Happy Thanksgiving, y'all! Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays for these reasons:
It's difficult to commercialize it (you only buy food to celebrate it).
It's actually got a worthwhile message. No exclusivicity, you don't have to be Christian or Jewish or even American, I feel, to celebrate it.
Food!
I like that you're supposed to take a moment and think about everything that's gotten you to your seat at that table that day. Turn around and thank all the boosts and all support and friends and luck and strangers and laws and all that random stuff that's cobbled together to form your life.
So before you take a bite of that big juicy turkey (or tofurkey, for you insane vegetarians) say 'Thanks' to someone!
I'm thankful for friends and job-opportunities. I'm thankful for my degree and the four years at school before I got that. I'm thankful for family and food. I'm thankful for books and the turn in the political tide. I'm thankful for those who stand up for those who can't. I'm thankful to be in America (though I think I'd be just as happy in Europe or Australia). I'm thankful for big comfy beds and warm blankets. I'm thankful for the Simpson's seasons 1-8. For brainstorms. For notebooks and pencils.
The list could keep going.
Happy Thanksgiving!
23.11.06
19.11.06
So
I just cleaned up my room! It's so tidy and neat and I can hardly stand it. I'm excited and hope I can keep it in this state forever. In the end, of course, it will all fall apart. But until then! Man, oh man.
Also, my wisdom teeth are all coming out on December 8th starting 'round 8 in the AM. The Doctor has told me there was an infection back there and given me penicillin and vicodin (under a different name) to deal with it for the interim.
I have entirely too many movies. But I don't want to get rid of any of them. For the most part. I could probably stand to part with a few. But whatever. Same goes for the books. There's a bunch I haven't read and mostly likely won't read but I like having them around. The movies I haven't seen you can be pretty sure I'll watch. Not always as true with the books.
Went to the final Kickball thing of the season. Was pretty cool. Got some free beers. Decided I'll sign up again in the spring. They want me back as their first baseman! And I hope we have some practices. It was a good time and I'm looking forward to the time when we can have a more positive team.
Think I might pop in a game to play. Or a movie to watch. Or perhaps some glorious combo.
Also, my wisdom teeth are all coming out on December 8th starting 'round 8 in the AM. The Doctor has told me there was an infection back there and given me penicillin and vicodin (under a different name) to deal with it for the interim.
I have entirely too many movies. But I don't want to get rid of any of them. For the most part. I could probably stand to part with a few. But whatever. Same goes for the books. There's a bunch I haven't read and mostly likely won't read but I like having them around. The movies I haven't seen you can be pretty sure I'll watch. Not always as true with the books.
Went to the final Kickball thing of the season. Was pretty cool. Got some free beers. Decided I'll sign up again in the spring. They want me back as their first baseman! And I hope we have some practices. It was a good time and I'm looking forward to the time when we can have a more positive team.
Think I might pop in a game to play. Or a movie to watch. Or perhaps some glorious combo.
17.11.06
My Rough
A rough description of my train of thought about two minutes ago:
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
KRISTER, 22, lies asleep in bed. Offscreen we hear footstamps creaking downstairs. Krister stirs slightly, perhaps he's awake but only just barely. The trip trap of dog claws on the floor. The footsteps of his mother behind them.
MARY (O.S.)
Maxx, wanna go outside?
Krister's eyes shoot open like champagne corks popping. He stares crazily around the room. Has he overslept? His eyes swing to the clock and his face drops. 7:16. Shit! He's supposed to be at school by now! Why didn't the alarm clock go off? Why didn't his mother wake him up? Does she not know he's here?
A thought occurs as he looks past the clock to the darkness of the window. Why is it pitch black at 7:16 in the AM? Unless...
It all snaps in place in front of him. It's Friday. Friday night.
As Krister sighs the word of relief:
KRISTER
Yessss....
He jerks the arm in a move traditionally saved for superbowl athletics when the last touchdown is scored by the winning team.
PS. I know it's not a good "script" because of all the speculation and though. Fuck you.
Also, I like that my thought upon processing all that stuff that happened was "Clearly, this needs to be a blog post."
INT. BEDROOM - NIGHT
KRISTER, 22, lies asleep in bed. Offscreen we hear footstamps creaking downstairs. Krister stirs slightly, perhaps he's awake but only just barely. The trip trap of dog claws on the floor. The footsteps of his mother behind them.
MARY (O.S.)
Maxx, wanna go outside?
Krister's eyes shoot open like champagne corks popping. He stares crazily around the room. Has he overslept? His eyes swing to the clock and his face drops. 7:16. Shit! He's supposed to be at school by now! Why didn't the alarm clock go off? Why didn't his mother wake him up? Does she not know he's here?
A thought occurs as he looks past the clock to the darkness of the window. Why is it pitch black at 7:16 in the AM? Unless...
It all snaps in place in front of him. It's Friday. Friday night.
As Krister sighs the word of relief:
KRISTER
Yessss....
He jerks the arm in a move traditionally saved for superbowl athletics when the last touchdown is scored by the winning team.
PS. I know it's not a good "script" because of all the speculation and though. Fuck you.
Also, I like that my thought upon processing all that stuff that happened was "Clearly, this needs to be a blog post."
15.11.06
9.11.06
Well Done
Well done, America. I must admit I had my doubts things would turn out the way the did. I was pretty certain about the House falling to the Democrats but was overjoyed to hear the Senate did as well.
Now don't screw it up.
Also, I'm kinda disgusted that it took so much in the way of scandals, lies, wars etc. to change the tide. I feel like there was more than enough to justify complete regime change in the '04 elections. And yet it took an additional two years of misdeeds and malfeasances. Ah well.
Keep up the good work!
Now don't screw it up.
Also, I'm kinda disgusted that it took so much in the way of scandals, lies, wars etc. to change the tide. I feel like there was more than enough to justify complete regime change in the '04 elections. And yet it took an additional two years of misdeeds and malfeasances. Ah well.
Keep up the good work!
25.10.06
Tired
God damn. Exhausted. Falling asleep at school.
Also, cute record store chick keeps getting all my money! Damn her ladylike wiles.
Also, cute record store chick keeps getting all my money! Damn her ladylike wiles.
18.10.06
Tragedy
This seems like an idea destined for tragedy.
Just read that last sentence. What on earth are they thinking?
And I'm feeling kinda crummy.
But in other news, because of the PSATs today I only "taught" two classes. One of which was a study hall. And since I didn't want the kids to get too far ahead, I just talked about La Malinche and other ancillary topics of Mexican culture. Also, Machismo. (Thanks Women in the Hispanic World(you have to scroll to the bottom to read about it))And then we reviewed stuff. An easy day. I've spent two hours sitting here trying to figure out what I'm going to be teaching kids tomorrow.
Turns out it's review stuff, mostly. Although I just learned an interesting method of tutelage called "Total Physical Response Storytelling." If I can find a story to tell to my Spanish I kids, maybe I'll give that a whirl.
Yep.
Just read that last sentence. What on earth are they thinking?
And I'm feeling kinda crummy.
But in other news, because of the PSATs today I only "taught" two classes. One of which was a study hall. And since I didn't want the kids to get too far ahead, I just talked about La Malinche and other ancillary topics of Mexican culture. Also, Machismo. (Thanks Women in the Hispanic World(you have to scroll to the bottom to read about it))And then we reviewed stuff. An easy day. I've spent two hours sitting here trying to figure out what I'm going to be teaching kids tomorrow.
Turns out it's review stuff, mostly. Although I just learned an interesting method of tutelage called "Total Physical Response Storytelling." If I can find a story to tell to my Spanish I kids, maybe I'll give that a whirl.
Yep.
14.10.06
Bray's
Dad played at Bray's the other night. I wrote this guy up about it, mostly while there:
Its fall nights in a dim bar with a good beer and a great band that make me realize I wouldn't give up Maine for the world.
An easy Allman Brothers song has the bar bobbing it's collective head. Smooth, simple guitar solos. Each of the two guitarists feeding off each other in a celebration of what music is all about.
The stage is lit red and a witch is silhouetted against the moon in a novelty light set above the drummer. One light points up at a guitarist and his shadow moves behind him in sync with him. A black doppelganger.
Bray's on a Friday night. The band has no name I know and yet they're miles above the clientele who yell drunken requests and clap on the off (or every) beat.
But above all the music. The slow songs drop conversations to whispered words and eyes wander across the room. Does this song have more meaning for some? Was someone's virginity lost to this song on a long forgotten prom night? Or maybe it was just a car ride in the sunny afternoon, leaves changing all around.
I see my love/ love shining on down through the years
As they cut into a cover of "All Along the Watchtower" that is drenched in 70s rock, I realize I can't wait for the blues jam here on Sunday. Now they're every Sunday, but once October ends it changes to the last Sunday of the month. I recommend you check it out.
The "All Along the Watchtower" cover that dripped the sweet honey of Paige and Plant segued remarkably smoothly into a Johnny Cash tune. These guys have a range, I can tell you that.
As they cut into break time I find out they do have a name. The Sensations.
On top of the phenomenal band, Bray's has some excellent micro-brew beers. Tonight I enjoyed Willie McGill's Brown but the favorite I've had there is the Oatmeal Stout.
All in all, Bray's is a quality establishment. Although as the evening dwindled to a close a rather short and old woman sauntered up to me as a song was quite clearly ending and said, "Hey, tall boy, wanna dance?" I informed her I don't dance and yet she persisted in asking again.
Ah well, vaguely humorous stories are always good for the repertoire.
Its fall nights in a dim bar with a good beer and a great band that make me realize I wouldn't give up Maine for the world.
An easy Allman Brothers song has the bar bobbing it's collective head. Smooth, simple guitar solos. Each of the two guitarists feeding off each other in a celebration of what music is all about.
The stage is lit red and a witch is silhouetted against the moon in a novelty light set above the drummer. One light points up at a guitarist and his shadow moves behind him in sync with him. A black doppelganger.
Bray's on a Friday night. The band has no name I know and yet they're miles above the clientele who yell drunken requests and clap on the off (or every) beat.
But above all the music. The slow songs drop conversations to whispered words and eyes wander across the room. Does this song have more meaning for some? Was someone's virginity lost to this song on a long forgotten prom night? Or maybe it was just a car ride in the sunny afternoon, leaves changing all around.
I see my love/ love shining on down through the years
As they cut into a cover of "All Along the Watchtower" that is drenched in 70s rock, I realize I can't wait for the blues jam here on Sunday. Now they're every Sunday, but once October ends it changes to the last Sunday of the month. I recommend you check it out.
The "All Along the Watchtower" cover that dripped the sweet honey of Paige and Plant segued remarkably smoothly into a Johnny Cash tune. These guys have a range, I can tell you that.
As they cut into break time I find out they do have a name. The Sensations.
On top of the phenomenal band, Bray's has some excellent micro-brew beers. Tonight I enjoyed Willie McGill's Brown but the favorite I've had there is the Oatmeal Stout.
All in all, Bray's is a quality establishment. Although as the evening dwindled to a close a rather short and old woman sauntered up to me as a song was quite clearly ending and said, "Hey, tall boy, wanna dance?" I informed her I don't dance and yet she persisted in asking again.
Ah well, vaguely humorous stories are always good for the repertoire.
23.9.06
Teaching
Teaching is working out pretty well. I'm enjoying it, by and large, and find that even in the parts where I'm shaky I've got a lot of support. The Foreign Language Department at school is really helpful, I'm in a class that meets after school on Tuesdays and my mother has been helping a lot, too.
I'm enjoying being back in Maine for the most part but man, I miss having friends around. I mean, there's about two here. I've joined a kickball league (through WAKA, if'n yer curious) and that's pretty cool. I play with a friend I had from long ago and some acquaintances and it seems to be going pretty well. We lose but we get to drink on the field. In the end that's what sports is really all about. To quote the great Homer, "Son, when you attend a sporting event it's not about whether you win or lose but how drunk you get." Roughly.
So apart from that I've just got Nick. And I like Nick a lot but I don't wanna be like crowding his shit or whatever. Also, he lives pretty far away. Everyone does.
So that's my gripe. I'm kinda lonely. Mum cooks for me a lot, though! So groceries are cheap and rent's minimal. I should have plenty of money for when I go to Europe next summer.
So that's that.
I'm enjoying being back in Maine for the most part but man, I miss having friends around. I mean, there's about two here. I've joined a kickball league (through WAKA, if'n yer curious) and that's pretty cool. I play with a friend I had from long ago and some acquaintances and it seems to be going pretty well. We lose but we get to drink on the field. In the end that's what sports is really all about. To quote the great Homer, "Son, when you attend a sporting event it's not about whether you win or lose but how drunk you get." Roughly.
So apart from that I've just got Nick. And I like Nick a lot but I don't wanna be like crowding his shit or whatever. Also, he lives pretty far away. Everyone does.
So that's my gripe. I'm kinda lonely. Mum cooks for me a lot, though! So groceries are cheap and rent's minimal. I should have plenty of money for when I go to Europe next summer.
So that's that.
5.9.06
THREE UNDEAD BILL PAXTONS?
All right, so I've got a new job and shit teaching Spanish at Lake Region High School. But whatever, here's what I'm really excited about:
Alien V Predator 2: V Terminator. The flick has THREE UNDEAD BILL PAXTONS! I don't know anything more about it except that he's also instrumental in bringing down all three nasty beasties. In an act of revenge? Who knows!? They're undead/mindless! OR ARE THEY!!!
Oh man oh man oh man oh man.
Oh, according to the IMDb it'll actually be AVP3:VT. Whatever.
Dibs on writing it!
Alien V Predator 2: V Terminator. The flick has THREE UNDEAD BILL PAXTONS! I don't know anything more about it except that he's also instrumental in bringing down all three nasty beasties. In an act of revenge? Who knows!? They're undead/mindless! OR ARE THEY!!!
Oh man oh man oh man oh man.
Oh, according to the IMDb it'll actually be AVP3:VT. Whatever.
Dibs on writing it!
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