Intercalary Updates
Friday, February 29, 2008
First off - yes, I said "intercalary". No, I don't think that makes me cool.
I've been silent in the blog department for ten days, and realized this morning that, this being a leap year, I still had one more chance for a February post. Pleh.
Since my last post, I have indeed continued my new
In other news, I think I've finally decided what my next tattoo will be. Tim and I both got our first tattoos a couple of years ago in Pensacola Beach. Ever since, I've wanted another. Probably just one more. I don't need to look like this dude anytime soon. It's just a moderately small-sized combination of the Hindu lotus flower with a Sanskrit "Om" symbol on the inside. I'm all proud to have come up with myself too. Woot. Anywho, if/when I get it, I'll post pictures up.
We're off to Arkansas for the weekend. And thank goodness, too. I need a little R&R.
Currently in Memphis, Tennessee
Currently listening to Janet Jackson's New Record - Discipline
Labels: All Posts, General Bullshit, Relaxation
posted by Dustin @ 11:15 AM,
Random Tidbits of Oil Changes, Office Cleaning, Inconsistent Work-Out Schedules, and The United-Effing-Kingdom...
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
I'm sitting here in the lobby of Wolfchase Toyota, where skilled technicians are hard at work, carefully changing the oil and rotating the tires of my beloved Prius, and I'm reminded of how many plain-looking people live in this city. Not that this is a bad thing. Just an observation. A mundane task like this in cities like LA or New York would be different. There would be very few plain-looking people. There would be only ridiculously beautiful or heinously ugly people. No in-between. I think Memphis must be a city of in-between. Although I suppose people don't generally get all gussied up to get their oil changed or to buy a new car. Hell, I'm looking rather grungy myself today. Quite plain indeed.
I cleaned/rearranged my office a bit yesterday. It was more stale than dirty, and more cluttered than poorly-arranged. But still. Its amazing that I can spend two hours "cleaning" a room only to have it look basically like it did when I started. Only a little more tidy. And tidy is happy. I'm thinking about getting this chair, then painting the walls chocolate. Then I'll be content with the room till this time next year. Its cyclical.
I'm cyclical. In fact, those who know me well would attest that I'm pretty dadgum predictable. Another example: I've entered my annual narcissistic self-improvement phase. Every year, about this time, I get all amped up about exercizing and working out and other such things in an attempt to be more good-looking by the time I hit the lake in my cute little swimsuit. Generally this passion lasts for one or two weeks, or till my next business trip, whichever comes first. I've done really well on both cardio and weight training since I started (only last Saturday), but I'm going back to Detroit on Thursday, so we'll see how it goes. Perhaps this year will be different. Perhaps not. It is cyclical, after all.
Finally, speaking of business trips, I'm on deck for another new client. This one is based in the jolly old United Kingdom. This is badass, as I've been wanting to get back to Europe ASAP and have never been to London. I won't find out for sure for another couple of days, but its nice to see it in the cards.
Anywho, that's what's up here at approximately 9:30am on a Tuesday. It feels good to be doing something so mundane, cyclical, and in-between. Cheers.
Currently in Memphis, Tennessee
Currently listening to Avril Lavigne - The Best Damn thing
Labels: All Posts, General Bullshit, Toys, Travel
posted by Dustin @ 9:06 AM,
Apparent Self-Loathing....
Saturday, February 16, 2008
I detest everything about WAL*MART. Because of this American institution, I all but recoil at the sight of smiley faces, a shame, as back in the day Joe Boxer was a respectable brand and Mr. Winkey made me giggle. I get nauseous at the very smell of the store, commonly the smell of old people, white trash, and McDonald's french fries. It is inside a WAL*MART store that I most hate the human race, more so even than when I'm driving (I'm notoriously road-rage-prone). Understanding this, I must be something of a masochist, or at least subconsciously angry with myself over something. There's no other explanation for it.
I went to WAL*MART. In Cordova (a place I more or less find not unlike the sixth circle of hell). On a Saturday afternoon. Ugh.
But I needed both Coca-Cola Zero and an assortment of brown and pink ribbon (another story for another time). That's the thing about WAL*MART- if you need a wide array of random shit, and don't want to spend your whole day gallivanting across the city, you have to man the fuck up and ride into battle with your high heels on, so to speak (for those of you unfamiliar with that last little bit, don't worry about it...seriously).
Anywho, I survived the ordeal and will hopefully have no need for a repeat performance anytime soon. Praise Jeebus.
Currently in Memphis, Tennessee
Currently listening to some random remix of Whitney Houston - Heartbreak Hotel
Labels: All Posts, General Bullshit
posted by Dustin @ 4:05 PM,
Because it Makes Me Chuckle...
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Labels: All Posts, General Bullshit, Music
posted by Dustin @ 10:20 AM,
On This Day in History...
Monday, February 11, 2008
1990 - Nelson Mandela was freed after 27 years in captivity in South Africa.
2006 - Vice President Dick Cheney shot a fellow hunter while quail hunting.
1790 - The Quakers sent the United States Congress a petition calling for the emancipation of slaves
1847 - Inventor Thomas Edison was born.
1979 - Followers of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini seized power in Iran.
1993 - Janet Reno was appointed by Bill Clinton to the position of Attorney General.
1809 - Robert Fulton patented the steam boat.
1945 - The Yalta Agreement was signed by FDR, Winston Churchill, and Josef Stalin.
1970 - Japan became the fourth country to put a satellite in orbit.
1983 - I was born about a month premature - a clear sign of my lifelong distaste for delayed gratification.
Salut.
Labels: All Posts, General Bullshit
posted by Dustin @ 12:00 PM,
On the Ground in Dublin......California, That Is...
Monday, February 4, 2008
After seven hours of travel time, made much better by First Class upgrades, Kevin Smith's "My Boring-Ass Life", and a few Pink Floyd records (Dark Side of the Moon, A Momentary Lapse of Reason, and the second disc of Echoes, to be exact), I'm in Dublin, a suburb of Oakland, California.
Quick moment of geekiness: I was seriously jonesing for some Floyd, and have to say that I think I love the old stuff almost as much as the not-so-old stuff. Example: Bike is from Piper at the Gates of Dawn, back when crazy-ass Syd Barrett was trying to out-weird the Beatles. While I certainly miss David Gilmour's ridiculous tone and Roger Waters' unbelievable poetry, songs like this still hold up. Granted, its totally effed up, but who said that's bad? It gets a 10 for creativity and an 11 for insanity. I'd still rather listen to Shine On, Fletcher Memorial Home, or Learning to Fly on a regular basis, but the old stuff should not be forgotten. Okay, moment of serious musical obscurity that only myself and the good Reverend Humpy will appreciate over.
So I'm in Dublin. Actually, I'm in Pleasanton, but will be in the office in Dublin all week. So whatever. And I'm watching a Mythbusters marathon. So I'm happy. G'night, then.
Currently in Pleasanton, California
Currently listening to Mythbusters
Labels: All Posts, Music, Travel
posted by Dustin @ 12:10 AM,
The Mile High City
Sunday, February 3, 2008
I'm currently at the Denver airport waiting for my flight to San Fran. The closest TV I can find is about 20 yards away, along with its sound. So I've decided I'm okay with not knowing what the hell is going on with the Super Bowl Commercials, let alone the game itself. C'est la vie.
On a happy note, I was reminded of some upgrades I had banked up with United when I checked in for this trip, so the Memphis to Denver to San Fran jaunt is entirely First Class. Can't beat that.
Currently in Denver, Colorado
Currently listening to Blake Lewis - Meet Me at The End of The World
posted by Dustin @ 6:09 PM,
Laziness Be Damned!
Saturday, February 2, 2008
As it turns out, I had the gumption to tidy up a bit today. In fact, it was a "move all the furniture and clean every surface in sight" kind of gumption. Now the house smells pretty. Woot.
To be fair, Tim caught the gumption toward the end and did a number on the last part of the house - which is good, as my back was giving out. Now Spring Cleaning should be a breeze come late March/early May.
On top of playing Cinderelly, I managed to knock out the next two weeks' Spanish homework, which will make the next six days in San Francisco significantly less stressful. Double woot.
Currently listening to the CNN Democratic Super Tuesday Debate
Labels: All Posts, General Bullshit, Travel
posted by Dustin @ 7:20 PM,
Ah, Blessed Weekend...
I logged off my work computer yesterday around 4:30, and it felt good. Even though my weekend will be truncated by Sunday flights through Denver and to San Fran, I was ready for a few minutes of marginal responsibility and a likelihood of moderate laziness.
Tim and I hit P.F. Chang's for a little lettuce wrap action, followed up by a quick trip to see two of our favorite people (and one of our favorite dog-children) in the world.
That's an old picture of Rob & AJ - from a friend's 30th bday a few years back - but alas, its the only one of the two of them together I could find. And yes, we were ALL wearing pink (in honor of the birthday girl, ever the "pretty in pink" diva). Anywho, Rob had just finished baking a plethora of fantastic cookie delights, and we spent a few minutes catching up and generally enjoying each others' presence.
The rest of the evening involved sipping on a bit of Crown Royal straight up and a little American Idol catch up session. Gotta love it.
I woke up this morning and took Honey Bee with me to Starbucks while Tim slept in a bit. Now I'm thinking about a little pre-Spring Spring cleaning, if I can get the gumption (that's for you, Reverend Humpy). I'll let you know how that ends up :-).
Currently in Memphis, Tennessee
Currently listening to Billie Holiday - Lover Man
Labels: All Posts, Friends and Family, Relaxation, Travel
posted by Dustin @ 10:21 AM,
Primary Voting Snafu...
Friday, February 1, 2008
So I'm traveling to San Francisco all next week, which is very cool. First, because I'm getting some pretty intense training for a new talent management product offered by one of our vendor partners. Second, because its San Francisco. There are, however, two downfalls to this. #1 - I'm traveling all day on Super Bowl Sunday. Granted, I don't give a rats ass about the game, but I'd love to be able to see both the Jacko and the Timberlake Pepsi commercials when they first hit (I know, I'm such a queer). Far more importantly is downfall #2 - I'll be out of town during Super Duper Tuesday. This is a problem for me. Especially since I've been out of town the whole time early voting was going on, and much to my chagrin, the Shelby County Election Commission decided to end early voting a day early, meaning I can't vote today. Alas, no primary voting for me.
So I implore those of you Tennesseans (and others, of course) to get out and vote next Tuesday. Tennessee is a swing state on both sides of the red/blue isle, so your vote makes a difference. Get'r done.
Currently in Memphis, Tennessee
Currently listening to Crazy-ass Britney's Newest Record
Labels: All Posts, Politics, Travel
posted by Dustin @ 12:49 PM,
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