're welcome buddy!

2005-07-19T19:58:00.000-04:00

The new campus maps. APSU has a lot of money now thanks to the lottery. And they've spent that money on signs. Way to Go. ("Way to Go" was actually our school's slogan for a while, so that's extra funny if you knew that. Otherwise its just normal funny)

2005-07-19T19:57:00.000-04:00

Here's Harned. My school's English/history building. It used to be a dorm way back in the day, so all the classrooms are really tiny. Good building though, there was a balcony to hang out on between classes. In the forground there is a sinkhole that had a stone ring built around it, and now they're putting colored rocks down there to form a giant AP. Not a good idea.

2005-07-19T19:54:00.000-04:00

Here's Wesley and Jason Jackson "working" checking people out of a summer camp at one of the dorms. I think Jason was making that face because of the guy wearing a "Straight Pride" shirt around him. Or it might've been my hair. It was really bad that day.

2005-07-19T19:53:00.000-04:00

Inside my RA room. Not as cool without me there. Oh, I should mention I could get in all these rooms cause Wesley had the master key and with it comes powers unfathomable to normal men. Or at least he could just open all the doors.

2005-07-19T19:52:00.000-04:00

Here's the room I had as an RA. Best. Room. Ever. It was right next to the huge water heater, so in the morning I didn't have to wait forever for hot water, and I had a private Bathroom.