Hey all.
Went out with my friends Jason and Stefanie to Old Chicago. Had a lot of fun, did some drinks, coupled with the fun to be had from shots, which I will elaborate more on in a minute, got some dinner, and had some good conversation. I even busted out my karaoke skills on a little Dynamite Hack, Boyz in the Hood style.
We ordered a round of shots, starting with Irish car bombs, Stefanie couldn't even drink hers and Jason pretty much didn't care for it either. Next up was a blowjob. The point of a blowjob was to not use your hands when you drink it, and let me point out that this was hours of hilarity on end here. Stef couldn't get her whole mouth around the shot glass, Jason choked on his first attempt and spitted it out all over the place. I had to cheat a bit to get the glass positioned the first time but by the second round I did it no problem. Jason even managed to get him all down the second time, with a little help from his hands. it was fun!
We also had a lot of fun rating the level of smugness at the table. Its well documented that Jason likes the the better things in life, Steve Madden shoes, Ben Sherman wallet, anything San Francisco.. ect.. It was fun to tease a bit. Stef got caught on a few things, but either proudly or sadly my geekness overpowered any smug attempts sent my way. The fact that I ordered a Harry Potter book from England to get the Philosophers Stone title is NOT smug... just really sad.
Anyway, the point of this post was where the conversation turned to after the fun. Mainly me.
I really want to change how I am around women. I understand that I have some self esteem issues among other things. But I feel so uncomfortable talking about them to people. Any people. Typing words and saying them are different. When I am writing I don't have to see the reaction, I don't have to know what you felt about what was said unless you decide to say something. When I am talking to someone, regardless, I have a hard time letting down the shell. Its been such a practice to make a joke or cut myself to quick to diffuse an awkward or tense moment that I am afraid of what might happen if I don't.
Jason asked me what I would say to a girl that showed interest in me. I honestly had to say I don't know. He asked me what was the part of the body that I was attracted to the most. I didn't know. It's such an improbability in my mind that someone could like me for who I am that I don't usually let myself think about it. That's probably why I started writing poems, at least writing them I can articulate what I feel with what I want to say, even when I don't have the courage to say it. I want so much to change, I want to meet someone and not feel like a cripple, I just can't seem to get past the hump.
I've spent the last few hours dwelling on the things that were said, and I still don't think I have the answers I want. I did come to one conclusion though, I told Jason that the legs were the most attractive part of a woman for me, but I don't think that's right. I think its the face, not just physical beauty, but the whole face. The way an eye can frame the face, the curve of a cheek, the way their hair falls, her smile. A smile can say a lot without needing words.
I have to find a way to accept myself so I can lower my guard. Just open the door and take that first step. But it's the first step that's the hardest. Because I know one thing for absolute certain...
I spent an awesome evening with a great person, and I can't even bring myself to ask her the one thing I want to.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Friday, July 06, 2007
Beneath My Own Stained Moon
Happy June Folks...
Sorry for the gap in posting, another long week at work and I haven't been home all that much. Thought I would treat you to another poem. This one turned out really dark.. Umm really dark. I am not sure what really inspired it.. it started out a lot different than how it actually came out. Originally it was supposed to be just another sort of heartbreak poem... but I guess it changed. But that's okay.. it does that sometimes.
Beneath My Own Stained Moon
I've been sitting here,
Waiting for the quiet to end.
An impossible task,
There's no use to pretend.
I watch and stare at myself,
Trying to find the man I used to be.
Instead of the burned out reflection,
Looking back at me.
Tomorrow comes a day too late,
Yesterday came a day too soon.
I'm trapped once again,
Beneath my own stained moon.
Caged within in a prison,
Of no bars or band.
A glass walled cage,
Held within my hand.
Trapped by this demon,
Who won't let me free.
Thrust the Angel of my God,
To fly so far away from me.
Drowning myself,
One lonely cup at a time.
Dwelling on chances missed.
Of my own self-wrought crime.
The curtains have pulled shut,
From a life once full.
Now held in a shallow grave,
Of empty promise and ritual.
Blind away the pain,
Telling myself more hateful lies.
To bury the truth in the dark,
And gouge out these fucking eyes.
Withered so far into the numb,
This heart so made of black.
Tear it from my chest,
Never too look back.
Drink deep one last time,
And cut a smile on my sleeve.
A fitting end,
To leave away what I believe.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Sorry for the gap in posting, another long week at work and I haven't been home all that much. Thought I would treat you to another poem. This one turned out really dark.. Umm really dark. I am not sure what really inspired it.. it started out a lot different than how it actually came out. Originally it was supposed to be just another sort of heartbreak poem... but I guess it changed. But that's okay.. it does that sometimes.
Beneath My Own Stained Moon
I've been sitting here,
Waiting for the quiet to end.
An impossible task,
There's no use to pretend.
I watch and stare at myself,
Trying to find the man I used to be.
Instead of the burned out reflection,
Looking back at me.
Tomorrow comes a day too late,
Yesterday came a day too soon.
I'm trapped once again,
Beneath my own stained moon.
Caged within in a prison,
Of no bars or band.
A glass walled cage,
Held within my hand.
Trapped by this demon,
Who won't let me free.
Thrust the Angel of my God,
To fly so far away from me.
Drowning myself,
One lonely cup at a time.
Dwelling on chances missed.
Of my own self-wrought crime.
The curtains have pulled shut,
From a life once full.
Now held in a shallow grave,
Of empty promise and ritual.
Blind away the pain,
Telling myself more hateful lies.
To bury the truth in the dark,
And gouge out these fucking eyes.
Withered so far into the numb,
This heart so made of black.
Tear it from my chest,
Never too look back.
Drink deep one last time,
And cut a smile on my sleeve.
A fitting end,
To leave away what I believe.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Live Free or Die Hard
Hey all!
Caught the new Die Hard tonight and I can say with absolute resonance that the summer doldrums are broken. Live Free r Die Hard was everything I was hoping to get out of this movie. Tons of great action sequences, the best man vs woman fist fight I have EVER seen, and plenty of the old John McClane witty banter. Don't get me wrong, Die Hard 4 is TOTALLY over the top, but its presented in such a way that they never take it to far out of the realm of possibility. Sure they stretch the boundaries of the realm, but not much more than With a Vengeance did with the semi truck water tunnel sequence. I am sure you saw in the preview with McClane taking out the helicopter with his car and fighting the F-35 jet, they pushed a little more CG than we may come to expect from the gritty old school style of the previous films, but considering today's movie market place, I feel they did an excellent job on the movie.
Willis is great even in his 50's really making us remember why McCLane is such a great character, and remembering why it was Bruce Willis that created the action genre we know today. You get all the good and all the bad in one wisecracking package, and its definitely worth your $9.00 for a ticket.
I also had worried that the PG-13 rating would take away from the movie, but honestly I didn't really notice the language (or lack hereof) in the movie, and they toned down some of the more gruesome images of McClane killing the bad guys, but nothing I would comment to have a negative impact on the film.
The supporting cast was good. Justin Long as the nerdy tech guy (not too much of a stretch) and Timothy Olyphant as the bad guy was a perfect bit of casting. A guy like Olyphant, who is criminally underrated, can pull of the more traditional bad guy role of the Die Hard films, thief covering his own intentions with a bigger picture. This film isn't breaking new ground, but it doesn't need to.Its great the way it is.
My only complaint would be the god-like powers the hackers have, though it's a minor one. Precedence is pretty much set that a hacker in any movie can do anything in just a few seconds and Live Free is no exception. Once you accept that.. just enjoy the action as Bruce Willis does what he does best, get the shit kicked out of him kill some bad guys and crack some wise.
I really hope that this film does well, I'd love to see Willis reprise the role one more time and take the franchise full circle. Each movie has opened the field of play a bit more, Die Hard was just 1 guy in an office building, Die Harder was opened up to a full airport, With a Vengeance sees McClane all over NYC, and Live Free finds McClane all over the upper eastern seaboard. I'd love for them to strip down the film 1 more time and rekindle the one man against the odds in a small space again. But let's face it, as long as the movies re well made I am gonna keep watching.
I'll try to hit another update tommorrow with a rundown on my quick trip to Flagstaff.
Yippee-ki-yay mother fucker!
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Caught the new Die Hard tonight and I can say with absolute resonance that the summer doldrums are broken. Live Free r Die Hard was everything I was hoping to get out of this movie. Tons of great action sequences, the best man vs woman fist fight I have EVER seen, and plenty of the old John McClane witty banter. Don't get me wrong, Die Hard 4 is TOTALLY over the top, but its presented in such a way that they never take it to far out of the realm of possibility. Sure they stretch the boundaries of the realm, but not much more than With a Vengeance did with the semi truck water tunnel sequence. I am sure you saw in the preview with McClane taking out the helicopter with his car and fighting the F-35 jet, they pushed a little more CG than we may come to expect from the gritty old school style of the previous films, but considering today's movie market place, I feel they did an excellent job on the movie.
Willis is great even in his 50's really making us remember why McCLane is such a great character, and remembering why it was Bruce Willis that created the action genre we know today. You get all the good and all the bad in one wisecracking package, and its definitely worth your $9.00 for a ticket.
I also had worried that the PG-13 rating would take away from the movie, but honestly I didn't really notice the language (or lack hereof) in the movie, and they toned down some of the more gruesome images of McClane killing the bad guys, but nothing I would comment to have a negative impact on the film.
The supporting cast was good. Justin Long as the nerdy tech guy (not too much of a stretch) and Timothy Olyphant as the bad guy was a perfect bit of casting. A guy like Olyphant, who is criminally underrated, can pull of the more traditional bad guy role of the Die Hard films, thief covering his own intentions with a bigger picture. This film isn't breaking new ground, but it doesn't need to.Its great the way it is.
My only complaint would be the god-like powers the hackers have, though it's a minor one. Precedence is pretty much set that a hacker in any movie can do anything in just a few seconds and Live Free is no exception. Once you accept that.. just enjoy the action as Bruce Willis does what he does best, get the shit kicked out of him kill some bad guys and crack some wise.
I really hope that this film does well, I'd love to see Willis reprise the role one more time and take the franchise full circle. Each movie has opened the field of play a bit more, Die Hard was just 1 guy in an office building, Die Harder was opened up to a full airport, With a Vengeance sees McClane all over NYC, and Live Free finds McClane all over the upper eastern seaboard. I'd love for them to strip down the film 1 more time and rekindle the one man against the odds in a small space again. But let's face it, as long as the movies re well made I am gonna keep watching.
I'll try to hit another update tommorrow with a rundown on my quick trip to Flagstaff.
Yippee-ki-yay mother fucker!
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Assorted Nuts...
Hey all.
Haven't gotten a good read on my next poem yet but I thought I would relate a few small items.
Registered for the San Diego Comic Con yesterday. I have been to every con in San Diego except one since 1992. I am a huge comic book buff and my pal Jason and I make it a point to go every year. This year especially will see some peopel in attendance that I haven't had a great chance to really meet. James Jean, Kent Williams among others. I also want to show Tara McPherson my tattoo of her work, hopefully she will like it. The tatttoo , by the way, is coming along. Most of the redness has faded and its peeling. The sading is really light and despite the need of a few touch ups, its looking pretty good.
Back to the con, autographs have been a low priority at the con the last few years, though I have a few art books and trades that I will probably take. Mostly I will be on the lookout for new trades or art books that I don't have. Also pehaps a few foreign trades of interest. I picked up a great looking western book called Angela from Olivere Vatine and Daniel Pecqueur from France. It has really great visual story telling and flow, and I find it a good tool to help with pacing and flow. If you can convey a story without the words, its a really good feat. I'll be on the lookout for more.
Jason, who is close to signing a deal to do some inking, has let me do some more fills for the next project he is working on. I am really appreciative of him trusting me enoough to help out. I am not fool enough to think that I am doing something that he couldn't do with greater aplomb or skill, but that he lets me help is awesome. To be imvolved, even slightly, in the process of creating a comic book, something that has been a big part of my life for so long, is really awesome. I can't wait to get some more work.
Been trying to fill the rest of my time reading, bought a large cache of science fiction books and the like and have been belting through them. I can speed read and sometimes I can plow through a book too fast. Of the 10 books I have picked up over the last three weeks, I am down to 2, a couple of Hellboy novels that I wanted to save for San Diego next month, I just underestimated how quickly I would get through the other 8. I know that I am not so foolish as to think that I won't have the 7th Harry Potter finished ( I already pre-ordered it) within the first day. (It ships on the 21st...yeah.. geek) I do recommend checking out James Rollins if you are a Dan Brown or Clive Cussler fan of action adventure.
My brother and Jason also signed me up for a MySpace account. I don't know if I should keep it up as I don't think I have the desire to maintain two websites.. Anyone have any suggestions?
That about sums up these quick hits.... look forward to posting again soon.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Haven't gotten a good read on my next poem yet but I thought I would relate a few small items.
Registered for the San Diego Comic Con yesterday. I have been to every con in San Diego except one since 1992. I am a huge comic book buff and my pal Jason and I make it a point to go every year. This year especially will see some peopel in attendance that I haven't had a great chance to really meet. James Jean, Kent Williams among others. I also want to show Tara McPherson my tattoo of her work, hopefully she will like it. The tatttoo , by the way, is coming along. Most of the redness has faded and its peeling. The sading is really light and despite the need of a few touch ups, its looking pretty good.
Back to the con, autographs have been a low priority at the con the last few years, though I have a few art books and trades that I will probably take. Mostly I will be on the lookout for new trades or art books that I don't have. Also pehaps a few foreign trades of interest. I picked up a great looking western book called Angela from Olivere Vatine and Daniel Pecqueur from France. It has really great visual story telling and flow, and I find it a good tool to help with pacing and flow. If you can convey a story without the words, its a really good feat. I'll be on the lookout for more.
Jason, who is close to signing a deal to do some inking, has let me do some more fills for the next project he is working on. I am really appreciative of him trusting me enoough to help out. I am not fool enough to think that I am doing something that he couldn't do with greater aplomb or skill, but that he lets me help is awesome. To be imvolved, even slightly, in the process of creating a comic book, something that has been a big part of my life for so long, is really awesome. I can't wait to get some more work.
Been trying to fill the rest of my time reading, bought a large cache of science fiction books and the like and have been belting through them. I can speed read and sometimes I can plow through a book too fast. Of the 10 books I have picked up over the last three weeks, I am down to 2, a couple of Hellboy novels that I wanted to save for San Diego next month, I just underestimated how quickly I would get through the other 8. I know that I am not so foolish as to think that I won't have the 7th Harry Potter finished ( I already pre-ordered it) within the first day. (It ships on the 21st...yeah.. geek) I do recommend checking out James Rollins if you are a Dan Brown or Clive Cussler fan of action adventure.
My brother and Jason also signed me up for a MySpace account. I don't know if I should keep it up as I don't think I have the desire to maintain two websites.. Anyone have any suggestions?
That about sums up these quick hits.... look forward to posting again soon.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Saturday, June 23, 2007
New Concepts
Hey all.
Wanted to leave a quick update tonight. When I started this blog it was with the intention of getting myself writing again, and creating some stories, if only for me at least. That has been something I have not focused on and I am making efforts to repair that matter. I started working on a story bible, just a notebook where I can keep notes and jot down story ideas when they come to me. My goal is to start taking it with me where I go so when something i like comes to me, I can commit it to paper before I forget.
I have three story ideas right now. A World War 2 story, a classic western tale, and a concept I am thinking about revisiting. A while back my roommate Jason and I started to kick around some story concepts to potentially self publish a comic book. Well, with him close to getting contract work with a comic company, I think I need to start to develop this idea on my own. Take what I worked out then and meld it forward. Its an amalgamation of all the things I really enjoy, westerns, science fiction, and fantasy..with a little steampunk. I like that it gives me a broad range of story ideas and can keep things interesting. I can go epic in scope, or keep a simple gritty western revenge tale. A combination of swords, guns, technology and magic will keep for a variety of character and story ideas. I am excited to get started.
It starts with the bible though.. getting characters and locations at least roughed out before actually getting to the meat. Anyway that's what's going on with me. As I start to develop some more concrete ideas I'll post some updates on them. I also will try to get to another poem on my next post. Thanks for reading.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Wanted to leave a quick update tonight. When I started this blog it was with the intention of getting myself writing again, and creating some stories, if only for me at least. That has been something I have not focused on and I am making efforts to repair that matter. I started working on a story bible, just a notebook where I can keep notes and jot down story ideas when they come to me. My goal is to start taking it with me where I go so when something i like comes to me, I can commit it to paper before I forget.
I have three story ideas right now. A World War 2 story, a classic western tale, and a concept I am thinking about revisiting. A while back my roommate Jason and I started to kick around some story concepts to potentially self publish a comic book. Well, with him close to getting contract work with a comic company, I think I need to start to develop this idea on my own. Take what I worked out then and meld it forward. Its an amalgamation of all the things I really enjoy, westerns, science fiction, and fantasy..with a little steampunk. I like that it gives me a broad range of story ideas and can keep things interesting. I can go epic in scope, or keep a simple gritty western revenge tale. A combination of swords, guns, technology and magic will keep for a variety of character and story ideas. I am excited to get started.
It starts with the bible though.. getting characters and locations at least roughed out before actually getting to the meat. Anyway that's what's going on with me. As I start to develop some more concrete ideas I'll post some updates on them. I also will try to get to another poem on my next post. Thanks for reading.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Summer Movies
Hey all.
Thought I would finally post about the summer movie rundown. Boy, what a bunch of turds.
It actually pains me to say that Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer was the best one I have seen so far. My expectations were low going in and that may have helped, but considering its family based market approach, it wasn't that bad. I could have done without the scene with Mr. Fantastic in the club dancing with the girls, but it stayed solid and short, something many of the movies this summer have gotten away from. They could have beefed up the Thing's role too, but I thought they did a good job in developing the Torch, Invisible Woman, and Mr. F. The Silver Surfer was solid and Doom was much better this time around, closer to the Doom of the comics and not the first movie.
Pretty much everything else has been low average to disappointing. Pirates 3 was better than 2, but too long and too over the the top. The story rambled and it felt like they were trying to tie both Orlando Bloom and Kiera Knightly into a story that didn't really need them. Ocean's 13 was ALSO better than 2, but that's not saying much. Sort of 2 hours of watching a bunch of actors try to look cool and be suave, and Pacino chew through scenery like Orson Welles at a buffet. All te actors seemed bored with the movie, just like I was.
Spiderman 3 was the biggest disappointment so far. Raimi has been so solid in his first 2 I thought he had this in the bag. The film comes across like it was 2 separate movies spliced into one. The movie Raimi wanted with the Sandman, and the movie the studios wanted with Venom. The films villains needed to be fleshed out more, like they did with the Goblin and Doc Ock in the first 2. Really give them motivation behind their reasons. Venom needed to be its own movie. Peter's descent to the darker impulses should have taken a lot more time and been better built up. Not with a terribly cheesy Saturday Night Fever montage and a bad dance off at MJ's work. I expected more. Here is hoping the right the ship with 4.
Shrek 3 seemed very average too. It didn't have the range of appeal the first one had, nor and influx of really great characters like the second one. It was a movie made on coast power. People will watch it because the first 2 were good. I do know that I won't be getting it ob DVD (Yeah yeah.. I will own Spidey and Pirates 3.. I'm hoping further sequels will pay off.)
I am really hoping that Live Free or Die Hard pays off. I love the first 3 and the trailers look pretty kick ass so far. I am really ready for a shoot'em up action flick right now. I also feel that Harry Potter 5 looks strong. The Bourne Ultimatum also looks good, the first 2 in that franchise looked good. Transformers continues to plummet in stock for me, but I guess we will see.
Hope you liked the recap.
End of Line.
Gerrad
Thought I would finally post about the summer movie rundown. Boy, what a bunch of turds.
It actually pains me to say that Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer was the best one I have seen so far. My expectations were low going in and that may have helped, but considering its family based market approach, it wasn't that bad. I could have done without the scene with Mr. Fantastic in the club dancing with the girls, but it stayed solid and short, something many of the movies this summer have gotten away from. They could have beefed up the Thing's role too, but I thought they did a good job in developing the Torch, Invisible Woman, and Mr. F. The Silver Surfer was solid and Doom was much better this time around, closer to the Doom of the comics and not the first movie.
Pretty much everything else has been low average to disappointing. Pirates 3 was better than 2, but too long and too over the the top. The story rambled and it felt like they were trying to tie both Orlando Bloom and Kiera Knightly into a story that didn't really need them. Ocean's 13 was ALSO better than 2, but that's not saying much. Sort of 2 hours of watching a bunch of actors try to look cool and be suave, and Pacino chew through scenery like Orson Welles at a buffet. All te actors seemed bored with the movie, just like I was.
Spiderman 3 was the biggest disappointment so far. Raimi has been so solid in his first 2 I thought he had this in the bag. The film comes across like it was 2 separate movies spliced into one. The movie Raimi wanted with the Sandman, and the movie the studios wanted with Venom. The films villains needed to be fleshed out more, like they did with the Goblin and Doc Ock in the first 2. Really give them motivation behind their reasons. Venom needed to be its own movie. Peter's descent to the darker impulses should have taken a lot more time and been better built up. Not with a terribly cheesy Saturday Night Fever montage and a bad dance off at MJ's work. I expected more. Here is hoping the right the ship with 4.
Shrek 3 seemed very average too. It didn't have the range of appeal the first one had, nor and influx of really great characters like the second one. It was a movie made on coast power. People will watch it because the first 2 were good. I do know that I won't be getting it ob DVD (Yeah yeah.. I will own Spidey and Pirates 3.. I'm hoping further sequels will pay off.)
I am really hoping that Live Free or Die Hard pays off. I love the first 3 and the trailers look pretty kick ass so far. I am really ready for a shoot'em up action flick right now. I also feel that Harry Potter 5 looks strong. The Bourne Ultimatum also looks good, the first 2 in that franchise looked good. Transformers continues to plummet in stock for me, but I guess we will see.
Hope you liked the recap.
End of Line.
Gerrad
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Inked In...
Hey all!
This will mark my 11th post for me this month. I'm much happier with my consistency this month... let's hope that I can keep up the tradition into July.
The big update is that I finally broke down and got a tattoo! I know my brother thought that I was all talk and would never go through with it. Yet here I am. I got a great image from Tara McPherson that I mentioned in my earlier post. I attached the basic picture here on the blog so that everyone can see. It's on the right side of my right leg and stretches from just under the knee to the top of my ankle.
I'll admit I was a bit concerned as to the amount of pain that it would cause.. and I think my estimation was about right.. it didn't feel good! But I think I did okay. Well okay, I did probably yelp and curse more than I would have cared to admit. Though no tears! My friend Bill made a good point, as I figured that if a girl could do it without crying.. I should be able too.. I'm a man for God's sake! Bill said that men are built for blunt pain.. punching impact injuries.. By nature of well nature girls are built better or sharp pains.. i.e. child birth, something I have often referred to as containing sharp pains. One thing that seemed strange to everyone is that I found the opposite things to be true in regards to what hurt more. The outline (what I was told would be the worst) was okay.. I flinched a few times around the top of the ankle and let few expletives out. The shading, which mos people told me wasn't bad, sucked the most. Lots of quick sharp pains. They also said that it would hurt over the next few days but it really hasn't unless I hit it hard against something.Bill didn't get one, though he has an appointment next week to take care of his in Flagstaff.
My tattoo artist was really excited by the subject matter and the chance to do the piece. I really can't wait for the redness to go away so I can see what it will really look like. We added some shading (something my art major friend Jason was against) as the tattoo looked incomplete without it.. not quite right. Here's hoping that I am 100% right as time passes on. Hell.. let's hope that I don't regret it as time goes on!! So the attached image is pretty much dead on with the little bit of light gray shading. It's too red right now to really notice any of it though!
Caught a few more movies that I hope to hit up on the next post along with more info on a possible new job. Thanks.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Sunday, June 17, 2007
True Story Time: Father's Day Edition!
Hey all and a Happy father's Day to everyone.
I thought I would post a true story about my dad... one of my favorite stories to tell about him because its damn funny.
My father had gotten engaged to my step mom and decided that he was going to sell his house. That was the house that for the most part my brother and myself had grown up in and he had been reticent to sell it until then. But as he was starting a new life with his fiance you can't live in the house that your ex-wife picked out. Too much baggage.
So the two of them, with help from my brother and myself when we could started fixing the place up to sell. My Dad had agreed to rent it out for like a year or so before he came to this decision and the renters really ran the place down. Especially the backyard. It was overgrown with weeds that were five feet tall at least. It was a jungle of weeds, untrimmed trees, and dog shit. My Dad was gonna tear up the back yard.. seed it with grass and clean out the area where he had put rocks in when he was still living there.
So he and my step-mom, Sherry, were in the back yard tilling the ground and my Dad was using a pickax to turn up the soil. At some point Sherry looked over at my Dad and blood was streaming down his leg and out of a puncture would through his pant leg. My Dad had stabbed himself in the leg with a pickax... and HE DIDN'T EVEN FEEL IT!!
Sherry freaks out and tells my Dad that they are going to the hospital... here is where I should mention that Sherry lives on the east side of town in Tempe and my Dad's about as far west as you can get (at the time ) on the outskirts of Peoria. So she is in such a panic my Dad had to drive himself to the hospital. He took a towel and tried unsuccessfully to stem the blood flow. So they hopped in the car and headed out.
My Dad walks into the ER and the nurse on duty goes a little pale and rushes him in. Everyone starts going over to help him. Now my Dad is wondering why everyone is so concerned but he goes along with it, even stopping the on Duty nurse from cutting his pants off as he," Needs to wear them again tomorrow to finish yard work." Those were the rattiest jeans even before this incident. He actually got up and took them off. The doc gets in there and by the time they are ready the wound has closed up on itself... they didn't give hm stitches or anything.. just cleaned it off and told him to get dressed.
Now my Dad walk to hit the restroom and sees himself in the mirror. His whole body is covered in blood, face arms, head, hands, everywhere. It looked like he fucking killed somebody. He figures as he was driving he got it over himself while smoking and smoothing his hair out. Probably wiping sweat off too. He also figured that was why everyone was freaking out when he walked in... looking like an extra from Reservoir Dogs.
Damn who stabs themselves in the leg with a fucking pickax and doesn't notice. Only my Dad.
Dad... You are the greatest man I have ever known and I hope to one day be even a fraction of the man you are. I love you Dad.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
I thought I would post a true story about my dad... one of my favorite stories to tell about him because its damn funny.
My father had gotten engaged to my step mom and decided that he was going to sell his house. That was the house that for the most part my brother and myself had grown up in and he had been reticent to sell it until then. But as he was starting a new life with his fiance you can't live in the house that your ex-wife picked out. Too much baggage.
So the two of them, with help from my brother and myself when we could started fixing the place up to sell. My Dad had agreed to rent it out for like a year or so before he came to this decision and the renters really ran the place down. Especially the backyard. It was overgrown with weeds that were five feet tall at least. It was a jungle of weeds, untrimmed trees, and dog shit. My Dad was gonna tear up the back yard.. seed it with grass and clean out the area where he had put rocks in when he was still living there.
So he and my step-mom, Sherry, were in the back yard tilling the ground and my Dad was using a pickax to turn up the soil. At some point Sherry looked over at my Dad and blood was streaming down his leg and out of a puncture would through his pant leg. My Dad had stabbed himself in the leg with a pickax... and HE DIDN'T EVEN FEEL IT!!
Sherry freaks out and tells my Dad that they are going to the hospital... here is where I should mention that Sherry lives on the east side of town in Tempe and my Dad's about as far west as you can get (at the time ) on the outskirts of Peoria. So she is in such a panic my Dad had to drive himself to the hospital. He took a towel and tried unsuccessfully to stem the blood flow. So they hopped in the car and headed out.
My Dad walks into the ER and the nurse on duty goes a little pale and rushes him in. Everyone starts going over to help him. Now my Dad is wondering why everyone is so concerned but he goes along with it, even stopping the on Duty nurse from cutting his pants off as he," Needs to wear them again tomorrow to finish yard work." Those were the rattiest jeans even before this incident. He actually got up and took them off. The doc gets in there and by the time they are ready the wound has closed up on itself... they didn't give hm stitches or anything.. just cleaned it off and told him to get dressed.
Now my Dad walk to hit the restroom and sees himself in the mirror. His whole body is covered in blood, face arms, head, hands, everywhere. It looked like he fucking killed somebody. He figures as he was driving he got it over himself while smoking and smoothing his hair out. Probably wiping sweat off too. He also figured that was why everyone was freaking out when he walked in... looking like an extra from Reservoir Dogs.
Damn who stabs themselves in the leg with a fucking pickax and doesn't notice. Only my Dad.
Dad... You are the greatest man I have ever known and I hope to one day be even a fraction of the man you are. I love you Dad.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Thursday, June 14, 2007
True Story Time!
Hey all,
Time for my last really good bathroom tale. This happened after the Wal-Mart grope job that I talked about and after the incident in the bar with the guy telling me to check out his junk. I am down in Tempe at some kind of Chuckie Cheese place, it had an indoor cart racer course and a kiddie rock wall.. along with a ton of games. My step niece was having a birthday and my step mom had flown in from Ohio to celebrate it with her and I went down to meet them after I got off work. We were all having a good time when i had to go the bathroom.
I looked around for a bathroom and didn't see one. I continued looking until I finally saw a little boy, maybe 8 or so head into the toilet. I followed him and went directly into the stall as per normal for me. The stall was like right beside the entrance. I took a piss and came out of the stall. NOW is when I noticed something was amiss. There certainly seemed to be a lot of women in this bathroom. It immediately hit me that I entered the wrong restroom and my only thought at the time was to loudly swear," SHIT!" I quickly cut bait and left the bathroom.
About 5 minutes after the incident I was still feeling embarrassed when the manager came up to me requesting that I leave as several of the women had registered a complaint against me. I told him my excuse for doing so. Which I think I should mention here to help somewhat give cause for entering the wrong room, if not forgiveness. First off, it didn't have a door.. it was one of those open hallway type of entrances. In fact it was situated on a corner in a cut out fashion, so there is an opening like a square cut into the corner of the wall where to walls meet. Damn I hope that makes sense.
That's the best way I can describe it. Now i came in from the left side. The label from the bathroom was on the right wall, completely around the corner. I also explained that I only use stalls, though I didn't feel that this was a good time to explain exactly WHY I did. I also didn't confess to following a young boy into the toilet as I didn't feel that would help my case either. I think the manager understood where I was coming from, or at least he said he did, but I still had to leave. I told him I understood, I just needed to tell my step mom. He said okay. So I go over to my step mom and this is exactly how the conversation went.
(BTW my step-mom's name is Sherry)
"Hey Sherry!"
"Oh my God Gerrad, did you hear about that pervert in the women's restroom?!"
"Yeah that was me, Listen I gotta go."
Ahhh the look on her face made it almost worth it.
Anyway.. kicked out of a kiddie pizza joint for pissing in the girls toilet. How does so much shit happen to one guy in a fucking bathroom?"
Hope you enjoyed that one.. its one of my favorites.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Time for my last really good bathroom tale. This happened after the Wal-Mart grope job that I talked about and after the incident in the bar with the guy telling me to check out his junk. I am down in Tempe at some kind of Chuckie Cheese place, it had an indoor cart racer course and a kiddie rock wall.. along with a ton of games. My step niece was having a birthday and my step mom had flown in from Ohio to celebrate it with her and I went down to meet them after I got off work. We were all having a good time when i had to go the bathroom.
I looked around for a bathroom and didn't see one. I continued looking until I finally saw a little boy, maybe 8 or so head into the toilet. I followed him and went directly into the stall as per normal for me. The stall was like right beside the entrance. I took a piss and came out of the stall. NOW is when I noticed something was amiss. There certainly seemed to be a lot of women in this bathroom. It immediately hit me that I entered the wrong restroom and my only thought at the time was to loudly swear," SHIT!" I quickly cut bait and left the bathroom.
About 5 minutes after the incident I was still feeling embarrassed when the manager came up to me requesting that I leave as several of the women had registered a complaint against me. I told him my excuse for doing so. Which I think I should mention here to help somewhat give cause for entering the wrong room, if not forgiveness. First off, it didn't have a door.. it was one of those open hallway type of entrances. In fact it was situated on a corner in a cut out fashion, so there is an opening like a square cut into the corner of the wall where to walls meet. Damn I hope that makes sense.
That's the best way I can describe it. Now i came in from the left side. The label from the bathroom was on the right wall, completely around the corner. I also explained that I only use stalls, though I didn't feel that this was a good time to explain exactly WHY I did. I also didn't confess to following a young boy into the toilet as I didn't feel that would help my case either. I think the manager understood where I was coming from, or at least he said he did, but I still had to leave. I told him I understood, I just needed to tell my step mom. He said okay. So I go over to my step mom and this is exactly how the conversation went.
(BTW my step-mom's name is Sherry)
"Hey Sherry!"
"Oh my God Gerrad, did you hear about that pervert in the women's restroom?!"
"Yeah that was me, Listen I gotta go."
Ahhh the look on her face made it almost worth it.
Anyway.. kicked out of a kiddie pizza joint for pissing in the girls toilet. How does so much shit happen to one guy in a fucking bathroom?"
Hope you enjoyed that one.. its one of my favorites.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Erasure
Hey all,
I know I promised another true story time, but I promise to get to that on my next post. I wrote this poem in a splurt of inspiration tonight. I have noticed a trend melancholy and broken heartedness in my last few poems. It's a different sort of perception for me as I haven't really felt broken heartedness, but I think the topics of loneliness or sadness are pretty universal. Some of it is definitely stemming from my reflections on my unhappiness at work and in my personal life choices, some of it I think in my recent studies of some of Tara McPherson's work in her Lonely Hearts art book. Those things are common subjects in her art, and it's always a plus to go with feelings and instincts that motivate you strongly.
I tried to do some different things with structure and measure in this poem than in many of my other attempts. The reading of this poem in my mind (and I feel that each poem should be read in a measure that the reader determines) had a definite rhythm that affected how I wrote it. The commas are an intended pause in reading of the poem, sort of a tool to lend more weight to the words. It also just helped with what I feel is how the poem is presented.. to me at least.
Hope you enjoy.
Erasure
Fading further from my mind.
It's getting harder to remember, all the time.
Searching for a thought I just can't, find.
I can't recall the way you, felt.
Or the fragrance of how you smelled.
It's a bitter hand I've been dealt.
I just carry on alone.
An unknown path, left to roam.
You were all I'd ever known.
These moments that we once, shared.
A hollow space devoid of all my cares,
Left wide open, every thing's been bared.
The calendar marks another day's, pass.
The memories keep tumbling out way too fast.
Like falling grains of sand in the hourglass.
I'd give anything to be back with her,
Hearken back to the way things were.
But now I'm just a victim, of erasure.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
I know I promised another true story time, but I promise to get to that on my next post. I wrote this poem in a splurt of inspiration tonight. I have noticed a trend melancholy and broken heartedness in my last few poems. It's a different sort of perception for me as I haven't really felt broken heartedness, but I think the topics of loneliness or sadness are pretty universal. Some of it is definitely stemming from my reflections on my unhappiness at work and in my personal life choices, some of it I think in my recent studies of some of Tara McPherson's work in her Lonely Hearts art book. Those things are common subjects in her art, and it's always a plus to go with feelings and instincts that motivate you strongly.
I tried to do some different things with structure and measure in this poem than in many of my other attempts. The reading of this poem in my mind (and I feel that each poem should be read in a measure that the reader determines) had a definite rhythm that affected how I wrote it. The commas are an intended pause in reading of the poem, sort of a tool to lend more weight to the words. It also just helped with what I feel is how the poem is presented.. to me at least.
Hope you enjoy.
Erasure
Fading further from my mind.
It's getting harder to remember, all the time.
Searching for a thought I just can't, find.
I can't recall the way you, felt.
Or the fragrance of how you smelled.
It's a bitter hand I've been dealt.
I just carry on alone.
An unknown path, left to roam.
You were all I'd ever known.
These moments that we once, shared.
A hollow space devoid of all my cares,
Left wide open, every thing's been bared.
The calendar marks another day's, pass.
The memories keep tumbling out way too fast.
Like falling grains of sand in the hourglass.
I'd give anything to be back with her,
Hearken back to the way things were.
But now I'm just a victim, of erasure.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Monday, June 11, 2007
True Story Time!
Hey all..
I promised to post another true story, so I thought I should spread the wealth on a few more tales from public bathrooms. In a post some time back I commented on how I got felt up in a Wal-Mart bathroom when I used the urinal. Needless to say its really turned me off the concept of the urinal and I stick to the stall.
About seven or eight months after the incident, I was at one of my favorite watering holes, Old Chicago in Peoria. My friend Bill and myself were having a few beers and generally enjoying ourselves. I get up to use the head after having five or six beers. Now I always go to the stall.. but I walked in and the bathroom was empty. There were three urinals along one wall.. and the far left urinal was boxed in by the wall and the partition door to to the stall, so there was only one path to the urinal and you were protected on three sides. So I opted for the urinal.. I figured, "What are the odds that something will happen again?"
As soon as I start relieving myself another drunk patron barrels in the room and uses the urinal next to me.. totally ignoring the unwritten rule about leaving an empty toilet between yourself and another guy when applicable. As soon as he starts relieving himself he uses his free hand to start slapping my shoulder.. and I swear on a stack of Bibles, to "Check out my dick man. Check this shit out. Its so small.. how am I gonna work with this?"
Now I am trapped in the corner with this guy blocking the aisle and repeatedly asking me to check out his junk. Mind you this is the first time I have used a urinal since the Wal-Mart incident. Finally I tell him, "Yeah man that sucks." Then I sorted squeezed by him and bolted for the door. Seriously.. what kind of guy his this kind of luck in a bathroom?
I got one more true bathroom tale that I'll post in my next update, about the time I got kicked out of a Chuckie Cheese (or at least a Chuckie Cheese type restaurant.)
Remember, always lock the stall door.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
I promised to post another true story, so I thought I should spread the wealth on a few more tales from public bathrooms. In a post some time back I commented on how I got felt up in a Wal-Mart bathroom when I used the urinal. Needless to say its really turned me off the concept of the urinal and I stick to the stall.
About seven or eight months after the incident, I was at one of my favorite watering holes, Old Chicago in Peoria. My friend Bill and myself were having a few beers and generally enjoying ourselves. I get up to use the head after having five or six beers. Now I always go to the stall.. but I walked in and the bathroom was empty. There were three urinals along one wall.. and the far left urinal was boxed in by the wall and the partition door to to the stall, so there was only one path to the urinal and you were protected on three sides. So I opted for the urinal.. I figured, "What are the odds that something will happen again?"
As soon as I start relieving myself another drunk patron barrels in the room and uses the urinal next to me.. totally ignoring the unwritten rule about leaving an empty toilet between yourself and another guy when applicable. As soon as he starts relieving himself he uses his free hand to start slapping my shoulder.. and I swear on a stack of Bibles, to "Check out my dick man. Check this shit out. Its so small.. how am I gonna work with this?"
Now I am trapped in the corner with this guy blocking the aisle and repeatedly asking me to check out his junk. Mind you this is the first time I have used a urinal since the Wal-Mart incident. Finally I tell him, "Yeah man that sucks." Then I sorted squeezed by him and bolted for the door. Seriously.. what kind of guy his this kind of luck in a bathroom?
I got one more true bathroom tale that I'll post in my next update, about the time I got kicked out of a Chuckie Cheese (or at least a Chuckie Cheese type restaurant.)
Remember, always lock the stall door.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Sunday, June 10, 2007
TV Guide
Hey all!
thought I would do a quick post on the end of the regular TV season. There are so many good shows that without a DVR i don't think anyone could keep up with them all.
Let's start off with the good.
Heroes- That's how you build a series. A solid stretch of episodes in the season. It gave us both questions and answers and kept you wanting more the entire time. I did feel the that the final battle with Sylar was a little weak, I was really looking for a powerful showdown, like the hinted in the Days of Future Past episode a few weeks previous. I still thought though that they set up next season with just enough to keep you amped for more, but gave you enough closure that you feel sedated by it. I can't wait for the next season. Coupled with that the Heroes: Origins mini series that is supposed to take place this summer, that should significantly increase my anticipation with a slate of new characters that may get added to the ongoing show. That's a great ideas swiped straight out of the comic books!
Lost- I came to Lost late, I didn't get into the series until about a month before season 3 started. I watched all of season 1 and 2 on DVD, and I personally think that season 3 was the strongest. It gave you much needed answers, why Locke was in the wheelchair, where those fucking polar bears came from, who the Others really are, Ben's secret origin. As well it posed more questions, who is Jacob, what is the smoke monster, how can Locke heal so easily on the island, is Juliet really a good guy, how is Walt back? All great questions. And the killer season ending with the island sequences being flashbacks and the scenes with jack being real time.. WOW that threw me for a loop.
I was sad to see so many character losses this season, Charlie, especially as he had really become a great character. I think I understand why they wrote him out though.. he had come full circle and found redemption on the island.. just like Eko. They really couldn't take his character anywhere but backwards. Besides thsi opens up the exploration of these new characters, Juliet, Ben, Desmond. 2008 can't come to soon!
I also thought that BattleStar Galactica had a great season finale. In sitcom news I really want to see more of My Name is Earl (good cliffhanger!) The Office (most painfully funny show on TV) and How I Met Your Mother.
The bad.
The series ending of my beloved Gilmore Girls. Such a bold and well written show that really transcended its CW stereotype. I am truly sad to see it end.
Veronica Mars. As I last read it was cancelled and unless the network goers with the flash forward to Veronica's CIA days.. I think the shows done. That's a damn shame too.. its smart, witty, and so acerbic... they don't make shows like this on TV.. for me it was a better version of TVs Buffy the Vampire Slayer.. less fan boy and more real life appeal.
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip- A smart show brought to you by the guy who makes smart shows, Aaron Sorkin... this should have been a success, smart scripts, good actors, a good time slot.. and its failed... I have been enjoying the finals episodes that they are airing on Thursdays now.. but it just seems like they paid good money for the episodes and they are airing them as they have nothings better on then. Oh well.
I've also bitched enough about Fox cancelling Drive. Fox has so little that appeals to me anymore.. without the Simpsons or Family Guy I don't think I'd watch the network at all. I must be one of the few who really HATES American Idol..
Anyway that's my TV update....
Hope to post another True Story Time in a few days....Oh and I added a link to Penny-arcade.. a really funny webcomic that I enjoy.. I am gonna add a few other website s that are part of my daily routine...keep an eye out.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
thought I would do a quick post on the end of the regular TV season. There are so many good shows that without a DVR i don't think anyone could keep up with them all.
Let's start off with the good.
Heroes- That's how you build a series. A solid stretch of episodes in the season. It gave us both questions and answers and kept you wanting more the entire time. I did feel the that the final battle with Sylar was a little weak, I was really looking for a powerful showdown, like the hinted in the Days of Future Past episode a few weeks previous. I still thought though that they set up next season with just enough to keep you amped for more, but gave you enough closure that you feel sedated by it. I can't wait for the next season. Coupled with that the Heroes: Origins mini series that is supposed to take place this summer, that should significantly increase my anticipation with a slate of new characters that may get added to the ongoing show. That's a great ideas swiped straight out of the comic books!
Lost- I came to Lost late, I didn't get into the series until about a month before season 3 started. I watched all of season 1 and 2 on DVD, and I personally think that season 3 was the strongest. It gave you much needed answers, why Locke was in the wheelchair, where those fucking polar bears came from, who the Others really are, Ben's secret origin. As well it posed more questions, who is Jacob, what is the smoke monster, how can Locke heal so easily on the island, is Juliet really a good guy, how is Walt back? All great questions. And the killer season ending with the island sequences being flashbacks and the scenes with jack being real time.. WOW that threw me for a loop.
I was sad to see so many character losses this season, Charlie, especially as he had really become a great character. I think I understand why they wrote him out though.. he had come full circle and found redemption on the island.. just like Eko. They really couldn't take his character anywhere but backwards. Besides thsi opens up the exploration of these new characters, Juliet, Ben, Desmond. 2008 can't come to soon!
I also thought that BattleStar Galactica had a great season finale. In sitcom news I really want to see more of My Name is Earl (good cliffhanger!) The Office (most painfully funny show on TV) and How I Met Your Mother.
The bad.
The series ending of my beloved Gilmore Girls. Such a bold and well written show that really transcended its CW stereotype. I am truly sad to see it end.
Veronica Mars. As I last read it was cancelled and unless the network goers with the flash forward to Veronica's CIA days.. I think the shows done. That's a damn shame too.. its smart, witty, and so acerbic... they don't make shows like this on TV.. for me it was a better version of TVs Buffy the Vampire Slayer.. less fan boy and more real life appeal.
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip- A smart show brought to you by the guy who makes smart shows, Aaron Sorkin... this should have been a success, smart scripts, good actors, a good time slot.. and its failed... I have been enjoying the finals episodes that they are airing on Thursdays now.. but it just seems like they paid good money for the episodes and they are airing them as they have nothings better on then. Oh well.
I've also bitched enough about Fox cancelling Drive. Fox has so little that appeals to me anymore.. without the Simpsons or Family Guy I don't think I'd watch the network at all. I must be one of the few who really HATES American Idol..
Anyway that's my TV update....
Hope to post another True Story Time in a few days....Oh and I added a link to Penny-arcade.. a really funny webcomic that I enjoy.. I am gonna add a few other website s that are part of my daily routine...keep an eye out.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Black
Hey all.
Wanted to post this poem that I finally finished today. I have been working on it on and off for truthfully a few years, the colors and concepts at least. I finally came up with a workable pattern using the couplets instead of trying to make every line feature a color. It was important for me to use as many colors as i could, to at least give the poem some measure of frame, though I did cut out a few colors that I feel didn't progress anything of merit.
Anyway I hope you like it, I am really happy with the way it turned out.
One more quick thing, on my last few posts the spellcheck is still buggy, so please forgive any errors I may have made. Thanks.
BLACK
I saw in colors everywhere.
Now shades of gray stain all that's fair.
Your rose red lips did passion kiss,
Now thier gentle brush will go amiss.
Those yellow locks of hair bound tress,
Here brushed away with last caress.
Deep blue eyes once filled with life.
Now find me here left arife.
That favored soft dress, pale purple with pleat.
Under crossed hands lie still heart beat.
An orange tined sky at sun's set,
Here your gathered friends have met.
Green of grass and brown of Earth
Soon will covet all that's worth.
Words scribed 'neath white marble slate,
To meet again at saintly gold gate.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Wanted to post this poem that I finally finished today. I have been working on it on and off for truthfully a few years, the colors and concepts at least. I finally came up with a workable pattern using the couplets instead of trying to make every line feature a color. It was important for me to use as many colors as i could, to at least give the poem some measure of frame, though I did cut out a few colors that I feel didn't progress anything of merit.
Anyway I hope you like it, I am really happy with the way it turned out.
One more quick thing, on my last few posts the spellcheck is still buggy, so please forgive any errors I may have made. Thanks.
BLACK
I saw in colors everywhere.
Now shades of gray stain all that's fair.
Your rose red lips did passion kiss,
Now thier gentle brush will go amiss.
Those yellow locks of hair bound tress,
Here brushed away with last caress.
Deep blue eyes once filled with life.
Now find me here left arife.
That favored soft dress, pale purple with pleat.
Under crossed hands lie still heart beat.
An orange tined sky at sun's set,
Here your gathered friends have met.
Green of grass and brown of Earth
Soon will covet all that's worth.
Words scribed 'neath white marble slate,
To meet again at saintly gold gate.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Daily Grind
Hey all....
Another post in a quick span, doing much better this month. My goal was at least 8 posts this mnth to make up for the lack of posting in May so I think we are on a good track.
Dropped of my resume the other day and was hoping for an interview, but Bed, Bath and Beyond said they would pass my resume along. Carmen, my good friend Bill's wife, manages one in Flagstaff and she really likes it. My thinking is that its less hours with better money then I'll like it too. I also know that worse case scenario once I'm out of McDonalds for 6 months I can go to work for McDonalds product distributors. I have an in there with my former boss who said he would take me in an instant. I just need to get the hell out. I really hate my job right now.
I am also going to check out a tattoo parlor today. A tattoo is something that I have thought about for years but I could never committ to anything that I want to have on my body forever. If I had gotten a tattoo 10 years ago I would probably have a Dragonball Z or terrible late 90's comic book tattoo, things I would hate today. Looking now, my tastes have changed and I realized that art, or a piece of art you like would probably maintain its appeal years later. I have really been digging on an artist named Tara McPherson the last year or so and she has a great piece called Tree Girl that would look killer as a tattoo. I'm definately going with it on my leg, as it provides a postion to conceal or display itself by whatever pants you wear.
I think i'm having an early mid-life crisis. I drive a sports car, I'm changing jobs, getting tattoos, going to concerts.. all a big change of pace from the last few years of rested docility.
Anyway thats about it for today...
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Another post in a quick span, doing much better this month. My goal was at least 8 posts this mnth to make up for the lack of posting in May so I think we are on a good track.
Dropped of my resume the other day and was hoping for an interview, but Bed, Bath and Beyond said they would pass my resume along. Carmen, my good friend Bill's wife, manages one in Flagstaff and she really likes it. My thinking is that its less hours with better money then I'll like it too. I also know that worse case scenario once I'm out of McDonalds for 6 months I can go to work for McDonalds product distributors. I have an in there with my former boss who said he would take me in an instant. I just need to get the hell out. I really hate my job right now.
I am also going to check out a tattoo parlor today. A tattoo is something that I have thought about for years but I could never committ to anything that I want to have on my body forever. If I had gotten a tattoo 10 years ago I would probably have a Dragonball Z or terrible late 90's comic book tattoo, things I would hate today. Looking now, my tastes have changed and I realized that art, or a piece of art you like would probably maintain its appeal years later. I have really been digging on an artist named Tara McPherson the last year or so and she has a great piece called Tree Girl that would look killer as a tattoo. I'm definately going with it on my leg, as it provides a postion to conceal or display itself by whatever pants you wear.
I think i'm having an early mid-life crisis. I drive a sports car, I'm changing jobs, getting tattoos, going to concerts.. all a big change of pace from the last few years of rested docility.
Anyway thats about it for today...
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Tuesday, June 05, 2007
Concert Time : Social Distortion / Buck-O-Nine & Mustard Plug
Until this year it had been .. well a long time, my guess is around 2000 or 200, since I went to a concert. I've never been a big music guy. Oh sure,,, I mean there are tons of songs that I like and I use the hell out of my IPOD, but I have never been big on buying music or owning CDs and other than a few college years in the late 90's, I never really attended that many concerts. The last concert I went to before 2007, was Weird Al Yankovic with my brother and Dad at the AZ State Fair after my folks bitter divorce.
This year though, my friend Bill talked me into attending a show, The Swingin' Utters. A small punk rock band that has a few songs I like.. though admitedly they don't come up on the IPOD that often. I feel I should point out for reference sake that about 95% of my IPOD music came from Bill or my brother, both big CD guys. (Hell I don't even own a real CD.) Anyway we went to the show and I gotta say... I had an excellent time. A few beers and some fun music really made me glad I went.
Stemming from that incident, early in May Social Distortion was playing a show up in Flagstaff, where Bill lives. I really like Social Distortion.. they have a ton of great songs and I have always heard they tear down the house on a live show. So I drove up there for a 2 day weekend (in the middle of the week to be sure.. but it was my work weekend!) Social D put on a fucking great show playing almost all thier big hits.. though not I Was Wrong... but it was still cool as I got to hear Prison Bound and Ball and Chain.. my favorites. Hell, thier rendition of Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire was GREAT! I am really glad I saw them and the next time they are coming through I am 100% gonna hit that show again. Its the only time I felt justified spending $25 on a knit hat just so I could have some reminder of when I was their,
The last show I saw was also in May, 5 bands for $12.00. The three openers were pretty boring, Mingus Dew, Captain Squeegee and the Soap Suds, and another band that escapes me now.It was just more music to drink to. The final 2 acts were Buck-O-Nine and Mustard Plug. Two great ska bands back on tour after a long hiatus. Punk and ska are typically my music of choice.. and the ska scene is pretty dreary right now so any oppertunity to support these acts were welcome. I really like Mustard Plug.. they have a huge array of songs I really like and they hit most fof the big ones.. though not my favorite.. You. Buck-O-Nine were incredible. They stuck to thier bread and butter album 28 Teeth. Peppering in other great jams like my two favorite songs,,, Water in my Head and Irish Drinking Song. The consensus was that Buck should have closed with thier energy and stage presence.. they electrified the crowd. Though don't get me wrong, Mustard Plug was awesome too.
Anyway.. there is a look at the concerts I have hit this year. Next month is Reel Big Fish and Less Than Jake. Shoould be fun!
Oh.. one two more things.. it was pointed out by Jason that he actually got a replica 9mm.. not a 45 as I mesntioned in my prevous post. Also blogger spellcheck seems to be acting up right now and I can't get it to work. I am going to proofread it carefully but I don't want to retype this later so please give me a break on any spelling errors. Thanks
End of Line.
Gerrad!
This year though, my friend Bill talked me into attending a show, The Swingin' Utters. A small punk rock band that has a few songs I like.. though admitedly they don't come up on the IPOD that often. I feel I should point out for reference sake that about 95% of my IPOD music came from Bill or my brother, both big CD guys. (Hell I don't even own a real CD.) Anyway we went to the show and I gotta say... I had an excellent time. A few beers and some fun music really made me glad I went.
Stemming from that incident, early in May Social Distortion was playing a show up in Flagstaff, where Bill lives. I really like Social Distortion.. they have a ton of great songs and I have always heard they tear down the house on a live show. So I drove up there for a 2 day weekend (in the middle of the week to be sure.. but it was my work weekend!) Social D put on a fucking great show playing almost all thier big hits.. though not I Was Wrong... but it was still cool as I got to hear Prison Bound and Ball and Chain.. my favorites. Hell, thier rendition of Johnny Cash's Ring of Fire was GREAT! I am really glad I saw them and the next time they are coming through I am 100% gonna hit that show again. Its the only time I felt justified spending $25 on a knit hat just so I could have some reminder of when I was their,
The last show I saw was also in May, 5 bands for $12.00. The three openers were pretty boring, Mingus Dew, Captain Squeegee and the Soap Suds, and another band that escapes me now.It was just more music to drink to. The final 2 acts were Buck-O-Nine and Mustard Plug. Two great ska bands back on tour after a long hiatus. Punk and ska are typically my music of choice.. and the ska scene is pretty dreary right now so any oppertunity to support these acts were welcome. I really like Mustard Plug.. they have a huge array of songs I really like and they hit most fof the big ones.. though not my favorite.. You. Buck-O-Nine were incredible. They stuck to thier bread and butter album 28 Teeth. Peppering in other great jams like my two favorite songs,,, Water in my Head and Irish Drinking Song. The consensus was that Buck should have closed with thier energy and stage presence.. they electrified the crowd. Though don't get me wrong, Mustard Plug was awesome too.
Anyway.. there is a look at the concerts I have hit this year. Next month is Reel Big Fish and Less Than Jake. Shoould be fun!
Oh.. one two more things.. it was pointed out by Jason that he actually got a replica 9mm.. not a 45 as I mesntioned in my prevous post. Also blogger spellcheck seems to be acting up right now and I can't get it to work. I am going to proofread it carefully but I don't want to retype this later so please give me a break on any spelling errors. Thanks
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Pop Culture Palooza!
As promised, I'm posting today on the pop culture tournament I entered yesterday. I had a lot of fun with the contest. It was done in the vein of the World Series of Pop Culture, with 3 man teams competing with each other for a grand prize of $250.00. Our team consisted of my friend Bill, who drove in from about 2 hours away from Flagstaff, Autumn, my roommates girlfriend, and myself. My brother was going to entered but backed out at the last minute.
I was given a late start time by the employees at the comic book store that I go to so we were the last ones there, and I think that's why we had to play two times in the first round. Autumn bailed us out on the first game where I got eliminated early, pulling cast members of the TV show Cheers out of the depth of her knowledge. She also owned the second player on both boy bands AND 80's fashion. She was great.
Bill decided as the member with the most limited amount of pop culture trivia he would take the bullets on categories that we didn't feel confident on. He had some tough categories in sports, admittedly the weakest area of our collective game. I did pretty good the second game of the first round until we got to the final tiebreaker, members of Van Halen's real name. I knew 4 of the 7 known members, unfortunately my opponent knew 6.
I'm okay to losing on a music category, I wanted Autumn and Bill in there t handle those rounds but fate didn't have it set up that way. We STILL had a great time and I am really looking forward to trying again in a few months when they start the next round. Our team, The Wizard's Sleeve will ride again!
They also had a Guitar Hero 2 tournament the same night that I entered. There was a $5.00 entry fee, with the proceeds going to the Hero Initiative, a program that helps some of the Golden and Silver Age comic book creators financially, as many of them didn't have the same benefits and royalty agreements that today's creators do. Skill wasn't the only category to take into consideration, as the ability to "Rock Out" could add much needed points to your total. Things like rock stance, jumping, behind the head playing and kicking over chairs all added points, as well as power slides and apparently Prince-style phallic gestures all added points. I hit second place, getting beat by a REALLY good player. I suck on expert and he was doing sections of the song ONE HANDED!!! Hell he had tracks so memorized that he would turn his back to the screen and play them. The grand prize was a Fender Strat guitar, but it was fun to just play.
The only other thing of note that we did yesterday was to buy Airsoft Guns on our lunch break. Somehow shooting each other in the parking lot of a mini mall with air pellets seemed like a good idea. Bill bough was is essentially the gun from the video game Metal Gear Solid, complete with attached flashlight and laser sight. Jason got a replica 45, which definitely has the most punch of the three. I got a sawed off pump action shotgun, complete with laser sight, flashlight and scope, grand total for all three was about $40. Not bad for some stupid fun. Jason thinks that if anything they will make for good reference material.
Well that about sums up my Saturday. Hope to have another post up real soon!
End of Line.
Gerrad!
I was given a late start time by the employees at the comic book store that I go to so we were the last ones there, and I think that's why we had to play two times in the first round. Autumn bailed us out on the first game where I got eliminated early, pulling cast members of the TV show Cheers out of the depth of her knowledge. She also owned the second player on both boy bands AND 80's fashion. She was great.
Bill decided as the member with the most limited amount of pop culture trivia he would take the bullets on categories that we didn't feel confident on. He had some tough categories in sports, admittedly the weakest area of our collective game. I did pretty good the second game of the first round until we got to the final tiebreaker, members of Van Halen's real name. I knew 4 of the 7 known members, unfortunately my opponent knew 6.
I'm okay to losing on a music category, I wanted Autumn and Bill in there t handle those rounds but fate didn't have it set up that way. We STILL had a great time and I am really looking forward to trying again in a few months when they start the next round. Our team, The Wizard's Sleeve will ride again!
They also had a Guitar Hero 2 tournament the same night that I entered. There was a $5.00 entry fee, with the proceeds going to the Hero Initiative, a program that helps some of the Golden and Silver Age comic book creators financially, as many of them didn't have the same benefits and royalty agreements that today's creators do. Skill wasn't the only category to take into consideration, as the ability to "Rock Out" could add much needed points to your total. Things like rock stance, jumping, behind the head playing and kicking over chairs all added points, as well as power slides and apparently Prince-style phallic gestures all added points. I hit second place, getting beat by a REALLY good player. I suck on expert and he was doing sections of the song ONE HANDED!!! Hell he had tracks so memorized that he would turn his back to the screen and play them. The grand prize was a Fender Strat guitar, but it was fun to just play.
The only other thing of note that we did yesterday was to buy Airsoft Guns on our lunch break. Somehow shooting each other in the parking lot of a mini mall with air pellets seemed like a good idea. Bill bough was is essentially the gun from the video game Metal Gear Solid, complete with attached flashlight and laser sight. Jason got a replica 45, which definitely has the most punch of the three. I got a sawed off pump action shotgun, complete with laser sight, flashlight and scope, grand total for all three was about $40. Not bad for some stupid fun. Jason thinks that if anything they will make for good reference material.
Well that about sums up my Saturday. Hope to have another post up real soon!
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Saturday, June 02, 2007
Shallow Little Heart
Happy June!
Wow.. May was a crazy month for me. Its no excuse not to post regularly I know, and I don't want to cite the usual suspect in my 70 hour work week, so let's get down to business.
May saw a lot of really cool things happening, along with a big bad.
Let's get the bad thing out of the way. Work. This month has been especially had as we got a new regional manager and the two of us don't see eye to eye on too many things. The big problem I have is with his people skills, or his lack thereof. My boss, this new regional manager and myself were all in my store and with the three of us standing together, he would tell my supervisor to tell me how he wanted things, instead of saying things to my face, despite the fact that we were right beside each other. There are about 50 other reasons we don't get along, mostly because our styles are so different. I could deal with prick bosses, I've done it before, what I don't like is the disrespectful way he talks to my managers and my crew.
We argue so much that I started looking for anther job. I just realized I really hate coming to work, hate it so much that anything else would be better. I have my first job interview on Tuesday and I gotta say that I am a little nervous. Its been almost 15 years since I interviewed for a job and its going to mean a big lifestyle change going into a new environment. But I am really excited and I am looking forward to an opportunity to try something fresh, hell I figure that I could probably make some more cash at it too. I'll keep you posted.
I have a lot of other things that I am going to work into columns this month, just a few are the end of the TV season, summer blockbuster results so far (I have hit the big three so far but I want to wait a little into June before commenting) the summer concerts I have seen this year, and tomorrows column on the pop culture trivia contest I entered today.
I thought though for the rest of the column I would post another poem.. this one has been sitting in the banks for about a month or so and I just capped it today. Hope you enjoy.
Shallow Little Heart
It's a long way home,
And I hate the way I feel.
Left abroad these roads I roam.
Holding back from all that's real.
I want so bad to make this change.
But can't let myself go this far away.
When every target seems out of range.
I can't live or die this same old way.
Along this path there must be a way out.
To find leave from these fears new found cause.
With bravery unbound to survive once fatal rout.
And to finally leave behind all of me that once was.
To wade from that favored shore.
No more alone to find that new start.
Away from that which once did whore.
And plunge to depth this shallow little heart.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Wow.. May was a crazy month for me. Its no excuse not to post regularly I know, and I don't want to cite the usual suspect in my 70 hour work week, so let's get down to business.
May saw a lot of really cool things happening, along with a big bad.
Let's get the bad thing out of the way. Work. This month has been especially had as we got a new regional manager and the two of us don't see eye to eye on too many things. The big problem I have is with his people skills, or his lack thereof. My boss, this new regional manager and myself were all in my store and with the three of us standing together, he would tell my supervisor to tell me how he wanted things, instead of saying things to my face, despite the fact that we were right beside each other. There are about 50 other reasons we don't get along, mostly because our styles are so different. I could deal with prick bosses, I've done it before, what I don't like is the disrespectful way he talks to my managers and my crew.
We argue so much that I started looking for anther job. I just realized I really hate coming to work, hate it so much that anything else would be better. I have my first job interview on Tuesday and I gotta say that I am a little nervous. Its been almost 15 years since I interviewed for a job and its going to mean a big lifestyle change going into a new environment. But I am really excited and I am looking forward to an opportunity to try something fresh, hell I figure that I could probably make some more cash at it too. I'll keep you posted.
I have a lot of other things that I am going to work into columns this month, just a few are the end of the TV season, summer blockbuster results so far (I have hit the big three so far but I want to wait a little into June before commenting) the summer concerts I have seen this year, and tomorrows column on the pop culture trivia contest I entered today.
I thought though for the rest of the column I would post another poem.. this one has been sitting in the banks for about a month or so and I just capped it today. Hope you enjoy.
Shallow Little Heart
It's a long way home,
And I hate the way I feel.
Left abroad these roads I roam.
Holding back from all that's real.
I want so bad to make this change.
But can't let myself go this far away.
When every target seems out of range.
I can't live or die this same old way.
Along this path there must be a way out.
To find leave from these fears new found cause.
With bravery unbound to survive once fatal rout.
And to finally leave behind all of me that once was.
To wade from that favored shore.
No more alone to find that new start.
Away from that which once did whore.
And plunge to depth this shallow little heart.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Movie Time!
Happy May Folks..
Another month sailed past already. Hard to believe.
I thought i would dedicate this post to all the great (and not so great) upcoming movies this summer. Compared to last years abysmal summer releases, there is a helluva lot coming out the next few months. I was thinking earlier about what good movies came out last year and there weren't that many. Pirates 2 was fun, but not better than the first, X3 was okay as well, but not better than the previous, Superman a disappointment. The only drag out flick I loved last year was V for Vendetta... a fist quarter release.
Aside from what I believe will be a smash hit in May, Spider man 3, we also get Pirates 3 (and with 2 breaking all those box office records you know it will do well, and Shrek 3 (with both previous flicks doing very well) coming in as the first great family film since Cars maybe, My is shaping up nicely. Spider man 3 by far I am looking forward to the most, but I will certainly see all three. I also look forward to 28 weeks later as I really liked the first one, and Captivity, a horror flick starring Elisha Cuthbert. I generally dislike horror movies, but I have a weak spot for Cuthbert who is just uber-hot. I am also intrigued that ads alone got NC 17 ratings (which is why you don't see too much on the film, so I gotta check it out.)
Looking farther down the line you get Harry Potter and the Order of The Phoenix, Fantastic Four 2, Transformers, Oceans Thirteen, Live Free or Die Hard, Evan Almighty, and the Bourne Ultimatum. Personally next to Spider man 3 I am eagerly awaiting Harry Potter 5. The books are great and all 4 movies have been super solid. Any film with Gary Oldman, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Rickman AND Ralph Fiennes... please its gonna rule.. and continue the trend of darkening and maturing Harry's world. (Yeah.. I am a Potter fan.. Cant wait for the last book too in July!!)
The rest of the films on the list I feel can be hit or miss. Die Hard 4 I want to be good so bad as I feel that it is one of the top series of all time... I just hope Bruce has one more yippe-ki-yay in him. The Bourne movies were good action flicks with decent plots.. and budgetarily it shouldn't be to bad. FF2 and Transformers both have big budgets and the possibility of bombing larger. Hell I think Transformers will bomb based on the fact that Bumblebee is a frickin Dodge Charger.... and those terrible flames on Prime... forget it.
I hope Evan Almighty does well.. Steve Carell is one of the most fearless comedians I have ever watched and Lauren Grahem (his wife in the flick) also gets the same pass as Elisha Cuthbert...I'll see it for her alone.
Anyway, my big picks are Spidey 3, Pirates 3, Shrek 3, and Potter 5.
Losers- Transformers, and FF2.
Hopes- Live Free or Die Hard
Also a few quick hits on the television front-
Fox canceled Drive... which royally sucks as I was really into that show.. I swear Nathan Fillion cant catch a break from FOX. It never even had a chance to develop. I hate it when shoes I like get canceled.
On the bright side.. Deadwood season 3 June 12!!!
Take it easy.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Another month sailed past already. Hard to believe.
I thought i would dedicate this post to all the great (and not so great) upcoming movies this summer. Compared to last years abysmal summer releases, there is a helluva lot coming out the next few months. I was thinking earlier about what good movies came out last year and there weren't that many. Pirates 2 was fun, but not better than the first, X3 was okay as well, but not better than the previous, Superman a disappointment. The only drag out flick I loved last year was V for Vendetta... a fist quarter release.
Aside from what I believe will be a smash hit in May, Spider man 3, we also get Pirates 3 (and with 2 breaking all those box office records you know it will do well, and Shrek 3 (with both previous flicks doing very well) coming in as the first great family film since Cars maybe, My is shaping up nicely. Spider man 3 by far I am looking forward to the most, but I will certainly see all three. I also look forward to 28 weeks later as I really liked the first one, and Captivity, a horror flick starring Elisha Cuthbert. I generally dislike horror movies, but I have a weak spot for Cuthbert who is just uber-hot. I am also intrigued that ads alone got NC 17 ratings (which is why you don't see too much on the film, so I gotta check it out.)
Looking farther down the line you get Harry Potter and the Order of The Phoenix, Fantastic Four 2, Transformers, Oceans Thirteen, Live Free or Die Hard, Evan Almighty, and the Bourne Ultimatum. Personally next to Spider man 3 I am eagerly awaiting Harry Potter 5. The books are great and all 4 movies have been super solid. Any film with Gary Oldman, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Rickman AND Ralph Fiennes... please its gonna rule.. and continue the trend of darkening and maturing Harry's world. (Yeah.. I am a Potter fan.. Cant wait for the last book too in July!!)
The rest of the films on the list I feel can be hit or miss. Die Hard 4 I want to be good so bad as I feel that it is one of the top series of all time... I just hope Bruce has one more yippe-ki-yay in him. The Bourne movies were good action flicks with decent plots.. and budgetarily it shouldn't be to bad. FF2 and Transformers both have big budgets and the possibility of bombing larger. Hell I think Transformers will bomb based on the fact that Bumblebee is a frickin Dodge Charger.... and those terrible flames on Prime... forget it.
I hope Evan Almighty does well.. Steve Carell is one of the most fearless comedians I have ever watched and Lauren Grahem (his wife in the flick) also gets the same pass as Elisha Cuthbert...I'll see it for her alone.
Anyway, my big picks are Spidey 3, Pirates 3, Shrek 3, and Potter 5.
Losers- Transformers, and FF2.
Hopes- Live Free or Die Hard
Also a few quick hits on the television front-
Fox canceled Drive... which royally sucks as I was really into that show.. I swear Nathan Fillion cant catch a break from FOX. It never even had a chance to develop. I hate it when shoes I like get canceled.
On the bright side.. Deadwood season 3 June 12!!!
Take it easy.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
True Story Time!
Hey all,
Thought I would drop a quick true story for you all. It's funny knowing how close this actually came to happening.
I have the very bad habit of chewing on plastic. Whether it's a straw or the little plastic ring around the gallon milk container or whatever. Its a habit that I have had for a long time and I do it without thinking about it really. I think its because I have a lot of nervous energy, like bouncing my leg or whatnot, its an activity to do while I am sitting still. Now that the background is filled in lets get to the story.
I am watching TV the other day and I notice a plastic-like ring sitting on the couch. I pick it up and look at it wondering where it came from, and what it was. I probably fiddled with it for like 30 minutes or so, and i remember putting it back down so that I didn't chew on it as I didn't know what it went to and it might be something someone wanted.
Later that night my roommate comes home and comes into the living room. He immediately asks me where the little ring is. I pick it up and give it to him. He asked me, " Dude, you didn't chew on this did you?"
I said no, but that I thought about it but since I didn't know if it went to something important I stopped myself.
Jason (my RM) then tells me that its the birth control ring that his girlfriend was using and that he took it out when they were having sex on the couch last night! Apparently its some new for of birth control that releases the chemicals from the ring over a 3 week period and that it just kind of rests up in there.
He starts laughing because he told his girlfriend on the phone when she called him to tell him that she left it there, he said that Gerrad better not find it because he is gonna chew on that shit.
Kind of wonder how bad it would have been to ingest those chemicals now that I think about it. I will say that this incident has really curtailed my desire to chew on anything plastic now.. except maybe straws. You can't expect me to go cold turkey can you?
Pop Culture Watch.
Drive continues to heat up and Lost is still solid in my book. (Hell I like it better now that we are actually getting some answers.)
Also Heroes and my guiltiest of pleasures Gilmore Girls are rocketing towards their final episodes for the season so hopefully you are tuning in.
I think my next post may have my rundown on the big movies coming out this summer. Take it easy!
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Thought I would drop a quick true story for you all. It's funny knowing how close this actually came to happening.
I have the very bad habit of chewing on plastic. Whether it's a straw or the little plastic ring around the gallon milk container or whatever. Its a habit that I have had for a long time and I do it without thinking about it really. I think its because I have a lot of nervous energy, like bouncing my leg or whatnot, its an activity to do while I am sitting still. Now that the background is filled in lets get to the story.
I am watching TV the other day and I notice a plastic-like ring sitting on the couch. I pick it up and look at it wondering where it came from, and what it was. I probably fiddled with it for like 30 minutes or so, and i remember putting it back down so that I didn't chew on it as I didn't know what it went to and it might be something someone wanted.
Later that night my roommate comes home and comes into the living room. He immediately asks me where the little ring is. I pick it up and give it to him. He asked me, " Dude, you didn't chew on this did you?"
I said no, but that I thought about it but since I didn't know if it went to something important I stopped myself.
Jason (my RM) then tells me that its the birth control ring that his girlfriend was using and that he took it out when they were having sex on the couch last night! Apparently its some new for of birth control that releases the chemicals from the ring over a 3 week period and that it just kind of rests up in there.
He starts laughing because he told his girlfriend on the phone when she called him to tell him that she left it there, he said that Gerrad better not find it because he is gonna chew on that shit.
Kind of wonder how bad it would have been to ingest those chemicals now that I think about it. I will say that this incident has really curtailed my desire to chew on anything plastic now.. except maybe straws. You can't expect me to go cold turkey can you?
Pop Culture Watch.
Drive continues to heat up and Lost is still solid in my book. (Hell I like it better now that we are actually getting some answers.)
Also Heroes and my guiltiest of pleasures Gilmore Girls are rocketing towards their final episodes for the season so hopefully you are tuning in.
I think my next post may have my rundown on the big movies coming out this summer. Take it easy!
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Current Events
Hey all
Thought I would leave a post about what's been going on lately. Started my third week of vacation for the year this past weekend, and have been trying to relax some. Unfortunately I have plenty of housecleaning ahead of me and I am hoping to prolong It a bit by posting. I took a weekend trip up to my good friend Bill's house in Flagstaff, AZ. As usual we had a good time, drinking beers, watching movies and playing video games.
Of course there was a serious amount of Guitar Hero, but we also tried out a slightly older game, X-Men Legends 2, which we found sadly lacking. As both of us are BIG fans of Marvel's Ultimate Alliance, this precursor had similar game play, with a horrible roster of X-Men characters. We didn't play it that long. His neighbors invited us over to play some 360, but when we got there we spent the whole night going old school with some classic NES games, with Tecmo Super Bowl, Duck Hunt, Chip and Dales Rescue Rangers (A certified classic!) Tetris, TMNT Arcade and Battletoads.. Along with some sweet Contra action which I owned at. All in all we had a pretty sweet time.
We also caught a bunch of flicks, like the Descent, which was pretty good for a horror movie but I thought had a crappy ending, and Casino Royale. Bond started off good with that great footrace, but quickly went downhill. The movie was unnecessarily long with not enough driving the character. Bill's wife, Carmen, said that Daniel Craig was a terribly wooden actor, worse than Keanu Reeves, whom she had complained was the worst actor she had ever seen since watching Sweet November the night before. My only response was that somewhere, a paper bag lay in defeat, as Keanu had just acted out of it.
My brother and I also watched Blades of Glory last night. Sadly it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Not to say that it was good as it wasn't... I was just expecting it to be excruciatingly horrible. My brother and me love seeing bad movies together, I don't know why really, we just love adding our own commentary to them. I will say this for Blades of Glory, Jenna Fischer, Pam from The Office, looked super hot in a garter and lace lingerie number. It was almost worth admission for that alone.
One more thing of note this past weekend was the premiere of Drive on Fox. I really enjoyed this show.. sort of a drama Cannonball Run, plenty of fast driving and action... you should check it out.
Hope you all take it easy.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Thought I would leave a post about what's been going on lately. Started my third week of vacation for the year this past weekend, and have been trying to relax some. Unfortunately I have plenty of housecleaning ahead of me and I am hoping to prolong It a bit by posting. I took a weekend trip up to my good friend Bill's house in Flagstaff, AZ. As usual we had a good time, drinking beers, watching movies and playing video games.
Of course there was a serious amount of Guitar Hero, but we also tried out a slightly older game, X-Men Legends 2, which we found sadly lacking. As both of us are BIG fans of Marvel's Ultimate Alliance, this precursor had similar game play, with a horrible roster of X-Men characters. We didn't play it that long. His neighbors invited us over to play some 360, but when we got there we spent the whole night going old school with some classic NES games, with Tecmo Super Bowl, Duck Hunt, Chip and Dales Rescue Rangers (A certified classic!) Tetris, TMNT Arcade and Battletoads.. Along with some sweet Contra action which I owned at. All in all we had a pretty sweet time.
We also caught a bunch of flicks, like the Descent, which was pretty good for a horror movie but I thought had a crappy ending, and Casino Royale. Bond started off good with that great footrace, but quickly went downhill. The movie was unnecessarily long with not enough driving the character. Bill's wife, Carmen, said that Daniel Craig was a terribly wooden actor, worse than Keanu Reeves, whom she had complained was the worst actor she had ever seen since watching Sweet November the night before. My only response was that somewhere, a paper bag lay in defeat, as Keanu had just acted out of it.
My brother and I also watched Blades of Glory last night. Sadly it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. Not to say that it was good as it wasn't... I was just expecting it to be excruciatingly horrible. My brother and me love seeing bad movies together, I don't know why really, we just love adding our own commentary to them. I will say this for Blades of Glory, Jenna Fischer, Pam from The Office, looked super hot in a garter and lace lingerie number. It was almost worth admission for that alone.
One more thing of note this past weekend was the premiere of Drive on Fox. I really enjoyed this show.. sort of a drama Cannonball Run, plenty of fast driving and action... you should check it out.
Hope you all take it easy.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Monday, April 16, 2007
The Silence of Heaven
With the tragedy surrounding the Va. Tech massacre I thought that I should finally post this poem. It's another attempt to do a love poem and I am okay with how it turned out..I don't like to over think these poems.. if it takes more than two attempts to complete.. I usually scrap the idea, I don't feel you get the emotional intent after more than a crack or two at it, for time tends to fade the original intent of the poem. I actually finished this last week, just didn't post it.
I'll throw up another post tomorrow with what I have been up to, but hope you enjoy the following.
With my pen I wait to fill these pages to your praise,
To sing you a song of my heart's raise.
But any verse that follows cannot be as good.
To express how you make me feel like it should.
As I lay awake not knowing
The destination of where I am going
The path you lead is where I shall follow
For one without you would leave me hollow.
I could be a thousand miles away from you,
But how you make me feel is not more true.
Whether your near or far its all the same.
For my heart is yours to lay this blame.
No path you tread could be to long,
For in my eyes you can commit no wrong.
On the day you finally see the truth of me.
You will see what I have known for an eternity.
It's your smile that gives the early morning sun its shine,
And all your words whisper to the winds that you are mine.
The flowers smell so much sweeter when you put them in your hair,
The world would be so empty if you were never there.
All is silent in Heaven when you pass by,
The only sound is angels breathing up upon on the high,
When you are near all other things don't shine with the same light,
A paler glow around the world whenever you are not in sight.
You are my everything.
I'll throw up another post tomorrow with what I have been up to, but hope you enjoy the following.
With my pen I wait to fill these pages to your praise,
To sing you a song of my heart's raise.
But any verse that follows cannot be as good.
To express how you make me feel like it should.
As I lay awake not knowing
The destination of where I am going
The path you lead is where I shall follow
For one without you would leave me hollow.
I could be a thousand miles away from you,
But how you make me feel is not more true.
Whether your near or far its all the same.
For my heart is yours to lay this blame.
No path you tread could be to long,
For in my eyes you can commit no wrong.
On the day you finally see the truth of me.
You will see what I have known for an eternity.
It's your smile that gives the early morning sun its shine,
And all your words whisper to the winds that you are mine.
The flowers smell so much sweeter when you put them in your hair,
The world would be so empty if you were never there.
All is silent in Heaven when you pass by,
The only sound is angels breathing up upon on the high,
When you are near all other things don't shine with the same light,
A paler glow around the world whenever you are not in sight.
You are my everything.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Quick Hit
I posted a new poem, but its under the last post, I think because it was from a saved draft that I started earlier.. I'll fix that before I do the next one. Also hope the new look is a bit nicer for everyone. It's nothing fancy, just one of the blog templates, but it definitely helps the overall flow. Thanks for reading!
End of Line.
Gerrad!
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Free time
Hey all...
Recently I got bit by the gaming bug again. I tend to go through spurts where I game heavily, then lean into long droughts where I don't game at all. With the exception Of Guitar Hero I and II this past year, I really haven't touched many games, the last one being Kingdom Hearts II last year. Currently though I am playing God of War (One, a little late on the bandwagon there, but I can't wait to beat it to move onto God of War II). Also I am playing Final Fantasy XII ( a solid entry.. but hasn't hooked me as much as 7,8 and 10 did.) Also whenever my roommate is home we are hitting the Ultimate Alliance pretty hard. A fun distraction though I have to wonder in my choice of heroes for the game. Jason tends to like the brawlers, Iron Man, Thor, The Thing and Luke Cage.. all pretty well acceptable characters. My team tends to rotate between Spider-woman, Daredevil, Ms. Marvel, Blade and Elektra. All lower tier characters. Spider-man or Wolverine will sometimes get in the mix, but not really. I think when we are done with that I should probably try out those X-Men Legends games, as they are pretty similar in style I am told.
Guitar Hero though always stays pretty close. Its the most singularly addictive game I have ever played. The replay value is immense and I never get tired or it, especially of 2, with personal favorites like Spinal Tap and Strutter from Kiss. My favorite song from the game is FTK by little known Boston punk grrl rockers Vagiant. It even makes me like songs from bands I hate because it makes me think of the game when I hear them on the radio. I am chomping at the bit for GH 3.. this one better have some AC DC though.
Anyway, that's what is occupying what little free time the grind is giving me. Since most of the good TV is in reruns until sweeps, I have to find someway to fill the time. On the plus side Battlestar Galactica, which has been especially solid with these character driven series of episodes the second half of this season, has it's season finale on Sunday. Do yourself a favor. Check it out. Seriously. Hope to post another poem in a day or so.. I am almost done with it.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Recently I got bit by the gaming bug again. I tend to go through spurts where I game heavily, then lean into long droughts where I don't game at all. With the exception Of Guitar Hero I and II this past year, I really haven't touched many games, the last one being Kingdom Hearts II last year. Currently though I am playing God of War (One, a little late on the bandwagon there, but I can't wait to beat it to move onto God of War II). Also I am playing Final Fantasy XII ( a solid entry.. but hasn't hooked me as much as 7,8 and 10 did.) Also whenever my roommate is home we are hitting the Ultimate Alliance pretty hard. A fun distraction though I have to wonder in my choice of heroes for the game. Jason tends to like the brawlers, Iron Man, Thor, The Thing and Luke Cage.. all pretty well acceptable characters. My team tends to rotate between Spider-woman, Daredevil, Ms. Marvel, Blade and Elektra. All lower tier characters. Spider-man or Wolverine will sometimes get in the mix, but not really. I think when we are done with that I should probably try out those X-Men Legends games, as they are pretty similar in style I am told.
Guitar Hero though always stays pretty close. Its the most singularly addictive game I have ever played. The replay value is immense and I never get tired or it, especially of 2, with personal favorites like Spinal Tap and Strutter from Kiss. My favorite song from the game is FTK by little known Boston punk grrl rockers Vagiant. It even makes me like songs from bands I hate because it makes me think of the game when I hear them on the radio. I am chomping at the bit for GH 3.. this one better have some AC DC though.
Anyway, that's what is occupying what little free time the grind is giving me. Since most of the good TV is in reruns until sweeps, I have to find someway to fill the time. On the plus side Battlestar Galactica, which has been especially solid with these character driven series of episodes the second half of this season, has it's season finale on Sunday. Do yourself a favor. Check it out. Seriously. Hope to post another poem in a day or so.. I am almost done with it.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Springs Reason
Here's my next poem in what I am hoping will be a series of four. I posted a poem on winter a few months ago and I have been working on this one for a while now. I am still not completely happy with how it turned out. I like these season poems to stay kind of short but I don't feel that this is my strongest effort to date. At the same time I do feel that if you don't have any more to offer the poem, let it stand for what it is.
I am going to try to get working on another one quicker this time.. I have a few concepts all ready to go, its a matter of finding the right couplets.
Anyway, here you go.
Springs Reason
A gathering of green brings this new season.
Life given birth in Springs reason.
Wildlife awakens from their long slumber,
And bright green leaves decorate the budding lumber.
Gathering clouds in the high
Bringing the gray-toned overcast sky.
With it a splattering of rain to wash out the old,
For the blossoming of flowers to foil winter's cold.
Soon the days will start to lengthen,
As the new Season's grip begins to strengthen.
Until that time enjoy the Spring,
As soon it will yield to Summer's ring.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
I am going to try to get working on another one quicker this time.. I have a few concepts all ready to go, its a matter of finding the right couplets.
Anyway, here you go.
Springs Reason
A gathering of green brings this new season.
Life given birth in Springs reason.
Wildlife awakens from their long slumber,
And bright green leaves decorate the budding lumber.
Gathering clouds in the high
Bringing the gray-toned overcast sky.
With it a splattering of rain to wash out the old,
For the blossoming of flowers to foil winter's cold.
Soon the days will start to lengthen,
As the new Season's grip begins to strengthen.
Until that time enjoy the Spring,
As soon it will yield to Summer's ring.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
True Story Time
Hope everyone enjoyed their St. Patrick's Day weekend. It's always great when St. Patrick's Day falls on a Saturday as you can really cut loose. Whenever any of my friends hit up a bar, we usually go to the same one, Old Chicago. I enjoy going their as they offer a wide variety of beers, usually around a 120 different kinds. This gives me a chance to sample many kinds and I don't have to always get the same thing, though I do tend to drink a lot of Old Milwaukee.
Anyway I had a good time, we were set up on the patio, about 15 of us, so I brought my portable speakers and IPOD so we had music and generally had a great time. Saturday's is usually karaoke there too. When they first started karaoke I usually had to have a few drinks in order to get up the courage to sing as I am seriously monotone and tone deaf, but after having done it so many times I don't need them anymore. I'm horrible but I learned the importance is picking a song in your vocal range that at least the audience will laugh with or join in. Therefore I tend to do Boyz N The Hood by Dynamite Hack or some Bloodhound Gang, even the occasional Johnny Cash. Most of these artists have a low vocal range so I don't sound awful, just bad. It's all in fun anyway so my friends can have a laugh. Boyz N the Hood always gets a good reaction too as an overweight white guy doing a soft rock NWA song is usually funny.
My best (and worst St. Patrick's Day) was last year. We were at the same bar and my good friend Bill and his wife were hanging out with me. Bill's fiancee at the time had invited a co-worker over. You know, when you watch TV or movies, you always see or hear about those super-hot lesbians, but few exist out here in the wild. You always know a guy who's brother knew one or something. Well, this co-worker was in fact a super hot lesbian. She was funny too and the four of us had a great time. We also drank a whole lot.. I mean a lot. Its a good thing at the time that Bill lived like across the street from the bar, you literally went across the street and made a right. So we were drinking green beer and mixing shots and while I was drunk, I was defiantly in the best shape of all of us, my threshold for alcohol is pretty high. We all decide that we should crash at Bill's. As the gentleman, and most sober(though that's saying little), I insist that our fine lesbian take the spare bed. She absolutely refuses claiming she wants the couch. I finally relent and crash. Not 5 minutes has passed when I hear a knocking at my door. I'm down to my boxers ( I can't sleep otherwise!) and I open the door to find a naked lesbian asking if she can sleep in the bed as she just went vomited all over the couch and her clothes. Why the underwear was off I just count as a blessing. I tuck her in and through her clothes in the washing machine and tried to clean up as best as I could. She had washed off before waking me.
Now is the part where I am a stupid fucking idiot. Instead of crashing back in the bed, I sleep on a love seat as I didn't want to take advantage of the situation. What was I thinking?!?!?! I could have slept in the same bed as a super hot drunk lesbian! The invite would have been there as there was nowhere to sleep. I didn't sleep a wink that night, the self-loathing and regret not surfacing until the morning when my thoughts were clearer. Alas that was the last time I saw my super hot lesbian. Bill's fiancee and her had a bit of a falling out over the fact that she puked so much she ruined the couch (they steam cleaned it and it still smelled) and she took a transfer to the farm belt somewhere. Alas I will always have that memory, of the time a super hot naked lesbian slept in my bed. If only I had been a part of it. Truly my greatest regret. I like to think that I could have powered through the Roman Shower aspect of the sleeping.. a little vomit, so what.. she was super hot!!
One day, maybe I can make it right....but what guy like me gets 2 chances at greatness?
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Anyway I had a good time, we were set up on the patio, about 15 of us, so I brought my portable speakers and IPOD so we had music and generally had a great time. Saturday's is usually karaoke there too. When they first started karaoke I usually had to have a few drinks in order to get up the courage to sing as I am seriously monotone and tone deaf, but after having done it so many times I don't need them anymore. I'm horrible but I learned the importance is picking a song in your vocal range that at least the audience will laugh with or join in. Therefore I tend to do Boyz N The Hood by Dynamite Hack or some Bloodhound Gang, even the occasional Johnny Cash. Most of these artists have a low vocal range so I don't sound awful, just bad. It's all in fun anyway so my friends can have a laugh. Boyz N the Hood always gets a good reaction too as an overweight white guy doing a soft rock NWA song is usually funny.
My best (and worst St. Patrick's Day) was last year. We were at the same bar and my good friend Bill and his wife were hanging out with me. Bill's fiancee at the time had invited a co-worker over. You know, when you watch TV or movies, you always see or hear about those super-hot lesbians, but few exist out here in the wild. You always know a guy who's brother knew one or something. Well, this co-worker was in fact a super hot lesbian. She was funny too and the four of us had a great time. We also drank a whole lot.. I mean a lot. Its a good thing at the time that Bill lived like across the street from the bar, you literally went across the street and made a right. So we were drinking green beer and mixing shots and while I was drunk, I was defiantly in the best shape of all of us, my threshold for alcohol is pretty high. We all decide that we should crash at Bill's. As the gentleman, and most sober(though that's saying little), I insist that our fine lesbian take the spare bed. She absolutely refuses claiming she wants the couch. I finally relent and crash. Not 5 minutes has passed when I hear a knocking at my door. I'm down to my boxers ( I can't sleep otherwise!) and I open the door to find a naked lesbian asking if she can sleep in the bed as she just went vomited all over the couch and her clothes. Why the underwear was off I just count as a blessing. I tuck her in and through her clothes in the washing machine and tried to clean up as best as I could. She had washed off before waking me.
Now is the part where I am a stupid fucking idiot. Instead of crashing back in the bed, I sleep on a love seat as I didn't want to take advantage of the situation. What was I thinking?!?!?! I could have slept in the same bed as a super hot drunk lesbian! The invite would have been there as there was nowhere to sleep. I didn't sleep a wink that night, the self-loathing and regret not surfacing until the morning when my thoughts were clearer. Alas that was the last time I saw my super hot lesbian. Bill's fiancee and her had a bit of a falling out over the fact that she puked so much she ruined the couch (they steam cleaned it and it still smelled) and she took a transfer to the farm belt somewhere. Alas I will always have that memory, of the time a super hot naked lesbian slept in my bed. If only I had been a part of it. Truly my greatest regret. I like to think that I could have powered through the Roman Shower aspect of the sleeping.. a little vomit, so what.. she was super hot!!
One day, maybe I can make it right....but what guy like me gets 2 chances at greatness?
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
From the Sickbed
Sorry about the lack of posts lately, I was diagnosed with pneumonia and my ass has really been dragging. The weird thing about the people in my family is that we hate to miss work. My Dad always said that if someone pays you to do a job you should do it. I've also always felt that its not fair to your co-workers to make them work harder because you can't pull your own end. So I continue to work my days at the store, but by the time I have come home at night I am usually so flushed and weak that I haven't had to much energy left.
My boss and I finally got into an argument and I went to the doctor the other day who told me that I have pneumonia. I'm on some medication now and I am starting to feel better, though I think that just having the day off has been a bigger aide in my recovery. I just feel so damn guilty calling out of work that I can't bring myself to do it. My brother, who just overcame the flu, worked through his sickness, that's just the way we are. Hell, I figured that it was the flu when I got sick and that I caught it from him. Well, the important thing is that I am feeling better and getting back into the flow.
In feeling better I did go to the movies last night and saw 300. I really enjoyed this movie! The visual style of the movie is great, I am almost a little sad that it did better in its first weekend than Sin City did in its entire run though., Both films were based on the same creator's, Frank Miller, graphic novels. Though it does bode well for that Sin City sequel. 300, though, has everything great about Gladiator, and nothing horrible like Troy. It's a modernized sword and sandals movie with a rock soundtrack, full of violence and nudity, what every growing boy wants. If you liked Sin City or really wanted Troy to be better than it was, I promise you will like this movie.
I also picked up some DVD's just as I was getting sick, The Prestige and Borat... both films I really loved. I saw Borat with my Dad in the middle of the Ohio Bible-Belt and I will always remember how much my Dad and me laughed at how offended everyone else was in the theatre, including my step mom. Very funny, very wrong...
The Prestige is also a great movie. Christian Bale is great in everything, through in the director of Batman Begins and Memento, Chris Nolan, Hugh Jackman and the ultra hot Scarlett Johanssen and I see no way this could be bad. I liked The Prestige much better than the Illusionist, which I felt kind of copped on the whole magic angle of the movie, never giving answers. With the exception of the actual prestige in the movie, I felt that Nolan did a much better job of showing the audience how things work.
I could also rant on about my new found and very late introduction to Firefly, But I am not comfortable being labeled a Browncoat just yet.
Thanks for reading.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
My boss and I finally got into an argument and I went to the doctor the other day who told me that I have pneumonia. I'm on some medication now and I am starting to feel better, though I think that just having the day off has been a bigger aide in my recovery. I just feel so damn guilty calling out of work that I can't bring myself to do it. My brother, who just overcame the flu, worked through his sickness, that's just the way we are. Hell, I figured that it was the flu when I got sick and that I caught it from him. Well, the important thing is that I am feeling better and getting back into the flow.
In feeling better I did go to the movies last night and saw 300. I really enjoyed this movie! The visual style of the movie is great, I am almost a little sad that it did better in its first weekend than Sin City did in its entire run though., Both films were based on the same creator's, Frank Miller, graphic novels. Though it does bode well for that Sin City sequel. 300, though, has everything great about Gladiator, and nothing horrible like Troy. It's a modernized sword and sandals movie with a rock soundtrack, full of violence and nudity, what every growing boy wants. If you liked Sin City or really wanted Troy to be better than it was, I promise you will like this movie.
I also picked up some DVD's just as I was getting sick, The Prestige and Borat... both films I really loved. I saw Borat with my Dad in the middle of the Ohio Bible-Belt and I will always remember how much my Dad and me laughed at how offended everyone else was in the theatre, including my step mom. Very funny, very wrong...
The Prestige is also a great movie. Christian Bale is great in everything, through in the director of Batman Begins and Memento, Chris Nolan, Hugh Jackman and the ultra hot Scarlett Johanssen and I see no way this could be bad. I liked The Prestige much better than the Illusionist, which I felt kind of copped on the whole magic angle of the movie, never giving answers. With the exception of the actual prestige in the movie, I felt that Nolan did a much better job of showing the audience how things work.
I could also rant on about my new found and very late introduction to Firefly, But I am not comfortable being labeled a Browncoat just yet.
Thanks for reading.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
The Last Concession
No post with this one.. pretty self explanatory.
The Last Concession
All my answers have gone so far away,
So many questions, what more can I say?
I don't know what the point is to all this,
Aiming for a target I always seem to miss.
My timing just never works out right.
A mounting struggle with this same old plight.
Praying for a change to my daily grind,
But we never seem to be in a like state of mind.
I'll hold conviction to this frustration,
In my ongoing war of self-deprecation.
Looking deep towards my own reflections.
All to justify just these unanswered questions.
Keep looking for the courage to be a better man,
Try to overcome these fears as best as I can.
First I must make this last concession.
To lay true this deep confession.
Every day the same thoughts run through my head.
Always hoping for those words you've never said.
Maybe one day you'll know just how I feel,
But what I feel for you couldn't be more real.....
End of Line.
Gerrad!
The Last Concession
All my answers have gone so far away,
So many questions, what more can I say?
I don't know what the point is to all this,
Aiming for a target I always seem to miss.
My timing just never works out right.
A mounting struggle with this same old plight.
Praying for a change to my daily grind,
But we never seem to be in a like state of mind.
I'll hold conviction to this frustration,
In my ongoing war of self-deprecation.
Looking deep towards my own reflections.
All to justify just these unanswered questions.
Keep looking for the courage to be a better man,
Try to overcome these fears as best as I can.
First I must make this last concession.
To lay true this deep confession.
Every day the same thoughts run through my head.
Always hoping for those words you've never said.
Maybe one day you'll know just how I feel,
But what I feel for you couldn't be more real.....
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Friday, February 23, 2007
Redemption
Here is something I was dabbling with the last week. Its not really representative of anytime in my life, more or less the power that people can have in each others life. Its sort of an ode to redemption and how one person can change things for the better. Hope you enjoy.
Redemption
A heart grew heavy, hard from stone,
Each new hour more alone.
Left adrift among the sea,
Around the cresting waves of apathy.
Cold water seeped the ragged lung,
As silent songs were soon begun.
Darkest thoughts had turned to danger,
The welcomed arms of a black-robed stranger.
But 'lo upon the horizon behold,
A kiss of wind to chase the cold.
Redemption brought in weather's change,
A newborn chance in life arrange.
Time will turn the shadows to flight,
My day will dawn with your light.
My thanks to whom has stopped my fall,
A life without you is none at all.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Redemption
A heart grew heavy, hard from stone,
Each new hour more alone.
Left adrift among the sea,
Around the cresting waves of apathy.
Cold water seeped the ragged lung,
As silent songs were soon begun.
Darkest thoughts had turned to danger,
The welcomed arms of a black-robed stranger.
But 'lo upon the horizon behold,
A kiss of wind to chase the cold.
Redemption brought in weather's change,
A newborn chance in life arrange.
Time will turn the shadows to flight,
My day will dawn with your light.
My thanks to whom has stopped my fall,
A life without you is none at all.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
True Story Time
Hey all, sorry for the gap in posting. I went to Flagstaff for a long weekend and couldn't update. I did however come back with another true story. As I have mentioned in the past, I am unlucky in public restrooms. In a previous post I told the tale of being groped in a men's room urinal and since that (among a few others) I only use stalls so I can lock the door.
Anyway, this past Friday was the Guinness World Toast and a friend and myself went to an Irish pub in downtown Flagstaff to do some serious binge drinking. We started off with Bud Light and Guinness, but eventually got into mixing shots and other liquors. Now I was three sheets to the wind, but I can handle my alcohol at a pretty high tolerance. When we first started we were playing pool, and the place was pretty crowed and other people wanted to play on the table as well, so we were taking turns. One guy in particular played several games with us. Through the course of the evening, every time I went to use the stall, this guy was in the bathroom at the same time as me, like we on some kind of cycle.
So on my third trip to the stall, I notice the door handle was very loose on the door. I should point out here that the stall door was a regular wooden door, not the usual half doors they put on stalls. Back to the point, I finish my business and turn to pull the door open and the handle pulls completely off the door. I attempt to pull the door open, but the locking mechanism / crosspiece that goes into the door frame was latched tight still. I couldn't get a good enough grip on the door to open it, so I knocked on the door and said," Um, is anyone out there, the door handle broke and I am locked in here."
Suddenly I see a small finger poke through the hole in the door where the handle was. I said," That better be finger poking through there." The other person laughed and said that the door was stuck and that I should stand back so he could kick it in. SO this guy kicks in the door and here its the guy I was playing pool with earlier. We both laugh about the incident as getting locked in a public restroom is pretty funny. Then the guy asks me if he can buy me a drink. I must have given him a pretty funny look as he quickly said," No man I am not like that!" Then his next response was, " But do you want to dance?" At this point I sad, " Um yeah... thanks for the save there, but I think you may be mistaken..." He quickly said, " No no.. I meant with my girlfriend. She wants to dance and I don't want to."
So I did what any single guy should do, Drank four whisky sours on his tab and danced with his pretty damn fine looking GF.
The rest of the night after that was filled with getting tripped stumbling out of the bar, and watching my friend take a hit of pot (which he NEVER does) and regurgitate it all over the place.
Ah... behold the majesty of alcohol.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Anyway, this past Friday was the Guinness World Toast and a friend and myself went to an Irish pub in downtown Flagstaff to do some serious binge drinking. We started off with Bud Light and Guinness, but eventually got into mixing shots and other liquors. Now I was three sheets to the wind, but I can handle my alcohol at a pretty high tolerance. When we first started we were playing pool, and the place was pretty crowed and other people wanted to play on the table as well, so we were taking turns. One guy in particular played several games with us. Through the course of the evening, every time I went to use the stall, this guy was in the bathroom at the same time as me, like we on some kind of cycle.
So on my third trip to the stall, I notice the door handle was very loose on the door. I should point out here that the stall door was a regular wooden door, not the usual half doors they put on stalls. Back to the point, I finish my business and turn to pull the door open and the handle pulls completely off the door. I attempt to pull the door open, but the locking mechanism / crosspiece that goes into the door frame was latched tight still. I couldn't get a good enough grip on the door to open it, so I knocked on the door and said," Um, is anyone out there, the door handle broke and I am locked in here."
Suddenly I see a small finger poke through the hole in the door where the handle was. I said," That better be finger poking through there." The other person laughed and said that the door was stuck and that I should stand back so he could kick it in. SO this guy kicks in the door and here its the guy I was playing pool with earlier. We both laugh about the incident as getting locked in a public restroom is pretty funny. Then the guy asks me if he can buy me a drink. I must have given him a pretty funny look as he quickly said," No man I am not like that!" Then his next response was, " But do you want to dance?" At this point I sad, " Um yeah... thanks for the save there, but I think you may be mistaken..." He quickly said, " No no.. I meant with my girlfriend. She wants to dance and I don't want to."
So I did what any single guy should do, Drank four whisky sours on his tab and danced with his pretty damn fine looking GF.
The rest of the night after that was filled with getting tripped stumbling out of the bar, and watching my friend take a hit of pot (which he NEVER does) and regurgitate it all over the place.
Ah... behold the majesty of alcohol.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
You - A Valentine
I figured with it being Valentine's Day that I would try my hand a a love poem. These are harder for me to write as I don't have the most confidence with women. I simply tried to channel some of what I am feeling now and embellished it for romanticism's sake. Hope you enjoy.
You
You occupy every waking thought.
You are everything I've ever sought.
You complete the colors of the dawn,
You brighten the stars when the sun is gone.
You bless my world with your touch,
You don't know that you mean so much.
You chase my fears so far away,
You give the life to my each day.
You break the clouds to the Heavens above,
You opened my heart to feel your love.
You show me all I can be,
You have made a better man of me.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
You
You occupy every waking thought.
You are everything I've ever sought.
You complete the colors of the dawn,
You brighten the stars when the sun is gone.
You bless my world with your touch,
You don't know that you mean so much.
You chase my fears so far away,
You give the life to my each day.
You break the clouds to the Heavens above,
You opened my heart to feel your love.
You show me all I can be,
You have made a better man of me.
You turn my world to a better place,
You fill my soul's empty space.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Thursday, February 08, 2007
True Story Time
I had a hard time coming up with a topic today but I felt the need to post something. I have a huge workload today and tomorrow, as well as an extensive backlog of quality television on the DVR, new Lost, The Office, My Name is Earl, and a few others. Thought I would leave you with something a bit more on the lighter side.
I use to room with a guy named Jeremy. Probably the most sexually frustrated person I have ever met (even more than me!) as well as the most rigid personality. For a few years while we roomed together he had let down his guard and would join in some of the black humor that my other roommate Jason and myself found so enjoyable. See in my family anything you can do to get a rise out of another person is a sign of friendship and love, the meaner the joke, the more love intended. But Jeremy, he didn't see it quite the same, and he wasn't as good at the game because it takes a hell of a lot more to get me riled. also, fr a guy so proud of his dick, he was sure homophobic.
Anyway, the two of us had decided to go get something to eat, and anytime he wanted to go to eat, he always wanted to eat somewhere nicer, no take out or drive thru, which was fine with me. The two of us went to the Red Lobster, on like a Friday night. I thought it would be funny if i gave the hostess a fake name. So when she asked for our name, I quickly replied, " Homo, party of two."
Now Jeremy lost it, went completely beet red and was pissed as hell, so of course I laughed my ass off. To this day, or at east the last time we hung out, won't let me place a name at a restaurant, he even forbade me from telling that story at his wedding, in fact he made me promise (and I don't break promises) to tell none of my good stories on him for fear his new found bride would think he was a freak. (which he kinda was) So at his wedding as the best man I was expected to give a speech, and the only person I knew at his wedding was him and his parents (I once went to California with them on a vacation-though Jeremy got pissed at me for eyeballing his sister in a bikini...)
So, back to the wedding.. I had promised not to tell any of these good blackmail stories, but I had to show him the kind of friend he was to me, which meant making fun of him. So I did the only left to do, proceeded to give a five minute speech on the look of relief I saw in his friends and family as he got married to a girl, because honestly they had to be wondering why he lived with another guy for 7 years and didn't date anyone the entire time(until his wife came along.) I then went on to my rights as the other half of what some states would call a common law marriage... anyway the speech was funny, everyone laughed, except Jeremy who was mortified that I alluded to him being gay in front of his parents and wife.
So, there you have it.. another true story tale. Thanks for reading. I also wanted to wish my friend Stef a Happy Birthday, though I don't think she even reads this.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
I use to room with a guy named Jeremy. Probably the most sexually frustrated person I have ever met (even more than me!) as well as the most rigid personality. For a few years while we roomed together he had let down his guard and would join in some of the black humor that my other roommate Jason and myself found so enjoyable. See in my family anything you can do to get a rise out of another person is a sign of friendship and love, the meaner the joke, the more love intended. But Jeremy, he didn't see it quite the same, and he wasn't as good at the game because it takes a hell of a lot more to get me riled. also, fr a guy so proud of his dick, he was sure homophobic.
Anyway, the two of us had decided to go get something to eat, and anytime he wanted to go to eat, he always wanted to eat somewhere nicer, no take out or drive thru, which was fine with me. The two of us went to the Red Lobster, on like a Friday night. I thought it would be funny if i gave the hostess a fake name. So when she asked for our name, I quickly replied, " Homo, party of two."
Now Jeremy lost it, went completely beet red and was pissed as hell, so of course I laughed my ass off. To this day, or at east the last time we hung out, won't let me place a name at a restaurant, he even forbade me from telling that story at his wedding, in fact he made me promise (and I don't break promises) to tell none of my good stories on him for fear his new found bride would think he was a freak. (which he kinda was) So at his wedding as the best man I was expected to give a speech, and the only person I knew at his wedding was him and his parents (I once went to California with them on a vacation-though Jeremy got pissed at me for eyeballing his sister in a bikini...)
So, back to the wedding.. I had promised not to tell any of these good blackmail stories, but I had to show him the kind of friend he was to me, which meant making fun of him. So I did the only left to do, proceeded to give a five minute speech on the look of relief I saw in his friends and family as he got married to a girl, because honestly they had to be wondering why he lived with another guy for 7 years and didn't date anyone the entire time(until his wife came along.) I then went on to my rights as the other half of what some states would call a common law marriage... anyway the speech was funny, everyone laughed, except Jeremy who was mortified that I alluded to him being gay in front of his parents and wife.
So, there you have it.. another true story tale. Thanks for reading. I also wanted to wish my friend Stef a Happy Birthday, though I don't think she even reads this.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Self Titled
I'm not really good at happy poetry, nor am i particularly depressed at the time of writing this one.. I just enjoy writing darker works. This poem was inspired by watching part of a televangelist on TV the other day, I am not a great believer in religion, though I find faith an entirely different matter. Faith in whatever you hold dear, family, friends, God or some other Deity I just can't believe that only one religion is the right answer. Sometimes you have to make your own answers. Anyway, hope you enjoy.
Sounds of Light and Fury
Dark days press so close at hand,
A barren waste across the land.
The horsemen rear their fetid head,
Four men ride among the dead.
Eternal questions, no more fought.
The sins of Man have now been wrought.
No repentance found at hand,
The hourglass contains no more sand.
Silent echos, those chimes of fear
Red river springs from their tear.
No more prayers, no more offers,
Empty coin has filled the coffers.
Torn from heart and mind is soul,
Empty are the parts of the Hole.
For no more felt are the fires of Heaven,
As Hell's chill breeze has rose to leaven.
Sounds of Light and Fury
Dark days press so close at hand,
A barren waste across the land.
The horsemen rear their fetid head,
Four men ride among the dead.
Eternal questions, no more fought.
The sins of Man have now been wrought.
No repentance found at hand,
The hourglass contains no more sand.
Silent echos, those chimes of fear
Red river springs from their tear.
No more prayers, no more offers,
Empty coin has filled the coffers.
Torn from heart and mind is soul,
Empty are the parts of the Hole.
For no more felt are the fires of Heaven,
As Hell's chill breeze has rose to leaven.
Now Time is done, no Savior seen.
'Tis the End of Days, no soul unclean.
Goodbye to cares, as well as worry,
Hearken soon the Sounds of Light and Fury.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Monday, February 05, 2007
Super (Dissapointing) Bowl
Most people probably caught the Super Bowl last night. What a turd. Don't get me wrong, I guess I was rooting for Indy, if for only to have to no longer hear about how Payton Manning can't win the big one. It just seemed to me that it was some of the worst football I have seen played, especially in lieu of it being the greatest game of the year.
It started off good with the Devon Harris run back, but from their it was full of missed opportunities and turnovers. Grossman played terribly, he is not the future of that franchise, and even Manning wasn't super. I was really just bored with the whole affair by the third quarter.
The commercials were pretty sad too. The commercial event of the year and they played commercials that I have already seen. That's just lazy! Budweiser had two pretty good ones with the face slapping over fist bumping and the auction caller wedding. Hell, I even liked the K-Fed mutual fund commercial, that was pretty funny. Let's hop next year is a tad more dramatic.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
It started off good with the Devon Harris run back, but from their it was full of missed opportunities and turnovers. Grossman played terribly, he is not the future of that franchise, and even Manning wasn't super. I was really just bored with the whole affair by the third quarter.
The commercials were pretty sad too. The commercial event of the year and they played commercials that I have already seen. That's just lazy! Budweiser had two pretty good ones with the face slapping over fist bumping and the auction caller wedding. Hell, I even liked the K-Fed mutual fund commercial, that was pretty funny. Let's hop next year is a tad more dramatic.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Sunday, February 04, 2007
True Story Time
Hey All.
Figured its about time for a topic of much lighter conservations. In the past I have posted some of my work stories, so I figure I should share one that happened to me this week. See I am a manager of a McDonalds, not the greatest height of accomplishment but I think I am doing pretty well.
Anyway two teenagers came through the drive thru and placed a rather large order, so I asked them to pull forward and park and that we would bring their order out as soon as it was done. After a few minutes, I bag up the order and carry It out to the car. As I approach the driver side window, I turn to my side to tell them that I had all of their order. Now before I can even get a word out, the driver whips out a magazine centerfold of some totally naked guy and asks me, " Hey doesn't this guy have the hottest balls?"
Now the way I see this there is only two responses, get flustered or angry, or bust this guy down. I, of course, went with the latter. I immediately responded," Not as hot as yours are I'm sure honey. Here's your order. " This pretty much creeped out the driver, though the passenger seemed to think it was funny and laughed yelling out, ' Damn man!" At this point the driver rolled up his window an pulled away and I went back to work. All I know is that there is no way some smart ass punk teenager is going to get the best of me.
I thought it was funny.
Current recommendation- If you are not watching Heroes, get on the bandwagon. It's a great show!
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Figured its about time for a topic of much lighter conservations. In the past I have posted some of my work stories, so I figure I should share one that happened to me this week. See I am a manager of a McDonalds, not the greatest height of accomplishment but I think I am doing pretty well.
Anyway two teenagers came through the drive thru and placed a rather large order, so I asked them to pull forward and park and that we would bring their order out as soon as it was done. After a few minutes, I bag up the order and carry It out to the car. As I approach the driver side window, I turn to my side to tell them that I had all of their order. Now before I can even get a word out, the driver whips out a magazine centerfold of some totally naked guy and asks me, " Hey doesn't this guy have the hottest balls?"
Now the way I see this there is only two responses, get flustered or angry, or bust this guy down. I, of course, went with the latter. I immediately responded," Not as hot as yours are I'm sure honey. Here's your order. " This pretty much creeped out the driver, though the passenger seemed to think it was funny and laughed yelling out, ' Damn man!" At this point the driver rolled up his window an pulled away and I went back to work. All I know is that there is no way some smart ass punk teenager is going to get the best of me.
I thought it was funny.
Current recommendation- If you are not watching Heroes, get on the bandwagon. It's a great show!
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Friday, February 02, 2007
Autumn Falls
I don't know if anyone even reads or writes poetry anymore, but here is something I did during work. I don't know if its any good or not... I tend to fall to the latter of the inclinations, but I take a positive out of this as it felt nice to at least stir the creative juices of the tired mire of my feeble acumen. Enjoy.
Autumn falls against the winter's might.
Another day ends, loses its fight.
Dusk gives birth to new twilight.
Moon's glow in the fade of night.
Cold air's breeze a frigid bite,
No more seen the warmth of light.
For winter's grip has seized tight.
'Tis the way of Seasons, neither wrong nor right.
So fear not the answer to this plight
The next will dawn, soon in sight.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Autumn falls against the winter's might.
Another day ends, loses its fight.
Dusk gives birth to new twilight.
Moon's glow in the fade of night.
Cold air's breeze a frigid bite,
No more seen the warmth of light.
For winter's grip has seized tight.
'Tis the way of Seasons, neither wrong nor right.
So fear not the answer to this plight
The next will dawn, soon in sight.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
....On My Sleeve.
I have come to relize truth and honesty are really different things...Honesty is a very valuable trait that I admire in poeple, myself included. Truth is often seen in the eye of the beholder. The truth is really what you make it out to be. Something can be true, an emotion, thought or action by force of will. You can shape the truth into what you need. If you tell a lie long enouh, it becomes the truth.
What you can't make up is honesty. Honesty to yourself and those around you means dealing with things, even the truth, when they don't necessarily reflect things that you want them to. Finding honesty in action is something I am trying really hard to do now. I am trying to be honest with someone I know and I am having trouble finding the courage to own up to what I am feeling. I have never been very confident in myself, its easier to pick at a flaw than illuminate a strenght. Well at least for me. Maybe writing this will help, I dont know. What I do know is that I can't change the truth of the matter, I can only accept it. That's being honest with myself, and with the people around me.
Honesty is the best policy, they just don't say that it's the easiet.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
What you can't make up is honesty. Honesty to yourself and those around you means dealing with things, even the truth, when they don't necessarily reflect things that you want them to. Finding honesty in action is something I am trying really hard to do now. I am trying to be honest with someone I know and I am having trouble finding the courage to own up to what I am feeling. I have never been very confident in myself, its easier to pick at a flaw than illuminate a strenght. Well at least for me. Maybe writing this will help, I dont know. What I do know is that I can't change the truth of the matter, I can only accept it. That's being honest with myself, and with the people around me.
Honesty is the best policy, they just don't say that it's the easiet.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Ground Zero
I don't really have any good reason as to why I stopped posting. During the New Year's holiday I decided that I needed to start writing something again and I fugured this was the best manner in which to do so, and somehow hold myself accountable for putting stuff up every week at the least.
Hence I am basically going to give this a try again.
There was pretty much a time there were I wasn't happy with what was going on in my life, and I decieded that I needed a change. Personally and professionally I wasn't in a place were I was meeting the expectations that I set for myself, and the best way to fix what you don't like is to stop bitching about them and start acting on them.
I am sure I will be writing on events in my life or other pop culture topics, but I am also going to try to broaden the perspective. Maybe posting bits of a bad horror story I am starting, or a poem or short essay, just something to stimulate the creative juices. I look at the depth of talent in my roommate and sometimes it is just depressing that he can create so easily.
At any rate, his is step one......hopefully my pace will not falter.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Hence I am basically going to give this a try again.
There was pretty much a time there were I wasn't happy with what was going on in my life, and I decieded that I needed a change. Personally and professionally I wasn't in a place were I was meeting the expectations that I set for myself, and the best way to fix what you don't like is to stop bitching about them and start acting on them.
I am sure I will be writing on events in my life or other pop culture topics, but I am also going to try to broaden the perspective. Maybe posting bits of a bad horror story I am starting, or a poem or short essay, just something to stimulate the creative juices. I look at the depth of talent in my roommate and sometimes it is just depressing that he can create so easily.
At any rate, his is step one......hopefully my pace will not falter.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Entertainment....Monthly?
Hey all, sorry about the consistent lateness in posting, but its been frustrating not being able to figure out exactly what's wrong with my PC. It just seems like one difficulty after another. I'm posting again from my roommates MAC. Anyway, lets get down to business.
Caught X-Men: The Last Stand and I have to say that I enjoyed the film. I don't think that it beats either of the first two installments, but I think it did all right considering the circumstances. While I enjoyed the focus on action, I feel they went for a quantity of characters over a quality of characters. I believe the key to developing X-Men movies is to introduce new characters to the audience while not losing focus on existing ones. Nightcrawler, Col. Stryker, and Deathstrike in X2 were developed nicely, while teasing characters like Kitty Pryde and Colossus for future use. I feel that they only really explored the Beast in X3, short changing Juggernaut and Angel. I also tend to agree with many critics calling out director Brett Ratner, as not really having a strong visual presence, but sustaining a big movie image with out giving it the substance. I do recommend that you catch the flick as Hugh Jackman and especially Sir Ian McKellen give stellar performances. McKellen's got some serious box office chops here. He is in way to many popular movies giving credibility to everything.
I also got Season 2 of the HBO series Deadwood, by far my favorite show on TV. I'm a sucker for a good western and as this second only all time to The Magnificent Seven. (I'm a sucker for a Steve McQueen flick... But that's a topic for later) Deadwood has some of the best writing in any series I have watched and, as I have raved before, chock full of all the things a growing boy should want: Sex, violence, and profanity, wrapped in an autuer shell of condensed story about real life in the old west. Please check it out.
I also just finished washing that toilet bowl of a broadcast the 2006 MTV movie awards. What's a steaming turd of self-indulgent poorly written fluff. I believe that I officially passed the barometer for being allowed to watch MTV 5 months early, as it is my belief that after 30, MTV no longer communicates to you on the level it should. Its wear you start to realize that music use to be better, and that most of those emo-ridden sea-hags on that show really just annoy you. When you think it sucks getting old, just watch half and hour of My Super Sweet Sixteen or Laguna Beach and you will realize that the days before TRl were better times.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
Caught X-Men: The Last Stand and I have to say that I enjoyed the film. I don't think that it beats either of the first two installments, but I think it did all right considering the circumstances. While I enjoyed the focus on action, I feel they went for a quantity of characters over a quality of characters. I believe the key to developing X-Men movies is to introduce new characters to the audience while not losing focus on existing ones. Nightcrawler, Col. Stryker, and Deathstrike in X2 were developed nicely, while teasing characters like Kitty Pryde and Colossus for future use. I feel that they only really explored the Beast in X3, short changing Juggernaut and Angel. I also tend to agree with many critics calling out director Brett Ratner, as not really having a strong visual presence, but sustaining a big movie image with out giving it the substance. I do recommend that you catch the flick as Hugh Jackman and especially Sir Ian McKellen give stellar performances. McKellen's got some serious box office chops here. He is in way to many popular movies giving credibility to everything.
I also got Season 2 of the HBO series Deadwood, by far my favorite show on TV. I'm a sucker for a good western and as this second only all time to The Magnificent Seven. (I'm a sucker for a Steve McQueen flick... But that's a topic for later) Deadwood has some of the best writing in any series I have watched and, as I have raved before, chock full of all the things a growing boy should want: Sex, violence, and profanity, wrapped in an autuer shell of condensed story about real life in the old west. Please check it out.
I also just finished washing that toilet bowl of a broadcast the 2006 MTV movie awards. What's a steaming turd of self-indulgent poorly written fluff. I believe that I officially passed the barometer for being allowed to watch MTV 5 months early, as it is my belief that after 30, MTV no longer communicates to you on the level it should. Its wear you start to realize that music use to be better, and that most of those emo-ridden sea-hags on that show really just annoy you. When you think it sucks getting old, just watch half and hour of My Super Sweet Sixteen or Laguna Beach and you will realize that the days before TRl were better times.
End of Line.
Gerrad!
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