Where Was I Again?

So yeah, like... I'm going on very little sleep right now. I got back from my trip at 1:40pm local, went in to work to check in, and am still up. Basically had been up since 8pm the previous night, 1.5 hours of sleep... not really by choice, but by necessity.

Lots of stories to tell, which will hopefully include pictures.

And as a note of rhetorical things, I could flirt with them and get them roses, but can't seem to latch onto that concept here States-side. Maybe it's because it's more complex here. It was a nice trip.

Ok, I go now.
Ninight.

PS. They love pirates there too. And we discussed beer-ling. It's as if I never left...but just had a different atmosphere and langauge about me. :)

Twas the Night before...

I've travelled many times before so this isn't new to me.
One thing I've grown accustomed to doing ever since 3 yrs ago is to let people know how I feel just in case some fucker decides to pull some holy or political shit. I've already called my best friend KC, although that was the same night I had several shots, and she was having a few herself a lil farther down south this great state of ours. I called Cath, my other best friend, and she even left me email today. I'm gonna call hem both again before I leave.

I don't know if any of them ever read this place. Who knows. Besides, I tell them personally when I can anyways. But just in case, dear coworkers, as much as the daily grind of paperwork and foks ouside our org. try to bog us down, and we never take No for an answer... y'all are awesome and always know how to make my day. especially the new set of coworkers. I've had more fun this 'semester' than I can remember.

My friend Amy from school, she's awesome, and she has the coolest kid. She has a way of making me smile, and she's just, well... awesome. We do need to get together for Starbucks like we used to, though.

Folks from ISCA, the whole lot of them, stay warm, and thanks for the distractions.

Everyone else, even though I have my own personality, what also makes it unique is the nice, smooth blend of these friends that have influenced me, befriended me, made me laugh and smile, made me cry, and yet made me stronger and know myself. Much love and thanks.

And a special thanks to Cedia. Hey, if it weren't for her, I wouldn't think anyone read this damn thing.
No one else really leaves comments. *ahem* Then again, I laugh/hate the hater comment (the single one, at least) :) But hers are always appreciated.

Ok, it's frickin' early, and I actually wanted to sleep early. (NEVER happens, right?) anyways, y'all stay warm.

Avast, Europe

Well, I'm all packed, I'm all set.
Clothes, check. Papers, check. Work related stuff, check. Camera, check. Toothbrush and the other hygiene stuff, check. My minidisc player's loaded with enough music to keep me dancing. All systems go. Confirmed travel til I get home.

Well, the coworkers have all said that it will be a VERY quiet week without me. I am guessing that's good.
Well...then again, they said it'd be quiet, not that they'd miss me. Heh. Kidding. Tuesday just won't be the same. I am gonna sleep in a little bit tomorrow, but have just a few more items I need to pick up prior to giddy-upping on my way.

For starters, I have no book, but I can get one at the airport. I do need a disposable camera to complement the digital. I'm tempted to buy extra batteries for the heck of it.

It'll be quiet for this blog for a bit. Well... unless I get access to a computer there. I heard the hotel might have some access. Addict, I know, but hey, this is one of the few ways I actually remember what the hell I was doing, thinking, feeling, etc at that one moment in time.

Sleepyday

Cedia had this in her log, so I had to see who I would be. and, here're the results:
You are Neo, from "The Matrix." You display a perfect fusion of heroism and compassion.
What Matrix Persona Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

I got an autographed picture today from Miss USA 2004, Shandi Finnessey. She looks pretty cute. :) The other side of her picture is a B/W that has that old 1940s classy look to her.

My planned sleeping early last night became sleep at 04:25 and see what happens next. The result...i was a lil bit sleepy today, and took a nap when I got home from work today. I'm still sleepy and just might turn in after this entry.

Still no rain, but it did start to get cloudy later in the day. I can only hope and pray for the folks in Florida...

Didn't get to talk with NutMeg, so I have no idea what music box to look for. I'll try my best to see if I can spot one for her. Hrm. In a few hours when I wake again, it'll be packing time. I usually pack long before a trip, but this one, I'm just taking things slow and casual. It's supposed to be cold there right now at 45 degrees F, and a lil bit on the rainy side. Real Fall weather, instead of what we have here...but no complaints.

Ok, more later. For now, ninight.

Jammin'

All day, I wondered if Ivan would show his self here on our shores. Instead, we had some nice skies, a nice breeze here and then, but nothing that hinted of a storm. No, it went off to Beaumont, TX, several hundred miles east. And now, looking at weather.com's storm track, it's basically making a turn around Galveston Bay and heading back east slowly into Houston's area. Frickin' pussy of a storm. It's past 2am, and it still hasn't rained down here, but if the projected path is right, it'll be over here around Friday night, to Saturday. Damn pussy of a storm. Heh.

Got the stuff at work done that I wanted to. Documents typed and reviewed, mini-tasks completed and ready to submit. And then it was the end of the day before I knew it. Several meetings laid in between, but the ones today weren't bad at all. Fizzle Dizzle, one of Big Ern's officemates, has a nice glass vase at her desk, which I have adopted at my current piece of entertainment. Apparently, with the help of the vase, and my impersonations, i sound just like Darth Vader. It's really amusing, you have to trust me on this one. Even Pepe said I sounded just like the Dark Lord of the shizzle. Oh wait. Dark lord of the SITH, not Sh!#... Anyway, after work, I was SUPPOSED to go to walmart, but instead, stopped by BW3s and caught up with Pepe and Big Ern. Yeah, they'd started before me, but I followed on my own with a crown and coke (with cheery cherries from Megs), and followed that up with a single of the Rattlesnake (You remember... kahlua, bailey's and rumpleminze). Appararently, Pepe wanted to get me funny ha-ha, so he got me a double of the shot. Downed that quickly. Big Ern said, make it another, so I downed that too. Yeah, I was coherent and smiling, but I didn't want to make an extra idiot of myself, so... that and the hot/spicy wings Pepe got didn't faze me any. But now I had the munchies, so... Burger and Coke was the next thing ordered. Not too bad. But i think I like shots more than several pints of Shiner. I am such a heathen. For now.

Oh yeah. Megs has names for a few of us. big Ern is 'Babydoll'. Feeling jealous, Pepe is now 'Sweetheart'. Me? Can't remember how, but now, I am Megs' Sexy Bitch. Heh. Doesn't have a ring to it, but it grows on you. Pink Tiger came on through, and so did Romancer with Sunflo. It was a nice night. Then I still went to Walmart at like...10pm.

After getting the stuff I needed to get, while at checkout, I remembered they sold those instruments at the front of the store, so I finally said Screw It and picked up the lap harp from First Act. Got home, organized a few things, etc etc, and then checked out the harp. Hrm. It's out of tune. So after tinkering, it's somewhat tuned and sounds pretty nifty. A new distraction. Heh heh. If all else, I'll learn how to play Row Row Row Your Boat on the damn harp. :) Ok. 2:30. Gonna call it a night cuz tomorrow's an early day. Ninight.

The Ivan Tour / Changing My Ways

Apparently, Ivan, who was a bad a$$ hurricane, hit Alabama, went through the southeastern states, and somehow decided to round Florida...is now knocking on our backyard, and coming straight for us. Oh sure, the Ivan Tour went through the southern states without making a guest appearance in Texas, so its tropical storm agent said, hey, let's book one for the Lone Star State... Anywayz, it should make landfall around the area tomorrow night. Damnit. Allison sucked cuz it lingered, and it looks like Ivan will too. Bloody Russian storm.

Today's work was... blah. Not blah in the oh shit, lots to do, but more of a lame duck blah. I've pawned off a lot of my stuff already, that right now, I'm just trying to keep busy without taking on anything that is pretty exhaustive. Don't get me wrong, I LIVE for the exhaustive projects. Whether it's year-longs, months-longs, to quick turnarounds... right now, I'm actually enjoying the lull. I can't wait for November though. Time to get it started again. Tomorrow will be a moderately busy day, so I'll be a happy camper.

I'm out of shape. I also do not have a currently healthy sleep pattern. My Circadian Rhythm is... not rhythmic at all. I also have some bad habits which, after today's moment of Jeez, this never happened before, I am swearing off a lot of my bad habits and gonna be good again. Basically, Romancer plays soccer. I -used- to play. I still have the legs for it, but just not in the same shape as I used to be. Big Ern and I go out every now and then to join the Romancer. Yeah, we're both out of shape, but today, it hit me that I need to behave and get healthier (Did I mention I'd been laying off the caffeinated drinks...except at BW3s).

Mind you, I will still maintain the habits that'll send me to hell (on my daily visits, that is), but i'll be a healthier mofo when I do go on my visits. I also didn't join the bandwagon and get the Star Wars trilogy. Granted, I already got a copy of it from my Uncle... anyways, I did pick up the game. I'm so tempted to play it, but if I do, I'd probably stay up til 3 or 4am and realize, oh crap. One more month, I turn 28. Then i'll be a 20 yr old in a 28 yr old's body. Yay. :/ Heh, but I'm smiling. Right here, right now, I am smiling and not in it.

Still In It

"You're in it right now, aren't you? That's what my mom always says when she looks at me and sees I'm trying to work something out in my head. You're in it." - Garden State

This movie quote describes me a lot. I've always got something on my mind that it's sometimes difficult to shut off. Work's actually been really quiet. My projects are in order for the most part, and will hopefully have them on auto-pilot while I'm out. I haven't been walking between buildings lately, which is a part of my walking exercise at work, so I need to take that back up again.

Bowling was ok tonight. NutMegan came and played for a few (I smiled), and so did Big Ern. Anastacia and her Robble Robble also came out. Anastacia did really well up until I left, but I left early tonight. Megs didn't work tonight, but was at the usual locale. Yeah, so she does clean up real well, but I guess ... yeah. I'll leave it at that from here. :/

Trip in a few more days. It's gonna be busy. I hope to take a lot of picture in the short stay. When I get back, I go to an old college classmate's wedding. His fiancee works with my folks. Small world. A girl from my dad's place will also attend who's also the same age as I am. Basically, we'll probably hang out while there cuz we won't know anyone there, and we're close to the same age. Should be interesting.

There's just a lot on my mind that constantly revolves there. Unresolved. Self-imprisonment by thoughts that put a devil's advocate at every corner. This struggle is a civil war. Recovery is only an acceptance away, only what is it that should be accepted or rejected? One step at a time. Trivial things to some can cause a lifetime of overanalysis to others, only it seems unimportant. What is the thinker thinking? Why is the clown smiling? I have a poster, and it says the world is a wheel, and someday it'll all come 'round right. Until then, I'm still in it.

Naughty Santa

Dear Santa,...

Aww hell, who am I kidding. If Santa's helpers were all like this in real life, I'm gonna sell coal for winter, or have ample supply keeping hell really warm. They do make nice decoratives, let alone conversational pieces.

Anyways, enough of that. Next post is a daily summary.

Doesn't Do Her Justice

So Just because Cedia asked, here's the one of Marilyn Monroe. Doesn't really do her justice, but her estate did give the go-ahead for it. She's actually different from the others in that she's not standing up all the way, but is slightly bending over. They're generally 16 to 17 inches tall, and made by the Stronghold Group. There's 5 in all, plus the variant Santa Victoria.

There's only one Sept. 20, 2004...

and it's now over with. Just like that.
What happened today? Well, I got some things done at work, though it doesn't really feel like I got much done. I hate that. I mean, aside from several meetings, and reviewing some documents, today was fairly blah. But, it was still a fun day. I heard from two of my friends. So far, they're doing well.

Romancer called in sick. Hrm. Maybe it's from eating too much yellow cake with Duncan Hine chocolate frosting. Pink Tiger's back, and it was a jovial day in the office with the trio of her, Big Ern, and..well..me. Pepe comes back tomorrow. He'd better. I have a lot of things needing his review. But, that's for tomorrow. As for today... after work, I didn't really do much other than go home and veg. I watched the news, ate dinner, checked email, and then played some college football on Xbox. It's 2am now, and I'm actually wanting to call it a night.

I got my schedule for my visit during next week's travel. I'll give a bit more info, but after the trip. I'm starting to get excited, but I hope I don't forget anything. Trust me, that'll be a bitch if I miss something. I got text messaging set up this weekend, but haven't yet used it. Hmm. Technology. That's about it. Oh yeah, and when you go to a fast food place and order drive thru with two other friends... and you put it all in one order... make sure you check which one you hand off to the other person. Chicken wrap != chicken sandwich. I'm not worried cuz I got two cheeseburgers. The other two...well, simple comedy. Ok, I'm sleepy. ninight.

Kindness

I have a mixture of black and white pictures, as well as very vibrant colored pictures around my walls. In one of the hallways, I've got this picture up.

Kindness in words creates confidence.
Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.
Kindness in giving creates love.
-Tao Te Ching

It's very true.

She Actually Said That...

You're probably thinking, 'What the hell?' Ok. So I've got these playboy playmate statues. There's one of Dalene Kurtis, Karen McDougal, two of Victoria Silvstedt, and one of Marilyn Monroe. My dear mother saw these one time, and just to show you how unique my family dynamic is, she said,

You know, I like this one, Dalene, is it? Better than the others. She just...looks better. Victoria looks like a bitch, and Marilyn just doesn't look right. Karen McDougal's the second best, but I like Dalene better.

So there you have it. Commentary on the playmates.

On a Night Like Tonight...

I got home, and as I got out, I saw the crescent moon between the two trees, and I thought, hmm...this would make a decent picture. Not much else to say about it. I took a color version as well as a B/W. As you can see, for these, I'm a B/W fan.

Inside my Head

According to an online Myers Briggs Jung Test,

Extroverted (E) 64.52% Introverted (I) 35.48%
Sensing (S) 54.84% Intuitive (N) 45.16%
Thinking (T) 50% Feeling (F) 50%
Perceiving (P) 50% Judging (J) 50%

"Entertainer". Radiates attractive warmth and optimism. Smooth, witty, charming, clever. Fun to be with. Very generous. 8.5% of the total population

Funny. Our group went on a retreat to help the team as a whole know how and why we function as we do, and why we as a group work well with each other. You had (D)-Dominating people, (I)-Influential people, (S)-Steady people, and (C)-Conscientious people.

I found out that my personality was a strong 'I', the type who was optimistic, and preferred to charm and influence over direct brute confrontation. This made Lorree smile since she always called me the Schmoozer/Charmer of the group.

What can I say? :)

On another note, while looking up insomnia on WebMD's webpage, I came across a link for an ADHD assessment. ADHD = Attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder. Basically, after the assessment, it said I might have it. Hmm. What else is new, right?

Ok, it's 3am and this insomniac is saying NightNight.

Things to Do

A Few Things I want to do in the near future, or before I die (in NO particular order):
1 - Get a papal audience.
2 - Go to the North Pole.
3 - Kiss the Blarney Stone / Visit Ireland.
4 - Play in the rain with someone I really like.
5 - Fly in space.
6 - Find my mate in and for life.
7 - Go to the Caribbean
8 - Go back to Disney World (no limit)
9 - Say hi to Hugh Hefner.
10 - Have kids.
11 - Drive a Porsche Carrera (why not? It's already got my name on it)
12 - See Norah Jones in concert.
13 - See Vienna Teng in concert (coming soon, Oct. 12, '04) (http://www.viennateng.com)
14 - Dance with someone else like no one else is watching.
15 - Visit Jasper and Banff, Alberta, Canada again. (http://www.discoverjasper.com/)
16 - Return to Fatima, Portugal.
17 - Ride a mechanical bull with friends.
18 - Visit the Great Wall of China.
19 - Cowboy up and ask a girl out, not just for the 1st date,
but for the subsequent dates
20 - Go to KSC and watch a launch.
21 - See James Taylor in concert.
22 - Run for Congress (heh, you never know)
23 - Get season tickets to a sporting event and actually have time to go see all the games.
24 - Ride a train across Europe.
25 - Return to the fountain and lose track of time, etc, etc.

There are more, and will always be more... some will be feasible, some will be, WHAT THE HELL AM I THINKING? But these are just a few things I'd like to do in this lifetime.

One of these years.

Saturday in September

Not much really happened today. I slept in, even though Romancer called and wanted fans out for his soccer game (basically, me and Big Ern. Sunflo had to work). Hmm. Watch a soccer game ("with girls playing too" - Romancer)...or sleep in... Considering after this coming week, I will not be on a normal sleep schedule, I'd better make some deposits to the sleep bank. So I continued sleeping, then later, I went and picked up my sunglasses. Basically, the old Oakley's had been broken, and so it's been a good couple of months since I'd gone with dark shades. I finally got them back. Granted, I normally wear dark black shades....that the coworkers say make me look like a hitman... PC somehow got me brown ones...and instead of a silver Oakley logo... they're gold. I only wear black. This cannot be. But, with the new hair... these new dark brown shades with the bling-bling logo.... it all comes together. as I say Awwww yeah. Don't laugh too hard, I actually said that in the shop.

After picking up my sunglasses, visited Grandma for awhile before taking her and a few other relatives to this church she goes to a Bible sudy for. The church isn't in the BEST part of that town, but it's a church. It was very well-kept, and simple, instead of the grandiose churches elsewhere. The choir consisted of two sisters, and their pianist accompaniment. They sounded so wonderful and so different from the folksy/guitar+piano+drums, etc choirs from the churches I have been going to. And they had some soul...very calming. The sermon was nice, and after the mass, they offered individual blessings with an annointing of holy oil. I've only had a religious experience a few other times in my life, but maybe I've just had so much in my head and I've been holding a lot of my stuff inside,... I'd never gotten teary in church before, but today, I couldn't explain it. I walked back to the pew, knelt, stared forward at the cross, and just... got teary. And all I could think of saying was I'm sorry for anything wrong that i've done, including not praying as much.

I don't know. But I feel a bit better.

Duncan Hine[s] Yellow Cake

There's one of those quotes from the Inspirational posters and whatever stuff you find at that business-like store... Franklin Covey or something... goes like:

Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning a lion wakes up. It knows it must outrun the slowest gazelle or it will starve to death. It doesn't matter if you are a lion or a gazelle. When the sun comes up, you better be running.

Today started with running. Ran paperwork, ran to a meeting, ran into JW after that meeting, picked up lunch for takeout, dropped JW back to her office, ran to do some other stuff, ran to a second meeting... and it finally tapered after that. Work was, I'm guessing, productive.

After work, I picked up Big Ern and we headed off to the Romancer's shackadelia and hung out for a while, shooting a few games of pool. After a while, we headed on back, waited for another to arrive before driving off to the baseball game. Romancer won some tickets to one of the comedy shows tonight, and had an extra one, so we called Megs at work to see if she was interested. Well, she said she might be busy and to call back around 9ish. The baseball game was cool. Astros vs. Brewers. Astros won, always a good thing if you're a 'Stros fan. Called B-Dubs again, left a message and a number, but Megs was porbably way too busy to call. At least she didn't say No off the bat. :) So we went to the comedy place. The headliner was Blake Clark. You may know him from: Farmer Fran in The Waterboy, Jimmy the Demon in Little Nicky, and Drew barrymore's father in 50 First Dates, to name a few. Really funny guy, and his opener, Mo Amir, was pretty good too. I needed to laugh. We laughed a good deal of the show.

As for Duncan Hine? Romancer once mentioned to Sunflo, "bake me a yellow cake with Duncan Hine chocolate frosting." Big Ern said, "It's Duncan HINES, ... HINES." Romancer's memorable response: "Oh no, I want only one."

Nothing Else Better to Do

Today was an ok day at work. Ok, so I looked forward to lunch. Since 9:30am. Which wouldn't arrive any earlier than 12:00. But lunch was really nice. J-Dubs was actually cool for fast food, and we hung out for awhile and just chatted about work and whatever else. KFC has a cheap menu lately, and for $1, it said you can add 3 mini-pies. Well, ok, so the picture on the wall would have you believe these would be 3 small pies, akin to a slice size portion... but nooOOooo...
these pies would make Weebl say "what the f@ck?, Bob?" There were more of 'bite-sized' mini-pies. But pie is pie. (I ended up buying two pint-sized ice creams later in the afternoon to share with the coworkers).

As if I DON'T go to BW3s enough,...after work, I went. Nothing else to do, right? Well, stopped by the comic book store that I hadn't been to in months first. Then went to EB Games. Then went to BW3s. I didn't recognize Megs tonight cuz she looked totally different. I was impressed. Ok, so I was actually gonna eat and run if she wasn't there, but yeah, she was there. Sad that Big Ern recognized her, and I'm like...hi there. Romancer stopped by to get some food after class as well.

Yeah, tonight was an interesting night. Still don't know what to make of it, but I swear, if my dream this morning was any indication, I really need to pay attention more. It was like a weekend, although the background looked like work. Someone said hi to me, as far as small talk goes, until she left with some person, sorta blurry, and kisses him and they go away. But she was vivid. I have no rest even in my dreams.

Tomorrow, I have worked with the same company for four years. This is the longest I've worked at a given place, aside from the work I did as a college student doing tech support and manning the computer lab. A week from tomorrow, is the last time I seriously recall going out on a real date. Seven years ago. At least the last time I had asked someone out and it was just the two of us. I don't even know what a date is anymore because all I've been doing is just hanging out with friends. How I can explain this to the folks who mean well and 'want' to help me out, I don't know. I was talking with a friend earlier about anniversaries. These are mine.

Romancer suggested baseball and the comedy club somewhere Downtown.
I've got nothing better to do... and I need to laugh until my insides hurt from laughing. I'm tired and staying warm is hard right now.

Beerling for One...Two...Three?

It's Tuesday. I look forward to Tuesdays for the company and the stress relief through going to BW3s just before bowling, or 'beerling' as Romancer calls it. Tonight, it was another regular night at B-Dubs, but bowling, the crickets were out...

After driving around with the Romancer and getting his pimpmobile, I went on to B-Dubs. This one guy who works there recognizes me everytime, and shakes my hand. I nod and ask where Megs was, and he said she was actually working the bar tonight. With that, I sat by the island area, looked through the menu, and waited. While waiting, Big Ern came on through. Sure enough, Megs came over. Funny thing is, the guy told her, "Your boys are here". I guess that makes us regulars. More proof. She knew what Big Ern and I normally order, except for my food order. That and the additional crown and coke. But she knows how I like my Coke.

We eat, the rest come stumbling on in one by one. This is good cuz they all flock to where I am, and I go where Megs is, so she gets tips. But she deserves it all cuz she gives awesome service. Also got Big Ern to try the concoction I tried at the Dry Bean Saloon this past Saturday...
1/3 Kahlua, 1/3 Bailey's, 1/3 Rumpleminze. Tastes good, like an afterdinner mint. And has a nice fresh aftertaste.

Around 1015, after we're all closed out, Megs says goodbye to us, and I thought we'd all head over to the alley, but it ended up just me, The Romancer, Sunflo, and Sunflo's friend...though only Romancer, Sunflo, and I bowled. No one else showed up. I got my own lane and just bowled left and right, averaging 145 every game, which means I'm slowly getting better (up from 90-100 if I play right, 70 if I goof around). It's now02:03, and I am sore/tired (got home at 01:20). I am gonna try and head into work early tomorrow to help a coworker out... at 07:30.
As much as I am seeing that in my head, literally, only time will tell.

I still believe.

Star light, star bright
first bright star I see tonight
wish I may, wish I might
have this wish I make tonight.

I still believe in wishes. Sure, they hardly ever come true, but that doesn't stop me.
I still believe in wishing wells and fountains.
I still believe in Santa Claus.
I still make a wish when I blow out candles.
I believe in Guardian Angels.
I believe in miracles.
and I believe that things happen for a reason.
I sometimes don't agree, but yeah.

I saw a star tonight and made a wish...

Smilin'

Every now and then, someone has this unbeknownst gift that lets them give me a smile for no apparent reason. I have a Flavia poster that basically descrives this...

"Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some people move our souls to dance. They awaken us to new understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom. Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon. They stay in our lives for awhile, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never ever the same."

Some folks don't have to say a word, but in their presence, I have a calm smile. No, not the mischievous smile I've been known to have, but that calm smile that somehow, even for a few moments, calms down my mind. I cherish those.

On another note, one of these nights, I'm gonna list down the things I want to do in this lifetime.

How to Stay Young

While I was browsing the net, I came across this other set of guidelines. It said the author is unknown, but whomever he or she is, these words are so true.

1. Throw out non-essential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctor worry about them. That is why you pay him/her.

2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.

3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. " An idle mind is the devil's workshop." And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.

4. Enjoy the simple things.

5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.

6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. And always remember: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

21 Rules

Dance of Youth, Pablo Picasso

This is one of my favorite prints, and it's by Pablo Picasso. Maybe it's because it just has such a carefree nature jumping out at you, and I try to base my life off of being...youthful. Maybe it's genetics, or maybe it's the overall outlook on life that's keeping me young, I don't know. But I'm thankful.

One of the other favorite 'prints' I have is H. Jackson Brown Jr's 21 Suggestions for Success:

1. Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery.
2. Work at something you enjoy and that’s worthy of your time and talent.
3. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
4. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
5. Be forgiving of yourself and others.
6. Be generous.
7. Have a grateful heart.
8. Persistence, persistence, persistence.
9. Discipline yourself to save money on even the most modest salary.
10. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
11. Commit yourself to constant improvement.
12. Commit yourself to quality.
13. Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.

14. Be loyal.
15. Be honest
16. Be a self starter.
17. Be decisive even if it means you’ll sometimes be wrong.
18. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.

19. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you’ll regret the things you didn’t do more than the ones you did.

20. Take good care of those you love.
21. Don’t do anything that wouldn’t make your Mom proud.

Whoop! - Part Two

After the Dry-Bean Saloon, we went outside and watched a girl dunk her ring. Tradition states that you earn the right to wear your ring by dunking it in a pitcher of beer, trying to drink to your ring out of the pitcher in as many seconds as your class year. For example, I'm class of 1999 so I try to drink it in 99 seconds. You catch the ring in your teeth and you have earned your ring. Dearest KC convinced me to do this back in November 1997... 38 or so seconds later, I earned mine. After that, we said goodbye to Nate the Mate, and we drove on back to Houston.
Well, KC did. I just sat in the backseat grinning stupidly.

One thing I really need to stop doing is while tipsy or borderline drunk, to call or leave voicemail for friends. Aside from making up some entertaining ones, some potentially have the makings of me getting into trouble. Not the BAD sort, but just the ones where... when I'm not as tipsy, I'd have some explaining to do. All in all, I had a great deal of fun this Saturday.

Whoop! - Part One

Yesterday, I went up to College Station with my best friend, KC, and her other half, Colin. We've actually known each other for 7+ years now and her family's like my extended family... or at least I'm called 'The Celestial Son' by the 'rents. :)

We watched the TX A&M vs Wyoming game, which had a nice 31-0 Aggie victory ending to it all. I haven't been to a game since 1995 when I was still up at College Station that semester... and it's one of those moments in time that I've ended up repressing a lot of memories. Every now and then, a few neutral and good memories resurface. I can't tell you what I may have done last week, but I can pick out a rainy night when I ate at a certain place, wearing certain shoes, etc.

I'd called Nate the Mate and told him that I was in town for the game, and he met up with us at Double Dave's. We ate some pizza rolls, then mosied along to the Dixie Chicken. This place serves the most beer per square foot of any bar in the United States. http://www.dixiechicken.com/dixiechicken/dixie_about.html After a couple of Shiner's, we moved along to the Dry Bean Saloon and got a few shots. I still liked Sex with an Alligator, but they had a good number of other shots to choose from. One that caught my attention was the rattlesnake, not for its name, but for its contents. Kace said you either like Rumpleminze, or you don't... but it's almost like toothpaste-mint flavored alcohol. Well, I've gotta say, I fall under the 'I Like' category...

On My Best Behavior Feeling Free

Megs didn't call today, but I figured she wouldn't anyway. Either busy, or can you just imagine how many whacks prolly pull that receipt+number deal? Let alone friends who let friends do that? Oddly enough, the other Meg called me a few times to status me on Ben and Jerry's. It threw me off guard cuz I rarely get called by her. It was a nice change though. Vienna Teng, a really cool singer, is coming to town in October, so she was picking up tickets today and was going to pick up one for me. You have to check Vienna out...http://www.viennateng.com/.

Tonight, we had a house blessing, and afterwards, I saw Big Ern, Pepe, and Pink Tiger at another local hangout. I never expected to like Crown and Coke (with cherries) [C+CwC] as much as I do, and as Pepe says, I drink it too fast, considering. Eh, the 1st one never really affects me, the 2nd gets me buzzed, and the 3rd one gets it started. Tonight, it was just a good behavior with a C+CwC, a Sex with an Alligator shot, and Coke with Cherries. That and I figued I'd be DD for Big Ern and Pink Tiger. After I made sure they were ok, I left for home.

Those two are just way cool, and so is Pepe. At least my mind's starting to break free again and I'm having fun again. This is what I missed the most in the last so many weeks. Just not so bogged down about anything. :)

Bus Stop Evening in an Office Space World

Today, I wanted to go to BW3's. Well...actually, I just wanted to hang out somewhere after work, and so BW3's is a nice compromise. It serves food for the ones who actually want to eat, and has a decent happy hour for the drinkers. I like both, plus the fact that I can get my coke with cherries there.

I got there around 630, and tried out the new popcorn shrimp appetizer. The batter had some peppercorn, and mixed with Capt. Morgan rum sauce, .... 6 or so srhimp later, i finished my crown and coke, and started on my coke with cherries (Michelle gave 3 the first time, and none per refill). So yeah, like...after finishing a good deal of the shrimp, i was so full (thanks to the cokes) that I didn't get to touch the chicken tenders. Megs was there, but didn't have her hat on, so I didn't recognize her off the bat til Michelle pointed her out.

Nando (intern) and DJ Smoov (Nando's intern friend) were walking in as I was walking out....so I redirected them to where Megs was serving (instead of waiting in the line). 745, Pepe walks in. 8ish, Big Ern makes his appearance. What can I say? I'm becoming a regular at B-Dubs, and I want Megs to have some business... though she DID have a busy night with twice as many areas to cover as other folks. It was like a Bus Stop cuz around 830ish, more of Nando's friends arrive and order, Pepe leaves, Nando and Smoov leave, Romancer comes in, the two others leave... so it's just Big Ern, Romancer, and I. So anyways, Megs is used to me having a lot of cherries in my coke. "Dude, you alone must eat more cherries than a lot of people here combined on a given night" - Big Ern.

Before Pepe left, he made a rose from a napkin, gave it to Megs and said it was from him, Big Ern, and myself...She actually wore it on her uniform. So yeah, just Big Ern, Romancer, and I were left of the motley crew. As Romancer was closing out, Big Ern takes R's receipt and writes at the bottom my cell phone number...apparently cuz i was supposed to have done this ages ago. Just like in Officespace where Peter (Ron Livingston) and his coworkers go to where Joanna (Jennifer Aniston) works... and he never really asks her out... Anyways, I'd be really surprised if she ever calls. But, it was a pleasant evening. That and Ben and Jerry's opens next door tomorrow.

Ok, laters.

A Bob Ross Moment

Nov. 2000 - Lighthouse
Reflecting on how time flies, I did this painting almost 4 yrs ago.

I did this one on a small 8x11-ish canvas using acrylic paint. I used to paint pre-cast plaster, and then add mini-lightbulbs inside for a little lighthouse display. My friend KC actually still has hers. I'd always liked lighthouses, and one day, I was flipping through a book, and it had this picture, so... I decided to paint it. I was really happy with how the ocean spray turned out. There's just something about water...I can almost hear the waves come in. I tried NOT to have a Bob Ross moment while painting this and hear from out of nowhere, happy little waves crashing on the happy little beach under the happy little lighthouse sitting against the happy little cliff. But now that it's done.... A Bob Ross moment...

Get Your Curve On

So yeah, like we at work have Tuesday Night Bowling from 10pm til 1am...though it IS pretty late for some folks, and they go home earlier than 1am... that's where we usually go hang out.

In fact, before that, BW3's is also a nice interim waiting point before Bowling. Megan S. is my current fave waitress. She's cute, got spunk, stylin' in a pimp hat, and knows how I like my cherries. Really. If I'm behaving, I order food, and a cup of coke with cherries, and she fills my cup with a lot of cherries. Maybe that's why when Big Ern and I stopped by on like...a Friday, I think, they were all out of cherries... I must have eaten them all. Anyway, BW3s and Megan S. are awesome.

Bowling consistently includes The Romancer, Pink Tiger, Big Ern, yours truly, M-licious, J-Dub, D-lovin, and every now and then, Sassy Pants. We get some different faces weekly, between visitors and intern/co-ops. Several weeks ago, Pink Tiger, Big Ern, and I agreed. We're all straight bowlers. Which means, while the Romancer makes his bowling ball spin, then curve back in, we three throw ours straight-shot.

Big Ern's been throwing a few curves here and there when Pink Tiger's not looking...and after last night... I think I am now a convert... Poor Pink Tiger. Maybe she too will join the dark side... Time will tell. Til then, may your Shiner Bocks, Guinness, Crown and Cokes, or whatever be full.

There's a guy, a few of us swear, LOOKS like Lance Bass from N'Sync. He seems cool, but I swear... N'Sync. Oh yeah...and bumper bowling is funny too.

Oh, and as for Pepe... Big Ern and I called him a Jose'-r for not coming out to either bowling or B-Dubs. Serves him right. Hehe. Laters.

Always In It

I am terrible with names, but I just called this one "Lady". I'm by far no artist, but I tend to seek ways to veg and just mellow out when I have a lot on my mind. This was one of those 15-20 minute projects that filled in one of those times. It's a roughly 8x10 pencil drawing I did a little over a year ago, and I thought I'd share it with whoever reads this blog. As in Garden State, I'm seeing her as being "In it" right now... "You're in it right now, aren't you? That's what my mom always says when she looks at me and sees I'm trying to work something out in my head. You're in it."

Stupid Stuff

But it's an ongoing struggle between being realistic and optimistic.
On one hand, I've got those who have known me anywhere between a year and others...almost a lifetime... who'll say I'm a decent person, a good friend, and a number of adjectives that would imply that I am a good person. On the other hand, there's the voice in my head that wonders just how true what they say is.

As a book title says, If I'm so wonderful, why am I still single? No idea. But after awhile, I'm starting to lose touch with the optimism that would still give me a smile regardless, and I have to ask myself, is there something wrong with me? Am I really that strange or weird or eccentric or just, what are the things I'm lacking? I could probably name a few, but those are the things I can't really change. Sometimes, one's best is still not good enough. And sometimes, all one just wants is that hand that holds yours saying everything's going to be ok, and that you are good enough, even without saying the words.

But what the fuck do I know? It's just one of those nights.

Pirate's Playground

Island hopping at 100 Islands, Philippines, Feb. 2004.

We were island hopping and catching some of the sights...and being at the front of the small boat,
I had to take this picture. I love seeing the sun's reflections on the water, plus it's one of those experiences that make you feel free.

First picture...a sunrise

Sunrise at the mountains Philippines, 0645

I thought I'd start adding a few pictures, because they say 1000 words. I've always loved a sunrise, but this one was up in the mountains back in Feb 2004. When I saw this, I had to capture the moment where the first ray dashed past the mountains... Opportunity is around the corner... just be patient... and find the way to get around any obstacles.

Save Tonight

The Ocean Blue
Royal Carribean has some cruises to the Carribean starting at like $359. But that's for a 4-night cruise, and well...blah. Basically, the 7 night cruise is a good deal...takes you to Key West (or Jamaica, depending on your desired itinerary), then to Grand Cayman, Cozumel, and back to Galveston. The starting price is like...$649, but it'll end up being $750 or so, unless you get triple occupancy. The staterooms aren't too bad, and actually have a good amount of space if you still are fine with the college atmosphere. As it is, I'm gonna try to sell the idea to my coworkers about paying $691 per person, and if I drive, along with a friend with another suburban assault vehicle, we might be able to park at my Grandmother's. Ok, this would be the true test if I can organize anything. As it is, I do the organizing for lunch, after-work hours, and what-not for work... let's see if this might even get their attention. So far, I've thrown the idea out and it's being received fairly well.

I Look Like I'm 17?
We went to a family friend's birthday party today, and some of them hadn't seen my in a long time. Then they see me with the new hair. And apparently, I lost 10 or so years to my age. Yeah, basically, I decided to have my mid-life crisis early to get it out of the way. Heh.
I dunno. My hair grows out pretty fast, and I'm even considering growing it out long again...like 10 yrs ago. If it weren't for this picture someone took, me with long, red, wavy hair, no one would have believed it. Eh, it's all good. But I doubt having a flannel shirt and a chain-wallet as my 'Presentation clothing' during a Board review would be all that great. baby steps...baby steps...

Nightmares
Sometimes, things get so intense when I'm awake, it carries over to the happy place and invades. I mean, I love my work (most of the time), but it's a sign for me to slow down every now and then when I dream about work, and wake up thinking...wait a minute...
It's like a scene from the Matrix... when does the dream world stop and the real world begins? Long story, but at least I've scaled back at work enough to not have them again. As for stress relief? Heh. I used to play the Tom Clancy games for my own personal version of stress relief.
Rainbox Six is a personal favorite, as well as SOCOM, but I swear, the hostages we're meant to save are retarded. Yes, we just freed you, yes you are to stay behind us cuz we can take a few more hits before you do... SO QUIT GETTING IN FRONT OF US WHEN WE OPEN THE DOOR. Heh heh. I mean, ya go through the trouble of dodging bullets, taking out targets, rescue the hostage, and should have it fairly easy escaping...only to have the hostage run through the door you just opened and get shot by a straggler terrorist. Oh, and yeah, we did tell the hostage to stay down and not move. What's this got to do with nightmares? Eh, well, between the game and the news, I one-time dreamt that I couldn't save a hostage in time.
Maybe it's just a message that you can't save them all no matter how you try... which coincides with work.

This is What I Get Paid To Do
What exactly is a Project Engineer? Some say the task-master. Some say the scapegoat. Some call us the assholes, while others say we -are- the project. To me? We're the social engineers. We have to know the hardware, the people, and things to make it all come together, from the start of the project until its certification isn't needed anymore.
You have someone thinking, Hey, this would be a great idea to have on-orbit, it comes down the chain, and we look into it if it's doable or not. Then we sit down, figure out how to approach the hardware, what it needs to do and not do, how much, how long, etc. Then the paperwork and social engineering starts. I call it social engineering because you have to go out there, see the people you work with eye-to-eye, associate faces with names and make it more personal.
The one thing to always remember is that people make things happen. They have lives outside of their office or cubicle, and that's what some of the coworkers sometimes forget. Sure, so-and-so didn't complete this aspect that they had to deliver to you. But did you consider that his son is in the hospital and has to visit him as a parent should? That sort of thing. If you get a roadblock, our job is to find ways around that roadblock to still deliver the hardware on-time and at cost. Sometimes, you have 3 months to a year to do the job... and sometimes, you have just three weeks...sometimes even days to complete something depending on the dire need.
And it takes the entire team to pull it through. It's amazing what a Thank you can do as a lasting impression. That or a smile, a handshake, and just keeping things good. Optimism is a must, and as for me, being labeled a 'charmer' among the rest isn't a bad thing.

The coolest thing about it is, I do this at NASA. I think of us as the best of the best, the finest minds and talents the nation has to offer. Some ask why we even have a Space Program. But the things we have today are the technology this agency has helped move forward. It's one of the best jobs in the world. It ranks up there with teachers and doctors.

DVD Release Overload
Tuesday, 9/7/04, a LOT of DVDs come out on release. The Punisher, Soul Plane, Eddie Murphy RAW, Clerks: 10th Anniv., The Ladykillers, Jersey Girl, Alias Season III (mmMMmm....Garner....) are some of the few. And Red Dead Revolver is on sale for $20...saving $30. Hrm. So yeah, I need to get myself pimpstressed out by some of my female friends. They know their cut on the take is a good payoff... now if they only had the time to actually do it... Best Buy would love me. Oh, that and it's also bowling night.
We might actually get everyone to come out this week.

Ok, dinner time. Laters B-log

Are you Diabolic?

Alky-In-Training
I am finding it more and more that I like Crown and Coke. Sure, I also like Shiner and whatever drinks are there, but I like Crown and Coke. Especially when it comes with Cherries. Megan S. at BW3s...she knows i love cherries. Ah, c'est le vie. But I've been having them more frequently. Is it the love of Crown and Coke,...or it is just an excuse for cherries? I mean, when I went last, I got a regular coke, and also had it filled to the brim with cherries... Hmmm...

Phone Converations with KC, my twin half
In this life, KC has got to be one of my best friends. You know... the type you can call at odd hours of the night, waking them up, and they never seem to hold it against you. Doesn't matter if you're tipsy off your ass and still manage to surf through your cell phone address book, or life's got you really down. KC falls in this category. And oddly enough, she still hasn't killed me.

Today at Wal-Mart, I called my twin half, and we talked about the upcoming game next weekend, and how a group of us would go. (She'd kick my ass if I didn't). So, as I was looking for lysol...or maybe it was getting the right butter, she says,
"So I'm watching Poker on TV."
"What?"
"Poker. on TV. It's like the World Poker Open."
"HA HA HA HA HA HA"
"WHAT?"
"ok, what did you just say?"
"Um... The World Poker Open"
"ok, Stop. Think about it"
"---ohmigod----"
"heh"
"But, but..they're all guys playing...no girls!"
"Ever wonder why they call it playing their hand?"
"------"

Ah, it was a funny moment.

Are you Diabolic?
The story behind this is, just before I decided to add a blog, I wanted to check my email. One of the junk emails said "Are you Diabetic?" in the subject line. No idea HOW, but I read it as "Are you Diabolic?". How rare. But yes I am, thank you.

Block Rockin Beats
We're supposedly having a block party tonight, prolly going on right now, so I am typing like a Mofo, and will have to probably have to continue again tonight since I'd been neglecting the last few nights. Time to see the new neighbors and all that. Louis is gonna bring out his old projector and play movies. That'd be cool. Hopefully, the rain has gone away. At least the sun's calmed down a bit and laid off the heat.

Faces of the Past, Faces of the Future
I tried to see Amy last night since I hadn't seen her or Kris in so long, but I missed out on them cuz of a bowling game or some bingo... One of these days/nights... Long story, all in all, but one I like to keep fresh in my head cuz it makes me smile regardless on how life goes. Also ran into Bei today. he son's 17 months old...I can't believe that much time has passed since Organic Chem. She's in her 1st year of Pharmacy. I'm so glad for her. She once wrote everyone's names in Cantonese or soemthing on the board. Raven had a bird symbol for his name. When she got to my name, I'm like,
"Bei, that looks pretty cool. what's it mean?"
"Oh, it means 'Weed'."

So yeah, I got called weed for a while. Go figure. Being a chem class, we HAD to work with some chemicals. During one of the first labs (AFTER the Weed name), someone bumped into my stuff and knocked some of whatever diluted acid, and as I was cleaning up, Bei said
"Aww, Bum, you're dropping acid."

I swear, she has me pegged for a druggie. heh. Ah well. In a few weeks, I go on travel for work. After that, I get to go to a college classmate's wedding. He's marrying one of the folks my parent's work with. I'll get to meet up with Erica too. Hope that turns out ok.

Ok...block party time. laters.

Pirate Kitty

PIRATE NINJAs
There's no combination greater than Pirate Ninja. I mean, you hunt out treasure and booty, and can kill like a mofo, all stealth like. To paraphrase a comic strip, we are the ones who strike in the night and say YARR. Weebl and Bob's friend Chris is a Pirate Ninja. And so am I.

Pirate Kitty?
What exactly is pirate kitty? Well, last night, got off of work and joined Big Ern at B-Dubs, him getting some wings, and I got some cake. I didn't want to OD on pie that night, but chocolate fudge with ice cream was a good way to go if there ever was a way. Megan the waitress wasn't there last night. And they ran out of cherries. Ok, so maybe there's a slight chance I ate all their cherries last week. I have to come back this Friday. I mean, come on. Megan knows how I like my cherries. Ok, so...yeah, Pirate Kitty... I went to the mall, Big Ern went to Best Buy, just to pass the time before bowling. After I got whatever I needed at Dillard's, walked on over to Hot Topic and saw pirate pussy just...sitting there. Smiling at me.
I know Hello Kitty might seem blah, but Hello Kitty in pirate gear. That's... pirate bling. So, I got that and a patch that said Ninja. I already had a patch that said Pirate. and so yeah, like that is Pirate Pussy.

TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY is...
September 19 is quickly approaching. We must celebrate. Everything pirate. Aye.
Brush up on ye pirate-speak. Tis a day to remember.

MY The Official Talk Like a Pirate Personality Inventory (TOTLAPPI)
at http://www.talklikeapirate.com/ppi.html

You are The Cap'n!

Some men are born great, some achieve greatness and some slit the throats of any man that stands between them and the mantle of power. You never met a man you couldn't eviscerate. Not that mindless violence is the only avenue open to you - but why take an avenue when you have complete freeway access? You are the definitive Man of Action. You are James Bond in a blousy shirt and drawstring-fly pants. You are Charlie's Angels without so much "Charlie" and decidedly light on the "Angel." Your swash was buckled long ago and you have never been so sure of anything in your life as in your ability to bend everyone to your will. You will call anyone out and cut off their head if they show any sign of taking you on or backing down. You cannot be saddled with tedious underlings, but if one of your lieutenants shows an overly developed sense of ambition he may find more suitable accommodations in Davy Jones' locker. That is, of course, IF you notice him. You tend to be self absorbed - a weakness that may keep you from seeing enemies where they are and imagining them where they are not.

PIRATE GAMES, PIRATE NAMES

So I guess I have to have a pirate name for me pirate games. Well, I tried one, and it's awesome. The generator said my pirate name is "Phil the Wicked". heh heh heh.

ON NORMAL NEWS

Today was a busy but ok day at work. Didn't get all my paperwork done, but I never can seem to when you have one of these days. But it's all good. It's Hump day. Kept my mind preoccupied all day up until maybe 6pm. Left work at 7pm...can prolly leave friday at like... 12noon as it is. Woo hoo! Long Lunch. Thinking should be outlawed at times cuz it won't let me sleep normally on the weekdays... but today, I got home, and napped til I got an IM, and then got hungry for dinner.

Pink Tiger left for a trip today, and to start her day off, I'd called her desk around...oh....7am, left her voicemail and had Britney Spears playing in the background... Poor Jess. She had Toxic playing in her head all day. The funniest thing.

Well, this should do for now. Laters.