You know those questions that people around the world ask, that everyone has to answer one way or the other? Questions that sum up a persons stance based solely on their answer. For example:
“Paper or Plastic?”
“Chevy or Ford?”
“Coke or Pepsi?”
Well today I am going to answer one of those questions.
“Mac or Windows?”
I actually get asked that question quite a bit in my line of work. Neighbors, family, friends, clients, that guy that throws the paper, the mailman,…well you see how it can be.
My answer was always a hedge, a waffle. I could list the benefits of both platforms. I used both platforms, daily.
I went out yesterday and purchased a copy of Windows XP professional, for a clients machine I was working on. 299.99. It was necessary, so I choked it up and bought it. I went to install it, and the factors to install it were pretty simple, but then I got to the registration. You see, you plug in the CD license key, a 16 digit number that makes your install legal. Then, well you call Microsoft and get another key, something like 25 digits,to show that not only is your software legal, its activated as well. And you give them all your information so they know who bought what. If for some reason your hard drive crashes, and you put in another one, you install windows, activate the key from the cd, then activate the windows by calling again, and begging for another key, because your machine broke.
To me there is a trust factor there. Microsoft trusts that your going to buy the software. They know you have to have it. Then they trust you to use your license key from the packaging, because otherwise, the installation will not start. Then they trust you will call and activate that software, otherwise a small grimlin will jump out of your fan in 30 days and uninstall your pictures and music. Or so I hear.
I really am getting to my point. When you buy Mac OS on disk, its 129.00. When you buy it, its activated. When you install it, it asks your name, and then it can send stuff back to Apple, or you can choose to register now, later, or never.
So macs trust you o use the software on one machine, but the ability to install on several is there. Windows, not so much.
I choose Mac. They are to a point now that anything you can do on a PC running windows, you can do on a Mac. Now Macs can even run windows, with the help of Parallels software, or using Apple’s Bootcamp software.
Of course if you install Parallels and Bootcamp at the same time and want to see which you like better, you have to install a copy of XP. Then you have to call Microsoft and get 2 license keys, but they will only give you one. See installing it in 2 different locations on the same machine, they see that as installing it twice, and want you to pony up with another 300 bucks.
So Hi, Im a Mac.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Thursday, May 03, 2007
The Long walk...
Charity. (n) the voluntary giving of help, typically in the form of money, to those in need.
This weekend was the MS walk in Fort Worth, Texas. We have been trying to sign up for at least 1 walk per year, as we are rather dedicated to the cause. So I made sure I was off work, we got my parents to watch baby Munkey, and we found a group of friends that wanted to be there, and created a team, Team Shoutouts.
We all met at the world famous Fort Worth Stock Yards, the site for this years walk. Unfortunately Mrs. Ninjamunkey has been battling a stomach virus all night the night before, and I was battling the effects of several rounds of beer from the neighbor’s birthday party. Hey it was an ice cold keg, what was I to do?
Mrs. Ninjamunkey had checked her blood pressure at Wal-Mart that afternoon, as we were picking up a knee brace for old man Ninjamunkey’s knee, and really did not do too hot. She was light headed and weak, and generally not feeling well. We pressed on.
Meeting James in the parking lot, and finding Robert and Rachel in the sign in line, our team was assembled, and it was time to go looking for swag. You see there are about 900 billion drug and drug like companies that want to get their name out there, so they hand out everything from M&M candies to sunblock. We walked the gauntlet of tables, getting shirts, notepads, water, koozies, and other refinements. I belive at one point, I joked “this is the coolest disease ever”
We started spotting teams warming up, looking like they were about to run a 50K, not a 5k. They had on matching T-Shirts, hats, headbands, and other essentials. Essential if you were to look like a goober. We had a look to our team too. I would like to call it Sandlot baseball uniform. Shorts, T-shirts, and ball caps. Nothing that remotely matched.
After a rousing rendition of the Star Spangled Banner by some chicka, we were told to go.
As we started walking toward this huge archway made of multicolored balloons, Mrs. Ninjamunkey looked at an ambulance nearby, and remarked “maybe I should get my BP checked again, I am not feeling so hot.”
So we interrupt two medics sitting on the ambulance, looking like they were about to doze off, and tell them to check her out. They look at us crazy, so I assume they were there to get swag and drink the free beer later. Her BP was low still, but fairly normal, so they say she is ok. As I help her out of the back of the truck, she begins to look green. She hurries to a port-a-Pot, and its there praying to the seals, she realizes she should not go forward with the 5k. We all agree, and say instead, we will walk for her, since well, we were walking for her anyway. She being the trooper she normally is, I knew she was not feeling well, especially if she did not put up a fight. So the remaining 4 Shoutouts head out.
The first part of the walk is through the actual stock yards themselves, past the loading area that was used for sheep and hogs. As we hike over the uneven bricks, the darkness of our combined humor starts to show its face. We comment on the fact that wheel chairs and scooters would be screwed 2 seconds into the walk. As an old man in a right yellow shirt and duck shaped hat comes back the other way with his cane, I am glad I have the knee brace.
We turn wide, and head down one of the main streets in downtown Fort Worth, I think its called Main street. People are walking past us with huge beers, large barbecue sandwiches, and novelty hats, so clearly this is going to be one hell of a cool walk. We see motorcycles sharing the same road with cowboys on horseback,
which I think is how John Wayne and God intended it to be.
So as we stroll down the brick and cobblestone road, we start to joke that soon, we are going to call Mrs. Ninjamunkey back at basecamp and explain that while the walk was interesting, we were going to spend some time in the bars along the way. Drinking our way to a cure. We never did.
We made it through downtown and around behind the stockyards. The change in scenery was abrupt, as soon as we crossed a set of railroad tracks, we turned a slight corner and voila, we were walking past the abandoned swift Amour rendering plant and slaughterhouse. It was like a scene out of a war movie, only the buildings were bombed with grafitti artists as well. I even witnessed some tagging near the top of one building that said “Bagel Hoes!!!” in 10-foot letters. Not quite sure what that means, but I guess someone did.
Everyone on the team, all 4 of us, started commenting on how the buildings and surrounding areas looked like a location used for a horror picture. You know the long haired guy, the social outcast, the girl and the jock all heading into the “haunted” slaughter house, picked off one by one by a guy wearing a pig mask. Yeah, good think it was daylight, cause well I would not want to get picked off today. Not in the mood.
You wanna know the worst part about starting late in the walk? We were behind 4 VERY large women pushing strollers. They were all wearing tie-dyed shirts, and kept stopping to bend over and pick up stuff the kids in the strollers were tossing on the ground, so we kept getting hit with Super fat butt shots the whole way. That makes the walking worse. If I could have gotten away with walking backwards, I would have, but then I would have tripped and had to rely on my team to carry me, then explain to the people who lapped us why I fell. And that would be bad.
So we pressed on, rounding a corner and coming to an area that looked like industrial buildings 50 years ago. The weeds were growing so tall and think that I believe a Sci-Fi person could start the description with “and the alien rock from planet Weedmax fell to the earth, causing the dandelions to reach out with human like faces…” As we passed an old ironworks sort of place, we saw the “pick and pull” auto salvage places. Aaah history. Across from the auto lots, there was an emptyish field. I say empty, because every 4 feet was another piece of medical waste. Seriously. Catheters, Syringes, and who knows what else. Since the relief stations were giving cold water every few hundred yards, I could understand the need for a catheter, but seriously, how would you put one of those bad boys in while walking? We pressed on down the road. Another 75-100 feet or so, we found a half empty, mostly torn trash bag full of store bought saurdough dinner rolls. Apparently this area has one hell of a party when the sun goes down.
As we rounded a corner, passing a group of cheering volunteers, offering more damn water, god I have to pee, we smelled two smells back to back. The first of which was pot smoke. Seriously. Since most every person that lived in the area was on the porch, and since the primary language in that area was a combo hip-hop and spanish, I did not spend too much energy looking for the smoker, but from the smellI would say it was a industrial sized chimney. Shortly after commenting in hushed voices, Rachel pointed out the area smelled “like cum”. Now granted being a guy, I am not sure what the unmistakable smell is, but my nose has been burned by too many locker rooms filled with greenish fungus on the socks and jocks, but she swears by it. So to recap, we have cum, weed, catheters, sourdough, and autoparts. See told you it was a party.
The end was near, well for our walk anyway. We left the barrio, and started smelling horse turds and beer again. The volunteers that were out cheering the teams on had already started packing up by the time we got passed them, and could only offer a half-hearted “woo”. That was ok, we were tired too. And I still needed to pee. As we crossed the final intersection, and made it into the dirt of the stockyards, we realized that we, -all in our 30ishness, unhealthy, can I have extra cheese on that cheese, hand me another beer before this one gets hot, grab my smokes while your there picture of unhealthy- had just walked a 5k without loosing a limb. Mrs. Ninjamunkey met us at the finish line, and announced pizza and beer in the basecamp. I went to find a bathroom.
This weekend was the MS walk in Fort Worth, Texas. We have been trying to sign up for at least 1 walk per year, as we are rather dedicated to the cause. So I made sure I was off work, we got my parents to watch baby Munkey, and we found a group of friends that wanted to be there, and created a team, Team Shoutouts.
We all met at the world famous Fort Worth Stock Yards, the site for this years walk. Unfortunately Mrs. Ninjamunkey has been battling a stomach virus all night the night before, and I was battling the effects of several rounds of beer from the neighbor’s birthday party. Hey it was an ice cold keg, what was I to do?
Mrs. Ninjamunkey had checked her blood pressure at Wal-Mart that afternoon, as we were picking up a knee brace for old man Ninjamunkey’s knee, and really did not do too hot. She was light headed and weak, and generally not feeling well. We pressed on.
Meeting James in the parking lot, and finding Robert and Rachel in the sign in line, our team was assembled, and it was time to go looking for swag. You see there are about 900 billion drug and drug like companies that want to get their name out there, so they hand out everything from M&M candies to sunblock. We walked the gauntlet of tables, getting shirts, notepads, water, koozies, and other refinements. I belive at one point, I joked “this is the coolest disease ever”
We started spotting teams warming up, looking like they were about to run a 50K, not a 5k. They had on matching T-Shirts, hats, headbands, and other essentials. Essential if you were to look like a goober. We had a look to our team too. I would like to call it Sandlot baseball uniform. Shorts, T-shirts, and ball caps. Nothing that remotely matched.
After a rousing rendition of the Star Spangled Banner by some chicka, we were told to go.
As we started walking toward this huge archway made of multicolored balloons, Mrs. Ninjamunkey looked at an ambulance nearby, and remarked “maybe I should get my BP checked again, I am not feeling so hot.”
So we interrupt two medics sitting on the ambulance, looking like they were about to doze off, and tell them to check her out. They look at us crazy, so I assume they were there to get swag and drink the free beer later. Her BP was low still, but fairly normal, so they say she is ok. As I help her out of the back of the truck, she begins to look green. She hurries to a port-a-Pot, and its there praying to the seals, she realizes she should not go forward with the 5k. We all agree, and say instead, we will walk for her, since well, we were walking for her anyway. She being the trooper she normally is, I knew she was not feeling well, especially if she did not put up a fight. So the remaining 4 Shoutouts head out.
The first part of the walk is through the actual stock yards themselves, past the loading area that was used for sheep and hogs. As we hike over the uneven bricks, the darkness of our combined humor starts to show its face. We comment on the fact that wheel chairs and scooters would be screwed 2 seconds into the walk. As an old man in a right yellow shirt and duck shaped hat comes back the other way with his cane, I am glad I have the knee brace.
We turn wide, and head down one of the main streets in downtown Fort Worth, I think its called Main street. People are walking past us with huge beers, large barbecue sandwiches, and novelty hats, so clearly this is going to be one hell of a cool walk. We see motorcycles sharing the same road with cowboys on horseback,
which I think is how John Wayne and God intended it to be.So as we stroll down the brick and cobblestone road, we start to joke that soon, we are going to call Mrs. Ninjamunkey back at basecamp and explain that while the walk was interesting, we were going to spend some time in the bars along the way. Drinking our way to a cure. We never did.
We made it through downtown and around behind the stockyards. The change in scenery was abrupt, as soon as we crossed a set of railroad tracks, we turned a slight corner and voila, we were walking past the abandoned swift Amour rendering plant and slaughterhouse. It was like a scene out of a war movie, only the buildings were bombed with grafitti artists as well. I even witnessed some tagging near the top of one building that said “Bagel Hoes!!!” in 10-foot letters. Not quite sure what that means, but I guess someone did.
Everyone on the team, all 4 of us, started commenting on how the buildings and surrounding areas looked like a location used for a horror picture. You know the long haired guy, the social outcast, the girl and the jock all heading into the “haunted” slaughter house, picked off one by one by a guy wearing a pig mask. Yeah, good think it was daylight, cause well I would not want to get picked off today. Not in the mood.
You wanna know the worst part about starting late in the walk? We were behind 4 VERY large women pushing strollers. They were all wearing tie-dyed shirts, and kept stopping to bend over and pick up stuff the kids in the strollers were tossing on the ground, so we kept getting hit with Super fat butt shots the whole way. That makes the walking worse. If I could have gotten away with walking backwards, I would have, but then I would have tripped and had to rely on my team to carry me, then explain to the people who lapped us why I fell. And that would be bad.
So we pressed on, rounding a corner and coming to an area that looked like industrial buildings 50 years ago. The weeds were growing so tall and think that I believe a Sci-Fi person could start the description with “and the alien rock from planet Weedmax fell to the earth, causing the dandelions to reach out with human like faces…” As we passed an old ironworks sort of place, we saw the “pick and pull” auto salvage places. Aaah history. Across from the auto lots, there was an emptyish field. I say empty, because every 4 feet was another piece of medical waste. Seriously. Catheters, Syringes, and who knows what else. Since the relief stations were giving cold water every few hundred yards, I could understand the need for a catheter, but seriously, how would you put one of those bad boys in while walking? We pressed on down the road. Another 75-100 feet or so, we found a half empty, mostly torn trash bag full of store bought saurdough dinner rolls. Apparently this area has one hell of a party when the sun goes down.
As we rounded a corner, passing a group of cheering volunteers, offering more damn water, god I have to pee, we smelled two smells back to back. The first of which was pot smoke. Seriously. Since most every person that lived in the area was on the porch, and since the primary language in that area was a combo hip-hop and spanish, I did not spend too much energy looking for the smoker, but from the smellI would say it was a industrial sized chimney. Shortly after commenting in hushed voices, Rachel pointed out the area smelled “like cum”. Now granted being a guy, I am not sure what the unmistakable smell is, but my nose has been burned by too many locker rooms filled with greenish fungus on the socks and jocks, but she swears by it. So to recap, we have cum, weed, catheters, sourdough, and autoparts. See told you it was a party.
The end was near, well for our walk anyway. We left the barrio, and started smelling horse turds and beer again. The volunteers that were out cheering the teams on had already started packing up by the time we got passed them, and could only offer a half-hearted “woo”. That was ok, we were tired too. And I still needed to pee. As we crossed the final intersection, and made it into the dirt of the stockyards, we realized that we, -all in our 30ishness, unhealthy, can I have extra cheese on that cheese, hand me another beer before this one gets hot, grab my smokes while your there picture of unhealthy- had just walked a 5k without loosing a limb. Mrs. Ninjamunkey met us at the finish line, and announced pizza and beer in the basecamp. I went to find a bathroom.
Monday, April 23, 2007
Greatest invention ever...
So I have spoken in the past about how wonderful the Tivo personal DVR is. I have extolled its greatness for recording shows that we watch on a regular basis. I have used the Tivo to go back and check out an interesting commercial, paused it to let the dog out, and really use the thing to replay games I am watching, for highlights. Tivo is greatness.
Today, it got better. I ordered a upgraded hard drive for our main unit. We would run out of space after 2 weeks of sitcoms and hour long dramas, and I quadrupled the space this morning. It actually was not very difficult, and I had it finished in about 20 minutes, but I also work on computer hardware for a living
So tonight, I will be watching the Stars. I will then transfer Heros from the bedroom to watch in here. I wont be deleting anything any time soon either.
Today, it got better. I ordered a upgraded hard drive for our main unit. We would run out of space after 2 weeks of sitcoms and hour long dramas, and I quadrupled the space this morning. It actually was not very difficult, and I had it finished in about 20 minutes, but I also work on computer hardware for a living
So tonight, I will be watching the Stars. I will then transfer Heros from the bedroom to watch in here. I wont be deleting anything any time soon either.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Fuuuuuudge
So Thursday I had yet another procedure on my back. The pain, well it was quite present. My buddy Greg drove me to the doctor and then back home, stopping on the way for some food and beer. We had been hanging out on the patio for most of the evening, drinking and generally catching up. We each had our laptops out, being drunk geeks for the most part. My macbook pro, 7 months old, was starting to run low on juice, so I figured I would take it into the kitchen right off the patio, and plug it in.
Foggy from the beer, I set it on the island, plug it in and start to walk away. As I turned around, hearing a faint "ssssssssssss" I saw what can only be described as a walking laptop. You see, under the mac, the mail from that afternoon was sitting piled up. One of those shiney magazine like circulars was sitting under the mac, and was providing just enough to allow the thing to slide.
Of course having had said back procedure a few hours before, I could not leap for it. I could not dive towards the ground, I could only yell "shit" as it bashed into the floor. There was a sickening thud, and as I gingerly reached to pick it up, said a small prayer to the computer gods. I opened the screen saw no cracks (usually at least 500 to fix) and sighed in relief. I mean it was still running.
That is where the reality set in. One of the worst things you can do is drop a hard drive, only thing worse, have it be running. All of the Ipods that fail? Usually dropped or beaten to death because someone runs with it. So for the past 4 days I have been trying to find a way to recover my stuff.
Yes I had a back up. However, when I was working quickly to back up again overnight right after the fall, I hastily deleted my only good backup to make room for the new one.
Uh huh, yeah, your local computer guy, that does this for a living, screwed himself pretty good.
Its just stuff, and most of it can be replaced. I am going to attempt to recover the drive bit by bit, but I dont have much hope. So if you see me sitting in a corner, cursing hardwood floors and the effect on Macintosh computers, well you know I was not successful.
Foggy from the beer, I set it on the island, plug it in and start to walk away. As I turned around, hearing a faint "ssssssssssss" I saw what can only be described as a walking laptop. You see, under the mac, the mail from that afternoon was sitting piled up. One of those shiney magazine like circulars was sitting under the mac, and was providing just enough to allow the thing to slide.
Of course having had said back procedure a few hours before, I could not leap for it. I could not dive towards the ground, I could only yell "shit" as it bashed into the floor. There was a sickening thud, and as I gingerly reached to pick it up, said a small prayer to the computer gods. I opened the screen saw no cracks (usually at least 500 to fix) and sighed in relief. I mean it was still running.
That is where the reality set in. One of the worst things you can do is drop a hard drive, only thing worse, have it be running. All of the Ipods that fail? Usually dropped or beaten to death because someone runs with it. So for the past 4 days I have been trying to find a way to recover my stuff.
Yes I had a back up. However, when I was working quickly to back up again overnight right after the fall, I hastily deleted my only good backup to make room for the new one.
Uh huh, yeah, your local computer guy, that does this for a living, screwed himself pretty good.
Its just stuff, and most of it can be replaced. I am going to attempt to recover the drive bit by bit, but I dont have much hope. So if you see me sitting in a corner, cursing hardwood floors and the effect on Macintosh computers, well you know I was not successful.
Monday, April 09, 2007
Easter Eggs
An Easter scattershooting while wondering whatever happened to Shadoe Stevens.
We are recovering from a late Saturday night. We met several of the Amigos for a night at Studio Movie Grill in Arlington. We saw a 10:30 showing of Grindhouse, the new twin feature from movie geniuses Rodriguez and Tarintino. I am going to be the first to tell you, if you liked “Snakes on a Plane” even a little bit, you will love this movie. If you love 70’s bad cinema, you will love this movie. If laughing at the almost absurd concepts of horror schlock, zombie flicks, and cheerleader lesbian prison movies, entertains you, you will love this movie.
We have had digital cable for a few months now. My favorite things to watch? Discovery Health. Especially when I see something that makes me say “Eww what the Fu@k!!!!” Of course I am also digging on all of the home improvement-let me clean your house you dirty slobs-and look what I made out of these egg shells- type of stuff.
The back saga continues. The bulging, probably herniated disc in my lower back is still letting everyone know that it will not calm down, especially me. I have been living on pain killers and muscle relaxers for so long now, it’s a way of life. Im sure your saying, “well Ninjamunkey, how did you make it through a 3 hour movie?” That is easy, pain killer before, and a bucket of 5 domestics during.
This is my favorite time of year. The new grass is growing in over the dirt I dumped in the front yard to level out, so it looks less like a grave, and more like a actual yard. The flowers are blooming, baseball is on the TV pretty much 18 hours a day, and in Texas, it was 87 degrees last weekend, and 40 today. Oh yeah, and it snowed yesterday. HUH? It was 38 degrees last night at game time for the second game of the season. Global Warming is doing a number on us.
Speaking of baseball, this year there are many stories. It’s the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking into the majors. I had a hard time believing that the actual year was 1947, as there were still 20 years left in the segregation of the South. Hell the small town I grew up in is still divided ethnically by blacks on one side of the tracks and whites on the other in 2007.
Another story this year is Bonds and his homerun chase. Of course when he started playing, his head was human sized, and now with the help of steroids, he looks like a Rio De Janeiro float. When he passes Hank Aaron this year, will anyone notice? Will he be celebrated, or will it be an asterisk notated record for everyone else like it will be for me. I honestly hope he has some sort of freak career ending injury this year, like he is running across the outfield after warm ups, and a vindictive groundhog trips him, breaking his leg. Of course I am kinda cruel like that.
We are recovering from a late Saturday night. We met several of the Amigos for a night at Studio Movie Grill in Arlington. We saw a 10:30 showing of Grindhouse, the new twin feature from movie geniuses Rodriguez and Tarintino. I am going to be the first to tell you, if you liked “Snakes on a Plane” even a little bit, you will love this movie. If you love 70’s bad cinema, you will love this movie. If laughing at the almost absurd concepts of horror schlock, zombie flicks, and cheerleader lesbian prison movies, entertains you, you will love this movie.
We have had digital cable for a few months now. My favorite things to watch? Discovery Health. Especially when I see something that makes me say “Eww what the Fu@k!!!!” Of course I am also digging on all of the home improvement-let me clean your house you dirty slobs-and look what I made out of these egg shells- type of stuff.
The back saga continues. The bulging, probably herniated disc in my lower back is still letting everyone know that it will not calm down, especially me. I have been living on pain killers and muscle relaxers for so long now, it’s a way of life. Im sure your saying, “well Ninjamunkey, how did you make it through a 3 hour movie?” That is easy, pain killer before, and a bucket of 5 domestics during.
This is my favorite time of year. The new grass is growing in over the dirt I dumped in the front yard to level out, so it looks less like a grave, and more like a actual yard. The flowers are blooming, baseball is on the TV pretty much 18 hours a day, and in Texas, it was 87 degrees last weekend, and 40 today. Oh yeah, and it snowed yesterday. HUH? It was 38 degrees last night at game time for the second game of the season. Global Warming is doing a number on us.
Speaking of baseball, this year there are many stories. It’s the 60th anniversary of Jackie Robinson breaking into the majors. I had a hard time believing that the actual year was 1947, as there were still 20 years left in the segregation of the South. Hell the small town I grew up in is still divided ethnically by blacks on one side of the tracks and whites on the other in 2007.
Another story this year is Bonds and his homerun chase. Of course when he started playing, his head was human sized, and now with the help of steroids, he looks like a Rio De Janeiro float. When he passes Hank Aaron this year, will anyone notice? Will he be celebrated, or will it be an asterisk notated record for everyone else like it will be for me. I honestly hope he has some sort of freak career ending injury this year, like he is running across the outfield after warm ups, and a vindictive groundhog trips him, breaking his leg. Of course I am kinda cruel like that.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Vas O no Vas
So here we are, a week after my back “procedure”. Not sure what else to call it other than a “procedure”. If someone impaled you with a shish kabob skewer on both sides of your spine, injected something, and then you walked out feeling like someone had told the Hummer that hit you to back up, what would you call it? Needless to say, its been a week, and there is still pain, not nearly what it has been for the last 18 months, but enough to get my attention if I do too much.
The best part about my recovery? I planted some flowers in the garden 2 days ago, and have hurt since then. We are gearing up for a week long jaunt to Austin and San Antonio, and I should feel wonderful for that car ride. Where did I put that refill order for pain meds?
Having been off work for a little while, I have been catching up on movies and music and wanted to provide my opinion of some of the stuff I have caught lately. Use it as a guide for your Itunes shopping, or not.
Movies-
Rocky Balboa: It’s cliché, it is over the top, not that realistic, kinda slow going in the beginning, and of course the last 40 minutes suck you in just like the other Rocky movies, short of number V. A good watch, and not too bad of a flick.
Teanacious D…: Oh my god. Back when I was a super stoner, having the ability to load a bowl, smoke it, cook a frozen pizza and have it ready to eat by the time the munchies hit all while rocking out to Pink Floyd and watching a lava lamp, this movie would have kicked ass. Instead, it was confusing, lame, and geared for the new generation of stoner.
Departed: Ya know, this movie everyone loves. They say how wonderful it is, how action packed, how great blah blah. It was ok. Deffinately no Good Fellas. I thought it was one of those movies that in 5 years when it is on AMC, I will watch the edited version, figure out there was something I missed, and enjoy it. Until then, eh.
The Prestige: Ed from the Barenaked Ladies summed this movie up perfectly when we saw them in concert this winter. “ya know, this is one of those movies that you know it is going to have a twisty ending. So it builds builds builds, and suddenly you realize that the twist is this movie is just not that good.” Word.
Stranger than Fiction: I was worried. It has been compared to Eternal Sunshine… and honestly I made it about 30 minutes into that one before I just turned it off. However, I loved this movie. Yeah it was quirky, and kind of odd. Will Farrell in a serious role, I had my doubt that Frank the Tank could do it, but I was really pleased. One of the better movies I have watched lately.
Music:
Instead of listing why I like what I have heard, I will just list what I have listened to lately, and you can check it out for yourself.
Three Days Grace-One X
Sister Hazel-Absolutely
Norah Jones-Not too late
Melee-Everyday behavior
Justin Timberlake-Futersex/Lovesongs
Foo Fighters-Skin and Bones
Fall Out Boy-Infinity On High
Del Amitri-Hatful of Rain (best of)
Daughtry-Daughtry
Burden Brothers-Mercy
This is a look at my pop culture obsessed life. If you have questions about why certain things I like, I can break it down, just let me know.
The best part about my recovery? I planted some flowers in the garden 2 days ago, and have hurt since then. We are gearing up for a week long jaunt to Austin and San Antonio, and I should feel wonderful for that car ride. Where did I put that refill order for pain meds?
Having been off work for a little while, I have been catching up on movies and music and wanted to provide my opinion of some of the stuff I have caught lately. Use it as a guide for your Itunes shopping, or not.
Movies-
Rocky Balboa: It’s cliché, it is over the top, not that realistic, kinda slow going in the beginning, and of course the last 40 minutes suck you in just like the other Rocky movies, short of number V. A good watch, and not too bad of a flick.
Teanacious D…: Oh my god. Back when I was a super stoner, having the ability to load a bowl, smoke it, cook a frozen pizza and have it ready to eat by the time the munchies hit all while rocking out to Pink Floyd and watching a lava lamp, this movie would have kicked ass. Instead, it was confusing, lame, and geared for the new generation of stoner.
Departed: Ya know, this movie everyone loves. They say how wonderful it is, how action packed, how great blah blah. It was ok. Deffinately no Good Fellas. I thought it was one of those movies that in 5 years when it is on AMC, I will watch the edited version, figure out there was something I missed, and enjoy it. Until then, eh.
The Prestige: Ed from the Barenaked Ladies summed this movie up perfectly when we saw them in concert this winter. “ya know, this is one of those movies that you know it is going to have a twisty ending. So it builds builds builds, and suddenly you realize that the twist is this movie is just not that good.” Word.
Stranger than Fiction: I was worried. It has been compared to Eternal Sunshine… and honestly I made it about 30 minutes into that one before I just turned it off. However, I loved this movie. Yeah it was quirky, and kind of odd. Will Farrell in a serious role, I had my doubt that Frank the Tank could do it, but I was really pleased. One of the better movies I have watched lately.
Music:
Instead of listing why I like what I have heard, I will just list what I have listened to lately, and you can check it out for yourself.
Three Days Grace-One X
Sister Hazel-Absolutely
Norah Jones-Not too late
Melee-Everyday behavior
Justin Timberlake-Futersex/Lovesongs
Foo Fighters-Skin and Bones
Fall Out Boy-Infinity On High
Del Amitri-Hatful of Rain (best of)
Daughtry-Daughtry
Burden Brothers-Mercy
This is a look at my pop culture obsessed life. If you have questions about why certain things I like, I can break it down, just let me know.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Coupla things...
First, be very careful with all of your stuff. I learned this last night. I have parked in the same parking garage for over a year now. I have never heard so much as a bump while in there at night. Its well lighted, and I often eat lunch sitting there while reading, so, obviously I feel safe.
Last night, someone broke into my Jeep, taking my Ipod, sunglasses, radar detector, pain pills, cigarettes, andother various things. Can you believe that? I mean seriously. Don't fuck with a mans automobile. That is a rule in these parts. So I call my insurance agency, and according to auto claims, since no major damage was done to the car, its a home owners claim. Saaay what????
Also, while surfing the web of late, I have noticed that some sites that used to link me no longer do so. I have been de-linked. I know it was not updated for a while there, but damn, some of the past content was decent. Someone might have wanted to read it. But no, just deleted the links on your sites there bubbs. Hey, I understand. But I would have at least sent emails out saying, "hey your site sucks, we dont want to link you anymore".
It really comes down to being the perpetual fat kid that got picked last for kickball, was always the "best friend" of anyone I had a crush on, and not being cool enough to get invited to the "real" party after graduation or prom, I went bowling instead.
Oh well....
Last night, someone broke into my Jeep, taking my Ipod, sunglasses, radar detector, pain pills, cigarettes, andother various things. Can you believe that? I mean seriously. Don't fuck with a mans automobile. That is a rule in these parts. So I call my insurance agency, and according to auto claims, since no major damage was done to the car, its a home owners claim. Saaay what????
Also, while surfing the web of late, I have noticed that some sites that used to link me no longer do so. I have been de-linked. I know it was not updated for a while there, but damn, some of the past content was decent. Someone might have wanted to read it. But no, just deleted the links on your sites there bubbs. Hey, I understand. But I would have at least sent emails out saying, "hey your site sucks, we dont want to link you anymore".
It really comes down to being the perpetual fat kid that got picked last for kickball, was always the "best friend" of anyone I had a crush on, and not being cool enough to get invited to the "real" party after graduation or prom, I went bowling instead.
Oh well....
Monday, March 05, 2007
I'm Baaaaaaaaack
Hello there. Its been a while. Life is one of those things that gets in the way of me updating this blog with the regularity I would like. Today, I have a collection of quick hits, just to get back in the swing of things. We will see how long it lasts…
I have a back injury. Not sure how I did it. Not sure what I did. The solution for over a year was pain killer and muscle relaxers, until I visited a place called the Texas Back Institute. They have done some testing, taken the MRI and even went as far as injecting me with steroids and pain meds on Friday. Granted I have more range of motion, I still hurt like hell, so lets hope they find a solution soon.
So the short lived family reunion with my sister ended as abruptly as it began. Granted, she took us for 600 bucks, and we found out all sorts of juicy info like the arrest for prostitution, the DUIs, and stuff like that, but she has gone the way of the McRib, not to be seen for at least another year. Her current husband, well one of several, still talks to us, but that is about as far as it goes.
I am officially a Heros addict. I love this show. Rarely in life do I plan my evening around a certain show, especially being in the Tivo world, but this one I rush home to watch as soon as I can. If you have not seen it so far, why not?
The iPhone has generated a lot of buzz. Seeing as I work for the un-namable fruit flavored computer company, everyone seems to want my opinion. My position is simple. People have massive coronaries every time their iPod freezes, or the battery does not last. Add bluetooth, wifi, and phone abilites, and I can only image what sort of fit I am going to hear about on a daily basis. Besides, I want a phone that works, that answers and makes calls, for 600 bucks, it had best make breakfast for me.
Brittany Spears has lost it. Anna Nicole is dead. Enough already, I am tired of hearing about it. If Spears goes after Anna Nicole, who rises from the dead and they have a ultimate fighting match, and it’s a tie, then I might be interested in the news of that event, otherwise, I am done.
Springtime, when seasonal allergies are running crazy, the lawn is starting to remind me that I have to mow the damn thing, the shorts get shorter, and baseball is back baby. My Texas Rangers are on top of the top, looking great and in first place. Granted no one is tracking who is in first, but dang it with all the teams tied, I think it counts. Mark my words, there will be a team in the world series that everyone will look at and go “really? I thought they sucked”. I know, I can call em every year.
Looking back, I realized that I use the word “granted” a little too much. I sound like a fricken Genie.
I have a back injury. Not sure how I did it. Not sure what I did. The solution for over a year was pain killer and muscle relaxers, until I visited a place called the Texas Back Institute. They have done some testing, taken the MRI and even went as far as injecting me with steroids and pain meds on Friday. Granted I have more range of motion, I still hurt like hell, so lets hope they find a solution soon.
So the short lived family reunion with my sister ended as abruptly as it began. Granted, she took us for 600 bucks, and we found out all sorts of juicy info like the arrest for prostitution, the DUIs, and stuff like that, but she has gone the way of the McRib, not to be seen for at least another year. Her current husband, well one of several, still talks to us, but that is about as far as it goes.
I am officially a Heros addict. I love this show. Rarely in life do I plan my evening around a certain show, especially being in the Tivo world, but this one I rush home to watch as soon as I can. If you have not seen it so far, why not?
The iPhone has generated a lot of buzz. Seeing as I work for the un-namable fruit flavored computer company, everyone seems to want my opinion. My position is simple. People have massive coronaries every time their iPod freezes, or the battery does not last. Add bluetooth, wifi, and phone abilites, and I can only image what sort of fit I am going to hear about on a daily basis. Besides, I want a phone that works, that answers and makes calls, for 600 bucks, it had best make breakfast for me.
Brittany Spears has lost it. Anna Nicole is dead. Enough already, I am tired of hearing about it. If Spears goes after Anna Nicole, who rises from the dead and they have a ultimate fighting match, and it’s a tie, then I might be interested in the news of that event, otherwise, I am done.
Springtime, when seasonal allergies are running crazy, the lawn is starting to remind me that I have to mow the damn thing, the shorts get shorter, and baseball is back baby. My Texas Rangers are on top of the top, looking great and in first place. Granted no one is tracking who is in first, but dang it with all the teams tied, I think it counts. Mark my words, there will be a team in the world series that everyone will look at and go “really? I thought they sucked”. I know, I can call em every year.
Looking back, I realized that I use the word “granted” a little too much. I sound like a fricken Genie.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Post 100
This is the 100th post of this silly little blog. Amazing to me that I have been dedicated to it enough to post things here. Also equally amazing is the fact that people actually come here and read it.
So in my spare time, (when I am not playing online nintendo games, fighting with my employer over a replacement laptop I should have gotten 2 weeks ago, or working, living on pain pills, and sleeping) I have been working on a blog. It’s a great blog. Its about an incident that happened over a month ago now, with my crack headed sister. It’s a scathing review of her attitude, her outright disregard for my safety, and being a dumbass spoiled kid. But I have yet to finish it. Its close to being finished, but that is as far as I have gotten.
We have been invited to the crackhouse this weekend for a BBQ. I actually got an address from her this morning. If it turns out to be fake, I will be posting my blog that was written over the course of the past month. If not well…I might post something anyway.
So in my spare time, (when I am not playing online nintendo games, fighting with my employer over a replacement laptop I should have gotten 2 weeks ago, or working, living on pain pills, and sleeping) I have been working on a blog. It’s a great blog. Its about an incident that happened over a month ago now, with my crack headed sister. It’s a scathing review of her attitude, her outright disregard for my safety, and being a dumbass spoiled kid. But I have yet to finish it. Its close to being finished, but that is as far as I have gotten.
We have been invited to the crackhouse this weekend for a BBQ. I actually got an address from her this morning. If it turns out to be fake, I will be posting my blog that was written over the course of the past month. If not well…I might post something anyway.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Whiskey-Tango-Foxtrot???
So recently I find myself watching TV at night after the rest of the munkey casa has retired for the evening. One of the disadvantages to this is the fact that I am watching live TV, not something from the greatness of the Tivo box. See, with Tivo, I can fast forward through commercials and get back to programmed goodness, not commercials that sell me everything I will ever need.
Since I have had a chance to catch a few of these advertising gems, I wanted to comment on them.
1) There is an ad for a Fungus remedy for your feet. Yes that is right, a fungus amoung us. The ad itself is not more shocking than the "meet Bob's woody" or anything else. What is the bad part is the cartoon cracked out cat looking thing lifting up the cartoon toenail and climbing in like its a damn hatchback. *shudder*
(upon searching for commercial links on YouTube, I was not able to locate this one, and a Google search turned up that I am not the only one disturbed by this commercial.)
2) Man Laws Ok, I get it. Guys have rules about certain things that are unspoken, and drinking a beer with Burt Reynolds will create said rules. Wait, Wha...?
3) Head On. Apply directly to forehead. I think I will stop there.
4) Orbits Gum You know the campaign with the British chick and the filthy mouths or whatnot. The ad in question is the Snoop Dogg ad, in which Snoop drops into Hell with some old ladies and a goat and told that because of his dirty mouth, he is there forever. And then British Chicky shows up. You then see Snoop in a white room with hot chicks and whatnot. IF you can, read the fine print as it shows Snoop tripping gansta like in God's Crib. It says and I swear "dramatization: Chewing Orbits will not get you into Heaven." Have we really gotten so insane as a society they have to have a disclaimer on a freaking chewing gum commercial? Why dont they also point out that when you chew their gum, you dont get that little light sparkle from your teeth afterwards? I am going to sue.
Since I have had a chance to catch a few of these advertising gems, I wanted to comment on them.
1) There is an ad for a Fungus remedy for your feet. Yes that is right, a fungus amoung us. The ad itself is not more shocking than the "meet Bob's woody" or anything else. What is the bad part is the cartoon cracked out cat looking thing lifting up the cartoon toenail and climbing in like its a damn hatchback. *shudder*
(upon searching for commercial links on YouTube, I was not able to locate this one, and a Google search turned up that I am not the only one disturbed by this commercial.)
2) Man Laws Ok, I get it. Guys have rules about certain things that are unspoken, and drinking a beer with Burt Reynolds will create said rules. Wait, Wha...?
3) Head On. Apply directly to forehead. I think I will stop there.
4) Orbits Gum You know the campaign with the British chick and the filthy mouths or whatnot. The ad in question is the Snoop Dogg ad, in which Snoop drops into Hell with some old ladies and a goat and told that because of his dirty mouth, he is there forever. And then British Chicky shows up. You then see Snoop in a white room with hot chicks and whatnot. IF you can, read the fine print as it shows Snoop tripping gansta like in God's Crib. It says and I swear "dramatization: Chewing Orbits will not get you into Heaven." Have we really gotten so insane as a society they have to have a disclaimer on a freaking chewing gum commercial? Why dont they also point out that when you chew their gum, you dont get that little light sparkle from your teeth afterwards? I am going to sue.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
That is NOT a fastball!
You know, everyone has memories from childhood. Those moments at the fair, or that time you got to drive the new family car. My childhood was really nothing to write home about, but I was for the most part a happy kid.
Many of my memories were stored on videocassette, things like graduation, prom, my days at school, plays that I was in, and little stuff like that. For much of my adult life, those tapes have gathered dust at my parents house, or in a storage shed somewhere in between. Recently, my parents have realized that as far as children go, I was going to be the best of the lot. My sister is somewhere in the world, drugged out of her mind, and living it up, without contact from the rest of her family.
When my grandparents health became a concern, my mother realized she had things I should get, because I was the only family member that had a stable life, a house, and she could not find my sister. So I was gifted with a stack of videos and photographs. Of course my father told me I should duplicate the videos and get them back to them as soon as possible, I guess because they need a placeholder for the dirt, dust and grime in their house.
So recently I started going through the tapes, to see what was there. Oh look, my graduation ceremony. My senior and junior proms, or at least me and my date showing up in fancy garb, and my parents making the usual parents lines. Me at the radio station I worked at my senior year. A few play that I was in. I had visions of putting those tapes on DVD and having memories forever.
Until I got to the first tape. There is about 10 minutes of video that appears to have been recorded on super high speed, so that is not usable, but really it was just footage of our family vacation to Las Vegas. Yes that is right folks, some families go to Disney, we went to Vegas, baby. After that first 10 minutes, it was…well, it was a Lifetime movie starring Kate Jackson. I am not kidding here, the next 2 hours was dedicated to a movie. But I went past the movie, and by the way, VCRs kind of suck. I have become used to DVD and chapters, not manually hitting the fast forward button. But I digress, after Kate, we have Unsolved Mysteries. Lovely.
I move on in the tape rotation to what was supposed to be Nolan Ryan’s 300th victory in Milwakee. I rewind the tape to the beginning and hit play. I am greeted by a, well to be honest, it was a dick. No really. Apparently the tape had been recorded at least halfway, by porn. Bad, 80’s porn with a title like hot milk maids of san diego or something. Seriously. I hit the forward button, probably sooner than I needed and harder than I needed, but really, I did not want to venture down the “my parents recorded over some of my favorite childhood memories with bad 80’s porn” nostalgia. Part of the game was still in tact, but now I am not sure if I want to burn that to a dvd. The special place in my heart has been wiped out most effectivly now. Thank you very much.
So I guess I will quit worrying about those tapes while I have some wholesome memories left.
Many of my memories were stored on videocassette, things like graduation, prom, my days at school, plays that I was in, and little stuff like that. For much of my adult life, those tapes have gathered dust at my parents house, or in a storage shed somewhere in between. Recently, my parents have realized that as far as children go, I was going to be the best of the lot. My sister is somewhere in the world, drugged out of her mind, and living it up, without contact from the rest of her family.
When my grandparents health became a concern, my mother realized she had things I should get, because I was the only family member that had a stable life, a house, and she could not find my sister. So I was gifted with a stack of videos and photographs. Of course my father told me I should duplicate the videos and get them back to them as soon as possible, I guess because they need a placeholder for the dirt, dust and grime in their house.
So recently I started going through the tapes, to see what was there. Oh look, my graduation ceremony. My senior and junior proms, or at least me and my date showing up in fancy garb, and my parents making the usual parents lines. Me at the radio station I worked at my senior year. A few play that I was in. I had visions of putting those tapes on DVD and having memories forever.
Until I got to the first tape. There is about 10 minutes of video that appears to have been recorded on super high speed, so that is not usable, but really it was just footage of our family vacation to Las Vegas. Yes that is right folks, some families go to Disney, we went to Vegas, baby. After that first 10 minutes, it was…well, it was a Lifetime movie starring Kate Jackson. I am not kidding here, the next 2 hours was dedicated to a movie. But I went past the movie, and by the way, VCRs kind of suck. I have become used to DVD and chapters, not manually hitting the fast forward button. But I digress, after Kate, we have Unsolved Mysteries. Lovely.
I move on in the tape rotation to what was supposed to be Nolan Ryan’s 300th victory in Milwakee. I rewind the tape to the beginning and hit play. I am greeted by a, well to be honest, it was a dick. No really. Apparently the tape had been recorded at least halfway, by porn. Bad, 80’s porn with a title like hot milk maids of san diego or something. Seriously. I hit the forward button, probably sooner than I needed and harder than I needed, but really, I did not want to venture down the “my parents recorded over some of my favorite childhood memories with bad 80’s porn” nostalgia. Part of the game was still in tact, but now I am not sure if I want to burn that to a dvd. The special place in my heart has been wiped out most effectivly now. Thank you very much.
So I guess I will quit worrying about those tapes while I have some wholesome memories left.
Friday, July 28, 2006
Charity...
I have not written in a while. To be honest, all of my good ideas are ways to conserve energy or to stop the nagging back pain I have had for the past few weeks, not things to update you, the reader about.
I finally have something i would like to say. Charity is one of those things that as a kid, did not realize the importance of. To me, people collecting money for other people was kind of odd, since as a kid, we did not have any ourselves. As I have gotten older, things like charity have a way of creeping up from time to time.
I will be the first to admit, I am frugal with the money I make, or I try to be. When I was with the Marine Corps, we collected toys for kiddos, usually making noise around Christmas time. Sure we collected toys year round, but the only time a real influx of things came in was at Christmas. Sadly I think that is the only time many think of giving to others.
Mrs. Ninjamunkey has MS. That is not a form of Microsoft programming, but Multiple Sclerosis. Those folks with the National MS society do a lot to raise money, not for themselves, but so that others mind have a cure someday. I am not too jaded to think that there is a cure somewhere down the line. She is in a walk, to benifit MS research, and I have signed up. Stop by her site, pledge, offer support, or sign up to walk with us
https://www.nationalmssociety.org//TXT/personal/default.asp?pa=55297353&pd=TXT0EWLK20060923BCP
My good friend Devin is doing the blogathon, 24 hours of posting coming up on Saturday, his site is http://blogathon.org/sponsor.php?blog_id=166
he is supporting a great charity that brings baseball to families that only deal with things like bills, doctors, and sick children. Its worthy of your time, and money, and I would not steer you wrong.
I say all this tonight because in my life, I do not get a chance to help. Not helping bugs me, because I am sure there is some way i can make a difference. Maybe the first step is reminding people that charity is something that happens year round. I know charity starts at home, so if your broke, we are not begging you to help. We understand that times are tight, gas is 3 bucks a gallon, and life does not get easier as the tempature goes up. But if you can, do, if you can't find someone that can and tell them about people trying to make a difference. That is all we are asking.
I finally have something i would like to say. Charity is one of those things that as a kid, did not realize the importance of. To me, people collecting money for other people was kind of odd, since as a kid, we did not have any ourselves. As I have gotten older, things like charity have a way of creeping up from time to time.
I will be the first to admit, I am frugal with the money I make, or I try to be. When I was with the Marine Corps, we collected toys for kiddos, usually making noise around Christmas time. Sure we collected toys year round, but the only time a real influx of things came in was at Christmas. Sadly I think that is the only time many think of giving to others.
Mrs. Ninjamunkey has MS. That is not a form of Microsoft programming, but Multiple Sclerosis. Those folks with the National MS society do a lot to raise money, not for themselves, but so that others mind have a cure someday. I am not too jaded to think that there is a cure somewhere down the line. She is in a walk, to benifit MS research, and I have signed up. Stop by her site, pledge, offer support, or sign up to walk with us
https://www.nationalmssociety.org//TXT/personal/default.asp?pa=55297353&pd=TXT0EWLK20060923BCP
My good friend Devin is doing the blogathon, 24 hours of posting coming up on Saturday, his site is http://blogathon.org/sponsor.php?blog_id=166
he is supporting a great charity that brings baseball to families that only deal with things like bills, doctors, and sick children. Its worthy of your time, and money, and I would not steer you wrong.
I say all this tonight because in my life, I do not get a chance to help. Not helping bugs me, because I am sure there is some way i can make a difference. Maybe the first step is reminding people that charity is something that happens year round. I know charity starts at home, so if your broke, we are not begging you to help. We understand that times are tight, gas is 3 bucks a gallon, and life does not get easier as the tempature goes up. But if you can, do, if you can't find someone that can and tell them about people trying to make a difference. That is all we are asking.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
little stuff, here and there
Lots of little things today, as I am writing this as I am working, and have 3-4 minutes between customers to type…
--I am now a bandwagon fan. I have watched the last 4 Dallas Maverick games, and truthfully, they are quite fun. I am not much of a basketball person. When I was in the 8th grade, I was on the team:
4 minutes left, almost the last game of the season. I have sat on the bench most of the season, mainly because I was fat, and was only on the team because I was a Captian of the football team. I get to go in because everyone else was injured, the stands were drained of useable people. I jump up and get in there. There was a shot, I jump. I get the rebound. I shoot. I make it. For the other team. My career I had -2 points.
--Having family visit is nice. I prefer a nice tall glass of gasoline, next time. Thank you.
--I understand your machine is business critical. I am glad you recognize it is going to take at least 5 business days to get you fixed up. What I don’t understand is how you can have a business critical machine, it’s a laptop, there has never been a backup, the last update was during the Regan administration, and your screaming at me. I might just forget to order the part tonight. *Shocking abuse of authority*.
--Why is it that every aspiring film-maker, novelist, photographer, musician, and everyone else I have encountered for the last 2 days are dicks? Seriously? Everyone knows more than I do. Why did they come to me for assistance in the first place?
--#1 sign you have too much money. You bring your laptop in to get a quote on replacing the “little piece of plastic over the keyboard that has a crack in it” and wander off to look at new software. Then leave the store after buying the software. Leaving the computer sitting on the counter. 2 hours now, no one has called to claim it. I would take it, but that little piece above the keyboard is broken. Sheesh.
--Parents, inspect your childrens clothing before they leave the house. Drop in on them in public, cause you know they have a cell and and can tell you where they are. Shorts that have a ass cheek hanging from it, that is not cool. Pedofiles around the country are rejoicing at summer, don’t help them.
--Ok mr. “I was on the apprentice” I get that you want to be famous. I don’t care that you were on TV. Your computer broke just like that other guy that works on sprinkler systems.
--I am now a bandwagon fan. I have watched the last 4 Dallas Maverick games, and truthfully, they are quite fun. I am not much of a basketball person. When I was in the 8th grade, I was on the team:
4 minutes left, almost the last game of the season. I have sat on the bench most of the season, mainly because I was fat, and was only on the team because I was a Captian of the football team. I get to go in because everyone else was injured, the stands were drained of useable people. I jump up and get in there. There was a shot, I jump. I get the rebound. I shoot. I make it. For the other team. My career I had -2 points.
--Having family visit is nice. I prefer a nice tall glass of gasoline, next time. Thank you.
--I understand your machine is business critical. I am glad you recognize it is going to take at least 5 business days to get you fixed up. What I don’t understand is how you can have a business critical machine, it’s a laptop, there has never been a backup, the last update was during the Regan administration, and your screaming at me. I might just forget to order the part tonight. *Shocking abuse of authority*.
--Why is it that every aspiring film-maker, novelist, photographer, musician, and everyone else I have encountered for the last 2 days are dicks? Seriously? Everyone knows more than I do. Why did they come to me for assistance in the first place?
--#1 sign you have too much money. You bring your laptop in to get a quote on replacing the “little piece of plastic over the keyboard that has a crack in it” and wander off to look at new software. Then leave the store after buying the software. Leaving the computer sitting on the counter. 2 hours now, no one has called to claim it. I would take it, but that little piece above the keyboard is broken. Sheesh.
--Parents, inspect your childrens clothing before they leave the house. Drop in on them in public, cause you know they have a cell and and can tell you where they are. Shorts that have a ass cheek hanging from it, that is not cool. Pedofiles around the country are rejoicing at summer, don’t help them.
--Ok mr. “I was on the apprentice” I get that you want to be famous. I don’t care that you were on TV. Your computer broke just like that other guy that works on sprinkler systems.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
3 years ago...
Three years ago, i was in the middle of a single state of euphoria that has lasted the test of time. My lovely wife (Mrs. Ninjamunkey) was exhausted having just given birth to our son, Baby Munkey. Here was this little bundle, no bigger than a minute. His deep blue eyes (the color of the sea) were wide open, and taking everything in around him. He has an expression, I can never forget, it was not fear, or shock or anything else. It was an expression of learning. I see it on his face constantly.
Baby munkey is a brilliant child. exhausting, but brilliant. He wants to know why and how, when and where. He likes to play I spy, and has gotten quite good at it. He loves party peoples, his big dog Wrigley, and his star wars men. He is happy watching a movie, or playing on his iMac.
He loves to go to his grandparents, and loves a good popcorn and soda night at the movies. He is a great swimmer, all be it a beginner, and is not afraid of anything. He loves to eat spaghetti, watch little einstiens, and never stand between his apple juice, he will take you out.
He can hit both left and right handed, sings along with the radio, even if he doesn't know the words.
Most importantly he is my boy. I am amazed by him everyday, and wish I could let him be little forever.
I love you buddy!
Baby munkey is a brilliant child. exhausting, but brilliant. He wants to know why and how, when and where. He likes to play I spy, and has gotten quite good at it. He loves party peoples, his big dog Wrigley, and his star wars men. He is happy watching a movie, or playing on his iMac.
He loves to go to his grandparents, and loves a good popcorn and soda night at the movies. He is a great swimmer, all be it a beginner, and is not afraid of anything. He loves to eat spaghetti, watch little einstiens, and never stand between his apple juice, he will take you out.
He can hit both left and right handed, sings along with the radio, even if he doesn't know the words.
Most importantly he is my boy. I am amazed by him everyday, and wish I could let him be little forever.
I love you buddy!
Saturday, June 10, 2006
Lets all go to the lobby....
So we took the baby munkey to see "Cars" last night. It was the first Pixar release that I went to and did not feel creepy since I did not have a kiddo with me. First let me say, NEVER go to a kid movie on opening night unless you want to be squashed by little gummy children and thier over bearing parents. But I get ahead of myself.
We get to the theatre, and realize that everyone in town has the exact same idea that we did. I stand in line, waiting to get tickets and realize that the woman in the little glass cube is about the biggest bitch I have ever heard. She is rude to everyone that comes up there, and since you have to lean down and speak into a small 3x3 hole in the glass, cannot have a decent experience.
I request my tickets "2 adults for the 7:30 showing of Cars" and she mutters something about, well, something, and then says "Seventeen Dollars"
What? When the hell did it become the norm for people to have to take out a small loan in order to go to the movies. These are not Shiatshi Massage chairs. There is no one handing out champagne and hot towels, this is a sticky floor, seats that once had a color other than oil change brown, and audio that might as well be ear drum splitting for the previews, and too low to hear for the feature, right?
What to families with multiple children do? Well I know what I would do, wait for the DVD.
Anyway, we go past the counter, and into the snack bar line. I would have carried my own stuff in at 10% of the cost, but since they have outside food and drink detectors at the door and search your belongings, we decided to just buy in the lobby. WE got popcorn, drinks, and hotdogs since we had not had dinner. 22.50. Ok for those of you scoring at home, that is ...wait...too early for math, 39.50 for our outing at the movies.
The movie was good, dont get me wrong. Apparently this particular cinema decided to crank the volume for the show, since there were going to be more kids there than a Michael Jackson slumber party, so it was almost to the point of painful for the race sequences. If your kiddo is under the age of 6, the movie is going to be over thier heads, but its pretty so it kind of works. Its also a little over 2 hours, so have fun keeping them interested, I suggest a pocket full of starbursts (shh dont tell)
Now I am back to work, trying to pay off the debt that I now have to the Regal cinemas.
We get to the theatre, and realize that everyone in town has the exact same idea that we did. I stand in line, waiting to get tickets and realize that the woman in the little glass cube is about the biggest bitch I have ever heard. She is rude to everyone that comes up there, and since you have to lean down and speak into a small 3x3 hole in the glass, cannot have a decent experience.
I request my tickets "2 adults for the 7:30 showing of Cars" and she mutters something about, well, something, and then says "Seventeen Dollars"
What? When the hell did it become the norm for people to have to take out a small loan in order to go to the movies. These are not Shiatshi Massage chairs. There is no one handing out champagne and hot towels, this is a sticky floor, seats that once had a color other than oil change brown, and audio that might as well be ear drum splitting for the previews, and too low to hear for the feature, right?
What to families with multiple children do? Well I know what I would do, wait for the DVD.
Anyway, we go past the counter, and into the snack bar line. I would have carried my own stuff in at 10% of the cost, but since they have outside food and drink detectors at the door and search your belongings, we decided to just buy in the lobby. WE got popcorn, drinks, and hotdogs since we had not had dinner. 22.50. Ok for those of you scoring at home, that is ...wait...too early for math, 39.50 for our outing at the movies.
The movie was good, dont get me wrong. Apparently this particular cinema decided to crank the volume for the show, since there were going to be more kids there than a Michael Jackson slumber party, so it was almost to the point of painful for the race sequences. If your kiddo is under the age of 6, the movie is going to be over thier heads, but its pretty so it kind of works. Its also a little over 2 hours, so have fun keeping them interested, I suggest a pocket full of starbursts (shh dont tell)
Now I am back to work, trying to pay off the debt that I now have to the Regal cinemas.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Think about your Troubles...
So today begins something for me, something so special and wonderful, I felt the need to post about it.
Today is the first of 4 days off in a row.
I actually have to work on Memorial Day, but at least I go into it a little more rested. Or at least having not been at work for a few days. Resting, well I guess that is something that people do when they retire. I started a list last night of things I want to get accomplished, and for some reason, I think i am more overwhelmed than when i was at work.
-Texas has now officially entered the 3rd level of hell, or "almost June" so I pretty much need to work inside, or find a giant block of ice to sit on if I work outside past 5AM.
-Having a job that is heavy in its interaction with the public I would like to take a moment to give each of my readers a little lesson. *this message is not endorsed, recommended or otherwise sponsored by anyone other than myself* If you should find yourself in a situation where a Clerk is working with you, pop a mint. IF you want something from said Clerk, ask nicely, don't be an ass. Have you ever heard "more flys with honey than vinegar"? Believe it. Be nice, and Clerks around the world will go out of their way to help you out. Be an ass, and be thankful you get anything at all out of us. I know we all pretend to listen to your story about why XYZ product will or will not work for you, but really, we don't care one way or the other. We were not put on this earth to serve you, and are there because the other people we will talk to today make our jobs seem worth the time. You, being the rude, complaining, whining, irrational, dumbass in our face, we really don't listen. Oh yeah, and for the daily "If you really want to know how to make this company, product, or service better, you should..." What the hell do you do for a living there Mr. Marketing? I don't want to increase market share, public opinion, or anything else. I typically want you to go away, after buying something expensive, and wait for the return of my good customer.
-Sorry about that last bit, its my first time in retail.
-Public service announcement #2. Should you find yourself in a situation where you need to give out your email address to someone, create a sales and marketing email address with Gmail. If you need an invite, drop me a line. I have some to give away. But seriously, when the question comes up "do you have an email address?" Please for the love of dog, never give out the "hotyoungstudwholuvscock69@AOL.com" for any reason other than well dont give it out ever. That goes for you too DIVAPRINCE1999@comcast.com. I mean if "ihateannoyingpeoplewithstupidemailaddresses@gmail.com" was too much to remember for me, try first initial and last name. It works for most major companies.
-This last little bitch goes out to you technology mockers. You know who you are. I say "I was listening to my iPod on the way in...." You follow it with "you only have an iPod??? I have XM!" I say "I got the new 15 inch laptop", you say "HA!! I have the 30 inch display and a dual processor with 100 gigs of RAM." I say, "I get laid on a regular basis" you say "I am a level 99 Mage with a steel axe!!" Yeah, thought so.
Today is the first of 4 days off in a row.
I actually have to work on Memorial Day, but at least I go into it a little more rested. Or at least having not been at work for a few days. Resting, well I guess that is something that people do when they retire. I started a list last night of things I want to get accomplished, and for some reason, I think i am more overwhelmed than when i was at work.
-Texas has now officially entered the 3rd level of hell, or "almost June" so I pretty much need to work inside, or find a giant block of ice to sit on if I work outside past 5AM.
-Having a job that is heavy in its interaction with the public I would like to take a moment to give each of my readers a little lesson. *this message is not endorsed, recommended or otherwise sponsored by anyone other than myself* If you should find yourself in a situation where a Clerk is working with you, pop a mint. IF you want something from said Clerk, ask nicely, don't be an ass. Have you ever heard "more flys with honey than vinegar"? Believe it. Be nice, and Clerks around the world will go out of their way to help you out. Be an ass, and be thankful you get anything at all out of us. I know we all pretend to listen to your story about why XYZ product will or will not work for you, but really, we don't care one way or the other. We were not put on this earth to serve you, and are there because the other people we will talk to today make our jobs seem worth the time. You, being the rude, complaining, whining, irrational, dumbass in our face, we really don't listen. Oh yeah, and for the daily "If you really want to know how to make this company, product, or service better, you should..." What the hell do you do for a living there Mr. Marketing? I don't want to increase market share, public opinion, or anything else. I typically want you to go away, after buying something expensive, and wait for the return of my good customer.
-Sorry about that last bit, its my first time in retail.
-Public service announcement #2. Should you find yourself in a situation where you need to give out your email address to someone, create a sales and marketing email address with Gmail. If you need an invite, drop me a line. I have some to give away. But seriously, when the question comes up "do you have an email address?" Please for the love of dog, never give out the "hotyoungstudwholuvscock69@AOL.com" for any reason other than well dont give it out ever. That goes for you too DIVAPRINCE1999@comcast.com. I mean if "ihateannoyingpeoplewithstupidemailaddresses@gmail.com" was too much to remember for me, try first initial and last name. It works for most major companies.
-This last little bitch goes out to you technology mockers. You know who you are. I say "I was listening to my iPod on the way in...." You follow it with "you only have an iPod??? I have XM!" I say "I got the new 15 inch laptop", you say "HA!! I have the 30 inch display and a dual processor with 100 gigs of RAM." I say, "I get laid on a regular basis" you say "I am a level 99 Mage with a steel axe!!" Yeah, thought so.
Tuesday, May 09, 2006
When ya got to, ya got to....
Work is kicking ninjamunkey butt, trying to figure out the hell that is retail schedules.
but until I have a full fledge day off with nothing to do, *like that will ever happen* I have a little story I wanted to share.
We are in the process of potty training the baby munkey. He is doing great, and likes to remind us that he wears undies now, not diapers.
One of the best things about retail is that I can take him to daycare everyday. I like spending those quality moments with him, before he gets awake and can be a handful, and is only a little grouchy.
With the new potty training, we have made it a habit that when I wake him in the morning, the first thing we do is go to the potty. This morning, as he was half asleep sitting there, he looked at me and said:
"Daddy, sometimes I just dont hafta go. That's all."
My boy, growing up, getting smarter by the day.
but until I have a full fledge day off with nothing to do, *like that will ever happen* I have a little story I wanted to share.
We are in the process of potty training the baby munkey. He is doing great, and likes to remind us that he wears undies now, not diapers.
One of the best things about retail is that I can take him to daycare everyday. I like spending those quality moments with him, before he gets awake and can be a handful, and is only a little grouchy.
With the new potty training, we have made it a habit that when I wake him in the morning, the first thing we do is go to the potty. This morning, as he was half asleep sitting there, he looked at me and said:
"Daddy, sometimes I just dont hafta go. That's all."
My boy, growing up, getting smarter by the day.
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Yup, I'm 12...
So the baby munkey has a favorite TV show. his favorite? Elmo. While Elmo does not have his own show (a little parental insight for those that do not have kiddos) he is featured in the last 20 minutes or so of each episode of Sesame Street.
Yes, Elmo talks in that high pitched, gears grinding sort of way. Yes, Elmo does refer to himself in the 3rd person. Normally, he does have a good message, either about sharing, dinosaurs (a casa favorite) or music.
Yesterday, Babymunkey and I sit down to watch some Elmo before he left for daycare. Elmo starts each episode the same way, introducing what he is thinking about. Imagine my shock, failed attempt to hold back the laughter, and un-easyness when the episode started like this.
"Hi boys and girls! Know what Elmo is thinking about today? Ya-ta-da-da! Balls!!"
At this point I glance at the screen. Elmo opens the door, and various tennis, soccer, base, foot, and basketballs fall into the room. Elmo has a fish named Dorthy. Ya wanna know what Dorothy was thinking about as well???
BALLS!
They ask a recurring character named Mr. Noodle how he plays with his balls. The balls bounce around the room. The balls are not always round, and come in a variety of colors. Some are big balls, some are small.
The ninjamunkey was beside himself, not wanting to die trying to hold back the flood of laughter, guffaws, and tears that really really wanted to show themselves, for fear that I would have to explain to my almost 3 year old why I was laughing. I held my breath.
As the show was ending, various balls filled Elmo's house, and this was after watching the ball channel on his TV, and talking to his balls about how they like to be played with. I was doing so well.
Until Baby Munkey looked at me and said "wow, that is a lot of balls daddy"
I give up.
Yes, Elmo talks in that high pitched, gears grinding sort of way. Yes, Elmo does refer to himself in the 3rd person. Normally, he does have a good message, either about sharing, dinosaurs (a casa favorite) or music.
Yesterday, Babymunkey and I sit down to watch some Elmo before he left for daycare. Elmo starts each episode the same way, introducing what he is thinking about. Imagine my shock, failed attempt to hold back the laughter, and un-easyness when the episode started like this.
"Hi boys and girls! Know what Elmo is thinking about today? Ya-ta-da-da! Balls!!"
At this point I glance at the screen. Elmo opens the door, and various tennis, soccer, base, foot, and basketballs fall into the room. Elmo has a fish named Dorthy. Ya wanna know what Dorothy was thinking about as well???
BALLS!
They ask a recurring character named Mr. Noodle how he plays with his balls. The balls bounce around the room. The balls are not always round, and come in a variety of colors. Some are big balls, some are small.
The ninjamunkey was beside himself, not wanting to die trying to hold back the flood of laughter, guffaws, and tears that really really wanted to show themselves, for fear that I would have to explain to my almost 3 year old why I was laughing. I held my breath.
As the show was ending, various balls filled Elmo's house, and this was after watching the ball channel on his TV, and talking to his balls about how they like to be played with. I was doing so well.
Until Baby Munkey looked at me and said "wow, that is a lot of balls daddy"
I give up.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
almost a month
Yes, its been almost a month since I last put something up in this little corner of the world. Gald to know that some of you are still checking in on me. I do live, and I do live quite well these days. I have found that working retail hours is something that takes longer to get used to than say, a normal 9-5 corporate job, but I am making due. the bad part is that with my company, anything I say has to be shielded with the non-compete non disclosure type of clauses, I have anything rarely to say that does not involve the day job. Things are plugging along at a pretty frequent pace, my sister is still a crackwhore, and well beyond that, we live day to day. Farewell my friends, I go take a shower now. Gotta go to work in a few
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