Dark Jason

No, I'm in a great mood. GREAT mood. Honest.

It's just that lately I haven't felt like I've been acting like myself. I'm tired of being fake or congenial or whatever.

I feel like watching The Road Warrior. Love that friggin' movie.

Nice guys finish.

My days of being polite by default are over. For thirty-six years I have always been the smiling man. Always the first one to say hello to strangers in the hall. Always holding doors for people longer than necessary. Always worried about whether or people like me or are mad at me.

No more. Things that I actually care about are dwindling. The welfare of people around me is losing ground on my list of things I care about. Maybe I should make a prioritized list of things I care about...

Music Appreciation: Hoffs and Sweet

If you don't know who Matthew Sweet is I suggest you run out (or click) and get a copy of his album Girlfriend (Here's a song you may remember). And Suzanna Hoffs, well, if you don't know who she is then you need a swift kick in the pants. And I'll hum this song as I do it).

Head is Hot

There's a heat advisory today... so I guess it's going to be hot.

I shaved my head on my birthday and I keep telling people at work, "...heat advisory..."

This is a pretty good day so far... I haven't lost anything or injured myself in any way yet...

No one sat next to me on the train this morning. I friggin' love it when no one sits next to me on the train. Wait, maybe it's because of my hair! Genius!

Plans

This Friday is my day off. I plan on going to see District 9 and then picking up a copy of the new Madden 10. Anyone care to join me? Let me know.

"Score, A Direct Hit"

There's a scene in Sixteen Candles where 'The Geek' (the unnamed Anthony Michael Hall character) takes the passed out girl (Jake's girlfriend) over to his friends' house so that he can get a picture of him with the girl in the Rolls Royce. (What's that? You haven't seen the movie? First, smack yourself in the face. Second, fucking see it, jesus christ.)

I conjure up the images of this for one reason: Of all the John Hughes' movies that I grew up watching (and watching and watching) this scene is the one I most identified with. Sure, I wanted to be Ducky from Pretty in Pink, or Bender from Breakfast Club, but it's the guys in this scene that best described my adolescent life.

R.I.P. John Hughes

Valentino's

We got a pizza from a place called Valentino's. Allegedly, it's New York style pizza. Very thin and flimsy. Good though. I liked it. We'll prolly get some more this weekend.

I love cereal. (I would die for you, Cereal.)

I woke up early enough this morning to eat a bowl of Coco-Krispies. Those little bastards have been calling my name ever since we brought them home from the food store.

I began reading a new book (as recommended by my good friend Elizabeth)...

I'm only a few chapters in and I have already been frightened and heartbroken. I am engrossed.

High praise for multi-grain spaghetti. Had some last night. (Thumb is up.) I use sauce from a jar, but add 1/2 pound of turkey meat and sprinkle some fennel seeds throughout.

I haven't told her yet, but when my wife randomly picks up the guitar and plays for a few minutes in the living room, I imagine this is what it sounds like when an angel visits.

It's not Jackie Chan!

threes

1. Bugles
2. Growlers
3. Frosty mugs

1. Friday
2. Party
3. Raffle

1.
2.
3.

White/Wheat

I got an egg sandwich from the little deli outside the CNN building and as usual the guy only cut my sandwich half-way through leaving the bottom piece of bread in tact forcing me to rip the sandwich in half like some sort of animal.

And I said white, not wheat. White. Wheat. White. Wheat. Then the lady at the cash register gave me attitude because I couldn't decipher her broken English.

I think for the rest of the day I will leave random consonants off random words as I speak.

And I'll do it in my kick-ass, awesome fake British accent.

Most likely, I'll not do any of that and just stay in my office with the door shut. (I need to drink some beer this Friday. Who's with me?)

I'm back.

Back from vacation. I went to Chicago to visit friends and family. Fun was had. Food was eaten. Beer drank. The drive was long. I'm pretty sick of Ohio. And Indiana. I did manage to smuggle home two cases of Old Style. I also reaffirmed my notion that people have no idea what pizza is here on the East side of the country.

The terrain was flat. Very flat. I forgot how flat it all is. It's nice to live among hills and curves.

It's nice to be home. Home being Alexandria, Virginia, with the hills and the crappy pizza.

Vacation

Sorry, folks. I'll be gone for a while driving half-way across the country in the family truckster.

See you when I get back in a couple weeks!
JC

I saw a bigfoot!

I'm watching a day's full of Monster Quest. I wonder how people would perceive my 'eye witness account' of coming face to face with a Bigfoot. Would you believe me? I didn't think so. I hope I never see one because I'd hate to send my life trying to convince all you bastards that I saw one.

BTW, I saw a UFO once when I was in high school. No, really, I did.

You Will Never Be This Cool

Ever. (But we try.) I think I'm going to get a leather jacket in the Fall.

The Real

Nothing will ever be cooler or more awesome than this picture. Nothing.

"Who is that man giving a thumbs up to?"

The escalators are fully operational at Union Station. Let that be a big thumbs up from the universe. I give it back, U. Yo.

Today I'm Good

Today I will not get on the wrong train.

Today I will not become impatient with people walking slow in front of me.

Today I will be thankful for:

• Sliced cheese
• Sunlight
• Tiny devices that hold a bunch of music
• Leia's indifference
• Air conditioning
• Love (so big we forget it's real - like the Earth)

Today I will not form an opinion regarding trivial things.

Today I will try to smell the cheap half-smokes as I walk past the hot dog stand.

Today I will look forward to driving home to Illinois next week.

Today I will write a story.

Independence Day and Stuff

1. Bought a Bocce set and played it. 2. Had Thai at Emily's house and she showed us a new game called Bananagrams. Get it at your local Target. (Think Scrabble w/o the board.) 3. Ate BBQ in the courtyard thanks to Chris. 4. Got a haircut. 5. Max forced us to play Jenga and I was responsible for toppling the tower. 6. Went to Shenandoah National Park to have a picnic where Leia stepped on a bee and got stung. 7. Stopped for a chocolate shake at Burgers N Things in Sperryville, Virginia. 8. Watched Blade Runner on the SciFi channel. 9. Wore the same outfit all weekend long. 10. Ate Butter Streusel cake. 11. Ate Ho Ho's. 12. Drank beer. 13. Chewed Big League Chew. 14. Watched the Cubs. 15. Had a dream about driving a motorcycle.