Movie Time

Ok- watched a bunch of movies recently- two with Evan, the other due to Evan so just felt I should share my enjoyment of the flixs.

First movie we saw together was Hot Fuzz- it was seen because it was Simon Pegg, Evan had it and I had yet to see it. It was an Hoot. I think I mentioned a few too times how gay it was- but that’s because it was making fun of the cop buddy movie which are pretty gay (as is football if you wave ‘context’). I also felt it proved that Simon Pegg could act- because while I liked him in Spaced and Shawn of the Dead- he could easily have been playing himself in both movies- however in Hot Fuzz he was not the usual slacker fanboy but an ace police man and I thought he did a bang up job.

The second movie I watch with Evan- because I was a little too tired to go drinking on Sunday was 28 Days Later. I’m not huge into the Zombie genre- I think other then Shawn I’ve seen one ….Of the Dead- the one with the Mall because I had to see people getting killed in a Mall. I enjoyed 28 Days Later and have put 28 Weeks Later on my netflix save queue- so it’ll pop up on my regular queue in Oct. I enjoyed 28 Days Later- though not as much as Hot Fuzz- and TOTALLY saw Evan’s point that Zombie movies aren’t about the Zombies but the ‘survivors’ and society. Won’t spoil 28 Days Later, though I imagine that Adj. has either seen it or plans NOT to. But do think it was good.

Just want to mention again that after the game, and 28 Days Later, we ended up seeing Coupling- which I rather liked and thought was quite funny. Darn it britcoms are really much better then much of what we have here.

Evan sent me home with D*E*B*S*. It was NOT what I expected- but unlike Stranger then Fiction where I was very disappointed because I felt I was sold a quirky comedy and received a quirky romance in it’s place… for D*E*B*S* I expected t and a and humor- along the lines of Bring It On, but I got a comedy more along the lines of But I’m a Cheerleader. I think D*E*B*S* was more funny then But I’m a Cheerleader (and had more t & a) BUT then But I’m a Cheerleader tried to tackle the whole ‘she’s gay’ in a semi realistic, but humorous, manner whereas D*E*B*S*, had no REAL blowback for the main characters being gay… which made it more lighthearted.
I give a thumbs up for D*E*B*S*.

Other movies I’ve recently seen from Netflix- Gargoyles Season 2, Part 1. I gotta say that Gargoyles was really a GREAT cartoon. Though I’ve noticed myself occasionally checking to see how much violence a cartoon gets away with. Gargoyles gets away with A LOT. In a 4 parter (most of Gargoyles episodes are part of a larger story), Demona turns the Humans in Manhattan into statues… and then proceeds to bust some of the statues. Now we don’t see blood- because they’re statues and when the humans get turned back, we do NOT see on camera the people that Demona has killed/maimed but it’s really THERE.
I’ve also seen X:Men Evolution Season 1, still love it, and Groovy Goolies- which did NOT age well.

Ok that’s it. Prolly have more to blog about BUT need to get on with my day…

My Trip to Cali

As I regal you of my trip to the West Coast- I have decided to start with talking about visiting my brother and his new family… Because let’s face it- I know the only way you’re gonna read about me hanging out with my niece is if I put my visit to Casa Peterson at the end.
For the first leg of my trip I had a few ‘basic’ goals- all of which were met.
My first was to hang out with my niece and her sisters. They’re 9 and 10 and I figured they’d be a bit more interesting to be around then the niece (what with her only being 3 months).
My niece is so very cute. Really she is. I know I’m biased but I think it’s more like her survival skills- she has to look cute so people feed her. I mean she’s like 3 months old (born in May) so all she does is poop, eat, scream and cute. So she’d be out of luck if she couldn’t do cute.
In fact two of the mornings I was with my brother’s family I was content to just sit with my niece on my lap- when of course she wasn’t crying for food or attention.
The second thing I wanted to do was walk the Golden Gate Bridge. Did it both ways… and I also went to the fort at it’s base (Fort Point). Sadly the Fort wasn’t open as I REALLY wanted to get a picture looking UP at the bridge. It was at the Fort that I realized how tall the GG is- when I was walking the bridge I was more concerned with the vibrations (due to the cars) then I was the height.
Third was to go to Alcatraz. I was surprised to find out that my step brother and my brother’s step daughters had never been to The Rock- so it was a nice little outing. I really think it was more fun with them there with me, then had I done it by myself.
I wanted to go to a Microbrewery, and hadn’t really PLANED it, but was very glad I got to one. Basically the day that I went to Alcatraz with my step brother- who taught that morning- I had some time to kill and was faced with the choice of going to Haight St. and hanging out there or going to Fisherman’s Warf. I decided on Haight St. where I found a couple of good bargains (and paid FAR too much for a Batman shirt for my newest nephew) and found Magnolia- a microbrewery that also had some good fries. I highly recommend it.
Lastly was the Cartoon Art Museum in San Fran., which was on my way to Greyhound (and Evan). It was smaller then I had hoped for (one floor- four ‘rooms’) but they had a nice exhibit of Edward Gory’s Dracula.

And must end my S.F. part of my trip by mentioning that my brother has two pets and he lets his dog( Maya) and Cat (Toto) run free… as such as I was leaving we found that the BABY had flea bites… and apparently the fleas got to me as well. Just glad that I got the tattoo AFTER dealing with the fleas (my back doesn’t itch though my ankles do), as I would hate for the fleas to have gone after the open wound.

So after doing all of the above and spending a few days hanging out with my brother and his family; I got on the Greyhound to see Evan.
My bus trip was uneventful- save for it being longer then advertised…. And Aeia was with Evan to welcome me to Chico. Wanting to make conversation with Aeia- I asked her how she pronounced her name. In fact one of the nicest things about my stay with the Petersons was on Monday, Aeia presented me with a picture she did for me at school and on the back she signed it Aeia and underneath her signature- (I-ah), which is the way you pronounce her name.
My list of things I wanted to do in Chico was a bit less then S.F. as I was going mainly to hang out with Evan, get a tattoo with him (as sort of a bonding experience) and met his family- and I had hoped to met his gaming group as well. Secondary Goals- which were also met, were to see Taylor Hall, which has an interesting mural on it; and to ACTUALLY game with Evan- which I was very happy his crew let me… and to play a game of Heroclix with one of his colossal figures- which we did on Monday while his kids were in school.
I was very pleased that Denise,GM, and the rest of her players allowed me to join their D&D game, which I had a blast doing. It was my first time playing 3.5 and Evan and Denise were a big help creating my character. I played a ½ Orc Female with Pippi Longstocking braids. She was name Harl- as A) that’s a Male Orc name and seemed right for her, and b) My love of Harley… Actually I loved the fact that one of Evan’s other friends (Jon?) ended up being called Harlen which lead to a bit of confusion. Harl managed to rack up the best body count of the game- taking out most of a bat swarm( who almost got the better of her), a skeleton and oh yeah, Harl fumbled and took out a party member by mistake. I think we all thought it was funny- I found it especially ironic as the player (Chris) was SO fatalistic and was sure that Denise would kill him- so I was happy to help him be the first PC death. Of course a ½ Orc killing a human paladin didn’t go over too well with the rest of the party… So Harl became the second party fatality by Terry( who was in our Evan DCU game), with a little help from Evan….Which I had NO PROBLEM with as I had fun with Harl and knew that she’d be cannon fodder when I left anyway.
As mentioned, one of the main things I wanted to do was get a tattoo with Evan. I was amused as it ended up being done the way I pictured it unintentionally- which is to say Evan got a tattoo, while I talked to him; and then I got a tattoo while he sorta distracted me from the pain. Evan was more of a trooper then I was- but I also want to note that tattoos take to him better. Mine was puffy and red, his was a tad red but not as much. In fact after my first tattoo- I wondered if my tattoo was going to be ‘3-D because it was so puffy. We got our tats on Saturday and while Evan had originally planned drinking AFTER- which was kaboshed when the tattoo artist, who I thought was cute (and Evan noticed pregnant), mentioned we shouldn’t drink after tattooing. So we just hung out with the Chrises( and Evan’s friends Jon and Brian) which I found very cool.
I want to mention how nice I felt the whole Peterson Clan was to me. Usually I’m a shy person, being a bit of a wallflower at a party( hey I’m a dork and admit it), but I really think I was ‘at ease’ with Evan and his family as I felt I knew them… and the Chrises( and the rest) accepted me as ‘one of their own’.
I sort of wish I took a picture of the whole gaming group- because although I got a picture of the Chrises and Denise, I didn’t take a lot of pics… MOST of the pictures I took in Chico were of Rael- and I made sure I got Evan’s permission to take them… Promising to share them with him and NOT on my blog; Rael was just a cutie.
Though that said- I think Aeia is going to be a real heartbreaker when she grows up. I got a picture of her, Lash and Evan on Monday before I left… Denise wasn’t in the picture because she was at work--- so very glad I took the picture of her and the Chrises. Aeia was at least as cute as Rael- though Rael worked it a bit more… and she was very nice to me( again she made a picture for me).
And also on Monday, before I left, while the kids were at School Evan and I played a game of Heroclix. I had a group of Supermen( all the ones that Heroclix had come out with) and Krypto( they were taking him out for his walkies) against Fin Fam Foom. I was amazed that I won. I know that Evan helped me- as this is the first time in years I played Heroclix- but I don’t think he threw it and that I actually won.
We also watched far too much tv- which I had NO problem with… and the blame for watching soo much would go to me anyways as I was sort of tired on Sunday night so after the game- we ended up watching 28 Days Later and several episodes of Coupling- which I thought was AN HOOT! Coupling is on BBC America, and I would recommend it. It’s what Friends would be if a) Friends was actually FUNNY and b) Friends was allowed to do ADULT humour. I would say most of the comedy of Coupling wouldn’t get past American censors (esp. the Lesbian Spank Inferno episode).

I also want to thank Kel for putting the elephant in the room. Basically on one of his visits to Boston- Kel mentioned that he often thinks of Evan as his previous name… I never had that problem… HOWEVER since Kel mentioned this I was constantly worried about calling Evan the wrong name. AND I did do just that once. I don’t remember WHEN- I just notice that I did it… Evan didn’t comment on it, so I decided to pretend it never happened rather than apologize profusely.

Lastly I want mention I did get on the scale Tuesday and was amazed. I feared the worst as I had about a beer a day with lunch, had much bigger (and often later) dinners then I usually have( one night having dinner about 1/2 hour before bed) and I only was about a couple of pounds ‘over’. My permanent goal is to be betwixt 150 and 160. I’m 161…. Which I don’t consider bad for a week of vacation….
Oh and I most likely won’t put up a picture of MY tattoo ( added interlac and Russian) for another week or so as it needs to heal more.

If Evan thinks I left anything out- I ask that he puts it on LJ as well as blogger- that way Adj can read it.


Oh almost forgot- Pic of Evan and I:

Stress Cat

Ok, I got majorly overstressed the past two days but I’m untying it today to get ready for my trip.
A bit ago, HippyBngStocking, asked me what ONE thing I would change if I could in retail. I chose to answer that I would change name captures as this peeved me from both sides of a transaction. Well the second thing I would change is I would give mandatory lessons in courtesy, as I think common courtesy is as rare as common sense here in the U.S. ( not sure if either is more/less common north of the border). Basically in retail I gat shat apon on a regular basis by customers and every so often by managers covering their butts from customers… and that’s what happened on Saturday afternoon. A woman showed me that she was a member of another museum and wanted a discount. See this is one of the times that the gift store is at odds with the museum. The Museum wants people to come in and learn stuff- and is linked to other establishments with the same goals to share information and better raise money TOGETHER. The gift store’s goal is to make $, and as such wants to give as FEW discounts as possible- so although the museum is linked to other museums and will accept their memberships- in the store you HAVE to be a member of THAT museum to get a discount. I told the woman that we ONLY honor memberships from OUR museum. She got peeved and explained to me that the museum accepted her membership from another museum as did the food court. I re-stated that we only give discounts to people who are a member of OUR museum. She felt that I was being arrogant about it, when really I was just being tired. I had told the woman our policy and she tried to argue with me… so I was just repeating our policy. I can NOT tell you how many times a day people ask to use a membership of another museum, and I have to explain that in the gift store we don’t reciprocate as the museum does. Heck, we’ve sorta been told to stop asking if someone’s a teacher… as again they don’t WANT to give a discount.
After the woman complains that I’m giving her attitude- never mind that she’s radiating her own attitude of entitlement… I tell her if she wants I can call the manager over. I usually am quick to bring a manager over… However that said at Staples, the manager would more often then not capitulate giving the customer whatever they wanted AND then make me look like the bad guy because I was towing company line and didn’t have the power to flaunt the rules. ANYWAY, the customer didn’t ask me to call over the manager until after the transaction was done. The manager in question was Kenny Boy. Kenny backed me up; at first, stating as I said that we don’t give discounts to other museum members…. However Kenny then filled out an ‘incident report’ to cover HIS butt and show that he talked to the woman, who accused me of being rude[ again in my opinion pot calling brown kettle black]. While he stated in the report HE SHOWED ME that he felt I did nothing wrong… I still don’t like the fact that Kenny felt he had to fill out a report- because HE was afraid she might talk to the museum about me….

The other thing that stressed me out Saturday was when I got home and found a past due cable bill. The bill was DUE on Tuesday and doing the math I realized that I wouldn’t be able to MAIL it in… So I figured I’d have to get up this morning early (which I did) and then travel a good hour or two out of my way to pay it at a service center. It wasn’t until 8am that I realized I could pay over the phone… which I did. Man, I would’ve saved a bunch of stress (and maybe have gotten an hour more of sleep) had I realized this. I guess I didn’t think of it because usually I pay bills with checks and I NEVER want to give companies permission to siphon off my bank account unless I have to (like with pay pal). Fortunately, I was able to do a one time payment on my cable bill- which also does my internet service.
And I should mention one of the other reasons this stressed me out was I need my hair to be buzzed- and I figured it wasn’t gonna get done unless it got done this( Monday) morning before my trip ( as I shove out at about 9am tomorrow for my noon flight). So I’ve got my time back because I was able to remember to phone it in… so I’m mellowing as bill is paid and I’m going to leave at 9am to ask my friend to buzz my hair- and I don’t have to be at work until 11am.

The next thing that spiked my stress levels was talking to my younger brother. I told my ½ brother that I was going to Cali shortly after I booked things, just in case he wanted to join me and our older brother. I did this for two reasons- a) I sorta like my younger brother and b) he has yet to see our niece… He called me last night and I found out that I was sending email to the wrong account. That sorta pissed me off, as while I have several yahoo accounts I still try and check them on a regular basis… just in case. I also was pissed as I’m pretty sure I told our dad about the trip, and not hearing from younger bro, and he explained that younger bro was BUSY… so I assumed that younger bro was too busy to get back to me. UGH. Oh well.
However on the positive front, after playing phone tag with my step brother- as he’s been working late in Cali and I’ve been going to bed early in Ma. which makes it hard to call each other… we’ve arranged at least one outing. I told him that I wanted to go to Alcatraz and he mentioned neither he nor his gf have been. So yesterday I ended up buying tickets for me, them and my older brother’s step daughters( as apparently they too have never been). I got a bit annoyed at the web site which seemed to be acting up as I had to print the 5 PAGES for all of our tickets. Likewise I got a bit peeved as 2/3rds of each page was taken up by color ads, several telling me to recycle- which sorta pissed me off as they were taking up MY color ink… and a portion of the page, which could’ve been used for the NEXT ticket.
Oh and was a little irked that this trip is costing MORE money now as I’m taking them all to Alcatraz- but oh well. I did however make it clear if they wanted to go see a baseball game( Giants V. Cubs) I would NOT pick up the tix, but would kick in some money. Now I wonder if I’ll be able to get any micro beer on my trip… though that said I WILL make time to go to the Cartoon Art Museum- with or without my bro’s step kids.

And yeah- I don’t really understand my stressing about my hair. I mean a couple of years ago if my hair was too long, well that was that… But I guess since I’m trying to be in good shape- I’m paying perhaps a bit too much attention to my looks. Sad state of affairs to ala my mom be so shallow that I’m worrying about the fact that my buzz hasn’t been done in a week or two… or the fact that I’m not sure if I want to wear some of my XL fanboy tees while with Evan because I might want to wear something that fits a bit better.

Also, have been stressing about meeting Evan for the first time. While I’m sure this stress is ungrounded, nevertheless it’s there… It could be because I’ve changed in the past 8(?) years- getting older and more bitter… Plus we don’t play the games together anymore, nor do either of us read as many comics as we did… So I’m sure we’ll have stuff in common, but will we have AS MUCH AS WE DID?
Then there’s the fact that I’ve never meet him and his brood and yet I’ll be staying with them… I try to be a good house guest but even when I sorta invited myself to Mark’s (to see Weird Al with him) I had met him before. Likewise when I met Adam, I stayed at a hotel nearby as I showed up during the week and didn’t want to impose… so I’m crossing my fingers that I don’t drive Evan or his wife INSANE while staying there… even though I’m pretty sure we’ll have a bang up time.

Anyway even though I gain time with paying my bill over the phone I still have to go. So this is it until I get back. I’m sure I’ll post at least a pic of me and Evan when I get back. ( IF he doesn’t kill me with Mr. Pointy… then HE might post the pic to pretend that I’m still alive…)

My Hell...

This post is dedicated to Kenny Boy.

Ken got his third strike yesterday for threatening to look at my personal information. This is not to say that he hasn’t done more then THREE things to piss me off- merely that he’s done one thing 3 times- saying that he can get information on me by looking at MY personal file.
I decided that even though I felt my manager would do NOTHING to Kenny, and I still think he won’t, I realized that I had to ‘respect’ the chain of command and I couldn’t go to the district manager without first talking to the store manager. And yes, when I spoke to the store manager- I told him that if Ken keeps this up I will go to the district manager. This was the first point that I got pissed at my manager- see while he said he was ‘glad’ I came to him… he pointed out that my ‘next step’ would be to go to HR… I thought of going to the district manager, because as far as I’m concerned- the manager and Kenny Boy shouldn’t be working with each other, as they are friends and the manager is likely to overlook Kenny’s shortcomings.

I started by telling the manager that the Employee Handbook, which was recently updated and given to us, talked about abusing personal information… and I asked him if Kenny Boy truly had access to MY file. He said No, Ken did not… Then he asked me if perhaps Ken was joking around by saying that he could look in my file. I pointed out that Kenny might have been joking but I didn’t find it funny. I then told him that on Monday, I was talking to another assistant manager- just shooting the breeze and the other ass’t manager LM when asked by Ken what we were talking about; and Lm didn’t seem to want to tell Ken so instead mentioned that he, Lm, was getting my phone number… And Ken pointed out that he could look in my personal file and get it for Lm.
My manager then pointed out that as a manager type, Ken does indeed have access to my number.

I then mentioned the first time Ken pulled this crap. He asked me where I lived, saying he didn’t know where I lived- and I told him, good- I don’t want you to know where I live. Ken’s counter, was to point out that he could check my personal file if he wanted. My manager responded to this by pointing out that Ken does indeed have access to this information. See we get our paychecks sent to the store- but as with most places of businesses( or at least the places I’ve worked) our paychecks are in envelops with our addresses on them( in case they have to actually be mailed to us). So my manager told me that Ken without access to my personal file still has access to my address. Way to make me feel at ease. I tried to counter by asking does that mean if I was given another co-worker’s check to give to them- does that give me the right to write down their address ? He tried to deflect, but failed, by simply pointing out that I should not be giving out anyone else’s check because I don’t have clearance; which I thought did nothing to make me comfortable…

So I told him of the time I was logging onto the system… and Ken was watching me a little too closely for my tastes. I told him I didn’t want him to see my passcode. He then mentioned he knew it was the last 4 digits of my social security, and he could find those out by looking in my personal file.

My manager ended by pointing out that he’s known Ken for ages, and that HE trusts Ken… oh and of course if I KNEW Ken, I’d trust him too. I ended by pointing out that of two previous assistant managers- La and S have contact information for me NOT because they looked at my information- but because I trusted them with this information. And I do NOT trust Ken.

I also was pissed because Ken pointed out what a good worker I was. We are right now tasked with the duty of asking everyone who spends $25 if they want to spend another $15 to get a museum tote bag. He showed me that since we started selling the bag- I’ve sold EXACTLY 100 bags, and oh he mentioned me in a note to other stores that I continue to sell the MOST of the bags. I did the math- we had sold about 578 of the bags, so I divided 100 by 578 and then moved the decimal place- so I could figure out what percentage of the bags sold by our store- I have sold. I tell you how I did my math in case I didn’t do it right- IF I did it right, then I’ve sold about 17% of that darn bag.
What have been the benefits of selling 100 bags to me- NONE. Though I have been told that a) the manager has received a raise and b) Kenny got a bonus for the STORE selling so many bags. Oh and I’ve been told that if I sell a bunch more… MAYBE the store will get a pizza party. So if I sell another 40 I’ll get a couple of slices of pizza; as will Kenny and someone who’s sold maybe 5 bags in the time it’s taken me to sell 100.

I’m 40 and I’m working retail. Yes, there is a Hell and I’m in it.

[Oh and yesterday a co-worker thought I looked like I wanted to kill someone AND she correctly guessed who I wanted to kill.]

A Newish Meme

Not quite the 'interview meme' but close enough to make ME a happy camper.

From HippyBongStocking

1. Leave me a casual comment of no particular significance, like a lyric to your current favorite song, or your favorite kind of sandwich, maybe your favorite game. Any remark, meaningless or not.
2. I will respond by asking you five personal questions so I can get to know you better.
3. Update your LJ( or blogger as the case may be) with the answers to the questions.
4. Include this explanation and offer to ask someone else in your own post.
5. When others respond with a desultory comment, you will ask them five questions.

1.Weren't you supposed to come visit the Great White North? What happened to that?
To be nice, Kel’s ‘situation’ changed. As far as ‘Kel’s timeline’ I was suppose to come up for the long Victoria’s weekend. However that didn’t seem to be good for Kel and he’s never told me that his situation has improved enough to the point where he could go out partying for a night or two. When I’m told things are good for Kel (and you and Adj.) I’ll start renegotiating times to come up.

2. If you could change one thing (or several related things) about the way retail happens, what would they be and why?
Glad I re-read things, as I first got hung up on ONE thing and thought it was ONLY one thing, but you did give me a cookie with ‘related things’- so while I have two problem sets- and the unfairness of the U.S. business system, I can at least choose between the two.
First though when I say the unfairness of the U.S. business system- I mean for someone in a company to make a million dollars, it means a lot more people get paid minimum wages… This is one of the (many) reasons I would never vote for a ‘CEO’ president like Mitt- because they squeeze every drop of blood from the little guy for profit.
That said I think the thing as both consumer and worker that I’d want to change is Name Capture. I’m not sure if this evil, vile practice has made it up to Canada; but when I buy stuff from several big chains- they ask me for my zip code/name and then proceed to try and sign me up for their mailing list. Now I really don’t like this- but at the same time I KNOW, from my one job that did this, that many of these workers are judged by this. Whenever someone in retail asks you to ‘add on’ a product or join a mailing list- odds are this is part of their ‘job performance’. Heck I remember at Staples I went to a copy center ‘training meeting’ and it was NOT about how to use the machines properly but how to UPSELL.
So to get back on track- I feel bad sometimes when someone asks me for information because I know they’re gonna get judged for this, but at the same time it pisses me off when I go to Radio Shack to buy some batteries and they want to sign me up. So I’d get rid of ‘name captures’. Make it illegal or something. I’d also like to get rid of quotas in general ( you have to sell x amount of y each shift)… but that’s prolly UNAMERICAN and wouldn’t fly… so just get rid of name capture; that way the workers won’t be judged so much on how much junk mail the consumer wants.


3. If you could start your own political party, what would it be called?
Ok… Odd but interesting. My first thought was ITMFA- however that would be a bit passé after 2008 (plus I don’t want anyone getting any ideas after I get voted in)… Likewise there is already a socialist party here in the U.S.( prolly in Canada as well) so I’m going to go with Super Cool Party. Who wouldn’t want to be a member of the Super Cool Party?
Then too it would be fun to point out on other shows that Bill O’Riellly and the rest of Fox News are ANTI Super Cool. Because I know they are.

4. How's it going?
Not well. While I’ve got a learner’s permit, I’ve done NOTHING with it.
My job sucks- and yet instead of spend most of my free time looking for a better job… I spend it playing video games and reading.
I sometimes feel I’m in a hell of my own creation-
And other times, a hell made by the GOP. I wasn’t all that politically inclined until the 2000 election. I KNEW somewhere deep down that W. would be bad for me and the U.S. but I had NO idea.
Oh and I plan to post about Kenny Boy tomorrow. Suffice it to say, I squealed to my manager about some of Ken’s behavior BUT because Ken is friends with the manager- I don’t expect anything to happen.

5. If you could live anywhere, where would you most want to live?
Right now it would be Amsterdam. I really loved it when I was there but then again a) I was on vacation, b) the weather was faboo- well save for it not getting dark until about 10pm, but that was still sort of nice and c) I got altered there more then I had been in my ENTIRE life( usually I avoid that stuff).
I also have to say- getting tired of the American One party system- republicans and the wusses who can’t stand up to the republicans.
That said- a) If one of you were to find me a job in TO- I’d try to move there ASAP. I mean I feel I’d have like a weird instant geek support team. And B) I know Evan is going to next week try to make Chico look like the place to move- but it’s still in the U.S….

Words Fail Me...

I'm not really sure what to say about this image:



I know I had to share it. I know I should comment on it, but really- what can I say?

I guess I'll start by pointing out that Ok has plates for the Victims and Survivors of the Murrah Building, which was a TERRORIST attack in OK.
I emphisize victims and survivors because, well that's who it's for.
So already we start having a double standard, because OK came out with a plate for THEIR attack, but only allowed people who were victims or survivors get them... so already a 'double' standard- as ANYONE can get their '9/11' plate- with the TWIN TOWERS.
Oh- that's another double standard- notice how the place for the OKC terrorist attack doesn't HAVE the Murrah Building on it.

The OKC plate also doesn't have AN EAGLE or other symbol of AMERICA... I guess that's because the terrorist was... well... an American.

Then there's the price difference. For a nominal fee( besides being a victim/survivor of OKC) you can get THEIR plate- but for the GWOT- or as I like to call it- TWAT( The War Against Terrorism)- costs $37. No word on if any of that $20 or so goes to "the Jersey Girls" or to otherwise help fund TWAT.

I guess what really pisses me off- is I see this as a jingoistic and warmongering AND I feel that most of the people who died on that fateful day wouldn't be given the time of day in OK on Sept. 9th.
Would they call these people, many of whom were immigrants, AMERICANS if they had not died on that day of dates? Or would the people of OK, tell them to LEARN ENGLISH and to STOP TAKING JOBS AWAY FROM REAL AMERICANS?

I'm just made angry and sick about this. Oh and it prolly doesn't help that the people who buy this plate most likely drive SUVs to NASCAR and wouldn't think for a second to slow their oil consumption and think that bombing Mecca would show Osama/Saddam what for.

Again with the PG rating

The Everything Test

There are many different types of tests on the internet today. Personality tests, purity tests, stereotype tests, political tests. But now, there is one test to rule them all.

Traditionally, online tests would ask certain questions about your musical tastes or clothing for a stereotype, your experiences for a purity test, or deep questions for a personality test.We're turning that upside down - all the questions affect all the results, and we've got some innovative results too! Enjoy :-)

Personality You are more emotional than logical, more concerned about others than concerned about self, more atheist than religious, more dependent than loner, more lazy than workaholic, more rebel than traditional, more engineering mind than artistic mind, more cynical than idealist, more leader than follower, and more extroverted than introverted. As for specific personality traits, you are intellectual (70%), adventurous (69%), innovative (64%).

Stereotypes Hippie 53% Old Geezer 50% Geek 47%

Life Experience Sex 27% Substances 32% Travel 38%

Politics Your political views would best be described as Socialist, whom you agree with around 100% of the time.

Socioeconomic Your attitude toward life best associates you with Lower Middle Class. You make more than 56% of those who have taken this test, and 54% less than the U.S. average.

If your life was a movie, it would be rated PG-13. By the way, your hottness rank is 64%, hotter than 64% of other test takers.

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Californication...

Many thoughts going through my mind...
I got really stressed this AM, and ended up going to two movies to unwind...
(Harry 5 and Hairspray- liked both).

BUT want to mention TO ALL that I got my tickets.

I'm going to see my niece in her 'natural surroundings' of San Fran AND Chico, Ca to see EVAN in like only TWO weeks.

Oh man.

On the one hand, I was stressing a bit because it ended up costing a bit more then I had originally priced it.... but on the other hand, I'm going to see Evan and all of his brood- in THEIR natural surroundings as well- Casa Peterson.
[ Also stressed because this weekend is a 'tax free holiday' in Ma. but was worrying if I can afford to take advantage of it due to trip]

That's it for now. I have a hate filled blog on deck for tomorrow, but wanted to post something GOOD here. And I think me spending a weekend with Evan is a good thing.

Even better- I let slip out to my mum that I was spending equal time with 'my friend' as with my bro... and she did NOT get upset for not spending more time with my bro, nor( rolls eyes) did she warn me that Evan could be an axe murderer.
Which I'm glad because it's pretty hard to prove that negative.
;-)

Hung Over

Ok, I drank badly last night. I broke the two golden rules of drinking (actually four). The first is the fact that I didn’t eat first. One should NOT eat on an empty stomach. That helped me get messed up faster. The other thing that helped me get messed up was one should always drink water with booze. Since we were drinking at a crappy ‘gaming’ place (had video games and pool) and NO ONE ELSE was asking for water, I stupidly didn’t get water into me…. So currently up early drinking water and dealing with heat.
The other two mistakes I made while not ‘golden’ rules were still bad- drinking with a guy I don’t like. I went drinking with my manager because the two of us were invited to go drinking by two ex co workers- S and Sa. I wanted to see S and Sa and so I was willing to put up with my manager. That said I was snarky and EVERY chance I got to speak to S alone I let her know how much I hate Kenny Boy- never mind that she and Sa left before Kenny Boy (as they saw Mike creating his ‘old boy’ network and left before things went to pot.
The forth mistake was- I’m stupid. When I went to my mom’s, I tried to make sure that I double and triple checked things before leaving… And I still managed to leave my toiletry (kit) at her place. So when I got back on Saturday, I had to re-buy a razor, ear drops and a toothbrush. What I apparently FORGOT to buy, and didn’t realize it until last night was Advil… Actually that might be breaking the 3rd golden rule of drinking- taking some aspirin BEFORE bed. I feel like crap and feel like blogging about it- so if I go drinking with Evan( as I hope to even though I’m a ‘cheap date’) I’ll remember to drink my damn water even if I look like a wuss. I’d rather NOT have hangovers.

Oh I also wanted to mention- I geeked out a bit with S. Apparently AFTER she left, she admitted to me that she reads comics. When she revealed this I wanted to slap her around a bit- as there are SOOO many comics that I would’ve lent her. I fear she has bad taste, as she mentioned enjoying House of M- which I felt sucked. She tells me she likes Gaiman. I told her I found it ‘amusing’ that we have a guy at work whom considers himself goth and hasn’t read Sandman… I then tell her the ‘holy grail’ that she should look for- Miracleman, by Moore and Gaiman. I figured if she liked Gaiman this would be a way to get her into Moore… And yes I did tell her about Watchman.
I however have low expectations for her, as again she liked HoM and b… she dissed Kirby. She mentioned how she liked FF2, and I told her I didn’t see it. She asked if I was waiting for video… And I had to let her know that I wasn’t watching it because there was NO Pimp Hat Galactus. She shook her head and tried to explain to me how awful the hat looks. And I left it by point out the hat was Kirby!
I prolly should mention at this point that AT BEST I consider Stan a hack standing on the shoulders of his betters- and one of his betters is Jack King Kirby.
And at this point I should mention that the only way I’m going to see the Watchman movie is if Moore himself says it’s good and invites me to England to see it with him. I say this because a) the vomit that was League of Extradoinary Gentlemen and b) I’ve seen some of the casting. Nightowl should be a doughy fanboy… not a ‘pretty boy’.

Lastly- I found it odd that after spending a good portion of Tuesday and Wednesday either cleaning up or putting off cleaning up to get the couch I found on Monday… I can’t get the couch into my apartment. At about lunch time I decided to go to the game store and measure the couch- I had measured the length of the spot I wanted but while I was at the game store I realized I needed to measure width- as I had to make sure it would fit INTO my apartment. And boy am I glad I checked as it was about 35 inches ( on the generous ‘small’ side), my elevator was about 27- so it would’ve had to come up the stairs and my doorways are about 30 inches( being generous on the ‘wide’ size). And as said since I was being generous with both measurings, I realized that the couch really wouldn’t be able to get in. I don’t know why I wasn’t madder at this. I guess because even though I had thrown out two bags of trash AND was boxing stuff up to clean it… I wasn’t all that close to clean.

Oh and since I was up ‘too damn early’ I ended up seeing the end of the Burn Notice premiere. I liked it. I have a couple of other episodes on tape so I can ‘catch up’ (think I’m missing like one…) and I plan to watch/tape tonight’s episode. Yes, it was recommended to me because of The Bruce- and he does steal the scenes he’s in… but it seems a pretty good show, which is a rare thing in this day and age.