nonesuch #334

This is who I am hanging out with today. He is Sally's dog named K. We are buddies. Later this evening we (sally and myself) are going to see Ben Folds and John Mayer. I have today off as you can tell. I have spent this morning doing some laundry and working on my agenda for my trip to England. I think it is almost solid but of course with things like these, things need to stay flexible. I am going to spend a few days in London, then off to Coventry, Oxford, Nottingham, Birmingham, Stonehenge, hopefully will see Vi and Blah but since she more than likely will be going to OZ for the holidays I am not sure if I will see her or not. Also, Manchester and just added, Liverpool and maybe Blackpool. And then back to London before heading out. It is amazing how quick two weeks will go by. I want to soak up as much as I can with the time I have.

nonesuch #333

Bill Walsh 1931-2007
Changed the way football(american) is played, is watched and is talked about. Credited with bringing intelligence to the game where in the past it was seen as nonthinking man's game. Coached the 49ers who I hated since they always beat the crap out of the Panthers(NFL teams) but now I so respect what he did for the sport. Above all, just a great person. He will be missed.

Ingmar Bergman 1918-2007
Perhaps the most influential director of modern movies of our time. "Fanny and Alexander", "Smiles of a Summer Night" and "The Seventh Seal"(which I am partial to) are all must sees.

Tom Snyder 1936-2007
Pioneer of late night talk show, "fire up a colortini, sit back, relax, and watch the pictures, now, as they fly through the air." Godspeed Mr Snyder.

And as I was typing these up I just saw, Michelangelo Antonioni,1912-2007, director of "Blowup" and "L'Avventura" (The Adventure)died in Italy just hours after Ingmar Bergman. Of all of his films, I recommend "Blowup", but really you cannot go wrong with anything done by him.

nonesuch #332

Just got in from Sally's birthday dinner. There were 12 people there. The food was good. There was a couple there who had just got back from London so I picked their brains for travel tips etc. They told me of a great Italian place called Toto that I will try to go to when I am there. They did not do much outside of London but I think there is so much to do in London itself. But back to the meal, we got the family style which is all you can eat. You choose two items from appetizers, salads, pastas/main dishes and desserts. We had stuffed mushrooms, fried zucchini, two types of salad, lobster ravioli, chicken and spinach manicotti, chicken piccatta ziti and sausage, tiramasu, homemade Profiteroles, and birthday girl got her own Chocolate Zuccotto Cake with candles and a glass of dessert wine.

I was drinking heavily but no flirting. Sorry Joie. Hard to do when it was all couples or mother/daughter and those that would not look you in the eye when talking to you. So I sat back and listened to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin in the background drinking my Guinness. I think they think I am an asshole but I really don't care. Sally had a good time. She was happy that a good number of folks came tonight. And that is what matters.

nonesuch #331

Finished Harry Potter book 6 this morning, took a 30 minute break and started book 7 which I finished about 10 minutes ago. I could not put it down. Two amazing books, and that is all I will say for now.

nonesuch #330

I spent my weekend playing lord of the rings online, planning my trip to England(I have a preliminary subject to change itinerary that I am working on that seems to be shaping up quite nicely) and avoiding any and all Harry Potter rumors on TV, online and from friends who have already finished the book, some in 24 hours give or take. I am still reading book six where things are getting really interesting to say the least. It has been so long since I read book 5 that I am having a hard time remembering what happened when and to whom, well except the big things. I have also heard what happens in book 6 to whom and by whom but I want to see for myself. I also ordered some things for my trip; convertible suitcase/backpack(carry on size), travel towel set, neck wallet and packing cubes. I did some banking on Saturday to make sure I have enough for the trip. I feel much better now on that front. Since I will be traveling near the holidays, I want to get the people I will see something. Does anyone have any suggestions that can be easy to take with me or would it be easier to wait till I got over there pick things up?

My friend Sally's birthday is next Sunday. She is having a get together at Maggiano's near Durham next Saturday. So far, she, I, KR(he was at last year's event at Cheesecake Factory) and the guy she has been seeing for a month or so now, I will call WW. I told her if it was just her, WW and myself she needed to find me a date but she only laughed. Anyway, Sally is worried not many people will show. Last year there were 5 of us, and probably will be the same this year. Next Tuesday we are going to see Ben Folds and John Mayer in concert. For those regular readers you all already know I am a long time fan of Ben Folds. This will 4th or 5th time I have seen him but first time as a solo act, all times before were with Ben Folds Five. I think John Mayer may have opened up for Neil Young one time when I went to see him. I think it will be a good show. We have pretty good seats, not too far back but where we will see them there is not a really bad seat in the place. So, good music and cold beer are in store.

nonesuch #329 took the tag

Told Vi I would do this a few weeks back, forgot to do it then, so here it is now.

WHAT WERE YOU DOING TEN YEARS AGO?

Getting ready to start library school. Still in a dead end on again, off again relationship. Was looking for an apartment closer to school but didn't find one till the next spring. Was working my second year at TWSS-Primestar.

SONGS TO WHICH YOU KNOW ALL THE LYRICS:

Brian Wilson - Bare Naked Ladies
Superman - REM
The End of the World - U2
I'm Free Now - Morphine
Look Out For My Love - Neil Young


FIVE THINGS YOU WOULD DO IF YOU WERE A MILLIONAIRE:
Buy a nice house with lots of land for miniature goats, dogs and cats I would get plus forest area to camp in. Pay off my and my friend's debts. Donate books, computers and other items and equipment for area libraries.

FIVE BAD HABITS
prone to clutter
procrastinator on some things
*updated
forgetfullness
feeling bad for myself(is this a bad habit? it is now hehe)
staying online entirely too much


FIVE THINGS YOU LIKE DOING:
eating
beer
playing video games
playing D&D
communicating with friends



FIVE THINGS YOU’LL NEVER WEAR AGAIN:
spandex bike shorts
batman earring
bermuda jamz
sleeveless t-shirt
puffy shirt



FIVE FAVORITE TOYS:
lord of the rings computer game
iPod
D&D dice
cellphone camera
ps2

nonesuch #328 what an incredible smell you have discovered

So much not going on, I am beginning to bore myself with being bored. It really is the same things everyday that if I shared them you may fall asleep. So, I had to go with a star wars quote in my title to get your attention before lulling everyone to sleep.

I went to see my D&D friends this past weekend. Ok, that is something different. It was good to see them as we had not got together for almost nine months. The game was good, I think I challenge them enough. They are getting high in level and it makes it harder to keep them on their toes. It just suddenly hit them that through their adventures they have angered at least 2 very old dragons and one of the dragons has already sent minions to take care of the group. But the group was able to survive. We watched some movies as well: Slither, a japanese kung fu movie, The Animal, School for Scoundrels and Starship Troopers.
Slither - Skip it. I wish I had. It had Nathan Fillion from Firefly and Buffy so I was like yes, anything with him. It was horror/disgusting. I could not finish my pizza and had to stop watching about halfway through. Will not go into details. The Animal starring Rob Schneider was ok, below stupid and only had a few laughs. School for Scoundrels starred Billy Bob Thornton and John Heder(Napoleon Dynamite) and was better than most movies but was only interesting enough to keep me from falling asleep. It had an Anger Management feel to it. Starship Troopers is just classic Sci-Fi.

They all went to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix before I got there. Most of them had seen Transformers as well.

Still have the summer allergies. On some strong meds but they make me sleepy so dragging through the day. And it being so hot, it does not help at all. Another hot one today and very humid with showers but it will get cooler after today.

A co-worker of mine just got back from England and showed us pictures yesterday. He had gone to a CS Lewis retreat held at Lewis' old house that has been renovated to the way it was in 1942. He spent time at Oxford and Camebridge and stayed about a week. Now I am even more excited for my trip on December, adding more places to go but they are all in the same area so will not add much out of the way to the itinerary.

Coolest thing I have seen today: Found by way of PopCandy, a clip on YouTube from the new Bob Dylan movie coming in September. In this clip, Bob Dylan is played by Cate Blanchett where he meets Alan Ginsburg played by David Cross.

I'm Not There clip

nonesuch #327 I think

Lazy summer days....spent fighting off an allergy or cold that has left me mostly without a voice. These things in the summer are always worse than at any other time of the year.

Really not much else going on, well exciting that is. Going to play D&D this weekend. Have not done that in awhile. It will be good to see the guys.

Sort of planning my trip abroad. It is so far off that I feel I have time. I have shopped a little bit for things I will take but not that much really. I am excited but a bit more nervous since the stuff went down in London and Glasgow two weeks ago. I just have to go on about what I want to do and that is that.

Started on Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince. Yeah, I know, I am behind. I checked it out 2 years ago when it first came out but never read it. I had some things come up and never got around to it. So, I started last night and wow. More stuff happened in the first 3 chapters that happens in other books.

Wanted to keep on reading but felt like I needed to rest so took a tylenol pm(which has been working since I have been sick) and slept from oh 10:30 to 3:30 which is pretty good for me. Turned on COPS and both were episodes I had seen before. So dozed till I needed to get to get ready to go to work.

Cooler today than earlier this week, by about 5 or more degrees and low humidity. It feels nice compared to yesterday.

I have really be enjoying vitamin water Essential c+calcium. Tastes a bit like Tang but a more watered down version. Also got some Promised Land chocolate milk and let me tell you that is good stuff.

Wow, I have put myself to sleep with this post.

nonesuch #326 what I am listening to...

Ray Davies - Over My Head, from his new and first solo album, "Other People's Lives". So unlike the classic genius music he made with the Kinks but damn this is so catchy. Check it out.

Voodoo Loons - Downhill from their "Self Proclaimed Prophets & Profiteers" coming out in August. Someone described them as Westerberg meets Barlow, two indie masters with different sounds but with Voodoo Loons the it comes out nicely. I hear tributes to the Psychedelic Furs and the Smiths in Downhill. Also check out their track on the new Amnesty International disc, Instant Karma. Not as strong a track as Downhill but it is growing on me.

Iron and Wine - "Boy With a Coin", from his anxiously awaited new album dropping this fall, 'The Shepherd's Dog'. For those worried things would not be the same, his voice is still there, the intricate guitar work is there, the landscapes he describes in his lyrics are still there. Boy With a Coin, the single, will be released in July.

The 5th

Wasted away again in Margaritaville
Searching for my lost shaker of salt
Some people claim that there's a woman to blame
But I know it's my own damn fault
Yes and some people claim that there's a woman to blame
And I know it's my own damn fault

more to come...

No, its not my fault I really couldn't change Jimmy's lyrics.
Today would have been 6 years together if CW hadn't fucked a sailor. I wasn't going to even bring it up this year but I just cannot get it out of my head. Nothing to burn this year but I still keep finding things of hers when I clean. Just little stuff now nothing that means much of anything well at least to me. More than likely the time away from her and from the breakup that has reduced the anger but I am one who is slow to forget.

I spent the weekend with my parents who celebrated their 40th anniversary on July 1st. I gave them a couple of framed photographs. One of them was of the church they were married in. The other was of a sky shot that I thought was cool. They liked both. But I started to get the when will you get married speeches and not just from them but from their friends as well.

"Was I going to be a bachelor for the rest of my life? When will I meet a nice girl? Why don't you go to church to meet a nice girl? Why wouldn't a nice girl like you, you are such a nice guy." My mother even mentioned that I wasn't even trying hard.

And I answered them all the same.

"After the way the last one ended I really didn't have a desire to put myself out there again, at least for now. If I did meet someone, that would be good but if not, I just did not worry about that much anymore."

I do not think my parents realize I am serious.