Fun with iTunes lists

Keep in mind, I’ve only been using iTunes for about 2 months.  Here goes:

Top 15 Most Played:
Duncan Sheik – For You
Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds – The Christmas Song
Dashboard Confessional – Ender Will Save Us All
The Clarks – Cigarette
Coldplay – Swallowed in the Sea
Dashboard Confessional – Screaming Infidelities
The O’Jays – Love Train
Beck – Nicotine and Gravy
Boxcar Racer – There Is
The Elected – Sun, Sun, Sun
Everclear – Everything to Everyone
James Blunt – You’re Beautiful
Tom Waits – I Hope That I Don’t Fall in Love With You
Tom Waits – So It Goes
Tom Waits – Semi Suite



Top 15 Recently Played:
Duncan Sheik – For You
Everclear – Otis Redding
Everclear – Summerland
Neil Young – Cowgirl in the Sand
Coldplay – Swallowed In the Sea
Stone Temple Pilots – Hello, It’s Late
Dave Matthews Band – Stay (Wasting Time)
Dave Matthews Band – Rapunzel
U2 – Stay (Faraway, So Close)
Coldplay – Everything’s Not Lost
Tom Waits – Little Trip to Heaven
Dave Matthews Band – Pig
Jack Johnson – Banana Pancakes
Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young – Ohio
Beck – Loser


…yep, so that’s what I’ve been listening to.

Who would you take a bullet for?

I was talking with some of my housemates tonight, and I asked them who in their lives they would take a bullet for willingly.  I’d like to think that I’d take a bullet for anyone, and there are a lot of people that I would take a bullet for, hoping that if they were put in the same situation that they’d do the same for me, but several people in my life came to mind as people that I would, completely willingly, take a bullet for.

My mom and dad.  They’ve done more for me than I’ll ever be able to thank and repay them for.  They put up with a lot of shit from me while I was growing up and going through some weird phases, and they tolerated it, letting me be myself and go through it.  I have specific memories of both of my parents, which in my mind stand out as moments that show true parental love.  Like my dad when I was 3 or so years old.  He’d come home from work and take a shower, and then lay on the couch and read the newspaper.  I’d lay on his belly while he read, and he’d play games with me.  “Andrew, find me a ‘p’,” he’d say, and I’d scour the page until I found a ‘p’.  “Find me an ‘f’” and I’d scour the page until I found a word with an ‘f’.  After I’d learned the whole alphabet, he taught me how to put the letters into words.  “Okay, find a ‘the’,” and I’d look through the sentences until I found one.  “Find a ‘bus’”.  Then the words got harder.  “Find a fence.”  Then he taught me to put the words into sentences.  Then I started reading my own books, and by 1st grade, I had a 6th grade reading level.  I devoured everything I could get my hands on… novels, readers, pamphlets, shampoo bottles… it didn’t matter.  I really believe that I owe all of this to my dad, and I wouldn’t be where I am without him.

My memories of my mom are a little different.  I used to be sick a lot as a kid, and my mom took care of me, although I never really realized what she put herself through to do that.  The most beautiful thing about the situation is that she didn’t even think twice about the sacrifice.  That’s the love of a parent for a child.  I have two specific memories of my mom doing this.  One time, I was really sick.  I don’t know what exactly I had, but I was running a really high fever, freezing and sweating and burning up at the same time.  I was barely conscious, partly from whatever I was sick with, partly from the fever, and partly from the medicine, but what I remember is my mom staying up with me, and putting washcloths soaked in ice water across my forehead and chest, trying to get the fever down.  When I was a Senior in High School, I was hospitalized, and my mom sat up with me then.  I was like, “Okay, mom, I’m 18 years old, you can really go.  I’ll just hang out and watch TV and get some reading done, you don’t really have to stay.”  But she did. “Yeah, I know… I’ll stay a little bit longer though,” she said.  She knew I was okay by myself, but she wanted to stay.  She knew I’d be alright, but I’m sure she probably didn’t sleep well that night.  That’s fuckin’ love.

My brother.  My brother was my first best friend, the first person who I ever got into deliberate trouble with, the first person who I ever got into deliberate fights with, the first person I went exploring with, and my constant companion for a huge part of my life.  Any of the other people in my life that I consider brothers, I view through my relationship with Tay.  I think that in a lot of ways, he’s the most caring, loving, and gracious person that I know, and it’s unfortunate that these traits are overshadowed by some of his others.  He’s always been there to back me up, regardless of what I was doing, and I’m pretty sure he always will be.

My sister.  My sister and I used to fight all the time, because we didn’t understand each other.  I thought she was just a stupid, spoiled bitch who made far too many wrong decisions and I thought that by criticizing her, I’d get her to stop and change.  That didn’t work… it just made me an asshole.  I was far too willing to rip her apart and criticize her for what I thought were her bad qualities, while not being there to support her for her good ones.  The moment I realized that was really a turning point in my life, and I think that now we really do understand each other, and because of that, we get along really, really well.  I see a lot of myself reflected in her, and vice-versa… maybe I did have at least some positive influence on her growing up ;)


Jesse.  Jesse and I have been best friends since 4th grade.  He’s one of only 2 people outside of my immediate family that I consider to be a brother, and one of 2 that I know that we have fun together, regardless of what we’re doing.  Jesse and I could be sitting in an empty basement with nothing on the walls or floors, and after a while of just sitting there in silence, one of us would say, “So… you wanna fight or something?”  And then we’d wrestle or beat each other up, just for the hell of it, and it’d be fun.  Jesse’s always told me things as they were, never putting up with my shit and keeping my feet on the ground.  That’s one of the many things that sets him apart from everyone else in my life.  I’ve known him for 12 years, and some of the greatest times of my life so far have been with him.  In 12 years, we’ve never faltered in our loyalty to each other, and I’d take a fuckin’ bullet for him in a heartbeat.

Joe.  Joe is the other person in my life that I consider to be a brother, even though we’re not related.  Joe is also the other person I know who we have a blast regardless of what we’re doing or if we’re doing nothing at all.  If Joe and I were in an empty basement, we’d sit there for a while and then try to name everyone we’ve ever been attracted to for as far back as we can remember.  Then we’d quote some random videos or cartoons or a Seinfeld episode.  Joe is a fuckin’ great guy, and he and I have a really good understanding of each other, in my opinion, which is what really drives our friendship.  He and I work well together, because we balance each other out.  I think that just one of us is too much, but when we’re together, we even out and make a pretty dynamic pair.  Neither of us feels like we have to be in control of the spotlight, and we each play to the other’s strengths.  I feel like I’m close to a lot of people in the house, but Joe and I have become like brothers over the past 5 months.

There are a few other people in my life that I would gladly take a bullet for… Bill, Nikki and Jen all come to mind, because they’ve helped me through a hell of a lot, especially over the past year… but more importantly than that, they’ve been there for me since I’ve known them, and I couldn’t ask for more.

I’m sure there’s at least someone that I’m leaving out, so if it’s you, don’t be offended.  I’m pretty sure that the people in my life who mean a lot to me know it.  I try to let them know how much I appreciate them as much as I can.

Semi-Charmed Life

Kelly had a post a few days ago detailing a certain song that, every time it’s listened to, takes him back to a specific moment in time, a specific memory where everything is once again as vivid as it was at that one point.  I think we all have those kinds of songs… I know that I, for one, have several.  Maybe I’ll write about more later, because it’s kind of fun.  Anyways, I wrote this one night after reading his post.  It’s kind of rambly, and I considered editing it to make it more… coherent… but decided against it.  The song is “Semi-Charmed Life” by Third Eye Blind, and this is what it makes me remember:


In a beat up station-wagon that my mom was driving at the time.  We were going to visit my grandma in her trailor in Enon Valley.  We had turned in to her driveway and were going around the bend near Shirleen’s house.  White front porch and red bricks.  Emily playing in the pool.  It must have been a Saturday because Saturday Night Dance Party on B94 (while it still was B94) was the show that was playing it.  It must have been late July or Early August because the air was sticky with humidity.  You sweated a thick, sticky sweat.  Getting big Tractor tires and rolling in them, head over heels, down the hill near Shirleen’s barn with Josh and Doug and usually Tay.  Doug was a good kid.  I’m seeing a past point on the soundtrack to my life, and Third eye Blind is part of that soundtrack.  This song represents this era, this mood, this feeling, this set of hopes and dreams and desires during this one specific moment.  This song represents this belief in an infinite future – one where Josh grows up and Doug doesn’t die and Grandma doesn’t get cancer.  

What if, in a one to million shot, I got life exactly right and got to live a life that is 100% perfect.  I don’t think that ever happens, but I guess we make the best of whatever we can.

Ten Weird Habits

Kelly has an interesting post about his weird but strange habits. It was fun, and I figured I’d write about mine. So here goes… my weird habits:

• I have a weird thing about time. I hate showing up early to things. I hate being late too. I come up with a time that I’m going to leave for something, and then I stick to it, and will not leave before that time. If I have a 10:00 class, for some reason I can’t leave more than 5 minutes before, which in this case would be 09:55. I can leave at any point after 09:55, but never, never before… which might explain why I’m always late. If I happen to have some reason to go to class early, like if I need to talk to somebody, I can waive the time thing.


• I have to have at least two alarm clocks set. One plugged in, and the other powered by a battery. And I check them – obsessively – to make sure they’re set for A.M. and that the alarm is on. It’s not uncommon for me to get out of bed and walk across the room 3 or 4 times before I actually fall asleep, even though I know that they’re set right.


• I used to have to set my alarm clocks to weird times, like 09:37 instead of an even time like 09:35 or 09:40. I stopped doing that because I can’t get up on an odd time, and so I’d get back in bed until 09:40, usually falling back asleep.


• In the cafeteria, I can’t get all of my stuff on the tray at the same time. I’ll get my tray and silverware, go through the main line and get whatever they have there. Then go to see if they have any soup that I want. Then I have to go and put my tray down on the table, making sure that I’m sitting facing the entrance and can see everyone coming in. Then I go and get my lime drinks (although it’s been coke of late) – usually 3, but on occasion 4 – and take them back to the table. Then I’ll go and check out the fruit and vegetable thing, if I think I’ll want any.


• If I get a cup of coffee at a restaurant, I always wipe off the rim with a napkin, and then put the coffee on top of it. After I take a drink, if there’s a driblet of coffee on the outside, I have to wipe it off.


• It really bothers me when the head of my toothbrush touches any kind of flat surface, like a sink or countertop. When I’m brushing my teeth and I have to put my toothbrush down, I always put it so that the head hangs over the surface in question and thus, doesn’t touch anything. If I really don’t trust the surface, I’ll put the toothbrush in my pocket or the waistband of my boxers until I have a free hand.


• I like to put the full time (06:30 instead of 6:30). I like “okay” instead of “OK” or “ok.”


• I hate sleeping in complete darkness. I always like to have some kind of dim light source so I can see the floors if I happen to wake up during the night, although I rarely do.


• When I’m going to stop doing something (eating, playing a game, etc.), I often have to tell myself how much more I’m going to do and then quit when I get to that number. For example, if I’m eating something and not planning on finishing it, I tell myself that I’ll take 3 more bites, and then quit. If I’m playing minesweeper or solitaire, I have to set a number of how many more games I’ll play. Usually, I’ll couple this with another condition (“I’ll play 6 more games or until 11:45, whichever comes first)”


• I have to pause or stop my itunes when I leave the room, even if it’s only for a few seconds. I like to pick up a song exactly where I left off, and I don’t want to miss any songs that might play in the meantime.

That’s all for now. If I think of any other good ones, I’ll post them.

Detached

For my acting class, we had to do a non-verbal self-presentation that was representative of who and where we are at this stage in our lives.  We had to do this using some kind of general action demonstrating some kind of general metaphor.  It took me a while to come up with something, and I changed my mind several times before finally settling on me walking around the room, looking at different things and starting down several paths before stopping, shooting a bored look, and walking back.  Then I mimed going to sleep, waking up, and going through my “getting ready for school” routine, i.e., brushing my teeth, putting in my contacts, and putting on my clothes.

People generally got it right when they tried to explain what I was doing.  There were a few specific things they missed or mis-assumed, but for the most part, they got it right.

Right now, I’m not sure what I want to do.  With my life.  With my self.  With my days.  It seems like each week, I change my mind about what I want to do as a career, whether I want to go to grad school, for what, where I want to live in a year and a half, and everything else.  I came here so sure that I wanted to teach English and do High School theatre and live close to home and make a big change in the education system and cause a huge splash sending huge ripples through the world.  And now, I’m not sure.

I’ve started down so many paths, even over the last year, and each time, I turn back and come back to the clearing, looking around for which one to choose next, for which one will be the right one, and for which one will bring some goddamned meaning to my life and give me some kind of purpose for being here.

And now I’m back in the clearing.

For a while, I’ve felt this general sense of detachment from anything and everything.  I don’t feel attached, emotionally, physically, mentally, to anything, and that bothers me.  I don’t feel emotionally attached to any one person.  I don’t feel attachment to things.  I don’t feel attachment to hobbies.  Even the things that I generally love, like writing and theatre and Senate, I don’t feel really attached to right now, and it’s sucking the goddamn passion from the things that made me who I am.  It’s like, to use attachment literally, I’m floating and looking for something – regardless of what it is - to weight me down so I can at least see things more clearly.

And so, since I’m not attached to anything, I go through routines – something, I might add, I swore never to do.
Heidegger and Sartre’s idea of human existence was that human nature was divided in two:  a side that exists to fulfill our basic needs and desires, and a conscious, reflective side that is constantly working to achieve some grand vision of what our lives are adding up to.  We’re always reflecting on our aspirations, what we could be, what we could do, and what we could have, regardless of what we do.  We’re always seeking something else, something better, something different.  Where I am right now, all of this makes unbelievably lucid sense.

I guess I just feel like I need to commit myself to something, whether it’s writing, theatre, politics, Senate, or, God forbid, even a person.  Maybe that’ll bring some kind of clarity, even if it is temporary.  Because living in this constant floating tension is just draining me.

Reflections on MLK day

Well, today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and after attending some of the various speakers that Mount Union had on campus, I got to thinking about him and what he did.

Martin Luther King Jr. died for what he believed in.  So did Malcolm X.  So did Nathan Hale, excuted by the British during the American Revolution, but not before uttering from the gallows the now famous line, “I only regret that I have but one life to give for my country.”  This line, upon research, was inspired from the play Cato by Joseph Addison.  The line from the play reads “How beautiful is death, when earn’d by virtue! / Who would not be that youth?  What pity is it / That we can die but once to serve our country.”

How beautiful is death, when earn’d by virtue.

All of this got me to thinking.  These men are famous because they died for something.  They died, whether by execution or assassination, for causes which they believed in so passionately that they were prepared to give their lives for them.  And here I am, 21 years old, and I don’t really feel like I have anything I’m willing to die for.  Maybe that’s good, and maybe that’s tragic… I don’t really know.

I guess that the underlying problem here is that I think that I would be willing to fight and die for America’s ideals – the principles and ideas upon which this country was founded.  The principles of freedom and liberty.  The principle of opportunity.  The principle that anyone can start with nothing and make something out of it.  Can make a life.  Can make a family.  Can make a fortune, if that’s what they want.  Unfortunately, I think that we’ve gotten too far from those ideals.

I love my country, and I am proud to be an American, but not in that redneck-country music-gun toting-warmongering-put 10 flags in front of my house kind of way.  I’m proud to be an American because of what America is supposed to stand for.  I’m proud to be an American in a “Give me your tired, your poor / Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, / The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. / Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, / I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” kind of way.  I’m proud to be an American in a “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness” kind of way.  And I’m proud to be an American in a “Give me liberty or give me death” kind of way.

So what happened here?  Looking back on these words, the current state of things is fucking depressing.  I do love my country, but I’m not completely sure that I’m ready and willing to die for it as it is.  I don’t want to die for a country where the rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer and the middle class doesn’t give enough shits to do anything about it.  I don’t want to die for a country where people are all too willing to defend their own stupid freakin’ rights while at the same time being all too willing to take them away from others.  I don’t want to die for a country where the government primarily serves itself, rather than the people who depend on it for their opportunity.

I guess the point of all of this is that I want to live in a country where I love it so much that I am willing to fight and die for it.

One of the most oft-quoted lines from Ghandi is that “You must be the change you wish to see in the world,” and I used to believe so passionately that one person – any person – could be and make that kind of change.  But I’m not so sure anymore.  Martin Luther King Jr. certainly did it.  Can I?

I like to believe so.

Blogger copycatting while waiting to go get some food

• Four jobs you've had in your life:
  
• Maintenance Man, Supportive Services Inc.
  
• Sales Associate/Paper & Chemicals stock boy/general indentured help, Wal-Mart
  
• Mental Health Associate II, Supportive Services Inc.
  
• Assistant to Mount Union’s English Department


• Four movies you could watch over and over:
• The Royal Tenenbaums
  
• Garden State
  
• High Fidelity
  
• The Shawshank Redemption


• Four places you've lived:
  
• Beaver Falls, PA
  
• Alliance, OH
  
• In Jesse’s Basement (practically)


• Four TV shows you love to watch:
• Lost
  
• The West Wing
  
• Iron Chef America
  
• Seinfeld


• Four places you've been on vacation:
  
• Ocean City, MD
• Gettysburg, PA
• Geneva-on-the-lake, OH
• Washington DC


• Four websites you visit daily:
  
• My Yahoo!
• DailyKos
• Facebook
• Regnyouth


• Four of your favorite foods:
• Lasagna
• Fettucini Alfredo
• Mozzarella Sticks
• Pomegranites


• Four places you'd rather be:
  
• Italy
• NYC
• Someplace warm
• Somewhere with food


• Four albums you can't live without: At the moment:
  
• Duncan Sheik – Daylight
• Dave Matthews Band – Listener Supported
• Coldplay – X&Y
• Beck – Mutations


• Four people tagged next: Don’t know enough people who blog/care.

News in light of The West Wing

As involved and interested as I am in politics, it’s kind of surprising that I had never gotten into The West Wing until the past Christmas break.  I bought the Season 1 DVD set for my mom, and started watching it after I finished the full first season of Lost (another show which I’ll hopefully write about soon).

One of the things that I particularly like about The West Wing, other than its brilliant writing and liberal politics, which are often blatant but sometimes subtle, is how it shows, with much realism, the inner workings of the White House.  Sure, it’s TV and some of the issues are sensationalized.  That’s to be expected.  But a lot of it is true.

That’s why, when reading the news for today and seeing the headline “Laura Bush Backs Domestic Spying Program” I (a) wasn’t surprised and (b) thought immediately of an episode from Season 1 of the West Wing where the first lady leaks her preference for an appointment to the Federal Reserve Board, causing a shitstorm of havoc for the White House Staffers who have to deal with it.

One of the greatest things about The West Wing is that it shows exactly how the White House works in our state of modern politics.  The importance isn’t really on what or how a decision is made, but rather that everyone lines up behind that decision, whether they agree or not.

Granted, there has been fire from both sides over the Domestic Spying issue.  Sen. Specter has recently come out expressing his skepticism, and he’s joining a number of other high-profile Republicans (including, interestingly enough, Sen. Sam Brownback of Kansas, one of the more conservative members of Congress) who are questioning the legality of the program.  But imagine if Laura Bush, or any of the top White House Aides to the President came out with anything less than full support.  It’d shake up and tear everything down, and the administration would likely fall apart.

Of course, this also points out a big weakness in our system as it is: that independent thought takes a back seat to following in line.  

The words of Ben Franklin ring eerily true in these times:  “They who would give up an essential liberty for temporary security, deserve neither liberty or security.”

Will people get what they deserve?  Or will things make a change for the better?  Only time will tell, I guess.

Judicial Confirmation in 2046

In 30 or 40 years, during Judicial Confirmation Hearings, do you think that the opposition party will acquire/produce/ask questions about information on MySpace/Facebook/Blogger/LiveJournal etc. pages written during High School/College/younger days?

What about campaigns for public office?

Will candidates/nominees be expected to explain/defend/deny that stuff?

Will it influence voters?


"Mr. Ricci, I see that during your Junior year of College, you listed "hookahs" among your Facebook interests. Can you please explain?"

"Mr. Ricci, during college you were a member of the following Facebook groups: Ambidextrous Masturbators, If You Like it Kinky, The Clit Trust, Hot For Republicans, Want to Get Stober, and Chuck Norris is a Bad Ass. Please explain how a man of your low moral standards can even think that he represents the American People. I mean... Chuck Norris? You can't be serious."


Ah, who knows?

King Kong + Narnia

Alright... finals week is over, I've left the good old mushy-snow streets of A-town and made my way back East for the next few weeks. Hopefully I'll have more time to write and actually something to say.

At any rate, a few days ago I made a post about movies I'd like to see, and I figured I'd update on that. Thursday night I went to see King Kong with Joe and Amanda, and I'd say that overall it was a good movie- it far exceeded my initial expectations. That said, I did find it to be quite long and contain some scenes that I thought were unnecessary and didn't really add much to the movie other than that Peter Jackson likes strange CG creatures (speaking of which, when the group was being attacked by all of the creepy bug-like animals, did anyone else pick up on the one creature that stunningly looked like one of the enemies in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time? Ah, the geek in me comes out...) I will say that, for a CG animated creature, Peter Jackson has done a terrific job endearing King Kong to the audience, and actually making them feel as if a terrible injustice has been committed when he dies in the end. I suppose that quality is what has made King Kong popular through the years.

Tonight, I got to go to see The Chronicles of Narnia, which I also enjoyed. I haven't really looked at the books since I first read them in 4th or 5th grade 10 years ago. That didn't really matter though, because the movie was fantastic. The production was fantastic, and the principal character actors did a terrific job, for being a group of relatively unknowns. All in all, the movie was great, and I'm looking forward to reading the books again sometime soon, and the release of the rest of the series on film. The Biblical allegory was obvious, but I think that C.S. Lewis most likely intended it to be so, and Liam Neeson was a terrific Aslan (as could be expected).

Alright, I'm off to watch a few episodes of Lost Season 1 and catch some sleep.

10

Haven't written in a few days... finals week, you know how it goes. I'll hopefully have lots of time to write over break (which is sorely needed). But for now, 10 years ago the year was 1995. The O.J. Simpson murder trial was going on. Timothy McVeigh bombed the Murrah federal building in Oklahoma City, and Unibomber was sending bombs through the mail. Jacques Chirac became president of France. Windows 95 was released. Bill Clinton got rid of the 55 mph speed limit. Calvin and Hobbes went out of syndication. And where was I?

10 years ago, I…

was in 5th grade, and has Mrs. Helsing as a teacher. Regularly visited Mr. Klicker and Ms. Neely (fourth grade teachers) at the end of the day. Went to Camp Kon-O-Kwee as a student. Was 11 years old, and eagerly awaited being a “teenager.” Had just met Jesse Helfrich, and quickly became best friends with him (Funny how things like that work out…) Had a bowl cut. Loved math and science. Found out that Jesse had to have his appendix removed, and actually cried because I was worried he would die. Liked animals. Didn’t own a computer. Didn’t have a TV in my own room… in fact, there was only one TV in the whole house. Shared a room with my brother. Started riding my bike to Chippewa on a daily basis. Spent most days with Jesse, Tom Detka, Bo Oravitz, and Tony Wyman. Later on, I would meet Amanda Cox, Candice Strickland, Courtney Storey, Stephanie Staples, and Matt Peters. We became a really tight group of friends, spending most days together, until they all pretty much moved away. Used my imagination a lot more than I do now. Had hardly any body hair. Bought candy at the store and sold it on the bus. Was even more of a geek than I am now. Rode my bike EVERYWHERE. Found out that my grandma was diagnosed with cancer. Hated chapstick with a passion. Got glasses because my eyes sucked. Was helping to clean up the “new house” so we could move. Didn’t fully appreciate having 3 bathrooms (until we moved to a house with only one). Ate ramen almost every day after school. Played around on an old apple computer that my grandfather bought from somewhere... This one had simple graphics, but still was just green on a black screen. Wanted to be an astronomer, or a scientist. Wrote for a little newspaper that the Gifted Program put out to the intermediate school. Spent my free time at school building elaborate things with pneumatic lego sets. Listened to B94 out of Pittsburgh pretty much nonstop. Had a crush on Natalie Freed and let her play my Gameboy on the school bus so she would sit with me. Couldn’t cut my fingernails for shit. Started playing trumpet. Watched new episodes of Seinfeld after Friends on Thursday nights (Must-see TV). Watched All That on Nickelodeon, and thought it was the funniest show on the planet. Went to Jesse’s after school to watch taped episodes of The Late Show with David Letterman, since we weren’t allowed to stay up that late.

The beauty of Seinfeld

I was watching Seinfeld tonight, mostly out of boredom, and as I watched the first 4 episodes of Season 4, I realized one of the many things that makes Seinfeld such a great show: Each of the characters has so many little quirks that we all laugh at, but every so often, they hit a quirk on the head and we see ourselves in them.

For example, in "The Trip," George is accompanying Jerry on a trip to appear on The Tonight Show in L.A., and although it is only a two day trip, George packs two large suitcases and several bags. Jerry questions him as to why he has packed so much, and George replies "I happen to dress based on mood." I find this humorous because, I, too, often choose what I wear based on what mood I happen to be in. I used to lay my clothes out at night, to reduce the time I needed to get ready in the morning, but often I found myself the next morning either regretting my choices and picking something new, or putting them on anyways and feeling strange all day.

I saw another little part of myself in George Castanza in "The Pitch." George is discussing his discomfort because he hadn't shaved that morning, and Jerry nonchalantly asks him why he didin't shave. George replies that he had shaved yesterday afternoon and it was too early to shave again, and that he would have to get back on schedule. While I'm sure there are people who can shave any time or as many times in a 24 hour period as they'd like, I don't happen to be one of them. I, like Costanza, would most likely have waited and gone with stubble for a day, waiting until the next morning to shave, effectively "getting back on schedule." I've found in my own life that if, for some reason, I am unable to shave at the usual time, I must be stubbly for a day or so until I can get straightened out.


I'll post more when I find them.... it amuses me, at least.

Great headline.

This just in: Bush says he does not live in a bubble. Thank you, Mr. President, for clearing that up, but I'm sorry, the card says 'Moops.'

15

Alright, I stole this idea from K-Lowe, and so I'm not trying to claim it as my own. I believe he stole it from someone else, and so here it is. In installments, I'm going to write about where I was and what I was doing 1, 5, 10, and 15 years ago.

For what it's worth, I'm going to start with 15. Even though I was just starting Kindergarden at a ripe 6 years old, I think it's interesting to note what I can remember.


15 years ago, I...

Was 6 years old, and started Kindergarten. Had George Bush for a President. Learned to Count and Tie my shoes. Learned that Santa Claus wasn’t real. Was very religious, and had unquestioned faith. Had Mrs. Wagner for a teacher. Was taught the alphabet in class, but my dad had already taught it to me. Learned the Pledge of Allegiance. Took Ninja Turtles stuff into class for Show and Tell. Watched Saturday morning cartoons religiously. Had to go to bed at 9:00 on school nights, because my mom made me. Hated brushing my teeth. Spent my afternoons after school at my grandparents’, where my grandfather taught me about computers and showed me how to program on an old Radio Shack computer with no graphics and only orange text on a black screen. Had about 10 cats that lived outside. Still lived at the “old house,” which is, coincidentally, right next to the house where I now live. Regularly rented VHS tapes from Wilson's Video Corner in Chippewa. Made some money by sweeping floors at houses my dad was building and folding flyers he mailed to generate business for Riccon Development Inc. Uncle Ronnie was alive. Pap Gray was alive. Had a bowl cut. Took sign language classes with my mom at CCBC for fun. Had a best friend, Carson Pete, who eventually moved to Nevada. Bought candy from McCarters. Rode my bike to the bar across the street to pick up the cans and bottles people left outside so I could recycle them and my grandfather would give me money. Convinced my mom to start going to church. Had a two-year-old baby sister. Went swimming out at Shirleen's swimming pool, right next to my grandma's house. Wore cheap shoes from Payless and hand-me-down clothes from relatives and the rummage sale at the Chippewa United Methodist Church. Did odd jobs around the house for money, which I saved up in a jar in my dresser for the entire year, only to spend it during the week my family spent at Geneva-on-the-lake every summer. Great Grandma McClain was still alive. Shared a room with my brother, and fought over top bunk (or bottom, usually whichever of the two I happened to want at the time).

Movies I'd Like to See

Unfortunately, I haven't gotten to see as many movies lately as I would like to, but there are certainly a bunch of movies out or coming out soon that I'd like to see... possibly over break.

• The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe - I first read The Chronicles of Narnia when I was in 4th grade and had Mr. Klicker as a teacher. I read the first book and quickly tore through the rest of them. I haven't reread them in years, but I can't wait to see it. And Liam Neeson, who is a badass, will be the voice of Aslan. A fine pick.
• King Kong - I think the first time I saw a preview for this was when we all went to see Star Wars: Episode III at the midnight showing, and I remember thinking that the movie looked horrible, the animation was fake, and it looked like it was going to be a big piece of shit. We all laughed at how bad it looked. But recently, I've actually found myself really looking forward to seeing Peter Jackson's King Kong. I don't know what happened, but it really looks like it's going to be good. Plus, the fact that I just Checked Rotten Tomatoes, and right now it's at a 96% rating, which is fucking amazing for Rotten Tomatoes. I'm starting to wonder if it's going to be like one of those experiences where your mind is totally blown because it's something so... groundbreaking? New? Innovative? That it is absolutely and truly unlike anything ever done before.
  
• Walk the Line - I wanted to see this one long before Jamie DeMonte recommended it. From the previews (and Jamie's say-so), it looks like Joaquin Phoenix does a great version of the Man in Black, and I really think Johnny Cash's life would make a fantastic movie.
• Capote - I wanted to see this since I read about it in the GQ I snagged from the convenience store when they were giving them away at the beginning of the month. I really have liked Truman Capote since I read In Cold Blood my Senior year of High School. I think that Phillip Seymour Hoffman is a very versatile actor, and he doesn't get enough credit for it, and so I think that he'll pull of the role of Capote nicely. Plus, Frank Tascone recommended it, and I trust him. *Cue up Selby voice: "I wouldn't tell this to my classes ten years ago, but Truman Capote was a homosexual."* Only you, Selb Dogg, Only you.

Plus, Maggie said I could borrow season 1 of Lost. I've been interested in it, but I haven't had the time. So maybe I'll catch the bug.

P.S. I'm going to try to restart my blogging. I usually don't have much to say, and what I say will most likely not be too important, but at least it keeps me writing.