October 2008 - Posts
The problem with living in an apartment at this stage in my life, is that so many of my neighbors are in a different stage of life. It's not the people in my building so much. I live in the larger apartment section of the community so most of the people in this building are working professionals, not college frat boys. The complex across the street, however, is full of recent post-college graduate types who didn't quite get partying out of their system during their college days. As a result, I'm up at 3:30AM, much to my chagrin. I thought about calling the courtesy officer, but he's got a real job as a county police officer, and he's a family man and I didn't want to pull him out of bed. So I decided to go over there myself. The people are partying in the apartment and it's spilling over into their garage, where the sound system is set up. No wonder I can here it clear across the street. Anyway, I'm walking past the garage to get their apartment number and one of the drunken Joe's spots me and tries to invite me to the party. I politely decline and inform him as to why I'm actually there. The look on his face was truly incredible. He was so bummed, and it was incomprehensible to him that I wasn't there to have a beer, but that I was actually complaining. He said it twice; "Are you *serious*, you're actually here to *complain*?" He was stunned.
They all found it rather amusing that someone clear across the street was complaining, rather than their own immediate neighbors. I walked away and could hear his other drunken buddies asking him how he'd made out with me, and he had to report that he had struck out. The entire time I'm trying to explain to him that it's 3:30AM, and I'd like to be able to go to sleep this evening, he's countering that I'm beautiful, and should just come have a beer. There's no reasoning with drunk people, but I'm happy to report they've toned it down, so it worked, despite the appearance of futility when I was conversing with him face to face.
I need to move into a house.
This is my cat, Sugar. She's awesome. When I play the guitar, she sits at my feet and watches me play the entire time. She seems to love music. I took this picture of her today and it cracks me up.
I've learned two new songs this week on the guitar; Black Horse and a Cherry Tree (by KT Tunstall) and Bombtrack (by Rage Against the Machine). There are no words for how awesomely fun Bombtrack is to play on the guitar. The Tunstall song was tricky at first because it's a strumming technique I hadn't done before. It took me about a half hour to nail it.
Next week will be fraught with coolness, I will be learning some Hendrix. w00t!
Well, the movie for last night was supposed to be Hotel Rwanda, but I got all the way to the video store and had an empty case. Drats. I ended up going home and just picking something I already had: The Princess Bride. I've probably seen that movie more than a dozen times, but it's such a classic. If you've never seen it, you must do so.
Last night we went to church, as is customary on Saturday evening. I went in track pants and a t-shirt, not realizing that I'd end up standing in front of the church in my sweats. Luckily people don't care what you wear there. In fact, lots of people come in shorts and the like.
After the message, Justin said he wanted to get baptized, so up we marched to the front of the sanctuary, and he was baptized by one of the church elders. Tristan was so happy that Justin was baptized that it brought him to tears.
Good times. God is good.
Random Updates:
I broke tradition this weekend and had a Sunday Night Movie. This week it was Al Pacino in Serpico. It's a true story about New York city cop, Frank Serpico, who struggled with his career on the police force because he swam against the current of corruption that existed all the way up to the highest levels. It was a good movie. I liked it.
Church was wonderful this weekend. The worship was very inspirational and I felt so refreshed.
I'm back in business with my washer, so I get to spend the next few days catching up to three weeks worth of laundry. Ugh.
I had a great weekend this past weekend. I'm feeling very happy and content. Life is good.
I had to go buy a new lid switch for my washer today. In looking at the (plastic) part I was expecting it to cost $9.99 or something. It was $32 bucks. Irksome.
Yes, I know we're all tired of the name O.J. Simpson, but I can't help but write a brief commentary on the events of his recent guilty verdict. I am by no means a superstitious person, but I do believe in the principle of justice. So, I will merely say it is an interesting turn of events that Simpson was found guilty on kidnapping and robbery charges, an "unlucky" 13 years to the very day that he was acquitted of murdering Nicole Brown and Ronald Goldman.
I know that many people are relishing this conviction, seeing that it could land him in jail for the rest of his natural life. And still others are feeling outraged because they believe this was a means to an end to get him into jail for "walking" on the murder charges.
No matter what you believe; he did it, he didn't do it, there's really no doubt that he managed his public image incredibly poorly in the years following his acquittal. His smug disaffection towards the deceased mother of his children and her family leaves one finding it difficult to feel empathetic about his current situation.
Mmm mmm good. I had spicy tangerine chicken. Tristan had steamed sea bass, and Justin had lemon chicken. Yummy.
I had a really nice glass of David Bruce Pinot Noir while waiting for dinner to come. It was quite good. It's fun that the kids are getting older, because I can go to nice restaurants with them. You know, places with napkins that don't have an m-shaped arch on them. After dinner I stopped at Hollywood Video to get my free movie rental on my birthday. Wee! I rented What Happens in Vegas. Typical. Formulaic. It's just like Hitch, or any of those other romantic comedies where boy meets girl, they hate each other, over time begin to like each other, one of them finds out something about the other that makes them hate the other person again, and then they're so miserable without each other that they get back together. It was OK, but you'd think Hollywood would come up with some fresh ideas for romantic comedy. Is that too much to ask?
I surely don't *feel* old, or *look* old. How old is old? I guess it's too subjective. Ask my 92 year old grandparents if they think I'm old. Then ask a freshman in highschool...Though, what do freshman in highschool know? They practically just got weened off the breast just the other year, no? (No offense to my young readership...You'll feel the same way when you're old like me, if that's any consolation).
I spent most of my birthday today working. This has been a hectic week. :(
But now the kids and I are going out for a late dinner. w00t! Eating out is the bestest thing ever. Well, Saturday Movie Night® with my best friend is the bestest thing ever, but next to that.
According to my e-card today from Kelly, I should be proud of the accomplishment of not dying this year. It's a small accomplishment, I suppose.
Thanks to mom and dad for financing a nice birthday massage, which I will be getting any day now, and am in dire need of.
BTW, I received surprisingly more birthday wishes this year, than in years past, thanks to Facebook.
Peace.