And now, boys & girls, time to take a look at the wacky world of sports from my somewhat skewed perspective. This blog is brought to you by the friendly folks at Starbucks and Marlboro, who remind you that if you’re gonna be addicted to something, make it something good (just not good for you, per se).
Albert Haynesworth/Washington Redskins
This is an individual who plays professional football for a living and signed a $100 Million Dollar contract not very long ago. Now Haynesworth has decided that he doesn't want to participate in any of the activities leading up to the start of football training camp because he doesn't like the direction that the team is going in.
Many of his teammates are calling him selfish. I am calling him an asshole. Last time I checked, football was a team sport, not one based on individual achievement. If he doesn't like the direction the team is going in, let him give up some of those fat Millions that the team gave him and let him move on. If he's not willing to give up the cash, he should show up for the work and shut his bitch-hole. A lot of us who work our asses off in regular jobs don't like the direction that our companies are going in, but we show up for work and give it our all. If we really can't stand it at work, we find another job. Albert Haynesworth is just another prick of a professional athlete who seems to think the world revolves around him, and doesn't realize, understand, or care what the rest of us go through on a daily basis.
Lebron James/Cleveland Cavaliers
Another asshole. The media, especially ESPN, is obsessed with whether or not this guy will re-sign with Cleveland, or go elsewhere. The Cavalier organization makes it sound like the world will stop revolving if he doesn't, and have embarrassed themselves publically to get him back.
If I were the general manager of the team, this whole issue would take exactly one phone call. "Hey Lebron, it's me. You planning on re-signing or not? I need an answer by the end of the week. If I get no answer, then we'll just assume that you and your monstrous ego won't be back for next year, and we'll move on without your ass. Have a nice day".
Note to ESPN: Most of us really don't give a shit about this story, so please give it a rest.
Peter King/Sports Illustrated
I actually used to read his Monday Morning Quarterback posts every Monday, but no more. Another case where the journalist feels that he is bigger than what he's covering. He also made a smart-assed comment about the Who playing the halftime show at the Super Bowl, which, as a devout Who fan, really pissed me off. He’s a hack and nothing more.
The US Open
I’m waiting to see if Mickelsen or Tiger lay the smackdown on Pebble Beach, or if someone else steps up. I really would like to see it come down to Tiger and Phil, because when they’re both playing at their best, no one in golf can touch them.
A side note concerning Tiger. I really don’t give a shit about what’s happening in his personal life. In fact, I’m surprised something like what happened didn’t happen earlier on in his career. I still like to watch him play golf. His personal life is no ones business but his own. That’s pretty much how I feel about any athlete, up to a point.
Brett Favre/Minnesota Vikings
We might as well get ready for another media circus, whether he will retire or not. Another case of “I don’t give a shit” on my part.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Somethings Coming, Something Good
For the life of me, I simply cannot figure it out.
It feels like I am on the cusp of something great. A feeling, deep down inside, that’s telling me that something incredibly awesome, wonderful, life changing, is about to happen in my life. I don’t know WHY I feel this way, but I can’t deny that the feeling is there. Call it a premonition, or call it just a gut instinct, but I just know it’s about to happen, soon.
This feeling has had a rather positive effect on my life in the past couple of days. The things that used to piss me off suddenly don’t really matter all that much anymore. I did something stupid this morning at work, and instead of beating myself up, calling myself an idiot, I actually laughed, smiled, joked with myself about it. This is totally out of character for me, since I am and always have been my own worst critic. Our normal Tuesday morning meetings, which I usually complain about a lot and dread worse than ass surgery without the benefit of anesthetic, was actually fun. I left the meeting smiling, energized to attack the tasks that I had to deal with today. Left work looking forward to going back there in the morning.
Something unbelievable will happen soon. I just have to wait and see what it is.
++
I made myself another one of my mix CD’s this morning, and loaded it into the stereo in my work truck. Since it was a band that I haven’t listened to lately (Journey), it came as a pleasant diversion as I was driving to one of our distant cell sites. Steve Perry and I were rocking out, I was driving well above the speed limit on a great piece of highway, and felt like I owned the world with $26 in my pocket. Funny what music can to do you sometimes when you least expect it. (BTW, the song Lights also works when the bay in question happens to be Hagatna Bay).
+ +
Pork steak cooked in the oven with some instant mashed taters is a great meal. The same leftover pork is even better the next day for dinner. I am beyond full right now from Day 2 of the porky goodness. I’m thinking fish sandwiches for dinner tomorrow night.
+ +
Is it just that the prices here on Guam are high, or did cereal suddenly become a luxury item? I was in the grocery store tonight picking up some milk and happened to walk down the cereal aisle. Seems to me that $5+ is a lot of money for a box of cereal. Then again, I’m kinda on the cheap side. I’m just happy that I don’t have little ones at home who are deep into cereal, because it could get real expensive real quick. (For those of you who are unaware, Frosted Mini-Wheats make a great snack when you’re sitting around watching TV. A little dry, but Diet Pepsi or a flagron of iced tea takes care of that rather well.)
+ +
For anyone who is interested, I’m still writing as a hobby, and have been jamming some pages on my book in the last couple of days. I sat down last night in the hope of just trying to capture some old memories about a certain event that happened nearly 25 years ago. Before I knew it, six pages and two hours had passed, and I was really into it. Anyone wanting to read some of this opus I am working on can email me at troyinhagatna@gmail.com and I will happily email you some pages. Constructive criticism is always greatly appreciated. I have no illusions about becoming the next J.K. Rowling, and I’m mostly writing for my own enjoyment.
+ +
That’s about it from “my city by the bay” here in Hagatna. Later this week I’ll take another stab at pop culture, a little about the status of rock radio for the middle aged, and other topics that strike my fancy or other bodily regions.
Always remember the immortal words of that great rock poet, Mr. Frank Zappa:
“You are what you is”.
It feels like I am on the cusp of something great. A feeling, deep down inside, that’s telling me that something incredibly awesome, wonderful, life changing, is about to happen in my life. I don’t know WHY I feel this way, but I can’t deny that the feeling is there. Call it a premonition, or call it just a gut instinct, but I just know it’s about to happen, soon.
This feeling has had a rather positive effect on my life in the past couple of days. The things that used to piss me off suddenly don’t really matter all that much anymore. I did something stupid this morning at work, and instead of beating myself up, calling myself an idiot, I actually laughed, smiled, joked with myself about it. This is totally out of character for me, since I am and always have been my own worst critic. Our normal Tuesday morning meetings, which I usually complain about a lot and dread worse than ass surgery without the benefit of anesthetic, was actually fun. I left the meeting smiling, energized to attack the tasks that I had to deal with today. Left work looking forward to going back there in the morning.
Something unbelievable will happen soon. I just have to wait and see what it is.
++
I made myself another one of my mix CD’s this morning, and loaded it into the stereo in my work truck. Since it was a band that I haven’t listened to lately (Journey), it came as a pleasant diversion as I was driving to one of our distant cell sites. Steve Perry and I were rocking out, I was driving well above the speed limit on a great piece of highway, and felt like I owned the world with $26 in my pocket. Funny what music can to do you sometimes when you least expect it. (BTW, the song Lights also works when the bay in question happens to be Hagatna Bay).
+ +
Pork steak cooked in the oven with some instant mashed taters is a great meal. The same leftover pork is even better the next day for dinner. I am beyond full right now from Day 2 of the porky goodness. I’m thinking fish sandwiches for dinner tomorrow night.
+ +
Is it just that the prices here on Guam are high, or did cereal suddenly become a luxury item? I was in the grocery store tonight picking up some milk and happened to walk down the cereal aisle. Seems to me that $5+ is a lot of money for a box of cereal. Then again, I’m kinda on the cheap side. I’m just happy that I don’t have little ones at home who are deep into cereal, because it could get real expensive real quick. (For those of you who are unaware, Frosted Mini-Wheats make a great snack when you’re sitting around watching TV. A little dry, but Diet Pepsi or a flagron of iced tea takes care of that rather well.)
+ +
For anyone who is interested, I’m still writing as a hobby, and have been jamming some pages on my book in the last couple of days. I sat down last night in the hope of just trying to capture some old memories about a certain event that happened nearly 25 years ago. Before I knew it, six pages and two hours had passed, and I was really into it. Anyone wanting to read some of this opus I am working on can email me at troyinhagatna@gmail.com and I will happily email you some pages. Constructive criticism is always greatly appreciated. I have no illusions about becoming the next J.K. Rowling, and I’m mostly writing for my own enjoyment.
+ +
That’s about it from “my city by the bay” here in Hagatna. Later this week I’ll take another stab at pop culture, a little about the status of rock radio for the middle aged, and other topics that strike my fancy or other bodily regions.
Always remember the immortal words of that great rock poet, Mr. Frank Zappa:
“You are what you is”.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Monday Gibberish, Thoughts, and Observations
“It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to open one's mouth and remove all doubt.”
Abraham Lincoln
Notes, tidbits of information, and just some of my normal mindless bullshit, for all to enjoy.
++ It has been unbelievably hot lately, even by Guam standards. I haven’t been much on the going out and doing anything on the weekends, other than taking care of the laundry and buying food. Best to stay indoors in the air conditioning, watching TV and reading and playing cards on line. All over the island, the grass is crunchy and brown, and I’m actually looking forward to the rainy season. I want to hear the sounds and feel the perceptible change as a large thunderstorm hits the island, Unlike some folks, I love thunderstorms, and really feel the need for one.
++ I won $43 from Saturday nights Sports Bingo draw. It isn’t much, but its $43 that I didn’t have two days ago, so it’s all good. Tuesday nights’ pot is $18 Million Large American Dollars, and my ticket is already hanging on the freezer door at home. Instead of letting the machine pick the numbers, I have gone ahead and picked my own. These numbers are based on my daughters’ birthday, my wife’s birthday, and a few other factors. We’ll see what happens, but something deep inside is telling me that something truly amazing is going to happen soon.
++ This morning I had what could be characterized as a GREAT meeting, if such things are possible. I won’t go into details, because there are still a few things hanging in the air and I don’t want to screw things up by getting too hopeful. Suffice to say, I left that meeting fairly confident and happy.
++ It feels like a new chapter in my life is getting ready to happen, a chapter filled with good things coming my way. Don’t know why I feel this way, but it’s definitely there, and it’s exciting. The phrase “rife with possibility” comes immediately to mind. For the first time in a very long time, I’m smiling a lot more, and my attitude is positive, hopeful. Like a light deep within me has been turned on and is burning brightly. It is a rare feeling and one that I am relishing.
++ In a little more than two weeks, The Gorgeous One (my beautiful bride) will be returning to Guam, after spending the last 5 months in the Philippines. It has been a rough period for her due to all of the drama she has had to deal with there, and I’m happy that she and I will once again be together. I’ve missed her a lot.
++ My congratulations to the Chicago Blackhawks for winning the Stanley Cup. I only got to watch Game 6 because of the time difference, but enjoyed it immensely. Good hockey is always fun to watch.
+ + Last week, I emailed 3 chapters of the book I am attempting to write to my daughter and a friend of mine in Atlanta who happens to be an editor by trade, in the hope that I could get some feedback on the gibberish I have written. One of the chapters was a rather deep look at religion, and the other two were based on some of the mischief I got into while living in Korea in the early 80’s. No feedback yet, but I continue to write, which is the primary reason I haven’t been posting much to this blog recently. If anyone else would like to get copies of some of this stuff emailed to them, feel free to email me and I’ll happily send it to you.
Something to Think About
ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?
WITNESS: Getting laid
Abraham Lincoln
Notes, tidbits of information, and just some of my normal mindless bullshit, for all to enjoy.
++ It has been unbelievably hot lately, even by Guam standards. I haven’t been much on the going out and doing anything on the weekends, other than taking care of the laundry and buying food. Best to stay indoors in the air conditioning, watching TV and reading and playing cards on line. All over the island, the grass is crunchy and brown, and I’m actually looking forward to the rainy season. I want to hear the sounds and feel the perceptible change as a large thunderstorm hits the island, Unlike some folks, I love thunderstorms, and really feel the need for one.
++ I won $43 from Saturday nights Sports Bingo draw. It isn’t much, but its $43 that I didn’t have two days ago, so it’s all good. Tuesday nights’ pot is $18 Million Large American Dollars, and my ticket is already hanging on the freezer door at home. Instead of letting the machine pick the numbers, I have gone ahead and picked my own. These numbers are based on my daughters’ birthday, my wife’s birthday, and a few other factors. We’ll see what happens, but something deep inside is telling me that something truly amazing is going to happen soon.
++ This morning I had what could be characterized as a GREAT meeting, if such things are possible. I won’t go into details, because there are still a few things hanging in the air and I don’t want to screw things up by getting too hopeful. Suffice to say, I left that meeting fairly confident and happy.
++ It feels like a new chapter in my life is getting ready to happen, a chapter filled with good things coming my way. Don’t know why I feel this way, but it’s definitely there, and it’s exciting. The phrase “rife with possibility” comes immediately to mind. For the first time in a very long time, I’m smiling a lot more, and my attitude is positive, hopeful. Like a light deep within me has been turned on and is burning brightly. It is a rare feeling and one that I am relishing.
++ In a little more than two weeks, The Gorgeous One (my beautiful bride) will be returning to Guam, after spending the last 5 months in the Philippines. It has been a rough period for her due to all of the drama she has had to deal with there, and I’m happy that she and I will once again be together. I’ve missed her a lot.
++ My congratulations to the Chicago Blackhawks for winning the Stanley Cup. I only got to watch Game 6 because of the time difference, but enjoyed it immensely. Good hockey is always fun to watch.
+ + Last week, I emailed 3 chapters of the book I am attempting to write to my daughter and a friend of mine in Atlanta who happens to be an editor by trade, in the hope that I could get some feedback on the gibberish I have written. One of the chapters was a rather deep look at religion, and the other two were based on some of the mischief I got into while living in Korea in the early 80’s. No feedback yet, but I continue to write, which is the primary reason I haven’t been posting much to this blog recently. If anyone else would like to get copies of some of this stuff emailed to them, feel free to email me and I’ll happily send it to you.
Something to Think About
ATTORNEY: So the date of conception (of the baby) was August 8th?
WITNESS: Yes.
ATTORNEY: And what were you doing at that time?
WITNESS: Getting laid
Monday, June 7, 2010
Monday Evening at The Guam Desk
Time once again for another update from The Guam Desk……
Work has literally been kicking my ass for the past two weeks. It seems that as soon as I think I’m getting ahead, something comes up and I am once again pissing against the tide. I worked most of Saturday, only to get called out Saturday afternoon after being at home for a grand total of 30 minutes. Between the actual work that my bosses want me to finish, plus the general health of the network I am in charge of, plus some of the special projects that I want to get done, it seems like it’s never ending.
A little more than 3 weeks until The Gorgeous One comes home, and I cannot wait to see her. Between now and then, I have to engage in some serious apartment cleaning, because if she saw it the way it is now, she will most definitely kill me. She will also be able to go coconut crazy once she arrives here, as the trees in our side yard are full of coconuts. Add that to the neighbor’s mango trees, which he freely lets us take as many as we want, and she will be in fruit heaven.
I haven’t been on line much lately on the social networking, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been busy in my limited free time. I’m continuing to work on my book, and for once the stuff is just flowing out of me. Aside from the true life no-shit stories, I’m also working on some stuff about serious subjects, like religion, homosexuality and other topics. I’m also considering working on a screenplay for a sitcom that is rattling around in my head, just for the general hell of it. If anyone is interested in reading some of the drivel, let me know and I’ll email you some chapters. Outside opinions are always welcome.
Had a lovely dinner the other night at my friend Jerry’s house. Along with Jerry and his lovely wife Gina, our friend Craig and his family stopped by, and my old boss and good friend Nancy showed up as well. One of those evenings where you sit around with good friends, drinking a few cold beers, and enjoying a cool night sitting around in lawn chairs and bullshitting.
It has been exceptionally dry here on Guam for the past couple of months. I think we need a couple of days of soaking rain to kind of level things off a bit.
I have another blog about leadership that I am reluctant to post. The reason for my reluctance is the fact that some people that I work with actually read this blog, and certain people would be grossly offended by what I have to say. That, and there are some rat bastards who would love to make cheese points with the bosses. If any of you are my friends on Myspace, you can look for it there. Better to be safe than unemployed.
For now, that’s it from this lovely island in the Northern Marianas, out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, where the women are strong, the men good looking, and the children are all above average.
Work has literally been kicking my ass for the past two weeks. It seems that as soon as I think I’m getting ahead, something comes up and I am once again pissing against the tide. I worked most of Saturday, only to get called out Saturday afternoon after being at home for a grand total of 30 minutes. Between the actual work that my bosses want me to finish, plus the general health of the network I am in charge of, plus some of the special projects that I want to get done, it seems like it’s never ending.
A little more than 3 weeks until The Gorgeous One comes home, and I cannot wait to see her. Between now and then, I have to engage in some serious apartment cleaning, because if she saw it the way it is now, she will most definitely kill me. She will also be able to go coconut crazy once she arrives here, as the trees in our side yard are full of coconuts. Add that to the neighbor’s mango trees, which he freely lets us take as many as we want, and she will be in fruit heaven.
I haven’t been on line much lately on the social networking, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t been busy in my limited free time. I’m continuing to work on my book, and for once the stuff is just flowing out of me. Aside from the true life no-shit stories, I’m also working on some stuff about serious subjects, like religion, homosexuality and other topics. I’m also considering working on a screenplay for a sitcom that is rattling around in my head, just for the general hell of it. If anyone is interested in reading some of the drivel, let me know and I’ll email you some chapters. Outside opinions are always welcome.
Had a lovely dinner the other night at my friend Jerry’s house. Along with Jerry and his lovely wife Gina, our friend Craig and his family stopped by, and my old boss and good friend Nancy showed up as well. One of those evenings where you sit around with good friends, drinking a few cold beers, and enjoying a cool night sitting around in lawn chairs and bullshitting.
It has been exceptionally dry here on Guam for the past couple of months. I think we need a couple of days of soaking rain to kind of level things off a bit.
I have another blog about leadership that I am reluctant to post. The reason for my reluctance is the fact that some people that I work with actually read this blog, and certain people would be grossly offended by what I have to say. That, and there are some rat bastards who would love to make cheese points with the bosses. If any of you are my friends on Myspace, you can look for it there. Better to be safe than unemployed.
For now, that’s it from this lovely island in the Northern Marianas, out in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, where the women are strong, the men good looking, and the children are all above average.
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Wednesday Notes from The Guam Desk
“I’m a little tired out but I’m feeling OK, but I got a little lost along the way, and I’m just around the corner from the light of day, just around the corner to the light of day” – Bruce Springsteen
Notes, happenings, and commentary from here at what we affectionately refer to as The Guam Desk.
-+- Incredibly wonderful phone call from The Awesome Daughter this morning. She and her coworkers are currently roaming around Texas on what the Air Force calls a field problem. The Wonder Kid seemed totally upbeat and happy, and I got to hear her laugh a bit, which is always a good thing (if you heard her laugh, you would totally understand). We talked about showers in field conditions, MRE’s (aka Meals Refused by Ethiopians) and other field related things. She also advised me that she would be going on temporary duty to the wilds of Indiana in July, which I believe she’s kind of looking forward to. For the first time ever, she asked about my beloved bride and how she is doing. I’m taking this as that she is being more receptive to my marriage, and think it’s a good sign.
-+- The Gorgeous One is still in the Philippines, still coming back at the end of June. She has had to once again be the peacemaker between one of her brothers and his wife, which ended up in her taking the sister in law to the doctor to get her eye looked at (which we paid for). This brother in question apparently had words with his wife after drinking way too much, and gave her a shiner for her troubles. I found this unusual, because the brother in question is generally pretty mild mannered. I still and always will believe however that there is no excuse for hitting a woman, ever. She’s also been dealing with various drama scenarios with my mother in law lately. It can be said that my bride has patience and wisdom far beyond her years, much more than I do. I will not be happy until she is back here on Guam with me.
-+- I had to take one of the new Japanese managers assigned to my department up to one of the remote sites today, to let her see some things first hand. It was a nice little reason to get out of the office, and I think she understands a few things a little bit better now.
What I find odd is how some of my male coworkers think she’s the hottest thing in the world, in particular one of my Palauan coworkers. Maybe I’m just middle aged and happily married, but I for one don’t see the attraction. The woman is “not hard on the eyes”, as the saying goes, but then again, she is not in possession of overly massive beauty either. Certainly not to the levels that some of my male coworkers feel she is. She’s nice, and I think I can work with her; beyond that, nothing else. Sorry, boys, I just don’t see the attraction.
-+- Friday evening I will once again be participating in the annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life, held at the G.W. High School track. This is a massive event that gets well supported by everyone here on Guam. If it is anything like previous years, we can expect to see around 20,000 people or more out there, lots of BBQ action going on, and people pitching in for a very worthy cause. I will be participating along with several of my coworkers, as the company will have a tent there. It’s a lot of fun, and I look forward to it every year.
-+- Just got home after stopping by the grocery store and buying my Guam Sports Bingo (nee lottery) ticket for the Thursday night draw. I’m not greedy: a million dollars would solve all of my financial problems and I could retire and live well.
-+- Instead of dinner, I’m enjoying a couple of glasses of orange juice instead. Been thinking about it for a couple of hours now, and the first glass went down really well. Ice cold and delicious. Think I’m have me another one, which will make my wife very happy indeed.
That’s about it from here at The Guam Desk, out here in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, where the women are strong, the men good looking, and the children are all above average.
Notes, happenings, and commentary from here at what we affectionately refer to as The Guam Desk.
-+- Incredibly wonderful phone call from The Awesome Daughter this morning. She and her coworkers are currently roaming around Texas on what the Air Force calls a field problem. The Wonder Kid seemed totally upbeat and happy, and I got to hear her laugh a bit, which is always a good thing (if you heard her laugh, you would totally understand). We talked about showers in field conditions, MRE’s (aka Meals Refused by Ethiopians) and other field related things. She also advised me that she would be going on temporary duty to the wilds of Indiana in July, which I believe she’s kind of looking forward to. For the first time ever, she asked about my beloved bride and how she is doing. I’m taking this as that she is being more receptive to my marriage, and think it’s a good sign.
-+- The Gorgeous One is still in the Philippines, still coming back at the end of June. She has had to once again be the peacemaker between one of her brothers and his wife, which ended up in her taking the sister in law to the doctor to get her eye looked at (which we paid for). This brother in question apparently had words with his wife after drinking way too much, and gave her a shiner for her troubles. I found this unusual, because the brother in question is generally pretty mild mannered. I still and always will believe however that there is no excuse for hitting a woman, ever. She’s also been dealing with various drama scenarios with my mother in law lately. It can be said that my bride has patience and wisdom far beyond her years, much more than I do. I will not be happy until she is back here on Guam with me.
-+- I had to take one of the new Japanese managers assigned to my department up to one of the remote sites today, to let her see some things first hand. It was a nice little reason to get out of the office, and I think she understands a few things a little bit better now.
What I find odd is how some of my male coworkers think she’s the hottest thing in the world, in particular one of my Palauan coworkers. Maybe I’m just middle aged and happily married, but I for one don’t see the attraction. The woman is “not hard on the eyes”, as the saying goes, but then again, she is not in possession of overly massive beauty either. Certainly not to the levels that some of my male coworkers feel she is. She’s nice, and I think I can work with her; beyond that, nothing else. Sorry, boys, I just don’t see the attraction.
-+- Friday evening I will once again be participating in the annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life, held at the G.W. High School track. This is a massive event that gets well supported by everyone here on Guam. If it is anything like previous years, we can expect to see around 20,000 people or more out there, lots of BBQ action going on, and people pitching in for a very worthy cause. I will be participating along with several of my coworkers, as the company will have a tent there. It’s a lot of fun, and I look forward to it every year.
-+- Just got home after stopping by the grocery store and buying my Guam Sports Bingo (nee lottery) ticket for the Thursday night draw. I’m not greedy: a million dollars would solve all of my financial problems and I could retire and live well.
-+- Instead of dinner, I’m enjoying a couple of glasses of orange juice instead. Been thinking about it for a couple of hours now, and the first glass went down really well. Ice cold and delicious. Think I’m have me another one, which will make my wife very happy indeed.
That’s about it from here at The Guam Desk, out here in the heart of the Pacific Ocean, where the women are strong, the men good looking, and the children are all above average.
Pop Culture (Such As It Is)
And now it’s once again time to take a look at pop culture from my somewhat weird perspective. Social commentary, as it were, concerning life as we know it here in the Year of Our Lord 2010.
++I took the time the other night to watch an episode of “Glee”, since my daughter and every other female I know under the age of 50 is in love with that show. Now I see why it’s so popular with the women folk, and I must admit, I even enjoyed it slightly.
++Of all the horribly bad commercials on TV, I think that the ones for hotelplanner.com are the worst of the lot. Every time I see those two guys, in their rejected-from-Kmart sweats, I feel the urge to beat the shit out of them, slowly. The best commercial on TV, by far, is the GEICO commercial with Charlie Daniels in it.
++On the subject of commercials, there is one that cracks me up but gets missed by those who are unaware of the connection. There is a commercial for Keystone Light, where an old lady is standing underneath a tree. When asked what is wrong by Keith Stone, the old lady tells him that her kiki is stuck in a tree. Kiki happens to be a very beautiful girl. What is unknown to most people with no Filipino connections is that the word “kiki” is also Tagalog (language of the Philippines) slang for the vagina. When I hear the old lady say that her kiki is stuck in the tree, it makes me laugh. Either she has done something that defies the laws of physics and anatomy, or she’s a lesbian who has hooked up with a woman at least 30 years her junior. Another example of my screwed up sense of humor, maybe.
++The masses here are getting spun up in election mode again, and with it the bullshit that we all have to deal with. Normally I try to ignore all the fuss, but sometimes it’s not possible. The ones I hate the most are the trucks that drive through my neighborhood, blaring their gibberish, with pictures of “Whatever Asshole We Think Should Win” mounted in the back of the truck. A couple of times, I literally had my BB gun in my hand, hoping that a couple of potshots would hurry them on their merry way. I do not want to hear that shit in my apartment, period.
++If you haven’t had a chance to scope it out, check out “America: The Story of Us” on the History Channel. Even if you aren’t a history buff, this is a really well put together series about American history. It has some great special effects, and is extremely well written. This is one of the few things that I think I will actually spend money and buy the entire series on DVD when it comes out. It’s on the same level as Ken Burns “The Civil War” series. Historically correct, addicting as hell, and fun to watch.
++I have been doing a lot of downloading off of YouTube recently, after a friend showed me how to do it. I’ve been on a big Heart and Warren Zevon bender recently, downloading a ton of music videos. If there is anyone out there that wants to learn how to do it, email me or Google it. Pretty simple and a lot of fun.
++Went to the movies on Saturday to check out the new Robin Hood flick. Russell Crowe is really good in it, and so is Cate Blanchett. You would think that, since it was directed by Ridley Scott (who also directed Crowe in The Gladiator) that it would be sort of The Gladiator Part 2 but set in England, but it really isn’t. A very well done action flick that doesn’t overdo it. I especially liked Cate Blanchett as Maid Marian, and the supporting cast is also quite good. A different spin on the legend of Robin Hood than what I expected.
++SLANG PHRASE OF THE WEEK: “Dropping a Deuce”
As in, “I really wish this stupid meeting would end so I can go drop a deuce.”
++I took the time the other night to watch an episode of “Glee”, since my daughter and every other female I know under the age of 50 is in love with that show. Now I see why it’s so popular with the women folk, and I must admit, I even enjoyed it slightly.
++Of all the horribly bad commercials on TV, I think that the ones for hotelplanner.com are the worst of the lot. Every time I see those two guys, in their rejected-from-Kmart sweats, I feel the urge to beat the shit out of them, slowly. The best commercial on TV, by far, is the GEICO commercial with Charlie Daniels in it.
++On the subject of commercials, there is one that cracks me up but gets missed by those who are unaware of the connection. There is a commercial for Keystone Light, where an old lady is standing underneath a tree. When asked what is wrong by Keith Stone, the old lady tells him that her kiki is stuck in a tree. Kiki happens to be a very beautiful girl. What is unknown to most people with no Filipino connections is that the word “kiki” is also Tagalog (language of the Philippines) slang for the vagina. When I hear the old lady say that her kiki is stuck in the tree, it makes me laugh. Either she has done something that defies the laws of physics and anatomy, or she’s a lesbian who has hooked up with a woman at least 30 years her junior. Another example of my screwed up sense of humor, maybe.
++The masses here are getting spun up in election mode again, and with it the bullshit that we all have to deal with. Normally I try to ignore all the fuss, but sometimes it’s not possible. The ones I hate the most are the trucks that drive through my neighborhood, blaring their gibberish, with pictures of “Whatever Asshole We Think Should Win” mounted in the back of the truck. A couple of times, I literally had my BB gun in my hand, hoping that a couple of potshots would hurry them on their merry way. I do not want to hear that shit in my apartment, period.
++If you haven’t had a chance to scope it out, check out “America: The Story of Us” on the History Channel. Even if you aren’t a history buff, this is a really well put together series about American history. It has some great special effects, and is extremely well written. This is one of the few things that I think I will actually spend money and buy the entire series on DVD when it comes out. It’s on the same level as Ken Burns “The Civil War” series. Historically correct, addicting as hell, and fun to watch.
++I have been doing a lot of downloading off of YouTube recently, after a friend showed me how to do it. I’ve been on a big Heart and Warren Zevon bender recently, downloading a ton of music videos. If there is anyone out there that wants to learn how to do it, email me or Google it. Pretty simple and a lot of fun.
++Went to the movies on Saturday to check out the new Robin Hood flick. Russell Crowe is really good in it, and so is Cate Blanchett. You would think that, since it was directed by Ridley Scott (who also directed Crowe in The Gladiator) that it would be sort of The Gladiator Part 2 but set in England, but it really isn’t. A very well done action flick that doesn’t overdo it. I especially liked Cate Blanchett as Maid Marian, and the supporting cast is also quite good. A different spin on the legend of Robin Hood than what I expected.
++SLANG PHRASE OF THE WEEK: “Dropping a Deuce”
As in, “I really wish this stupid meeting would end so I can go drop a deuce.”
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Notes from The Weird Side of Town
I realize that I haven’t written anything in a while about this wonderfully strange thing I like to call “My Life”, so I thought it time to do so.
++ My awesome daughter took the test to become a Staff Sergeant in the US Air Force last week. I know she was stressing about it, and even if she doesn’t make it this time, I’m incredibly proud of her. Every time someone tells her that she can’t do something, she proves them wrong. The kid is simply amazing. A great airman, a doting and devoted mother to my perfect granddaughter, and, most importantly, just a cool human being. She amazes me at every turn, and I consider it an honor that she’s my kid.
++ The Gorgeous One (AKA, my mahal, my asawa, the woman who married me in spite of my faults) and I got some good news last week. We received word from her doctor in Manila that the insurance company had in fact decided that they would pay for my beloved’s medical treatment, and we would pay the deductible. This means that we will pay a total of $140 instead of the nearly $700 that we would have had to pay if they decided not to cover it. I had no idea how we were going to pay for it if they didn’t cover it, so this is a bit of relief to both of us.
++ Financially, I’m kind of strapped right now. Between the rent and the money I had to send to my insanely beautiful wife, I have a total of $35 to live off of for the next two weeks. You would think that I would be stressing about this, but in reality, I’m not. The electricity works, my internet and cable TV work, and there’s plenty of food in the apartment. I’ve been in far worse situations, and I’m not terribly worried about it. Payday is only 10 days away, and that check will cover everything that hasn’t been paid. Life could be a hell of a lot worse.
++ Last week was my week to give training to everyone in my company. Three classes per day for three days, with the classes lasting about 30 minutes. Some people would think this to be a pain in the ass, but I tried to make it enjoyable for everyone, including me. A boring subject (in this case, security) can sometimes be fun if put into a different light, and that’s what I tried to do. Keep things low key, hit all the important points, but keep it from being dull. Throw some jokes around, interact with the people attending, keep it moving but make it fun. From the comments I received from my coworkers (including from the CEO of the company), I think I was able to accomplish that. It has been a while since I did any public speaking or teaching, and for me, it brought back a lot of memories. I enjoyed it immensely.
++ I have tried not to focus on the negative aspects of my job lately, but it gets hard sometimes. While most of the people I work with are cool, there are more than the fair share of assholes and swine that I have to deal with. Mostly, I’ve been just doing what needs to be done, keeping my mouth shut around anyone in “management” (since there are very few leaders in the company I work in, I won’t use that term), and keep my head down. Try to spend as much time as possible at field sites. Tuesdays are usually my “Weekday from Hell”, as I have to sit in a meeting with people I really don’t like. Today was a little different, in that I was able to say my piece and get the hell out relatively quickly. A good thing, since the meeting went on for 5 additional hours after I left, and, as usual, I’m sure nothing got accomplished. To paraphrase Robert E. Lee, “I would rather face a thousand deaths”.
So that’s about it from here. Between working on my book, playing on Facebook, and watching TV, I’m just relaxing and killing time waiting for 8 PM to roll around so I can call the wife and find out what’s happening in the Philippines.
That’s all from Guam, here in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, where the women are strong, the men good looking, and the children are all above average.
++ My awesome daughter took the test to become a Staff Sergeant in the US Air Force last week. I know she was stressing about it, and even if she doesn’t make it this time, I’m incredibly proud of her. Every time someone tells her that she can’t do something, she proves them wrong. The kid is simply amazing. A great airman, a doting and devoted mother to my perfect granddaughter, and, most importantly, just a cool human being. She amazes me at every turn, and I consider it an honor that she’s my kid.
++ The Gorgeous One (AKA, my mahal, my asawa, the woman who married me in spite of my faults) and I got some good news last week. We received word from her doctor in Manila that the insurance company had in fact decided that they would pay for my beloved’s medical treatment, and we would pay the deductible. This means that we will pay a total of $140 instead of the nearly $700 that we would have had to pay if they decided not to cover it. I had no idea how we were going to pay for it if they didn’t cover it, so this is a bit of relief to both of us.
++ Financially, I’m kind of strapped right now. Between the rent and the money I had to send to my insanely beautiful wife, I have a total of $35 to live off of for the next two weeks. You would think that I would be stressing about this, but in reality, I’m not. The electricity works, my internet and cable TV work, and there’s plenty of food in the apartment. I’ve been in far worse situations, and I’m not terribly worried about it. Payday is only 10 days away, and that check will cover everything that hasn’t been paid. Life could be a hell of a lot worse.
++ Last week was my week to give training to everyone in my company. Three classes per day for three days, with the classes lasting about 30 minutes. Some people would think this to be a pain in the ass, but I tried to make it enjoyable for everyone, including me. A boring subject (in this case, security) can sometimes be fun if put into a different light, and that’s what I tried to do. Keep things low key, hit all the important points, but keep it from being dull. Throw some jokes around, interact with the people attending, keep it moving but make it fun. From the comments I received from my coworkers (including from the CEO of the company), I think I was able to accomplish that. It has been a while since I did any public speaking or teaching, and for me, it brought back a lot of memories. I enjoyed it immensely.
++ I have tried not to focus on the negative aspects of my job lately, but it gets hard sometimes. While most of the people I work with are cool, there are more than the fair share of assholes and swine that I have to deal with. Mostly, I’ve been just doing what needs to be done, keeping my mouth shut around anyone in “management” (since there are very few leaders in the company I work in, I won’t use that term), and keep my head down. Try to spend as much time as possible at field sites. Tuesdays are usually my “Weekday from Hell”, as I have to sit in a meeting with people I really don’t like. Today was a little different, in that I was able to say my piece and get the hell out relatively quickly. A good thing, since the meeting went on for 5 additional hours after I left, and, as usual, I’m sure nothing got accomplished. To paraphrase Robert E. Lee, “I would rather face a thousand deaths”.
So that’s about it from here. Between working on my book, playing on Facebook, and watching TV, I’m just relaxing and killing time waiting for 8 PM to roll around so I can call the wife and find out what’s happening in the Philippines.
That’s all from Guam, here in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, where the women are strong, the men good looking, and the children are all above average.
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