Tuesday, November 30, 2004

Mac

In another attempt to tie hockey to music, check out this article about Detroit Red Wings right wing Darren McCarty and his band, Grinder.

Miracle Drug

John Buccigross wrote a great article comparing the NHL’s current state of affairs to U2’s How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb. Click here to read it.

Sunday, November 28, 2004

Tryptophan Hangover

I hope everybody had a great Thanksgiving! Kim and I went to my parents' house and watched the Lions get destroyed by the Colts "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban" and the "Seinfeld" special. It was quiet and relaxing, but the Kroger-bought stuffing could have been a whole lot better. At least the turkey was good.

Friday was spent working out and watching the Longhorns crush the Aggies. After the game, Kim and I went out to dinner with friends and played board games. It's entertaining to see how sparks can fly when couples play "Outburst" and "$25,000 Pyramid" against each other.

I went to Kim's grandparents' house in The Woodlands on Saturday and ate gumbo, shrimp and several desserts. Kim's uncles must be losing steam; they hardly made fun of me. I guess that's what happens when you become a semi-official member of somebody's family.

Today couldn't have been more uneventful, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I played videogames and watched television all day. The Texans beat the Titans, which is always exciting. I have a cat in my lap as I write this. Hayley likes me because I'm always warm and she's always cold. I feel like Dr. Evil with Mr. Bigglesworth.

Monday, November 22, 2004

Strikes and Gutters

I was a total slug this weekend. Kim and I watched "Before Sunrise" on Friday night and "Fever Pitch" on Sunday morning. “Before Sunrise” was well written, and I’m looking forward to watching the sequel, "Before Sunset." “Fever Pitch,” which is a Nick Hornby autobiography, left much to be desired. The Farrelly brothers are remaking the film and replacing Arsenal with the Boston Red Sox, which explains why Jimmy Fallon and Drew Barrymore were making out when the BoSox won the World Series.

I went bowling on Saturday night and rolled a 131, 61 and 133. I bowled the last three frames of the second game left handed. Beer was involved, but not enough to attempt the "bomb."

Funeral

"Wake Up" by the Arcade Fire

Somethin' filled up
my heart with nothin',
someone told me not to cry.

But now that I'm older,
my heart's colder,
and I can see that it's a lie.

Children wake up,
hold your mistake up,
before they turn the summer into dust.

If the children don't grow up,
our bodies get bigger but our hearts get torn up.
We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms turnin' every good thing to rust.

I guess we'll just have to adjust.

With my lightnin' bolts a-glowin'
I can see where I am goin' to be
when the reaper he reaches and touches my hand.

With my lightnin' bolts a-glowin'
I can see where I am goin'
With my lightnin' bolts a-glowin'
I can see where I am goin'

You better look out below!

Friday, November 19, 2004

I Just Wanna Have Something To Do

I’m actually looking forward to getting three cavities filled this afternoon because it means I get to leave work a couple hours early. Also, I’m totally jonesing for a mega dose of Novocain right about now. I’m so bored at work today. At least I look like a team player in my official UTMB swag.

I have no idea what I’m going to do this weekend. Part of me wants to see Earlimart tonight and TV on the Radio on Sunday, but the other part wants to watch DVDs and play ESPN videogames all weekend. Kim and I are addicted to Rico’s $2.99 margaritas and will probably go there either tonight or tomorrow night.

Michigan at Ohio State is on Saturday. I really don’t like the Buckeyes and would like to see the Wolverines in the Rose Bowl. Hopefully, California and Utah will both lose, thus securing Texas a BCS bowl game. That’s assuming Texas beats Texas A&M next Friday and Oklahoma wins the Big 12 championship game in two weeks. That would be cool; and by cool, I mean totally sweet.

Wednesday, November 17, 2004

Real Ultimate Power

I know this Web site has been around for a while, but I can't get enough of it.

Desperate Youth, Blood Thirsty Babes

Congratulations to TV on the Radio on winning the fourth annual Shortlist Music Prize. They put out a challenging record and deserve the recognition. Also, I've been told they do a mean cover of the Pixies' "Mr. Grieves."

For those of you who'd like to listen to U2's new record, How to Dismantle an Atom Bomb, before it comes out, click here.

Kim and I met last night with the Catholic priest who will be marrying us next June. He was really down-to-earth and didn't once tell us we were going to hell for living together in sin before getting married. It looks like I lost that bet. Kim invited him to the rehearsal dinner, and I began to wonder if priests actually enjoy hanging out with people who aren't priests. It reminds me of the chaplain from "Catch-22." The officers like the chaplain because he is a man of God but don't like him because they always have to be on their best behavior whenever he is around. Also, priests notice when your baby is crying. So take your crybaby to the cry room, if not for the priest, for me.

Tuesday, November 16, 2004

Gray Day

Wouldn't it be great if somebody invented a magical pair of scissors that only cut gray hair?

Monday, November 15, 2004

Subbacultcha

I started listening to the Pixies show I went to last month on my drive to work this morning. It's always cool to have a CD of a concert you attended, especially one as good as the Pixies. The only thing missing is the drunk neanderthal who believed he was a one-man mosh pit and kept bumping into me. People like that should be put to sleep.

A guy who works in my building is wearing his high school letter jacket today. Let it go, man. Let it go.

Sunday, November 14, 2004

Something 4 the Weekend

I found out on Friday morning that my grandfather (my dad's dad) passed away on Thursday evening. It's fitting that he died on Veterans' Day. He fought at D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. Nazis couldn't kill him, but cancer did. I didn't know him all that well, but he will be greatly missed. My thoughts and prayers go out to him and his family, especially my dad. It's a weird feeling losing your last grandparent. He was cremated, and services will be held in Michigan next weekend.

This weekend was fairly quiet and uneventful. I played guitar on Friday, completed online defensive driving on Saturday (that's an interesting story) and watched the Lions and Texans lose on Sunday. At least the Longhorns pulled out an amazing comeback on Saturday. I promise my next post won't be a downer. I think I got too much sleep this weekend, if there is such a thing.

Friday, November 12, 2004

Calmer

"Waitin' for a Superman" by the Flaming Lips

Asked you a question
I didn't need you to reply
Is it gettin' heavy?
But they'll realize
Is it gettin' heavy?
Well I thought it was already as heavy
As can be

Is it overwhelming
To use a crane to crush a fly?
It's a good time for Superman
To lift the sun into the sky

'Cause it's gettin' heavy
Well I thought it was already as heavy
As can be

Tell everybody
Waitin' for Superman
That they should try to hold on
Best they can
He hasn't dropped them
Forgot them
Or anything
It's just too heavy for Superman to lift

Is it gettin' heavy?
Well I thought it was already as heavy as can be

Tell everybody
Waitin' for Superman
That they should try to hold on
Best they can
He hasn't dropped them
Forgot them
Or anything
It's just too heavy for Superman to lift

Thursday, November 11, 2004

Glen Campbell Would Agree or It's All Greek To Me

I’m beginning to think Galveston is underrated. Sure, the beaches suck and there are a lot of shantytowns, but the people are really nice and the food is great. I got a gyro and Greek salad at Mediterranean Chef, a hole-in-the-wall restaurant on the Strand, and couldn’t believe how good it was. It’s satisfying being able to go out to eat and not give my hard-earned money to Landry’s owner Tillman Fertita, whose inferior restaurants debase the island, not to mention Kemah.

Has anybody heard the new Jimmy Eat World CD Futures? Track 10, “Night Drive,” has to be the worst song I’ve ever heard by a band I like. And what’s with Liz I-sold-my-soul-to-the-Matrix Phair singing backup on “Work?” Oh well. At least “Futures” and “Pain” kind of rock.

Wednesday, November 10, 2004

Optimistic

I went to my dentist this afternoon and got four out of seven cavities filled. I have to go back a week from Friday and get the other three filled. This is what happens when you don't see a dentist for almost two years because you don't have insurance. Now that I'm insured, I'm looking forward to getting a physical next month. It's been a while since I've turned my head and coughed.

I enjoyed getting home from work a little early. I finished learning "Optimistic" by Radiohead on guitar. It's not one of my favorite songs of theirs, but it's fun to play.

Kim and I watched three episodes of "Arrested Development" on DVD. That has to be the funniest non-animated show on television. It's nice to see David Cross get exposed to a wider audience. Remind me to tell you about the time I threw a whiz next to Bob Odenkirk.

Baby's First Post

It looks like I've turned into one of those people I make fun of and now have a blog. I feel like Doogie Howser (did anybody see him on "Law & Order: Criminal Intent"?) or even Cooper Day (there's an obscure reference for you). It's only my first post, and I already can't think of anything to say. Anywho, feel free to check back here regularly for more deep thoughts and random musings.