An Average Schmuck

A Ray Of Sunshine

2005-07-08T03:02:00.000-04:00

Yes, I am still alive and kicking (and for that, I suppose I should be thankful!) Unfortunately, not a whole hell of a lot has happened that is worth mentioning in a post. I just wanted to pop in for a short update, mainly out of guilt for neglecting this site for such a long period of time. So, for the two of you who actually still check this site on occasion, here it is!!!

Anyway, expect the updates to be infrequent, as it just seems that nothing is happenening lately worth mentioning. I don't see the point in coming on here every day and basically saying " I went to work, I dealt with a lot of people that I have nothing but contempt for, I came home, played WoW for a few minutes, read a book, and went to bed" day after day. Seems kind of pointless doesn't it?

Oh well, that's the way it goes sometimes though! I have the whole weekend off to chill out with my dad, so that's cool. And then Monday, God help me, it's back to work!!

*Edit* I can't figure out why there is a big ass hole at the top of this post, but rest assured it is unintentional!

A Rough Couple of Days

2005-04-06T11:50:00.000-04:00

I can't go into detail simply because of the length of the incident involved, but I will say this: it amazes me at the friendships that can be destroyed over foolishness. People that have known each other for fourteen years just turning on one another over a triviality. It sometimes makes me wonder if the human race is going to make it....

First Update Of The Year (which is sad)

2005-03-13T08:20:00.000-05:00

Yes, I am still alive!!!

My issues at work have been settled, as our manager has been replaced by someone a bit more employee friendly. I am working more hours, but enjoying it more, as it is a lot less stressful around the store. Other than that, things are pretty much what they have been. Work, a bit of gaming, and spending time with my wife.

I will update again when there is something worth updating about!!! =)

Wilderness Of Mirrors

2004-12-31T03:50:00.000-05:00

Hmmm....what to write about this time? It seems that everytime I come here to write, I end up saying not much is happening. But really, you have to understand that not that much is happening. I am still working at a job I hate, and it seems that everyday my manager just heaps something else on top of the stack that is my misery at my job. It seems as if every day is just a reflection of the one before it.

Christmas was fun, other than having to spend time with relatives that I pretty much have no use for. Not that I hate them or anything, just that I never see them and I am prefectly happy with that arrangement. I got a gun for Christmas (scary, huh?) and got to go to the range Christmas Eve and fire it some. I am not as bad a pistol shot as I thought I was. I tried to get my wife to fire off a few rounds, but she was having none of that. I imagine coming to south Georgia after having been raised in a culture where guns are pretty much forbidden is the extreme in culture shock. Here, everyone has a gun....and I think it still kind of freaks her out a bit.

In closing, I just want to apologize to anyone that actually reads this blog for my infrequent updates, but I just hate to keep coming on here and saying "Nothing is happening!" It seems I am just in a bit of a rut lately as far as exciting stuff in my life, and I feel no need to bore or burden anyone else with this information. Anyway, faithful readers (if, in fact, there are any of you left) I leave you with best wishes for a bright, happy, productive, and most of all safe New Year!!!

Hey Steve, Here's Your Update For This Month!!!!

2004-11-09T14:42:00.000-05:00

Steve, I'm just kidding bud, and yes, life is that boring right now. Anyway, about all I have done since the World Of Warcraft beta came out is play that and work. And on the work front, I want to transfer to our store in Moultrie, but the problem is I would have to ask my manager for the transfer, and the main reason I want to leave is her. So, when I ask her for the transfer, which I KNOW she would never grant, then I am stuck there working for someone who knows I am trying my best to get out of there. Catch-22 anyone??

In other news......well.....there is no other news, not really. I am trying to get back into school in January, having decided that an education is the only way that I will get a job where I don't have to consistently deal with the inbred moronic offspring of the scum of the universe on a daily basis, who when asked what kind of car they have inevitably point out the window and say "that one." Who makes a "that one??" Is that a late model Ford, or maybe an import of some type?? AARRGGHHHH!! In other words, I am going back to school to protect the world from my murderous rampage, which I am sure would reach epic proportions.

I finally got down to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal on Halloween night, and this time we went with the tickets in hand, and by God we got it, and had a blast. Well worth the trouble to go down there twice. Now if I could only get back to Islands of Adventure on New Years Eve.......

Anyway, that is all the news that's fit to print for now. Until next time, beloved readers and true believers........

Leave My Thing Alone!

2004-10-22T03:14:00.000-04:00

You wanna talk about a screwed up week? I worked 10 days in a row so some friends of mine and I could go down to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal in Florida, then we get down there only to find out they have sold the thing out and we cannot even get into the park. Now I ask you, how do you sell out an amusement park?? I am still trying to figure that one out. And the rest of the week has not been a whole hell of a lot better. Hooters trivia night is getting to be a pain in the ass. It seems that there is this one team in particular that the only way they can win is by using a cell phone to call someone with the answers, or to get some of the Hooters' girls to help them out. Once in a while I could understand, but this is an every week thing. We talked to the manager about it tonight, and she said she would amend the rules so that it would not happen again. We'll see....... It is not that I am a sore loser, and it is not like we have not been beat before, but when I get beat, I expect it to be because the other team knows more than we do, not because they have a cell phone hook up to a friend at home on the net. If that were the case, I could drag a laptop along with me, but what's the point? Anyway, it is getting to the point where it is just too damn much like a job, and I don't know how much longer I will be going on Thursday nights. I just sit there and get more and more pissed, and I am sure that I can find better uses for my time than checking my blood pressure threshhold.

Good Things Come To Those Who Wait....

2004-10-01T01:49:00.000-04:00

Ok, for those of you who don't know, my birthday was in August. Well, yesterday I finallty got my present from my wife. I got to spec out a new computer and build it the way I wanted to!! What all this equals out to is a 160 Gb Serial ATA drive, a 256 Mb ATI Radeon 9800 Pro video card, a gig of ram, and other assorted goodies! In other words, this thing smokes! Damn, I love technology! Also, this brings up the grand total of computers in the house to 5, and the grand total of people to 2. Oh, and the 2 dogs, can't forget them...
Also, head over to Swift's site and check out the JAMARATHON 2004. My family has a hisotry of Diabetes in it (father, grandfather, and grandmother all on one side, plus my broter in law) so if there is anyway that you can help these guys out, please do so, as there are going to be a few of us in this boat one day! In my case, probably one day soon...

Summer's Going Fast, Nights Growing Colder....

2004-09-17T11:23:00.000-04:00

Been a while since i have posted, so here is the latest...

I have basically been working my ass off at my job and enjoying it. It is something that I am good at (at least everyone tells me I am) and everyone there seems to like me, so I can't complain. I make good money, and it is nice to be back at the stage where I can afford to go out for a Cafe Mocha at Books-a-Million and not worry that it will throw me into financial ruin.

Two friends and I took some time off and went up to DragonCon over Labor Day weekend. We only went on Sunday and Monday, but damn, we had fun. One friend got the Hatori Hanzo sword from 'Kill Bill" and got David Carradine to sign it, so that was super cool. Now there is one man who will never die from a heart attack, as he has got to be the most laid back person I have ever seen.

What is the deal with the shitty weather all of a sudden? More hurricanes that you can count are moving around all over us. I think it must be God's way of saying he wants everyone out of Florida. At least, that is the best explanation that I can figure.

Well, that is about all there is for now, I'm gonna head out and enjoy my 3 day weekend. I think I am gonna go to a football game tonight with some buds. Our old high school is coming into town tonight to play one of the teams here, so we are gonna go catch it. Should be fun!!!

The More Things Change.....

2004-08-26T07:08:00.000-04:00

Been a while since the last update, so where to begin....

I turned 31 on Aug. 5, and as usual I hated it. I had some friends over for pizza and a movie, and it was not so bad, I just hate getting older, although I guess it beats the alternative.

I got promoted at work! WOOT!! I am now management, and that means that I am cutting close to 40 hours a week for the first time in a LONG time, so I now actually make enough money to pay bills and still have enough left at the end of the week to get a cup of coffee or a book or something......people just do not realize how tight our finances were there for a while. It was damned ridiculous. What is really odd is this.......at my last job in the automotive field, I worked for 3 1/2 years and could not buy a promotion, and at my new job, it took me exactly 92 days. Peculiar, huh?

The Black Company has reformed! We went back to Hooters for the first time since last December, played trivia, and won immediately! It was like we never left, and what was funny is that everyone there who knew us expected us to win. It was really funny, although in the middle of the contest I told my friend that if we didn't win we were going to look like idiots! It is nice to be remembered as being good (the best) at something, even if it is something as meaningless as trivia at a local pub.

Other than that, smae old crap! Get up, go to work, deal with people who know nothing about the cars they drive around, come home, play online games, get a few hours sleep, rinse and repeat!! But, it could always be worse!

One likes to believe in the freedom of music.....

2004-08-02T13:48:00.000-04:00

Well, made it to Atlanta and back safe and sound (and tired as hell to boot) but it was worth the trip. We had seats in the very last row of the amphitheatre, and I was worried that they would be crappy, but I honestly don't think there is a bad seat in the whole place, except maybe on the grass. To top off the concert, the radio station that was promoting the event was also having their 30th birthday, so we got a free fireworks display afterwards also.

Anyway, here is the setlist from last night....

1 - Finding My Way (medley)
2 - Anthem (medley)
3 - Bastille (medley)
4 - Bangkok (medley)
5 - Cygnus (medley)
6 - Prelude (medley)

These first 6 songs were a medley - apparently titled Overture 2004.... and the medley was about 6 minutes, maybe a little more, but each tune in the medley only got a minute to a minute & a half of play...

7 - The Spirit of Radio
8 - Force Ten
9 - Animate (shortened by a minute or so)
10 - Subdivisions
11 - Earthshine
12 - Red Barchetta
13 - Roll The Bones
14 - Bravado
15 - YYZ
16 - The Trees
17 - The Seeker
18 - One Little Victory

Break time....run to bathroom....get a drink....back to seat in time for Set II

19 - Tom Sawyer
20 - Dreamline
21 - Secret Touch
22 - Between the Wheels
23 - Mystic Rhythms
24 - Red Sector A
25 - Drum Solo
26 - Resist (acoustic)
(slight break between songs while Geddy is attacked by a moth onstage!)
27 - Heart Full of Soul (acoustic)
28 - 2112 (overture, temples, finale)
29 - La Villa Strangiato
30 - ByTor & the Snow Dog
31 - Xanadu (w/ doubleneck!!)
32 - Working Man (added a little reggae on the end of this)

Encore
33 - Summertime Blues
34 - Crossroads
35 - Limelight

....and then it ended....

Now for some random observations!! The concert started about 7:30 with an intro video that featured all the album covers and Jerry Stiller, and ended with Stiller doing a Ferris Bueller sendoff at around 11:00. The new (old) material off of Feedback sounds a whole lot better live than it does on the album. The guys were having, as Geddy put it, one of those night when things come undone, but despite the technical difficulties, they put on a great show. In fact, I think they hit all thier albums except one. (Hey, Steve-O, I know you are not a big Rush fan, but see if you can figure out which album they didn't play from.) Also, I finally got to see Neil Peart crack a smile (although he tried to hide it) at Alex's antics onstage.

Anyway, gonna take the rest of the day to do as damn near nothing as I can manage, seeing as I got home at 3:30 this morning and got into bed about 5:00 am, so I'll catch everyone later. I start my new career in management at Autozone tomorrow, so I am sure I will need my rest. If not for that, then my birthday is Thursday, and us old men always need their sleep! =)

Between the wheels......

2004-08-01T11:30:00.000-04:00

Well, it's about that time! We are getting ready now to walk out the door to head to Atlanta to see Rush! This will be my 6th time seeing them, and they seem to get better and better! I will have a full report when I get back tomorrow.

On a side note, my going back to my old job has apparently fallen through, at least that is what I am assuming as they have never gotten back with me. On a lighter note though, I have been promoted at my current job, so screw 'em anyway! It is amazing to me.....in 3 1/2 years at Advance, and I could not get a promotion, but at Autozone it took me only 92 days......weird, huh?

Didacts and Narpets

2004-07-25T09:06:00.000-04:00

Hmmm....nothing much going on lately. Today is my sister's birthday, which means that mine is 11 days away! Oh, goody! Damn, I hate to get older. Just depresses me thinking about all the things that I have not gotten accomplished yet. I never had lofty goals like being CEO of General Motors or anything like that, but it would be nice to have some semblence of a career at this point in life, and not have to live paycheck to paycheck. But, I guess I have no one to blame for that by myself, huh?

On a brighter note, in one week I go to my Rush concert in Atlanta. I am really looking forward to going, but damn I hate that drive up there and back all in the same day. At least I will have Saturday, Sunday, and Monday off from work to deal with the fatigue. I will post a review of the show and a set list if I can remember it when I get back!

Until then, take care everyone!

A hopeful update...

2004-06-25T13:58:00.000-04:00

Well, to those of you who know me, you probably know that I don't know anything about cars (sorry, it's an inside joke and I could not resist!!) but I happen to work at an auto parts store. Well, the hopeful part of the update is that I may be going back to the other parts store I left last year in a management capacity, which would put me making about twice what I am now. Can you say "Hot Damn???" And to top it all off, to really give me a big head, the managers at the store here in Valdosta and the one in Quitman both want me on their staff and are trying to sort out who gets me! WOOT!!! Damn, it is nice to be good at something....

Anyway, check out Steve-o's latest post about Eddie Van Halen. It got me to thinking about something, and that is this. If everyone is so damned worried about Van Halen getting away from a certain sound, how come it is that when I heard the new Van Halen tune on the radio the other day, I knew before Sammy sang the first note that it was, indeed, Van Halen? No one else sounds like Eddie, so I think the point is kind of moot. Anyway, I have only heard the tune once, but I like it so far. If this job works out for me, I may try to get tickets to go see them in concert. Since my wife likes them a great deal also, I am sure she would get a kick out of it as well.

Which leads into another line of thought....have you ever noticed that there are certain singers, bands, groups, etcetera, that just sound like who they are? I mean, for instance, if Geddy Lee were to sing "Devil Woman" by Marty Robbins, you would still know it was Geddy Lee the first note he sang. Some other notable examples are Freddie Mercury, Eddie Van Halen, Neil Peart (just the way he does triplets and rolls you can tell it's him) and Roy Orbison. I am sure I could think of several others, but this post is already too damn long and beginning to ramble.

Well, wish me luck on my new job prospects, I just may make a decent go at life yet! =)

Hmmm....what to write about??

2004-06-12T02:19:00.000-04:00

Time for my increasingly infrequent update....

So, what's been going on lately?? Precious damn little, that's what. I went to Steve's wedding last Saturday (My favorite part is when my 3 companions and I walked up and everyone just kind of stopped and watched, like we were the mafia or something. I would have love to have known what they were all thinking...) and everyone had fun, despite the heat. Overall, a good time was had by all, and I have no idea why more people do not get married in that park, as it is perfectly lovely, and it was a beautiful ceremony.

On the online gaming front, I have kind of hit a brick wall. I have finally topped out levels on my warrior in EQ, and now, I am just kind of bored. I have been playing City of Heroes, and the excitement is just not there. I am gonna have to find something else I like, and soon.

Everything is cool on the job front, just a lack of hours is starting to bum me out. I really hate to leave a job I like, cause I have had a couple of really shitty ones in the last year, but it may become a financial necessity. Guess we will just have to wait and see.

Anxiously awaiting August 1, so I can go see Rush. I am looking forward to it, but I'm not. I guess because I know that I will have 3 hours of pure enjoyment, and then, suddenly, it's over. Does that make any sense??

Anyway, off to take a hot bath and read a bit. Take care all, another update to come....sometime!

Latest News

2004-05-23T03:18:00.000-04:00

Going to Waycross to see parents......$20 for gas

Buying wading pool for wife and dogs to play in while in town......$10 from Wal-Mart

Getting early birthday present of tickets to see RUSH in Atlanta on 8/1.......priceless

Thank god my parents have a soft spot in their heart for their poor misguided child! When I told them what I wanted, they got them for me without batting an eye, and bear in mind these tickets are $75 apiece!!! Not to mention the usual extras that Ticketmaster tacks on for S&G's. All in all though, seeing Rush on their 30th anniversary tour 4 days before my birthday is perfect! Can't wait til then!

It's been a hard day's night.....

2004-05-05T05:48:00.000-04:00

God, these 12 hour days are killing me. It seems all I do is work, eat, shower, sleep, work again, rinse and repeat! I need a day off........

Another short, boring update...

2004-05-03T12:32:00.000-04:00

Ok, just to let everyone know, I have changed jobs yet again. I decided after having a confrontation with my assitant manager at Flash Foods to go back to something I was good at and at least I enjoyed.....auto parts. I know that may sound weird, but those of you who know me know I was actually pretty damned good at it, and I am ASE certified. I am currently working at the about-to-open-brand-spanking-new Autozone on Bemiss Rd., although there is sort of a movement going to get me back to Advance. Not sure if I am going back or not, depends on money, hours, etc.....

As usual, more to come when there is more to write....

BTW, check out Steve-O's new page, it's looking good.....

Update......sort of

2004-04-24T13:51:00.000-04:00

Not much going on, maybe a new change in the job department, maybe not......other than that, same ol same ol! Just wanted to let everyone know that I am still alive and kicking! More to come later.....

Dead to the world

2004-04-14T04:08:00.000-04:00

I have been trying to get over a cold for about two weeks now. Finally, on Monday night, my right eye felt as if it were about to pop out of my skull, and my teeth ached so bad I could hardly eat, I called my parents to make me an appointment at the doctor in Waycross for Tuesday morning. End result: an upper respitory infection plus a bonus of Sinusitus. But, after two anitbiotics, some nasty tasting cough syrup, a pain killer (hint: codeine is your friend!) and a shot of rocefin, plus the twleve hours of sleep that went along with all the above, I must say I feel much better now! I can actually eat without wanting to cry from moving my jaw.

Other than that, same old junk going on. I am adjusting to my new job, more or less, but as usual, I am on the lookout for a better one! I have to turn around and go back to Waycross today for training, then back to work tomorrow night at 10. Oh well, life goes on, or at least the bills do! =(

Any port in a storm!!

2004-04-08T06:24:00.000-04:00

Well, I found a job! It's not the best job in the world, but maybe it will keep me going until either A) I find something better or B) get my sorry ass through college, which at this point has become an all consuming passion of mine, due to the fact that I am sick of working crappy minimum wage jobs for meglomaniacal bosses and dealing with screaming assholes on an hourly basis. More to come later......

10 Greatest Rock Bands of All Time??

2004-03-29T10:38:00.000-05:00

There is an interesting article over at MSN.com that if, like me, you are an audiophile you might wanna take a look at...

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4595384/

At some point, just for the the hell of it, in the next few days I am gonna sit down and compose a list of my ten favorite things in some different categories. Songs, movies, actors, movie characters, whatever I can think of. And it is not necessarily to post here, although I am sure that some will eventually find thier way here for conversation fodder if for no other reason. Why, you ask? Well, have you ever been in a conversation with someone when they mention something (anything) and you say "Yeah, that would be in my top 10?" Ok, have you actually ever tried to go back and name the other 9 later? It's not as easy as it sounds, is it? Give it a shot sometime. I will post some sort of list later to give an idea, so anyone that feels free can comment or post on it! Later!!!!

P.S. I am not aiming for the greatest of anything. If you judge the greatest of something, then obviously, there is a criteria that must be followed. Hell, just give me the favorites, and I will be happy! =)

Boredom has set in...

2004-03-27T06:10:00.000-05:00

Not much going on lately, just still searching for a job. It would seem that the older a person gets and the more experience that one gets behind them, the easier all this would be, right? Well, that is what I thought too, but apparently, that just ain't so. I will say this about being out of work though. It is a lot like being out of school when you are sick as a child. The first few days are fun, but damn it man, how many hours of EQ can you actually play before you just flippin' lose it?

Anyway, on to other things. If you will check over on Steve-O's page, you will see a lot of hubbub about a certain summer tour that will be happening. I am gonna go try to check out Van Halen, as I saw them on the "Balance" tour right before Sammy left the band, but I also wanna go see Rush on their 30th Anniversary tour this year. 30 years as a band.........damn. That's a long haul to make. I wish that Van Halen would pattern their show after Rush's last two tours, meaning they have no opening band and basically play a 3-hour set, split into two parts with an intermission in-between. It makes for a kick ass show. And if you think one band can't hold your attention for 3+ hours, think again. Which brings up another thought...Why is it that out of all people to be inducted, Rush is not in the Rock N' Roll Hall Of Fame?? I never could figure that one out.

Anyway, I am off to try to find something constructive to do. Check back in a few days for another senseless update about nothing in particular.

Update

2004-03-20T14:14:00.000-05:00

Well, I haven't posted much lately because, to put it simply, nothing much has been going on. I am stil looking for a job, and other than that, I am sitting around the house waiting for someone to call me and tell me "Come to work!" I went to a LAN party last night at a friends house and had a good time, but other than that, trust me, the party is definitely over! I will post something more interesting when there is something more interesting to post!! Later!

Postscript on Sunday

2004-03-15T04:12:00.000-05:00

Watched Wrestlemania XX at a friends house tonight. Altogether, not a bad show. One problem though. There was supposed to be 5 of us there watching the show, and it ended up being the friend and I. No calls from the others, no excuses on why they bailed, nothing. So, a house full of food, a $50 PPV, a fridge full of beer, and two guys. So, we did what anyone faced with that kind of pressure would do. WE HAD A BLAST!! But, I still feel kind of put out for my friend, as he put a lot into this and everyone ditched him.
We also got the pics from the wedding out of our digital camera. As soon as I figure out how, I will either post a few or post links to them. I know most people don't wanna see my ugly mug, but there are a few of my wife, and besides, how many times will you get to see me in a tux? =)

Wedding Woes

2004-03-15T02:52:00.000-05:00

Weddings....the mere mention of the word is enough to make most women sigh in contentment of the memories of their wedding day, and enough to make most men cringe. I just got back from a wedding in Orlando FL in which I was a groomsman, and it was.......well, it was a bit of an experience. My wife and I went down Friday night to pick up my tux and to attend the rehearseal. The tuxedo, which was rented from a place called Any Tux for 35 Bucks (I swear to you, yes, that is the real name of the place) ended up costing 75 bucks instead of the aforementioned 35 bucks. Seeing as how we are on a tight budget and due to the fact that the wedding party was not paying for the tuxedo, this was a bit of an inconvenience. But, since it was one of my dearest friends in the world getting married, I just swallowed it and ponied up the bucks.
Now, please bear the fact in mind that no one, apparently even the groom, knew "the plan!" I think (and I do mean I think, since I am by no means sure about this) that the bride and her family knew "the plan" but even now, having had a day to reflect on the event, I am still not sure about that either. The best man and I, who is also a dear friend of mine, were pretty much in the dark about everything. The best man and I find out we are to escort the mothers in immediately before the bride comes in for the ceremony. Ok, no problem. Let me see.....grab arm, walk down isle, show seat, repeat.....ok, I can handle that. Then the wedding coordinator asks "does anyone have any questions?" At this point, I gum up the whole works by actually asking what I thought was an intelligent question. I have been to dozens of weddings. There are always ushers to seat the ladies present, right? Someone back me up on this. Anyway, I ask "do Craig (the best man) and I need to seat everyone else also??" Have you ever seen the look someone gets when they realize they left the baby in the house with the gas on in the oven and candles lit by the crib?? That is almost as bad as the look I got from the coordinator. At this point the brides pops in and says that no, there will be ushers there. Ok, wait a sec. We have 3 tuxes. Groom, best man, groomsman. 1, 2, 3....there are no tuxes for the ushers. "They are not gonna wear tuxes." Ok, works for me. As it is not my wedding, and Craig made me swear multiple times to do everything in my power to make it an easy a day as possible, I just shut up, and let it go.
So, rehearseal is over, we go out and eat, have a few drinks, make a few toasts, then in the middle of everything, the brother of the groom mentions decorating the reception hall. OH SHIT!!!!!! I pull Craig outside for a quick headshed. WE FORGOT ABOUT DECORATING THE CAR!!!!!!! So, when the dinner is over, we make a mad dash to Wal-Mart in the middle of the night to get stuff for the car. At this point, I would like to say a few words about Wal-Mart. They may have everything in the world you may ever need, but they do not have shit at midnight the night before a wedding to decorate a car with. Finally, we come up with a few things, call it a night, and head back to the motel to get some badly needed sleep.
We arrive at the motel expecting to find a friend of mine who was coming down from Blackshear because he was going to DJ the reception and we were splitting a motel room. He isn't there. I panic. I begin calling around trying to find him. When I call his house to find out what time he left, figuring that he was just running late, I get him on the phone instead. His truck is blowing oil everywhere and he is unable to make the trip, and at this point, none of us are able to go get him. So, I call the groom, let him know the situation, and tell him to call me back if he needs me. I never get the call back, so I head off to bed assuming that the problem was solved.
10 o'clock!! The day is here! The wife and I check out of the motel and drive around for about an hour because we do not have to be at church until 12, and the wedding starts at 1. We get to the church, and I have beaten the groom and best man (who are riding together) by several minutes. I get dressed, get the wife's approval (since she is sort of the unofficial dress aid person for the groom's party) and begin the waiting game. The girls had hair appointments for 11. At 12:30, the call the church. They are still at the frickin' hairdressers. So, we are gonna be waiting a bit longer than we thought. No problem, just gives us a bit more time to cut up and joke around. A bit later they call back, The bride, who should know her way to the church seeing as how it is her normal church and her father is the minister there, HAS GOTTEN LOST EN ROUTE TO THE CHURCH. This is beginning to have the makings of a greek tragedy. Finally, the girls get there, and my wife, who was seated in the sanctuary, comes in to check on everything and see how we all are. I ask her if the ushers helped her find a seat. "What ushers?" Huh? You mean there are no ushers? "No." Ok, then. I get up and take a peak out into the sanctuary. One of the guys who is supposed to be an usher is asleep in his seat. Great! Oh well, can't do anything about it now.
Now the coordinator steps in and needs someone to go light the candles on the main alter. Since the bride does not want the groom to see her, he cannot leave the chapel we are in. The best man is off somewhere (in all honesty, with everything going on, I know Craig was doing something important, but for the life of me I cannot remember what) so I tell her that I will go do it. I grab my jacket, slip into it, and report out front to play Prometheus. When the young man who was doing the sound in the sanctuary hands me the long thing to light the candles with, he tells me to light the white candles on the alter. This is important, as there are 5 candles there. 2 white ones, 2 blue ones, and a unity candle. "Just the white ones?" I ask. "Yes, just the white ones" was the reply. I also ask what is the chances that this thing will go out on me on my trip up the to the alter. He says pretty good, and slips me a lighter to stick in my pocket. So, I trot down the isle and fire up the white candles. WOOT!!! First thing that has gone right all day. Then, as I make my turn to leave, the coordinator steps up beside me and tells me "Not the white ones, the blue ones!!" ARGGHHH!!! OK, I go to light the first blue one, and it falls out of the holder. The coordinator puts it back, I try again, same result. Now, I am not a physicist, but I can see that the base of the candle is too big for the holder. Well, she jams it in there and says "Light it!" So, I do. I finally get the damn things lit. For those of you keeping score at home, that is 4 candles lit, one unlit. The alter where all of this was sitting was made of wood, kind of like a stage raised a foot or so off the floor. And being wood, if you step hard enough, there is some bounce. Now, we have a groom that goes around 240 lbs. or so, I am 290, and the best man is 390!! So, when I get back to the chapel, I let everyone know to step softly on the stage so as not to knock the lit candles over. I am not sure if it is in the bible or not, but I am pretty sure burning down a church would at least put me in consideration for the A-train to hell.
Ok, time for the next snag in "the plan." The bride's brother calls. His car is broke down somewhere on I-95, and he is not going to be able to get to the wedding. Everyone is upset, but the decision is made to push on and go ahead. Craig and I offer to go get the chap, but are told no, it will take too long. Obviously, they have never ridden with Craig and I. We could have been there, gotten him, and been back in an hour. Oh, well! Finally, all is ready! The coordinator walks Craig and I out to seat the mothers of the bride and groom. We get halfway down the isle to where they are to begin to walk in, and the minister (the bride's father, remember?) starts waving at us to stop! WHAT THE HELL???? How did we manage to get so many chiefs and no indians?? We say screw it and go anyway! We get everyone seated, then go back to get the groom and head up to the alter. One little problem crops up, the groom is no where in sight! SHIT!!! Finally he pops out of a little side room where he went to brush his hair. We head to the alter, and believe it or not, the damn blue candles have gone out! Well, too late now, here comes the bride. We actually manage to make it through the rest of the wedding without a hitch. We get the pictures made, and head off to the reception hall.
At the reception hall, we hit what was to me a major snag. I say snag, but what I mean is a fuck-up. Anyone that knows my wife, and Steve-O can vouch for this, knows that she is anti-social. It is not that she means to be, or tries to be, she just is, and always has been throughout the entire 6 years that we have been married. It basically took an act of congress to get her to agree to go to this wedding to begin with, because she would have rather just stayed at home with our two dogs. I got an e-mail from the bride a couple of weeks before the wedding asking if my wife was going to be going because if she was, it would affect the set-up of the head table. Now, that meant to me that my wife was going to be seated at the head table with me. When we got to the hall, and were brought in, there were 6 chairs at the table. Groom, bride, best man, matron of honor, groomsman, maid of honor. No seat for my wife. Wife gets upset. Major upset. In a room full of people she does not know and does not want to sit with upset. Going to go back and sit in the car upset. Finally, a friend of mine named Dave, who has met my wife previously, and was there with his wife, walks up. His wife, noticing what was going on, sent Dave to my rescue. He takes my wife by the arm and says "Look, I don't know any of these people, and since I know you, why don't you come sit with Erin and I." Dave, I love you for that! So, the wife goes to sit with them, and all is well again. The reception was not bad, except that I had to make a toast that I was completely unprepared for, but other than that, not bad at all.
Other than the aforementioned snags, things were nowhere near as bad as I feared they would be. I got to see friends that I used to game with that I have not seen in more than 8 years, and we had a few drinks, shared a few laughs, and told old war stories and the old standby "No shit, there we were" gaming stories. But in a way, it was sad also.
Ok, I know you are thinking how could it be sad?? Let me elaborate. The last time we were all together, to the best of my recollection, was 1996. Since then, many of us have been married, some divorced, some have children, and one is no longer with us. And whether anyone admits it or not, these things change people. And so does age. I like to kid around and tell people that I am getting older and wiser, but it is not really a joke. Maybe wiser is not the word, maybe I have just grown up. Anyway, in 1996, at some hotel in Ft Myers FL, was the last time that that particular group of people would ever be together again under that set of circumstances. If I had known that at the time, I might have broken down and cried. Cried for what we had at that moment that we would never have again. Or, I might have shaken my head in disbelief. No one could ever have told me that that was the last time I would ever see one of my friends alive. I think Craig may have said it best at the bachelor's party last week when I spoke with him about this. He said "That is true, we never will be together like that again. But, you take what we have now, this moment, and enjoy it, and make the best you can of it while we do have it." Amen to that, brother.

Off to the Sunshine State

2004-03-12T00:52:00.000-05:00

Not much to write about tonight, as I am packing to go to Orlando in the morning for a dear friend's wedding. I am going to be a groomsman, so this ought to be a hoot. Anyway, I am sure I will have much to write about when I get back, and maybe even a pic or two of me in a tux. See ya late Saturday or Sunday!!

Check the links, folks....

2004-03-11T03:45:00.000-05:00

Just so everyone knows, the two links in my links section are pretty much the two guys that inspired me to begin this slow descent into madness that I am sure this blog will eventually become. I know them both in real life, and they are swell guys. Give them a read sometime, you might be surprised what you learn, or at least that they can make you stop and think about. I will add more links as I find more interesting things to pass along......

Offended, you say???

2004-03-11T02:56:00.000-05:00

Anyone ever really stop and wonder just what the hell the deal is about everyone getting offended these days? It seems like not a day has gone by in the last 4 months or so that I have not flipped open my web browser (seeing as how I do not have cable, the web is my news source) and read about someone getting upset because someone else dressed like a Native American on a music awards show, or because of the way Arabs are portrayed in a movie about a horse race, or that the Jewish community is dressing up in recreations of Nazi Death Camp uniforms to protest the film The Passion of Christ. How can you compare a piece of film with the Holocaust??? Let me see......6 million people dead.......a film......nope, don't see the connection there. It is getting so bad that I am honestly getting offended at all the people that are getting offended!!

What the hell is going on here? I understand that people are sensitive about a lot of things, and the two things people tend to get upset about the quickest are politics and religion. As a matter of fact, way back in the day when a good friend of mine and I managed a video store in south Georgia, our employees were forbidden to discuss those subjects just because the discussions tended to always end in hurt feelings and misunderstandings. But, it would seem that all these enlightened people that are getting offended would at least understand that there is always at least one other side to every story. This same friend of mine, who happens to be from New Jersey, have been debating the American Civil War for the better part of a decade, and we have learned to agree to disagree. This is because each of us RESPECTS the others' point of view.

Now, everyone wants cry out FREE SPEECH!!! FREE SPEECH!!! when they have something on their minds, such as bad mouthing the president or the Republicans or the president of the local Elks lodge or whatever. Well, guess what?? Sometimes, in order to hang on to that liberty that everyone prizes so dearly, it means that you have to hear some things you aren't necesarily going to like. Here is an example: I am not particularly fond of Marilyn Manson. I don't like his music, I think his lyrics are juvenile, I think he stole every idea he has ever had from Alice Cooper (who did it all a hell of a lot better anyway,) and I think he does the majority of what he does for the sheer shock value of it all. However, I am willing to accept that he has the RIGHT to say whatever may be on his mind, even if I do think it is infantile and assinine. If he wants to have a concert where he mimics having his head cut off onstage, guess what?? You don't like it, don't pay the $50 for the ticket. Go home and drink a beer or something. That is what I do.

Since we are on the topic of speech and expression, let me give you another example that never fails to amaze me. When you decide to dye your hair the color of a badly rusted '54 DeSoto and then mix in some green on top of it, punch 8 or 10 holes in your face and plant some strange silver ring there, and actually have the nerve to go out in public like that, I understand that you are expressing yourself. I am all about self expression. However, when I fall down laughing my ass off about the way you look when I go past you in the mall, don't get upset and curse and yell at me, I am merely expressing myself, as I am perfectly within my rights to do. My laughing at your appearance is not a hate crime. it is just another form of self expression.

So, to the people who are dressing up as death camp survivors to protest a film, or to the people who got upset because Janet showed everyone the second biggest boob in the Jackson family and filed lawsuits (yes, this has actually happened,) I say to you: mellow out. The best way to protest a film or anything else you don't like is to not go see the damn thing. Or change the channel. Or cancel your cable service. Anything but suing someone because they are exercising their rights just as plainly as you do when you file some frivilous lawsuit simply because someone said something you may not have agreed with. At least take the time to realize that there is another point of view, and respect that point of view, or at least respect the person on the other side of the table. I think we would all be better people for it.

A journey of 1000 miles begins with but a step...or something like that!!

2004-03-10T01:30:00.000-05:00

Hmmm.....so, here we go! I have been lurking on some friends' blogs for some time now, so I thought why not take the jump and try this myself?? Who knows how often this will be updated, or what it may contain, or who it may offend (not that I really care about that part, as it seems like EVERYBODY is getting offended about something these days,) but I think it will be fun to just jot down a few notes here and there every once in a while. Being as how I know almost nothing about web-publishing, this may not be pretty, but you can bet your ass that everything you read here will be honest. At least, honest when it is viewed from my perspective. More to follow........