I'm tired and sleepy. What I wouldn't give for a nap right now...

NP: Tooth & Nail Rock Sampler, vol. 1

To add insult to injury, so to speak...this older gentleman came early for an appointment--as in over an hour early--and is sitting in our waiting area. He is asleep. I am jealous.

Oh, believe me, I had more comments. I was on the phone for quite a while, for one, then also Blogger decided to do a server update so Chris and I never finished.

I did forget to comment on the Coldplay thing. I didn't have the volume turned up very loud as I was on the phone at that point, but I thought it was really quite well done. I'm not really a huge Coldplay fan--I don't love them but I don't dislike them--but I thought it was pretty cool they got to do that.

The Clash Tribute was great, I thought. Amazing, even. I got very very excited about it. Elvis Costello, Springsteen, Dave Grohl, Mick Jones...that was wonderful. I wish they'd done another song or two, but I was happy they did what they did.

Norah Jones got what, 8 Grammies? Wow.

I was actually rather enjoying the a capella renditions of BeeGees tunes until Justin started beatboxing and they did "Stayin' Alive" to it. Way to ruin a great song, guys.
Anyone remember that N-Trance remix version a few years ago? Yeah, I bought the single.

At this point, it's safe to say the only reason I'm still watching is to catch the Eminem performance.

Hollah.

This is great! The Charley Patton boxed set won several Grammies!!!

I'd rather have that for my birthday than the Norah Jones cd. Of course, it's more expensive. The Clash movie won one, too.

The Blind Boys of Alabama won one, too. I love them.

These all make me not even care that the remix of "Hella Good" won.

I love you, Eryka Badu. I especially love your eye tattoo and 'fro.

It's about time they honored Alan Lomax. He has shaped American Music as much as anyone else.

Okay, I am done being on the phone. I had an eye on the Grammy Awards and it all looked pretty boring.

Robin Williams, I can't stand.

BRUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCE!

Avrile is too punk rock for an earpiece. Hence her flatness.

BREAK OUT THE ADVIL!

Avrile is on!

Divine and Rod Stewart are perhaps the most bizarre pairing I have ever seen.

I must say I have always really enjoyed this piece from West Side Story.

btw, Joel is going to be on the phone for a few minutes.

hehehehehe

I REEEEALLY want Willie Nelson to win Best Country Album.

Also: I can't hear that Alan Jackson 9/11 song without thinking of the South Park parody. Classic.

yeah. I never thought Id like their album...but it's so good

I can't consider myself a Dixie Chicks fan, but I respect the fact that the girls play guitar, mandolin, and banjo themselves for the onstage performance. This song is great and I was afraid they would ruin it, but I've realized they don't.

hahahahaha

maybe the two of them and John mayer just got back from Wonderland

Why did they zoom to Marc Anthony right after Eminem's speech? Is there significance here?

Also, the announcer's right. I wouldn't miss the tribute to the BeeGees if my life depended on it.

well he won at least

hell yea

Plus he alway says the darndest things.

The best rapper of this "best album" bunch by far is Eminem. The rest of these guys are nothing but exaggerated stereotypes.

OK dude Im really hoping Eminem wins here

god what a cocky bastard

heh. yeah.

bleah

She and P.Diddy are trying so hard to not be boring, but they can't quite pull it off.

However, Sting gets my vote

OK I can dig Craig David

heh. Kim Cattrall is cool, though I can't think of her anything other than the Sex and the City whore

Yeah totally. I need to buy some of his early albums
My mom used to play Sweet Baby James when I was a kid to help me sleep

I dig James Taylor. I'm into that whole 70's singer/songwriter thing....

he goes to Sea World on both coasts, too

yea shocking isn't it

this thing needs to update faster

hahahahahahaha

So in other words, Chris, his wonderlands include both DisneyWorld on one coast and DisneyLand on the other?

aww here's the token old musician playing

For the Record, I can't stand John Mayer.
I promise I will never tell anyone I date that her body is a wonderland. And I pray to God I never look that smug.

supposedly John Mayer plays for both teams

"Funkifyingly Delicious."
I gotta hand it to you, Paul...

hehehehehe
there it is

Paul Shaffer: Little White Pimp.

That's great, Chris...hehehe.
I actually was pretty against them singing that song, but it's grown on me, for better or worse.

Commercial Highlights:
Willie Nelson making fun of his tax problems.
Tiffany Amber Thiesen plugging McDonald's. Beats the unemployment line, I guess.

because, you know, the dixie chicks are never going to sing "Landslide" again after tonight

oooh...once in a lifetime performances by Nelly, The Dixie Chicks and Springsteen!

she looks like the vegas hooker on CSI last week
except, well not dead

I'm taking Faith Hill's performance as my opportunity to rid myself of the coffee I've been drinking to stay awake in order to work on my Rhetoric homework (which yes, is getting done while I'm doing this).

even though the whole, "britney's older sister" look is hot, being a slut doesn't become her

I used to like faith hill Im sorry to say

haha

Second Prediction of the Night: Marc Anthony's appearance on the Grammy Awards will spark the renewed popularity of "the Molester Moustache."

I like her but they play her to DEATH
I can't listen to her
but I knew she'd win

First Prediction of the Night: In 5 years, Justin Timberlake will no longer be seen as "flirty hot young guy" and will be regarded as "dirty old man."

pop will always be a dirty word

I'd really like to see Norah Jones' popularity segue into a deeper mainstream appreciation for a rather classic jazz vocal, simple yet beautiful style. You know, bands like Spain and that sort. Unfortunately, we'll just see ripoffs.

I have to admit, I really dig Norah Jones. Her piano playing is really quite classic and her vocals....they smoke me. Thank God someone's adding some class tonight. Incidentally, my birthday is in a week and I still don't have her record. Just Sayin'.

Hey, this announcer is the guy from the David Letterman show!

Those drug commercials suck.

True enough, Chris.
Don't worry, though, we'll get our chance to see N'SYNC later.
That part of the show will be called "When Joel Gazes Into The Lava Lamp A Former Roommate Left for 3 Minutes."

who are they?

I didn't catch them
I had to run out of the room quick

yeah she even jumps like Madonna

I CAN'T BELIEVE NO DOUBT BEAT BOWLING FOR SOUP!
(who?)

OK I have to say Id rather see Gwen Stefani and gang over say, NSYNC

heh..."velvet overground"? I cant think of anything witty but that doesn't begin to describe it

mmm....Lou Reed.
Ironic they have him announcing "pop" nominations.

Gwen Stefani has taken her Madonna obsession way too far.
Does anyone out there remember when No Doubt was a ska band?

And yes, I do get the connection of S&G and Dustin Hoffman (The Graduate, for those who don't know).

I've been told by several people that I look like a young Art Garfunkel. If I look that good when I'm his age, I'll be very happy.

There's no better way to start any show than with Dustin Hoffman, then Simon & Garfunkel.

Okay, time for "Joel Blogs The Grammies."
This could be fun, incredibly lame, or just plain boring.

This weekend, Christopher Walken is hosting SNL. You should watch it. He's always hilarious on there, though the "Continental" recurring sketch sometimes goes on a bit too long.

Right now I am listening to a 2CD compilation that sort of chronicles some highlights from Sony-related label bands and artists over about the last 40 years. The compilation starts and ends with Dylan, so it's got my heart. There's some great stuff on here, some of it fairly obscure (like the The Remains song that has become one of my favorites and "Omaha" by Moby Grape), some of it not. Lots of "classic rock" but the comp definitely isn't bound to that ideal, thank God.
A few highlights:

"Subterranean Homesick Blues" by Dylan. Can't start a set any better. Followed by the Byrds' version of Dylan's "Mr. Tambourine Man."
"Why Do I Cry" by The Remains. This is THE PERFECT POP SONG. You need to hear this...it's amazing. These guys should have made it huge.
"All the Young Dudes" by Mott the Hoople. This is an anthem that sits amongst the best.
"Raw Power" by Iggy & The Stooges. You can't name a song after their sound any better.
"(Don't Fear) The Reaper," Blue Oyster Cult. "I've got a fever and the only cure is more cowbell." (from an earlier appearance by Christopher Walken on SNL)
"Surrender" by Cheap Trick. They managed to get this one really really right. Another great anthem from the period that was before hair band rock but already had the attitude.
"Paradise by the Dashboard Light," Meat Loaf. I'm not sure what it is about this, but I love it. Michial and I make it a point to listen to it every time we get together. Clever lines, operatic elements...it's great.
"Pump it Up" by Elvis Costello. I think this song takes the formula Dylan used vocally (fast stream-of-consciousness spitting out lyrics) and shows a unique way of going about it within a song.
"London Calling" by The Clash. Once again we hear perfection.
"Don't Stop Believin'," Journey. Ultimate Cheese, yet I can't lay off. By the time this song climaxes, I'm singing along a la Chris Farley and David Spade in Tommy Boy.
"No More Tears," Ozzy Osbourne. I'll admit it, I just like listening to Ozzy.
"Runaway Train," Soul Asylum. I was all about this song when it came out, and haven't ever stopped loving it. It expresses a certain emotion so brilliantly. I wish I had a buck for every time I've sung along to this song in the car.
"Black," by Pearl Jam. Eddie Vedder's vocals haven't ever been better or more expressive. The music in this song fits it perfectly.
"Killing in the Name," Rage Against The Machine. So much said in one song...
"Love Sick," Bob Dylan. Proves he's still writing great songs.

Brief Update on Classes:

Last night my Rhetorics professor read from my paper in class and said praising things about it. This is two weeks in a row, and she only reads for maybe three papers per session.
Last night's funny moment:
The professor returns from our break with her arms full of books and notes for the next period of class. Katrina looks at her and says, "DAAAAMN! You sure did a lot over the break! All I did was eat a bag of chips!"

Here's an interesting blog: The American Undershirt.

NowPlaying: Beach Boys Greatest Hits Volume 3: Best of the Brother Years
This is so far past their surf years that it isn't even funny. While some of the songs on this compilation are, well, filler ( see "Susie Cincinnatti" and the enjoyable but irrelevant covers of "Peggy Sue" and "Rock and Roll Music"), some of the most brilliant songs every written ("Surf's Up"--the content is the antithesis of the title's implication--"Sail On, Sailor," "Disney Girls," "Til I Die," "Long Promised Road") are covered on this album, as well.
The last track is "California Dreamin'," which is a song I really dig even though I've never been to California and probably would hate living in L.A.

Since we're on a test-taking kick:


Which John Cusack Are You?

This is really no surprise to me at all. I can't tell you how many people would see High Fidelity and then tell me the movie made them think of me. Maybe it's my record collection. Maybe it's my propensity for mix tapes. Perhaps it's because I'm constantly in discussions and debates about music and albums and whatnot. I will say that I'm not really one to do the "top 5" thing simply because it takes me too long to decide on those things. Also I have made mix CDs for people (male and female) I had no romantic interest in, as well, just for the record. I really feel like watching that movie again, actually. It's one of the very few I have purchased on video (or DVD).

Which South Park boy are you?


this quiz was made by Zuzu!

Since Blogger took a Sick Day yesterday, here's a brief rundown on The Day That Was Wednesday, February 19, 2003.

**During my lunch hour, I finished a paper that was due for my class that starts about 15 minutes after I leave work (an hour early). I emailed the paper to myself and somehow in the process of doing so, it got botched. I lost about 50-75% of a paper and had to redo most of it last night after work.
**I received banana bread in the mail from my Valentine.
**I received another little Valentine's Day package from a friend who randomly sends people packages. Thanks Becca!
**My fortune for the day: "Our first love and last love is...Self-love." That's two weird fortunes in a row from that restaurant.
**I drank too much coffee on an empty stomach during class and my mind was uncreatively frenetic until around 10-11pm.

I suppose we're all hooked up to the front page of vagrantcafe.com now, aren't we?

Things that amaze me #860:
How one of the lowest-paid, lowest-ranked employees (that being me) is regarded as the Official Copy Machine Helpdesk simply because I am located the closest to it. People who teach software classes, are paid to work with companies on efficiency, have Master's degrees, and whose jobs are based around technology constantly end up asking me to help them figure out what's wrong with the copy machine, how to do this or that or the other task on it, etc. Do I have special training in the copier? Was I trained on how to use it any more than "press this key and this key" and very basic "how-to" information? No and No. However, I apparently have been deemed Keeper of the Copier, apparently.

NP: RJD2, Deadringer

New Roomie Moving In Soon!!!

Time now for 2 of Joel's Greatest Hits of Late:
1. I was in a literature class last night. We separated into our small groups to discuss and analyze the characters in the story. What must be understood is this: Cheap (more like poor) person that I am, I bought my textbooks at half.com this semester. While on just two classes, I saved approximately $150, I also got an old edition of our literature book. Apparently quite a few new stories have been added because almost every week, there's a story that just isn't in my copy. Last night, the story we were to discuss hadn't been in mine and what with all the car problems I've been going through and whatnot, I had no time or opportunity to find the story elsewhere. So I sat down in the group and they started to discuss. I said that I loved the story and started telling about my favorite parts, except instead of the actual story I started talking about parts from Curious George Goes To The Hospital. I got a few confused looks until I explained I must have read the wrong story and told which one I was talking about. A couple of them laughed, and the other ones weren't really sure what was going on but thought it was pretty funny.
2. I forgot to copy the memo to myself or else I would post it here. Anyway, I had done something weird in the database system and clicked a wrong box or something, though some old price options were in there and that's what confused me. The department received an email from the head of the department asking nicely why it had shown up a certain way and what the issue might be. So I replied, copying the same department group and explaining that I had screwed up, finishing the email with a line about how apparently I had shown up for work yesterday with a mud-related substitute for brains. From what my co-workers tell me, that brief amount of levity went over fairly well and helped alleviate.

Lunch, please come soon, but not before I decide how to approach you.

Tonight I'm working on a Rhetoric assignment and at the moment, watching "All Things Rock." Sometimes this program is pretty insipid (go figure, it's on MTV), but tonight it's great. Tonight is British Invasion night.

A few observations (mostly about these videos, but also on a few other things):

**I've always envied Robert Smith's hair. I also wish I were cool enough to use eyeliner like he does. I like to have my hair be a cross between Robert Smith and Dylan's early years, mostly because mine is curly.

**The Rolling Stones' "Start Me Up" is a wonderful classic song, one of the greats, but the video is horrible. I mean, I love Jagger, but white sweatpants were NEVER EVER in style, and I just can't look.

**It's amazing how dynamic John Lennon (and the rest of the Beatles) could be just standing on stage and singing "Revolution" without even an audience.

**The Clash are where it's at. Joe Strummer, Rest In Peace. This video reminds me of that movie starring The Clash that I saw probably about a year ago in the now defunct "Omaha History Center."

Looks like the comment function reappeared. Hurray!?!

I need to grab something to eat. I've been craving junk food tonight. Good thing I'm still carless. :-)

I have The Godfather (it's on AMC) on the television right now and am working on some Big Homework.

Okay, I better eat.

"You've got to find a girl who gets the B-Side."
This said to the guy who works in the record shop from his boss, played by Art Garfunkel (!!). The record store guy, Luke, has added a great element to the American Dreams show. Luke (this being in the early 60's) is into the non-bubblegum music, jazz (like Thelonious Monk) and blues (Son House being one fake guest on the show). Anyway, he had just broken up with Meg (one of the lead characters in the show); they had agreed that they needed someone with similar interests. Whereas Luke was into the above, Meg dances on American Bandstand, is all about the bubblegum, and isn't really into much of anything deep, though she's clearly capable of it.
The reason I bring this up is not just because of the great quote, but because of the idea behind it. I need a girl who "gets the B-side." That doesn't mean she has to be a Scene Princess or Scene Girl. That doesn't mean she has to be into everything I'm into, obviously. I just need someone who gets the B-side and is going to treat me well; someone with whom there is mutual respect and who respects my spirituality.
At what point I do (and could be already), I doubt I'll talk much about it here.

Well, our "amounts of snow" turned out to be 9 inches. No car shopping, obviously.

Sorry the comments feature isn't working. Someone else noticed, so I know I'm not crazy.

My mind is a bit worn from the homework, so sorry for the low amount of writing today. I'm going to have a cup of coffee or two so I can do a bit more homework.

My mind is also mushy, but that's another story.

In retrospect, the security guards were right. Amazing.

We're supposed to get "amounts of snow" this weekend. Of course, some people are saying 1-3, others 3-5, and then the security guards downstairs we're going to get 9 inches of snow. Then again, these are people whose most significant duty is kicking homeless people out of the building.

I don't know why, but for some reason I'm really experiencing quite a bit of inner turmoil in regards to what I should have for dinner. Tacos sound really good, but of course I don't have a car yet so those are kind of out of the running. Then again, pretty much anything Italian sounds good. Maybe I'll just have a veggie burger and tater tots.
I'm sure this is the reason you read my blog. Eat a salad, Tubby, you whisper.

Someone who called a few minutes ago told me that people are lined up at stores frantically buying duct tape and plastic, blizzard groceries, and Valentine's Day gifts. I'm not really sure what to make of all this, really. Apparently Tom Ridge is trying to calm the masses down.
It sounds fatalistic, but I have to face reality. I live in an old building that won't ever be fully sealable. The cynic in me says that this new talk of highest-ever terror alerts is manipulative propaganda. The realist in me says there are some sick people in the world--some of them claim to love America, some hate it. So I'm just going to live.

I had vegetable chow mein for lunch today. I ate half of it and got a box for the other half. Of course, I didn't remember to actually pick up the box and bring it back with me. That makes me sad...that was some good lo mein.

My fortune cookie says: "Your road will be made smooth for you by good friends."

Thank you, good friends.

Happy Valentine's Day.
I suppose I have a little red on. I'm wearing a plaid shirt underneath this dark green sweater.

One of the more burning questions of the day is "What is Joel doing for Valentine's Day?"

Today will actually be fairly low-key. Sure, I'll have a fatty goody or two brought in by co-workers. And yes, it's possible I may have a special Valentine's Day phone call I'll be making. However, I go out car-shopping tomorrow and need to spend some time tonight doing homework and housework. So there you have it.

After running a third of a mile this morning just to catch a bus, I realized that perhaps I should be doing this regularly anyway. Soon I will finally purchase some running shoes somehow.

I'm listening to some Simon & Garfunkel right now and "Cecilia" just came on and got me thinking about how much I like that name. Of course the song is good and that helps; a really good friend of mine has a daughter named "Cecilia," as well. What is especially attractive about that name to me is that St. Cecilia is the patron saint of music. Since music is such a big part of what makes life great for me, that would be more than appropriate for me to name a child....most likely a girl. ; )

I was thinking earlier today that perhaps I would like to purchase a mini-van. I doubt I could afford anything super-yuppie, which I want to avoid anyway. However, while most of my driving is just tooling around between work and church and home in Omaha, at what points I do travel back to MI/IN or even to go camping it would be great. Plenty of storage and extra seating space, plus I could always just put down a sleeping bag and sleep on the floor at rest stops if necessary. If I got really with it, I could pimp it out with shag carpet and curtains, though I'm not sure how soon I would get to that.

Lunch today was Tofu in Garlic Sauce with Fried Rice. My fortune: "You will never be last in line, you wil always excel!"

I'm getting excited. Today is the day pitchers and catchers report to Baseball's Spring Training. The full teams arrive next week. Sammy Sosa usually arrives late, however...it's some sort of superstition he has, allegedly. The way he produces I don't think anyone minds. Go Cubs.



"Laugh about it, shout about it, when you've got to choose; either way you look at it, you lose."

Wait, now it's back again. Maybe I'm just going mad.
Anyway, thank you for your comments. I really enjoy them.

Somehow the "comment" feature disappeared. I'm not sure how this happened.

After lunch I went into the big bathroom on our floor and was taking part in a very healthy ritual when I heard heavy breathing coming from the middle stall. At first I just figured someone obese was in there working hard. It happens and while I don't like to think about it, there's no sense hiding from reality. I think most people take the same approach to public restrooms as they do to hooking up with "easy" people in a bar. You know that the fact that something is so readily accessible to you means it's been used quite often before and most likely uncomfortably recently, but you just put down the toilet paper and try not to think about it. However, my logic tells me that yes, we have unhealthily overweight people here and (odds are) they need to use the stalls too, so I generally block the heavy breathing out of my mind and think about the most recent episode of Joe Millionaire or something else slightly (and i mean VERY slightly) less disturbing--I try to keep from thinking of anything too terribly pleasant while in the restroom because otherwise I'll find myself too comfortable standing or sitting there. This guy, however, was not just your normal heavy breather. In fact, as I listened it become apparent that this wasn't heavy breathing, it was snoring. That's right, someone was in sleeping on the toilet. I was considering pulling a stunt from junior high--when we would take a few sopping wet paper towels and lob them into occupied stalls--but someone else walked in and ruined my fun.

This morning I was picked up by one of my wonderful co-workers. I was about one minute late getting to the corner but that's no big deal. She has to be to work at 7:30 so by 7:22, here I was.
K___ and I generally take turns buying bags of bagels and cream cheese to split for breakfast. It works out quite well except we're both somewhat forget forgetful so about every other time the bagels run out, there's a day or two where we both neglect bringing any it. This morning was one of those mornings. Luckily I was here very very early so I headed downstairs on my way to the coffee shop across the street. The closest office to our lobby is that of the IRS help area. They don't open until something like 8:30 but people are here much earlier; on the mornings I am here at 7, there are even usually a couple people already waiting outside their door.
These people generally stare at anyone walking past, hoping that by some strange telepathic osmosis those of us who even work in the same building as the IRS workers will transmit signals to give them the help they need.
My favorite "waiter" this morning was this older gentleman who appeared to be first in line. He had white hair on the sides of his head, none on top. He was talking on his cell phone with a drawl that wasn't anywhere near southern, but distinctly that of "Midwestern White Trash." Those of you who have lived in the Midwest much know what I'm talking about. This is the ability of someone who has either never lived in the South or hasn't in decades lived in the South to still be able to work a drawl into their speech. It doesn't sound Southern in the least bit, but it still exudes messages like "Stars and Bars Fo-evah" and "Bring Mama's cigarettes ovah to the couch, bo-ah." This man sounded a bit like what it would sound like if Boomhauer (from Fox's popular "King of the Hill" program) were from Nebraska, not Texas. He was carrying on a rather loud conversation about his history of dog ownership. The people waiting in line next to him looked as if they were hoping the IRS would free sharpened pencils with which they could stab him.
I passed through the door and crossed the street and fit myself into the revolving door, then through the lobby into the coffee shop. The shop is located in a large bank building. They have their own door but using the revolving door in the lobby just south of them keeps them from getting blasts of cold air on February days like today, so I try to be nice. The girls who work there are always nice and one of them I sometimes ride the bus with after Thursday night classes at UNO. She moved her from New Mexico or something to be near her boyfriend and is still getting used to the Nebraska cold, so it's fun to hear her talk about how interesting it is to feel things frozen inside her nose. I pick out a couple wheat bagels and answer yes when asked if I'd like them toasted. No, I won't be needing any cream cheese today. We have free coffee at the office and I had convinced myself to be content with that this morning until I noticed that the flavored coffee of the day is Almond. I can't really pass that up so I grab a cup of that and sprinkle some cinnamon into the cup as well.
At this point I realize that no matter how many miles I am from what I want to be, no matter what my car situation is, no matter how much money I make or don't make, no matter how early it is, no matter how many people stare at me when I walk back through the lobby, I can't help but have a good morning when it starts with Almond coffee with cinnamon in it.

Top 5 Highlights of my day thus far:
1. Not being able to concentrate on my work because a whiny toddler is stomping around and moaning and whining while her mother is counselled on her small business. It's been roughly 20 minutes now. This also includes having to hear the counselling session (actually it's just our director explaining things to her, not even really getting to the counsel part yet) and helping her for a few minutes before the kid was even in here.
2. Being asked to give special treatment for someone and notify her of any messages she might get that somehow don't get put in her voicemail. This includes telling her that no, I don't think she should count on that happening because otherwise I would have to do that with *everyone.*
3. Having to talk with a salesperson on the phone regarding some software one of our departments needs. These people can't give a straight answer to a question; they have to try to sell you on everything BESIDES what you're actually after. What should have been about a 3 minute phone call took 15 minutes.
4. Receiving an email informing me of the "Ten Reasons To Go To Work Naked." While I'm a little bit shy about nudity, I think I would like to spend my workday in nothing but my big white terrycloth robe.
5. I've had to wear a hat twice today (once on the way in, once on a really great walk at lunch) and my hair is unusually flat as a result, bringing on a couple "I didn't know your hair could do that!" comments. This isn't really annoying or anything, but trying to cope with the fact that my hair wants to be everyone and not just flat is a pain.

note: this is more for fun than to complain. my job has been fairly decent today.

I'm going on a walk today during my lunch break. Fresh Cold Air is so stimulating for my brain, I'm excited!

Thought for the day:
If two people are in the same boat, sometimes the best idea is for them to share that boat and see where it takes them.

Wow, okay, so more didn't come. The last few days I just haven't written too much because a) I've been busy as always; and b) I would have been too apt to launch into some sort of diatrabe or complaining that would have been neither decent nor decent writing.

However, I'm back today, feeling fine. I actually got on a nice writing spurt last night, but of course it was used on a couple of homework assignments. I do have one essay I got some great ideas for and did a good bit of research on that. Plus I wrote some liner notes for a mix cd.

On Saturday I interviewed a prospective roommate. He's still hoping to get into this place that's much closer to his night job but will be keeping my place in mind. He's a pretty good guy, another writer, someone who has a good head on his shoulders and doesn't seem to be the "typical guy" stereotype I'm trying to avoid having as a roommate. I showed him the house, then we got to talking for a while. We ended up having a conversation regarding a few metaphysical things. I think he would be a good rommate. I interview someone else tonight, a businessman who would only be around a few days a week. That wouldn't be too bad either, it would give me a certain amount of solitude. I need to see about contacting a few other "matches" from the roommateservice.com website, though, because as it always goes, one can't be sure about things working out.

At this point, it doesn't matter a ton to me whether I have a male or female roommate. They both have their pros and cons. There are stereotypes and whatnot that I'm trying to avoid on both sides. For the record, having a female roommate for me at this point would have nothing to do with, you know, trying to hook up or anything like that. The complications that would arise out of that are just too many, not to mention the fact that I'm not really on the market for that sort of thing right now.

After last week's bus incident (I never did write about that in here, I was too upset about it and probably won't), I decided to give it a shot again this morning. Actually what really happened is I forgot to call someone who had promised to give me a ride this morning. By the time I remembered, it was 1:20am or something and I have brief moments of decency in which I realize that's a bit too late to call "normal people," especially those with young children. Sure enough, the first bus I tried to catch didn't come, so I walked a bit more and found one I knew would come and it did. I made it to work about 3 minutes early, which is perfect.

I have on this "Black History Month" station on "launch.yahoo.com" and they just started playing a Michael Jackson song.
I feel bad for the guy. I honestly think he's lost within his own mind. His childhood, joyful as it was for many he entertained, was pretty nuts. It's not surprising, I don't blame him for kind of reverting back to this lost childhood in his mind. I honestly think people don't really understand that he has legitimate issues. There's something actually refreshing about this sort of naive innocence he has, creepy as it comes across. More than anything, the man really needs a good advisor or two. He needs someone to say "Michael, I know this seems nice and innocent to you, but this is how it appears." Someone needs to be able to look him in the eye and say "that's not a good idea." I think for a relatively reasonable sum, I could do that job.

stay tuned...more coming this afternoon.
love,
joel

It's been a busy morning. Of course, I was up til 2:30 or something working on a paper and talking business with Carter. That's life, I suppose.

I've worked out two days in a row now. I'm quite proud of myself. I'm very much easing into it because otherwise I'll hurt myself.

A brief word of explanation is in order:
While this blog is more for exercising my ability to type out thoughts, (obviously) especially the most random ones, occasionally those thoughts and subjects will be about things that are very real. Not that anything on here isn't truth--it is--but sometimes there are gritty, difficult aspects to life and I'm going to write about them sometimes. I don't really use real names for anything very personal, especially in those situations. Generally if something in life is frustrating me, I'll definitely not use real names or just not mention names at all. I've edited a couple things due to requests from people involved. I don't regret posting those things but, though my requests haven't particularly been honored in the past, I'll take the high road for now.

3:51pm Time to go to class
This will be the last blog entry for a while. I'm sure there will be a couple later on this evening.

Lessons we've learned today:
1. There definitely is such a thing as trusting people too much.
2. The Flaming Lips are where it's at.
3. Oranges=friend.
4. Everything written here was true, but note that Joel has a sense of humor about it and really isn't mean-spirited about approximately 99% of it.
5. Don't Believe The Hype.

3:43pm
Note: If you do not have an answering machine, don't call up and bitch at the receptionist because no one ever returned your phone call.

3:29pm I've decided that "Race For The Prize" will be going on the upcoming mix cd.

Most of the security guards that work in our building (it's a state office building, not on campus) tend to be the usual, well, security guard types. The head of security is a pretty good guy. One of the security guards I really dig, though, is Bernie. After Bernie retired, he took a job working security in his building so he could work in the same building as his wife, who I believe was a social worker. About six months ago or so, she died fairly suddenly. Literally the whole building full of people was sad for this guy. He's terribly sweet and always has a friendly word for everyone. He's one of those outspoken Christian types--he'll come up here and start talking about theology and prophecy and have absolutely NO CLUE what he's talking about. It's frustrating, but he's so full of love that for once, I don't really mind.

3:18pm The Flaming Lips always make me want to watch Jeunet films. I have no idea why. For those who don't know Jeunet directed Amelie, City of Lost Children, and Delicatessen (they're French films).

I just finished my orange and am feeling very good. I love a good juicy orange.

it's 28 degrees and February and this client is wearing shorts.

2:44pm
I just went into the break room to wash my hands (I was just peeling my orange and my hands got sticky) and there it was.
We have a table on the way back to the break room with various announcements, flyers, and periodicals, one of which is the university's student newspaper. This week on the front page is a picture of a college girl hanging upside down from monkey bars or something and her sweatshirt has given in to gravity so her stomach is showing. For some reason, that picture captures my attention every single time I walk back there (which, because I need the copy and break room for various duties and non-duties is very often). It's not a sexy picture or anything like that, and I don't even feel sexual attraction, it just somehow manages to snag my eye every time. It's starting to bug me. I think next time I have to walk by it I'll turn the top newspaper upside down.

2:35pm Still working on that newsletter. My job is a job of constant interruptions and realigning priorities.

Enter my next Flaming Lips album, The Soft Bulletin. This record ALWAYS makes me feel good. I realize that I need to put a song from it on a mix cd I'm making for a good friend.

2:09pm Right now I'm putting together a newsletter and thinking about a really sad email a friend sent me. There's just too much heartbreak going around these days.

I need to go see if that pot of coffee is done brewing. My mind needs that little bit of sharpness caffeine seems to add. Or that addiction seems to detract.

Over lunch break, I decided to leave the 80's and take Flaming Lips albums to work. I'm starting up right now with Clouds Taste Metallic.

Oh, and on my lunch I ate a pb&j sandwich and ramen noodles. I'll eat an orange later while I'm working so my Post-Prandial Hypoglycemia doesn't get me down so bad.

I'm going to have to take an afternoon break so I can read that short story for class. I ended up replying to an email from my parents over lunch.

My lunch break:
I went home.

1:15pm
Since getting back at work about half an hour ago:
I got back in the office and had someone "waiting for me." Turns out they were waiting for a job interview that I coordinated for one of the departments, but as usual I'm the contact name. I deal with getting that person set up while answering phone calls since my co-worker who backs me up has already gone to lunch.
I got into an involved phone call with our Accounting person at the campus location. She is on me about a package that just came in today, saying i need to fax her a copy of the packing list so she can reconcile it, she can't wait for me to have it delivered intercampus mail tomorrow. While she's on the phone, a prospective client for one of our departments calls and can't just tell me what they're after but has to go into a detailed, uninterruptable explanation. While trying to figure out what they need, someone else walks in and I have to deal with taking care of his situation. This involves going back to someone else's office and tell him this person is here because that person is on his phone. I go back up front and this person starts asking me questions even though I'm clearly not able to answer them.
Someone calls and again, tells me his whole situation. He needs to talk to someone who is already on his line. I offer the option of leaving a message or going "on hold" until the line is free. He asks me how long the other person will be on his phone. I can't take it any more and tell him that unfortunately, when that gentleman gets phone calls, he doesn't inform me how long they will be so I really don't have that information.

That reminds me of an earlier call today. Someone wanted to leave a message for someone else that included an email address. They tell me it's (name)(universityname).com . I ask where the "at symbol" is in that. They ask what I mean and I explain that if you just type random words, that isn't an email address, it needs an "at symbol" in there somewhere. They reply as if this is brand new information. I tell them I'm just going to assume the "at symbol" is between the name and university name. They say they guess that's right. I later (while typing this out) realize that it's probably ".edu," not ".com," but it's too late now, the message is already sent.

11:27 "People Are People" by Depeche Mode
I'm ready for lunch.
When I finished my bagel, I also finished a 16oz glass of water. I'm trying to make sure I drink plenty of water every day.
Okay, my co-worker is back from break, I'm going to lunch.

While "Faith" by George Michael plays, I finally finish the bagel I toasted a bit over 3 hours ago.

"You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)" by Dead or Alive is playing. I was really really hoping to hear this today.

10:40: "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" by Queen is the soundtrack to my perusing through press releases for announcements of government grants for research in regards to the Nutrient Science for Improved Watershed Management Program. I need to use this to make a news story for the site.

10:31am What good would an 80's station be without "Jessie's Girl?"

10:27am "I Can't Fight This Feeling Anymore" by REO Speedwagon
I'm trying to decide whether I should go home and make a pb&j sandwich and do some (non-job) work on my lunch hour or spend a little more time making something a bit more complex. I also just realized I still need to read a story for my lit. class tonight, so I'll most likely opt for the pb&j. Also I'm looking forward to talking to a friend online tonight and keep thinking about how great that will be. A maintenance guy just came in and replaced a light bulb and that reminds me of a joke I heard last night. Q: "How many UN Inspectors does it take to change a light bulb?" A: "They've found no proof of any light bulbs existing." I think I butchered that up. It's from The Daily Show.

9:58am Now Playing: "Amanda" by Boston. Not really a favorite song or band, but this one goes out to Carter and Amanda anyway.

9:52am The song is "Who's Crying Now?" by Journey. This reminds me of conversations with Johnathon Ford in which he told us about how Journey was one of the greatest rock bands ever.
I'm getting a lot accomplished at work, it's amazing. Right now I'm getting and editing news stories to post to the website of one of the departments I work for.

9:45 I forgot I had a bagel in my drawer for the last two hours waiting to be eaten. It's still good, though.

9:37
Had to call back someone who had called around 8:01. This time he was really nice. Before I called him I was thinking "I have to call that rude guy back" and was thinking how cool it would be if he were a "rudeboy" insteady of a "rude guy." He didn't sound Jamaican, though.

9:30am Simple Minds, "Don't You (Forget About Me)"
All this music is making me want to go watch old (and apparently new, judging from my last post) John Cusack films, find a denim jacket, and cut my hair like Martin Gore from Depeche Mode.
The last movie from the 80's I watched was Edward Scissorhands the other night. GREAT film.
One more 80's note and I'll shut up: I'm not a big Jim Breuer fan, but I love his "Remember the 80's?" series of sketches on SNL where he was GoatBoy.
By 9:35 I've had a conversation about music piracy with a co-worker walking by my desk.

9:19am "I Just Called To Say I Love You."
This reminds me of High Fidelity and makes me smile. I need to see that again soon.
Just did a quick webpage editing job.

9:05am
While sending a fax, had a good conversation with a co-worker about blaxploitation films. I saw a great documentary about them last night on AMC and have seen a few of those films.

8:39am "Eye of the Tiger" by Survivor. I LOVE this riff.
8:41am "Broken Wings" by Mr. Mister.
Today is really tempting me to take a "mental health day." I promised myself I wouldn't do that until mid-February, though, because I know when I'll be needing one.

8:20am I decided that when I switched my "launch" radio station, to switch to the "Awesome 80's" station. A post on a message board by someone I think is great was talking about the 80's and it influenced me.
The first song is "I Love Rock n Roll" by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts. Maybe today won't be so bad after all. I had it paused for a while due to other things going on. The second song to come on (paused again--because in the first half hour this place is open, I've already dealt with more than a day's share of rude people on the phone, half of whom have been people who work here!--and I pause good songs while I'm on the phone) is Falco's "Rock Me Amadeus."

I think that what would be fun (or at least interesting) today is to just keep a fairly honest continual journal.

7:58am
I've been at work for almost an hour. Right now on the "launch.yahoo.com" punk rock radio station is "Ball and Chain" by Social Distortion. Great Great Song. It's exactly how I feel being here this morning.
I just checked the voicemail. Since I have the main phone number for the department, I get some crazy stuff. This morning there were 14 voicemail messages. 12 of them were beeping because someone tried to fax something into the main line. That was a pleasant way to start a day. One voicemail message was someone I couldn't understand. The last message was one of my favorite co-workers calling to say she was stuck in traffic while they towed away a wrecked vehicle or two.
It's 8am and the song is "City of Angels" by the Distillers. I've heard good stuff about the Distillers before, but this is my first real exposure. I've been meaning to check them out and am glad to finally check them out. At exactly 8am, one of the bosses (there are a million here) called and rather than wait 3 minutes for his secretary to come in, gave me a detailed message for me to tell her to tell someone else. This will no doubt get ugly.
By 8:03 I've had 3 phone calls. One is someone insisting to talk to someone who doesn't work here and I've never heard of, but he insists that someone here must know something about her. I promise him I'll "check into it."
It's 8:06 and my last song on the punk station is The Transplants, "Diamonds and Guns." I have to change the station now because punk rock doesn't go over terribly well in this setting.

Okay, I need to post something a whole lot less inflammatory than that last post. I know I have more than a right to be very upset, but at the same time, me dwelling on it and allowing it to really drive me isn't going to do much good.

When my co-worker and I who sit up front here get in bad moods or just really annoyed (having to correct mistakes and pull magic tricks for people who earn way more than you do will do that), I turn on this rap mix cd I made. We can't have it very loud for very long because people like to come around the corner and most of the songs are, well, not particularly filled with the sort of references and language some of them enjoy, at least when it's in a rap song. Anyway, it never fails to help us.

I just hope all this hard work at a job I don't like and working like crazy to get through school actually leads to things being better. I'm not all about the money, but it would be nice to not be wondering which bill will get sent in late this month. It would be nice to know I could repair my car if/when I need to. I would kind of like to have my major debts being paid off in a better way.

I'm not very often in a "bad mood," but I think I just hit one.
(edited)

Welcome to February.

Today I went for a pretty long walk around part of downtown and the Centennial Mall (which is a park, not a shopping mall) and Heartland of America park. It gave me some good time to get fresh air, think about things I needed to, and improve my skills at not stepping in goose feces that somehow scatters across the walkways down there.

I really thought I'd have something interesting or even relevant to say, but not tonight.