Eat me.

"Is it me or do I smell like cheetos?"

[sniff] "Yeah, you smell like cheetos. What'd ya do, spill 'em?"

"No. I haven't had them in a long time." (So long, that I don't even remember the last time.)

"Don't know what to tell you. It's not like you stink or anything."

"Yeah, but if I'd have to smell like somthing edible, I wouldn't want it to be Cheetos."

"What would you want it to be?"

"Don't know. Something lickable."

"I'm not going to the Lion's Den* with you."


*It's an adult shop.

For a limited time...

...I have changed my name. Just for fun after reading this post.

Life With Others

Are you aware of the song, “How to Save a Life” by The Fray? I recently downloaded it. It expresses what I feel about a friend who I wish made better choices. To an extent it can apply to two friends. Now they are both largely out of my life which is good for me. Yet, I still wish we could still walk together. I wish I knew what I could have done for them.

“How to Save a Life” by The Fray

Step one you say we need to talk
He walks you say sit down it's just a talk
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lines of fear and blame
And you begin to wonder why you came

Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life

Let him know that you know best
Cause after all you do know best
Try to slip past his defense
Without granting innocence
Lay down a list of what is wrong
The things you've told him all along
And I pray to God he hears you
And I pray to God he hears you

As he begins to raise his voice
You lower yours and grant him one last choice
Drive until you lose the road
Or break with the ones you've followed
He will do one of two things
He will admit to everything
Or he'll say he's just not the same
And you'll begin to wonder why you came

On some more positive notes, I’m looking forward to Saturday night. There’s going to be a “get together” at Erin’s that will, in some way, have something to do with the Apple Festival which takes place a few blocks from her house. (YES, free parking!) I told her that I might be a little late. To which she replied, “That’s fine, you’ll just have a little catching up to do.” Please, God, let’s not get drunk at the beer tent.

Carrie and Justin are also hosting a Halloween party. I believe it’s on the 28th. Not sure if it will be costume. But, I’m willing to take suggestions.

It looks like the GR Bar Crawl may be postponed till November. It should be a blast and it will be interesting to see Karl again. Assuming he’s still on good terms with the rest of the gang.

PJS, you might get a kick outta this.

It’s 2:30 am as I draft this but I have just woken up from a rather interesting dream. I dreamt of reading a blog post that you wrote. In reality, you didn’t write this post but believe me, for a few seconds after waking up, I was thinking how to respond to you. Understand that if I see a posting at the end of my night, I’ll quite often wait until the next day to post a response. So what I did wasn’t terribly out of the ordinary. The fact that I dreamt of a phantom blog post—of all things—and the fact that I was already forming a comment for it, is.

[Enter in the standard I-realize-this-is-not-you disclaimer.]

So basically, the post asked why anyone watched football. It was complete with many of the things that make your posts rather unique in comparison to the others I read. There were names and terms in bold, smart little side comments, and even a picture to some film that I have never even heard of but I’m sure rocked. Apparently, my subconscious also made up a little biographical information. Don’t ask me where it came from but for some reason, it moved you to your new childhood home of Colorado Springs where your father encouraged you to take up the sport.

Basically, I was tricked into believing that you wrote this and that you had 23 responses from people wondering the same thing. Weird how all that probably came from that comment you posted in the previous post. (I appreciate that BTW.)


Why I Watch Football

Correction: Why I watch college football.

I’ve never really been into sports. After giving T-ball a chance in elementary, I didn’t really care for busting my ass for people who constantly yell at me. Where’s the fun in that? Then it became an issue where I just plain sucked at it. I figured that out during junior high where I was always picked last when trying to pick up a game of basketball at the end of lunch. Football was a little too complicated for me to comprehend until I tried out for the football team. I realized that football definitely wasn’t for me, but I got the basics of it down to actually enjoy the game. It wasn’t until college, though, that I really went into it.

When I attended my first football game in Spartan Stadium, I was blown away. It was the most awesome thing I had ever been a part of. There simply was no comparison to high school. And when you pay over a hundred dollars for season tickets, you tend to go to all the games. When that happens, you begin to pick up on it.

I don’t claim to know a lot about football. I still can’t identify plays or even nail down all the player positions. But I suppose I appreciate the game for its plays. Watching the various plays (even though I don’t know them) unfold is a beautiful thing because of the risks and rewards. Will it work or will it not?

Now I have to say why I will watch football. There are only three sports that I consider worth my time watching on TV: college football, college basketball, and college hockey. The reason is simple. It’s action. The game is constantly moving. That is why I am tempted to ram the remote down my dad’s throat when he puts on golf. (Okay, maybe not that extreme) By now you’ve probably noticed that the sports I’ve listed all have “college” in front of it.

Truthfully, I’ve never attached myself to pro teams. Who would I choose the Detroit Lions or the Chicago Bears? There is one exception, I used to claim to be a Cubs fan but that was mainly for my grandfather. Baseball isn’t a sport I’ll watch on TV so I guess I really can’t say that now. Anyways, I chose to be a Spartan and so I will be cheering on Spartan teams whatever and wherever they may be. So now I look at college teams in general and try to gauge them against my team.

Sports still really aren’t my thing. MSU bringing me entertainment and nostalgia is.

You've got a car. Drive it.

I passed a sports car on my way back home today. It was small and low to the ground and it reminded me of a Ferrari. Okay--first of all it's stupid to drive one of those in this part of the state. But what really got me was that this guy was driving 47-48 in a 55mph zone. Which really means he should have been driving 60 along with the rest of us.

MSU Self-Destructs

I have been thrown for a loop and I don't know where I am. What the hell happened? The Spartans owned the Irish and then it all went to hell. It's gotta be some kind of MSU curse where we will start on strong and then shoot ourselves in the foot. This story is getting way too familiar. Still, I refuse to give credit to Notre Dame. As Erin said so well, "Notre Dame didn't win that game. State lost it."

Well, here's hoping that the Spartans got a kick in the ass because great opportunities for redemption are coming up with Ohio State and UofM.

Wearing White

Go State!

I can see that.

Three posts in one day? Whoo, I'm on a roll! Credit needs to go to my old coworker, Donnie, who showed me a new Facebook group. It is an edited down list. I've been gone so long that I don't get some of the references. My old bones are groaning! :-P

You know you go to Michigan State University if...

- You worry about being tear gassed during March Madness
- You've had a dish of ice cream from the largest sundae you've ever seen
- Even though it's -10 degrees outside, you're still not wearing a coat to the bar
- You hit a duck/squirrel/person on your bike
- You enjoy watching other people hit a duck/squirrel/person on their bikes
- Midnight scream is the highlight of your exam week
- You're a master at understanding broken English because of your TA
- You've taken a tractor ride around campus
- Ernie the can man was your friend
- Brody Complex, you either love it or hate it
- You've had to close one eye while taking a test
- You play beer pong at least 3 times a week
- Tailgating just isn't the same; RIP season of '04
- You've never had Bell's pizza outside of the hours between 1am and 3am
- You've had Bell's pizza outside of the hours of 1am and 3am and don't understand how it can taste so bad
- You haven't seen your roommate for 3 days and aren't worried
- Tom Izzo is your personal hero
- Any time water from the Red Cedar gets on you promptly go to Olin for an E.Coli test
- You've been a part of the largest crowd for a Hockey game
- Chipping paint off a large rock just to see how many layers are on it sounds like fun to you
- Your student group got matching shirts for their bar crawl
- An 8am class is out of the question, but you've never been late for that 6am tailgate wake-up call
- Allmsu.com got you through your Chemistry class
- Welcome week is your favorite time of year
- You were Permadrunk your first 3 weeks at school
- Beaners is your best friend
- You can use the term "Beaners" in a non-derogatory way
- You grumble every time, but still order Rice Kitchen and wait 90 minutes for delivery
- Smoke Green, Snort White!
- You've waited hours in the cold outside of a bar just to get in for the last 30 minutes
- Even though you live across the street from campus, you're still a 30 minute walk from class
- Freshman herd spotting, favorite fall pastime
- You look up to people who managed to make it until their 21st birthday without getting an M.I.P.
- You go to Ricks on Sunday, Maggies Monday, BWs on Tuesday, Harpers on Wednesday, Riv Thursday, Landshark on Friday and Tailgate, the game, home to pass out, then back out to wherever will let you in on Saturday night.
- You've gone without sleep on a friday night because tailgate started before you went to bed.
- You skipped re-taking the LSATs because it fell on Michigan/Michigan State weekend...and there was no way in hell you were going to miss that tailgate!
- You've left class early for Burgerrama
- Wednesday night is an acceptable day for Tequila night
- You can eat your roomate’s only pokie stick and it’s not gay
- Gumby isn’t just a cartoon, its a means of nutritional satisfaction
- You went to the side street deli twice as much after you learned it was going to close.
- you've gone to the bathroom at or near the fountain at the library after a night of drinking
- Everytime a freshman asks you where MAC street is you tell them where M.A.C. street is.
- You've drank liquor in the Main Library
- The only time you go to the Library on a Saturday is when you're cutting through it to go the football game.
- No weekend is complete without a quick round of slap the bag
- you live on campus and you do your grocery shopping at Totally Takeout
- Don't be silly give your cans to Willy
- If you have ever made the drunk trip from Harrison to Hagadorn
- You don't realize just how bad Ricks smells.
- your bank account is at $3 and the only thing you can think about is how you are going to get alcohol for the weekend
- You know the time-keeper did not err in the last seconds of the 2001 Michigan State/Michigan game. WE WON THAT BITCH FAIR AND SQUARE!!!
- And...you think nothing of walking across campus in a toga in February for Izzone toga night b/c Tom Izzo and MSU Basketball is that freakin' sweet.
- You throw away perfectly good food in your fridge to make room for a 30 pack of Busch Light
- You take your cough medicine out of shot glass..
And despite being sick or not having a voice you go out to parties on Friday nights, tailgate Saturday and go out Saturday night, because why waste it...
- You love watching the people that bike to class in a blizzard and fall or want to throw snowballs at them and make them fall
- You've been told you're going to Hell by the Wells Hall Preacher.
- You ride the #1 CATA bus (downtown Lansing) just for a good laugh or a good scare.
- come home from work at 1 am and woken your roommate up to play 1 on 1 beer pong till a 30 bomb is gone...and they've been agreeable.
- You've ever been to any city in the world and suggested a roundabout would be awesome at an intersection
- Your roommate has thrown up on you at least two times in the first month of school
- The CATA can't get you to class on time, but yet it goes so fast after drinking that you've gotten sick on it.
- If you slept outside from 4pm Friday afternoon - Sunday at 10am for FINAL FOUR TICKETS to then be told "oh by the way, the sleepout is no longer, we will be having a lottery, here is a piece of paper with directions on how to sign up online, good luck!"
- You've ever gotten 3 separate parking tickets in one day.

Click *Power Off*

I am beginning to hate TV. I used to have it all the time. If I had a block of free time, I found a program that I would be interested in watching. If I didn't, I had it on as background noise. Lately, I've been getting a little apathetic about it. There aren't any new shows on this year that I am going to watch. At this point, I couldn't even tell you what's new this year. Then there are some shows that I may give up on because they aren't grabbing me like they used to.

The Amazing Race: Eh, it's alright but I'm not compelled to see what happens next. None of the teams stand out and I have to deal with Dad's snippy remarks about the lesbian daughter or the gay couple.

How I Met Your Mother: It took me about five minutes before I realized that I did not want to waste seven years (less or more depending how their show goes) of my life watching these people try to make a relationship. No interest in a multi-year are-they-gonna-get-together arc.

CSI: I think I'm a little crime scene'd out. Also, I'm kinda upset at George Eads. Quit changing your haircut!

That's pretty much all I've watched this week. Desperate Housewives doesn't seem to be too promising. However, this couch potato is not all down in the dumps. New seasons of Battlestar Galactica and Doctor Who are coming up!

I've been wondering. For those readers out there, I'd like to know how you use your television. Do you leave it on for background noise? If so, what do you leave on? If the TV has to be on, I put it on the news while my dad will put it on the Weather Channel.

Cat Free Once Again

The stray cats that have been with us all spring and summer have been taken care of. I think my mom is actually upset and I'd be lying if I said I was completely okay with it. Dad set up a trap and took them away one by one. All I heard was that he let the first one loose somewhere near Eau Claire. Personally, I would have euthanized them instead of dropping them off in the middle of nowhere. Yes, Eau Claire people, you live in the middle of nowhere. Honestly, I don't give them much of a chance of surviving with the first freeze fast approaching. There's an animal shelter that euthanizes stray cats for free and I think it would been more humane to do that than let them suffer a slow death with winter.

Stuck In Retail

I got a message back from the probate court. The job went to someone else. This felt like my best shot in a long time. *Sigh* On to the next one...

What's Your Soundtrack?

I found another interesting meme type thingie. It's a little different than the ones I usually come across and I thought it was kind of cool. Hat tip to Patrick. Because I'm always up for posting embarassing things about myself, I decided to give it a go. Feel free to judge me based on the music I listen to. (Thank God, the more embarassing stuff didn't come up.)

Here's how it works:
For some reason, Hollywood has decided that the story of your life MUST be told. Of course, all good movies need a soundtrack... Open your music player (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, etc), or mp3 player. Put it on shuffle. Press play. For every question type the song that's playing. When you go to a new question press the next button (you can't skip more than once - no cheating!). See if your soundtrack will go platinum....or not.

The Soundtrack of My Life

Opening Credits: “Bolero” by Canadian Brass
Waking Up: "Rain" by Madonna
Falling in Love: "This Is How a Heart Breaks” by Rob Thomas
Fight Scene: "Freedom theme” from the movie, Braveheart
Breaking Up: "Streets of Philadelphia” by Bruce Springsteen
Getting Back Together: "Mad Tea Party” from the Disney movie, Alice in Wonderland
Life's Okay: "Hands Clean” by Alanis Morissette
Mental Breakdown: "Don’t Think of Me” by Dido
Driving Scene: "Yakety Yak” by The Coasters
Flashbacks of Days Gone By: "Porcelain” by Moby
Dance Scene: "DeLessepps’ Dance” from the movie, Shakespeare in Love
Regretting: "Diana” by Paul Anka
Long Night Alone: "Oh Holy Night” by the Vienna Boys Choir
Final Battle: "Like Lovers” by Texas
Death Scene: "Ooh Ahh…Just a little bit” by Gina G
Ending Credits: "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine” by The Killers

That’s going to be one fraked up movie. Platinum? I think not. But… I’d buy it.

• Falling in Love was probably spot on.
• The Getting Back Together scene should be quite interesting.
• Although “Yakety Yak” is a pretty active song, I don’t think it’s quite a driving song.
• Apparently, I’m going to be doing some old-world moves on the dance floor. It’s kind of odd that that particular song came up. Even more since I remember talking about the movie recently on another blog.
• My Long Night Alone seems to be very… well--- yeah.
• But, my death scene looks like it’s going to be fun.

You won't have to cover your eyes.

I've got a MySpace account but I don't use it too often. I don't have many friends. The friends that I do have are old farts that would rather use their phones for actual phone calls than text, and whose familiarity with the internet is limited to mostly email and porn. J/K. Occassionally I get a message from the MySpace site that tells me that someone is requesting me to join some group. Lately, I've been getting this over and over:

Hi David,

You have been invited to join the sexies on live webcams group on
MySpace.

Love to but trust me, you don't want to see any of this. *shudder*

:-P

I Feel Nothing

I got word not too long ago that Tatay (my maternal grandfather) died a few days ago. Technically, he was my lolo but I have always called my lola (grandmother) and my lolo (grandfather) nanay and tatay respectively. Nanay is “mother” in tagalog and tatay is “father.” My cousins also refer to them that way as well.

I don’t want to speak ill of the dead but his passing has not affected me in the slightest. I don’t think there was ever a time where I loved him. Nanay, on the other hand, is the complete opposite. I love her as much as Grandma even though we live on opposite sides of the globe, go years between seeing each other, and hardly ever communicate. I really can’t explain why I had no relationship with my tatay. At least, I can’t come up with one that totally tells the whole story. I suppose it has a lot to do with the fact that he just wasn’t there for me.

In the late 80’s my dad was stationed in the Philippines where we lived close to my mother’s relatives. My mom died in a car accident not long after we arrived. So my sister and I were often left in the care of my mom’s family while my father worked. Nanay, Aunt Lolita, Uncle Art, Uncle Dave, Cousin Darrel, and a maid, Minda, came into my life. Occasionally, my tatay would make his appearance but I had little to do with him. He was hardly around and to this day my only real lasting memory of him was him whipping me for a reason long forgotten. I’m trying to look back through my hazy childhood memories but I honestly could not consider—even back then—that this guy was a family member. I could accept it on paper, but not in my heart.

My thoughts on him, though, center around how it affects other family member especially my Aunts Connie and Lolita. Were they close to him? Even with all the bad history, he was still their father. And what about Nanay? How can she mourn him when he went out, found other wives, and lived with them? What does my mom’s family owe him? But it is not my place to want them to feel as I do.

The last time I saw him was a couple years ago while I was visiting Nanay during my study abroad at UPLB. When I arrived there, I had made my self at home. In fact, I came and went as I pleased just like I did when I was little. I remember going out to explore the city—to see sights from my childhood. I spent most of the day out. I came bounding back into the house and there he was at the kitchen table. Nanay had provided some food for him. He looked up at me as I stood there momentarily shocked. He knew who I was and grunted something that to me sounded like, “Oh it’s you.” I could not deal with him. I really couldn’t. I did not want to talk to him and pretend he was something more to me than a stranger. I manage to blurt out a hello along with a wave before I ran upstairs. He didn’t follow and I didn’t come down for few hours. When I did, I breathed a sigh of relief when I found out that he had left and continued on with my nanay as if he was never there.

Guilt? I will admit to having good amount of it. He was my grandfather. Some part of him runs through my veins. I should feel something but I don’t. I feel nothing for him. I just feel guilty because I feel nothing for him. Does that make any sense?

ND Stomped On

UofM came to Notre Dame and gave them one of the biggest spankings I have ever heard. Sadly, because of work, I could not see the actual game but I did listen to it on the radio. (If my boss asks, I will deny it.) The game ended 47-21. Still PO'd about the Sparty Sucks shirt, I wasn't sure who I wanted to support. They both could have lost and I would have been happy.

Quite honestly, I'm a little nervous for us Spartans. Notre Dame will be coming to East Lansing with their asses on fire. Not only will they have something to prove from Saturday's game but they will be out for revenge for what happened to them last year. Although MSU is undefeated so far, they haven't been playing against really great teams. No offense to Eastern and Idaho.

Milk came out of my nose.

Along with Fox Trot, Baby Blues is one of my favorite comics.

31 Aug 2006 @ Baby Blues

Riding A Little Higher

<<--See also: Walk towards the light.

My financial problems aren't solved yet, but things are at least looking up.

I went up to St. Joe to take a typing test for an application to the probate court. While I was confident that I would make the minimum requirements, I blew it out of the water! I think I have a pretty good application package and I am hoping for a call soon.

I talked to a loan officer about settling my car repair bill. At first it looked like I was going to have another hundred something dollar bill a month. With a little searching, we eventually got to plan that halved the payments and lowered the interest rate by 4%. I have to go back in and secure the deal next week.

My paycheck was about $150 more than I was expecting it to be. I knew that I had put in a few more hours than usual, but that was still a little a much. Turns out I got the raise that I was supposed to have gotten months ago. Still pissed about the delay, but I'm so glad to have it now.

Keep the good thoughts coming my way. :-)

Damn my big fingers!

I haven't had bugles in what seems like forever. I'm a little sad that they no longer fit on my fingers. No more witch nails/claws for me!

What is wrong with Chicago?

I think that Washington D.C. may be the top city when it comes to retarded politics but Chicago has got to come in second. God knows I love that city but sometimes…

Here are a few nuggets that I pulled from the Chicago Tribune:


Governor Ryan

Former Governor George Ryan corruption conviction landed him a sentence of 6 ½ years in prison. Apparently I wasn’t the only one that thought he got off light. So, kudos to the attorney general who is now going after Gov. Ryan’s pension. Don’t expect me to shed any tears as his $200,000 a year pension is ripped away from him.

Someone in the Ryan camp, I believe it was his lawyer, conceded that part of Gov. Ryan’s pension was able to be taken away but not all of it could. The governor’s corruption conviction stems from his time as governor and as secretary of state. They contend that he should be allowed to keep the benefits he earned during his service as a state legislator and as lieutenant governor. The attorney general said nope. She wants it all.

According the article, “pension benefits can be denied to employees convicted of a felony arising from their public service. That change was written into the law after another former governor, Otto Kerner, was convicted in 1973 in connection with a racetrack scandal and sought to collect retirement benefits.” What is it with Illinois and its governors?



The Big-Box Ordinance

The City Council will try to override Mayor Daley’s veto of the Big-Box Ordinance. The measure would have required stores such as Wal-mart and Home Depot to pay their workers at least $10 an hour plus $3 in benefits.

The aldermen supporting the measure point out that this type of ordinance has been successful in other cities that have passed similar legislation. Critics say that this will drive jobs out of Chicago and keep business from coming in.

Well the critics are right and it has already happened. A Wal-mart was going to be built in the city but due to all that red tape, they decided to move the store just across the city line. Who lost? The city. Who gained? The suburb and Wal-mart. The suburb gets a nice little tax check from Wal-mart while the store enjoys a lower tax burden. They don’t have to pay their workers what the city demands but they get all those customers coming in from the city. City money flows out into the suburbs. Tsk, tsk. They brought this on themselves.



The Foie Gras Ban

Alderman Burton Natarus is tyring to overturn the foie gras* ban that went into effect last month. Alderman Bernard Stone says that the ban has made Chicago a laughing stock. (Not that it hasn’t been recently.) I mean, c’mon! Foie Gras? Does the city council really need to get into kitchens and decide what is fit to be on the menu? If they can take out duck or goose liver, why not also make a ban on lobster? I think that throwing live lobsters into boiling water can be deemed cruel. And if force feeding is cruel, then perhaps we should quit using the practice on Gitmo prisoners who insist on going on a hunger strikes.


*For the record, I would never eat foie gras (yuck) but I wouldn’t stop others from doing so.

Walk towards the light.

Lately it seems like my world has been going to hell. With my feet crapping out on me, my job being more trouble than it's worth, my car dying and whole new financial problems presenting themselves, I can see why people are tempted to run away. If I could do it, I'd make a run for Canada.

Tomorrow I will be going in for a typing test and seeing a loan officer. I am praying that I can get this deputy clerk position which would pay a helluva lot more than I'm making now. With any luck, no one else is going for the position. As for the loan officer, I am also hoping that I can come out with a loan-- one that is reasonable at least.

So think good thoughts people. Lord knows I need all the help that I can get.

I don't know if it's the drugs but I'm doing a lot better in walking. So I think I'll cling that ray of hope which indicates my luck may be changing.

Present an argument!

This was the editorial for the State News today:

Less freedom, more fear

Sept. 11, 2001, changed everything.

Five years later, don't stay the course. Vote for change Nov. 7.

Yes, that was all. I am completely outraged. That is not an editorial. It's a bumper sticker. If students are going to be putting together a paper, they have to put in more substance than that. Do your jobs.

Five Years

<<--See Also: My 9-11
There's going to be a lot of other blog posts about 9-11 today. Like last year, I thought about making a long post but I can never bring myself to do it. Nothing seems to come out the way I'd like it to.

While a great many of us will take time to remember the dead, I want to take a moment and pray for those who live on.

Is there a podiatrist reading?

<<--See Also: Where's My Saw? and Ouch! Damn It.

Whatever I did to my left foot has now been done to the right foot. For the first time, my right foot is going all to hell. I'm wondering if I am running wrong and that may be causing it. But if that's true, why didn't this happen when I was running for the Air Force? My Dad said that I might have diabetes but I tend to doubt that as I don't have a problem with my energy levels.

The Commute

I honestly like the 35-40 minute commute to work. Although it might scare fellow drivers sharing the road, I use the time to get into the zone or... zone out. Plus, I like driving in general.

No Claim to Musical Taste Here

I am getting sick of listening to the radio station at work. Most of the time, I have no problem but a few songs are repeatedly coming up.

KT Tunstall's "Black Horse & The Cherry Tree"
Panic! At The Disco's "I Write Sins Not Tragedies"
Justin Timberlake's "Sexy Back"

Yeah, those three songs and probably a few more that I can't identify right now, are simply over played in addition to being sucky. But I think it's funny that I can't get enough of this one rap song. And I hate rap! It's "Chain Hang Low" by Jibbs. It's based on the childhood song, "Do Your Ears Hang Low"

do your chain hang low
do it wobble to da flo
do it shine n n the light
iz it platinum iz it gold
could u throw it ov'r ya shoulda
if ya hott it make ya cold
do your chain hang low

Delightful.

No, no, no, NO! Oh, no.

My car died. Yesterday I took it to the service center to have it repaired, hoping that it was only a couple hundred dollars of damage. What a dream that was. Twenty-five hundred dollars! TWENTY-FIVE. I spent a little more than twice that for the damn car!

I got the call this morning and the service guy started rattling off everything that was wrong with it. To tell you the truth, I can't remember what he said--only what it would cost. I wanted to throw up. Where was I going to come up with that kind of cash? And then he did the recommended inspection, wheel balancing, etc. At that point I thought, "What the hell, what's a couple hundred dollars more?" So now, I have to decide whether to get a bank loan first or just put it on the credit card.

Now how's this for coincidence? My mom's car is currently being serviced as well. So she and I are fighting for my sister's car. We are driving each other around hoping that are schedules don't get into conflict. If you see either her or me around, don't come near us. Our seemingly bad luck just might rub off on you. *raspberry*

Commenting Issues

Apparently, I haven't been getting comments because there is some glitch preventing alpha bloggers and beta bloggers from commenting one each other's blogs using their login info. That is the reason why I'm feeling so lonely.... right?

Labor Day Survey

Taken from Herb's blog.

1. What is the middle name of the first person you ever slept with?
I'm a virgin!

2. What kind of underwear are you wearing and what color?
navy-blue boxers

3. What is the song you want played at your funeral?
I don't want a funeral. Burn me and dump my ashes into Lake Michigan.

4. Would you tell your parents if you're gay?
At this point, no. But there's still time.

5. What would your last meal be before getting executed?
A tub full of lumpia

6. Beatles or Stones?
Oh, I don't know. I guess the Beatles.

7. If you had to pick one person on earth who should die who would you pick?
Kim Jung Il

8. Beer, wine or hard liquor?
Give me the liquor! I assume that getting drunk is the goal here?

9. Do you have any phobias?
Balloons. Can you believe it? It's crazy. The thought of popping balloons makes me want to scream my head off.

10. What are your plans for the future?
Go back to school, rack up even more debt, get a decent job, and hope it doesn't take too much longer.

11. No Question

12. Do you walk around the house naked?
No. Parents and all that. But maybe if I was by myself.

13. How many drinks does it take to get you drunk?
Depends on the drinks. 5-6ish

14. Where is your best friend?
I don't know. But wherever he is, I hope that he is doing well.

15. Hair color you like on someone you're dating?
Blondish to light brown.

16. Would you rather be blind or deaf?
deaf

17. Do you have any special talents?
Yes. I can irritate the hell out of everyone I meet.

18. No Question

19. No Question

20. Favorite hateful thing to do to someone?
Enforce bureacracy.

21. First movie you can remember seeing as a kid?
An American Tale

22. What do you do as soon as you walk in the house?
I take my shoes off.

23. No Question

24. Do you like horror or comedy?
Comedy

26. Person you most wish you hadn't made out with?
Jon. God that turned out to be extremely awkward.

27. (Blank)

28. If you weren't straight, what person of the same sex would you do it with?
"Um, this survey was clearly made by a heterosexual- so I'll flip the question and say," none of your business.

29. Where do you want to live when you are old?
On the beach, somewhere warm. Florida or maybe Hawaii

30. Who is the person you can count on most?
I really can't say.

31. If you could date any celebrity past or present, who would it be?
I wouldn't. Celebrities are a-holes.

32. Where was your first kiss with your current significant other?
I don't have a significant other nor have I had a significant other.

33. Favorite drinking game?
Beer Pong, I guess. I've only played a drinking game once and Beer Pong was it.

34. What did you dream last night?
I don't remember what I dreamt of last night, so I will tell you the last dream I remembered. I was back in AFROTC and I was panicking because althought I wanted to be in the military, I didn't want to sign up and face those years having to be in the closet.

35. What is your favorite sport to watch?
Without a doubt-- college football distantly followed by college basetball.

36. (Blank)

37. What is your new obsession?
Pizza di Roma's pepperoni pizza

38. If you could take back one thing in your past, what would it be?
I don't know. I suppose I would have said, "no." To what--I'll have to keep silence on.

1. Last thing you bought? why is the survey renumbering?
A card.

2. Last person you argued with?
Tracee--my boss.

3. Do you put jelly on before putting the peanut butter on?
Nope. PB first and then jelly. I can tolerate PB bits in my jelly but can't tolerate jelly bits in my PB.

4. (Make your own question here.)

5. One of your stuffed animals' names as a kids?
Tenderheart. (Yes, it was the carebear)

6. Did you ever own at one time a Barenaked Ladies CD?
Uh no, but I honestly did think about buying one.

7. Favorite day of the week?
Whichever day my day off comes. Otherwise, Saturday.

8. Favorite Sundae topping?
The Cherry

9. Did you take Piano lessons?
Nope. I'm not very musical. I just enjoy listening to it.

10. (Nada)

11. T.V. show you secretly enjoy?
Shipwrecked. It's some lame ass reality show on BBC America.

12. Would you rather play basketball or hockey?
Hockey. I'd have to practice my skating more though.

13. Date someone older or younger?
Older. Although, at this point, I'll take where I can get 'em.

14. One place you wish you could travel right now?
Yosemite

15. Do you use umbrellas?
Oddly enough, I never used umbrellas until I went to the Philippines. Now, I do.

16. Do you know all the words to the Canadian national anthem?
No. Aside from the first stanza, I don't even know all the words to my national anthem.

17. Favorite Cheese?
Provolone. It melts perfectly.

18. (gone)

19. Do you prefer Blondes or Brunettes?
I go for both.

20. Best job you ever had?
So far it has to be dish at Sny-Phi. We had some fun there.

21. Did you go to your high school prom?
I did, but I prefered my junior year prom more then senior year.

22. Perfect time to wake up?
8:00

23. Perfect time to go to bed?
midnight

24. Do you use your queen right away in chess?
Nope. She's actually one of the last pieces I use. Not that I've played chess many times.

25. Ever been in a car accident?
Oh yeah.

26. Closer to mom or dad or neither?
I'd have to go with my dad but I'm not saying that we are close.

28. What decade during the 20th century would you have chosen to be a teenager?
Definately the 90's. I can't imagine living an earlier.

29. Favorite shoes you have EVER owned?
My combat boots.

30. Do you have an article of clothing you have had since you were in high school? Quite a bit of 'em actually.

31. Were you in track and field?
Field. I did shotput and discus.

32. Were you ever in a school talent show?
Nope. I don't think we ever held one.

33. Have you ever written in a library book?
Yes but it was to place markers when I wanted to pull quotes.

34. Allergic to?
Cats

35. Favorite fruit?
Blueberries (which are in season!)

36. Have you watched Sex and The City?
Nope

38. Do you shampoo first in the shower or soap?
Shampoo.

40. Pen or pencil?
pen

41. Have you ever gambled at a casino?
Only once. I spent a couple dollars in a slot machine.

42. Have you thrown up on a plane?
No. I love flying.

43. Have you thrown up in a car?
I think when I was very young I did.

46. Who was your first prom date?
Erin.

47. Who was your first roommate?
Peter. Thank God he moved out.

48. What alcoholic beverage did you drink when you got drunk for the first time?
Beer

49. What was your first job?
My first real job was bitch boy at the local K-mart.

50. Where did you go on your first airplane ride?
Germany, although I'm sure there wasn't a direct flight from Las Vegas so I suppose if you want to get to technical, I think it was Chicago.

51. When you snuck out of your house for the first time, who was it with?
I never snuck out. I just walked out the front door.

57. Where did you live the first time you moved out of your parent's house?
056 Phillips Hall, MSU.

59. Who's wedding were you in the first time you were a bridesmaid or a groomsmen? It hasn't happened. *sigh*

60. First tattoo or piercing?
Yech. I don't have any. I hate pain and I'm too fickle to have anything permanent on my body.

Crikey! Steve's Dead

I woke up to the news that the Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin, has died. I'll give you a guess as to what he died from. Alright--It wasn't by crocodile. But, it was by stingray. (I've never heard of anyone dying by stingray before.)

Read the story here. Read John's take on it here and here. Figures he'd get to it before I did.

I remember when I was in the Philippines. I met this guy also named David who was a student from Australia (actually, he was a student at the University of London.) At first I thought he was a Brit. So we start talking about our home countries and I brought up Steve Irwin. At the time the Crocodile Hunter was big in the States. I saw his face drop and he let out a loud grown. Had I said something wrong? Yup. Apparently, he's not as appreciated in Australia. I found that funny. Sure, Irwin was over the top but he's not someone to be embarrassed over. He's no Tom Cruise or anything.

Stingray, huh? That sucks.

Real Quick

It's late. I've just returned home from work and I'm catching the last moments of the ND-GA Tech game. With about 10 minutes left of play it is 14-10 Notre Dame. Now normally, I would be a little happy about the lead and cheering on to increase it, but I'm a little ticked. It's not really directed towards Notre Dame but to some of their students. I was eating dinner when I saw one of the students wearing a shirt.

SPARTY SUCKS
09/23/06
PAYBACK'S A BITCH

My, oh my. They are sure are angry little bitches aren't they? I'm pretty sure it's a reference to when MSU beat ND. Sparty took the opportunity to plant the MSU flag on ND turf. It caused quite the stir. 09/23/06 hasn't arrived yet. This guy may have to eat his shirt. Sure Notre Dame is currently #2 in the nation, but that may not last for long!

Today's MSU vs. Idaho game ended 27-17 with MSU pulling off the win. It wasn't a high profile game so I wasn't able to follow it even though I was at home when it took place. That's understandable though. Next week the Spartans will host Eastern Michigan at home.

Now I've Seen It

When I read something, I have an odd habit of remembering small insignificant details. I could forget the characters, plot, or even the name of the book and yet I will remember this one thing. I remember one of my professors saying something to the effect of, "Details do not belong in a story if it's not relevant." Perhaps I fixate on the mistakes of writers without realizing it.

The other day I was shopping through Meijer picking up food stuff. In the soup section, my eye was stopped by "a distinctive yellow can." I finally saw a can of Habitant pea soup. I was so excited that I took a picture.

So you're probably wondering why I'm going on over a can of soup. Well, it must have been over a year ago when I came across an internet story that talked about it. --I know what some of you are thinking and you can stop right there! It wasn't one of those stories. Anyways, it was something that I always remembered and seeing it in the store brought the whole story back into my conscious memory.

I was tempted to buy it just to try it out. Peas aren't my thing though. Plus, consider:

Will looked at it, thick yellowish-white substance that would talk to him if it weren't eaten quickly.

I passed on it.

Modern or Historical?

My hometown, Niles, is known as The City of Four Flags. Namely because it is the only location in Michigan to have been ruled by four countries: France, Great Britain*, Spain, and The United States of America. The city flies period flags of France, Great Britain, and Spain as they officially looked during each country’s holding of Fort St. Joseph. The U.S. flag is flown in its current design—fifty stars. In the South Bend Tribune, an article reported of a gentleman named Bob Ahrens who would like Niles to begin flying the period flag of the U.S. as it was during its control of the fort. That flag would be the thirteen stars.

His argument is that if Niles was consistent with its displays, it should fly the thirteen star flag instead of the fifty star. This is based on what the flags should have looked like when flown at Fort St. Joseph. In the article, Carol Bainbridge, the director of the Fort St. Joseph Museum, said that it was highly unlikely that the thirteen star flag was flown at Fort St. Joseph. She went on to say that the American flag first flown in Michigan was at Fort Detroit in 1796 and that was the fifteen star flag. While no one would argue that the thirteen star flag was in use during the American occupation of the fort, does it mean that we should hoist up a historical U.S. flag?

I say no. From my understanding, The City of Four Flags is representative of the four powers that held control of the area. You may be interested to know that Fort St. Joseph was destroyed and lost long ago and its real location was only found a few years ago--underwater. I make a distinction is that Niles is the city of four flags and in that sense, I separate Fort St. Joseph. After all it’s not the Fort of Four Flags. So Niles, in my mind, is correct in using the current fifty star flag. What country now controls the city? The United States. And what is her current flag configuration? The fifty star banner.

Incidentally, the city seal does depict the the American flag as being the thirteen star.


*There used to be an issue with the flag of Great Britain. I remember when I was in elementary when the current flag of the United Kingdom was flown. It has since been corrected.