Nothing of Interest

Anothe class done

2009-04-06T19:53:05Z

I finished another class on Friday. I'm now a qualified IFF, HYDRA, SPA 25, and CDLS Technician. Part of that class will finish up tomorrow with the VIG Maintenance.

Unfortunately this means that I have to go to work on the ship on Wendsday. I am not looking forward to that.

Posted via LiveJournal.app.

Death in the Family

2008-07-04T20:28:34Z

My mother passed away on the 26th. My carrier was off the coast of the Phillipines at the time. Now, for those that don't know me, I didn't have the best relationship with my mother. She had some pretty bad issues that drove me and my siblings away. I thought that I was ok with that and managed to build up a bubble of anger and resentment towards what she did to us that I thought would insulate me when a time like this would come.

I was wrong. After I got the news I was upset. I mourned, moreso than I thought I would have. I guess that no matter what wrong she did or how much it hurt, the truth was that she was still my mom and her death affected me.

She died from terminal cancer. I later found out that she had both breast and lung cancer, seperately, but one or both and matastized to her bones. No one knew this. She kept this, like most other things, secret from everyone.

I was lucky that the Navy allowed me to come home. I'll post about the trip later.

My sister organized everything well. When I got here on Tuesday everything was arranged. My brother, whom I haven't seen in over 10 years, made a long trip up from Georgia with his family to be here.

We had our calling hours, our wake and now my mom is buried close to her father whom she loved greatly. I'm worried for my uncle, her brother. He's buried his father, mother, and now older sister. I'm concerned and part of that is a selfish concern. I don't want to bury anyone else just yet.

My brother had to leave today to go pick up his step-daughter from a state over and make the trip back to Georgia. My sister is currently working on sorting though mom's stuff at her apartment. I'll be doing that myself, but tomorrow. My mom was a pack rat.

Thanks go out to all my friends that helped me get home and were concerned about me during this time. I'm OK. I'm hanging in there.

But I do miss my mom....

Lazy Days

2007-09-02T19:46:44Z

It's Sunday again. The cycle of 7 continues.

I had duty last night and got alot of stuff done. Stood my watch and trained someone on the cooling system. Then I stood two more UI watches and got some stuff done for my Tuesday meeting.

I would like to go jogging but it's just too damn hot outside. I think I'll take Dan's suggestion and go running in the evening. Perhaps things will have cooled down by then.

Until then I guess I'll chill for a bit and watch some dvds and play some videogames. Then I'll go to the gym

Where am I know??

2007-07-01T23:26:16Z

I'm at Naval Air Station Coronado, on board the mighty U.S.S. Ronald Reagan. Well, on board the barge that's moored next to the mighty U.S.S. Ronald Reagan.

I got here about a month ago and started working for my division. It's cool. San Diego is nice. I haven't been out and about as much as I'd like but it's all good.

Living....

2007-04-05T21:20:56Z

Not sure how to live in the now. Not sure why, but I bogged myself down into living in the past again; looking up exs from years gone by and now I'm feeling a bit melancholy. I'm tired. Tired of feeling like this when I think of girlfriends from time goes by. I'm so tired of it, but don't have one-frickin-clue of how I'm to correct this.

It's easier when I'm in a relationship, but with my life all topsy-turvey I'm not sure I'm in the best place to find someone. And no matter how horney I might be, I doubt a one-night-stand (or a one-month-stand) will do anything to help.

So I write this out to try to exorcise these feelings. I write in the hopes that my blah will pass as I commit these feelings and thoughts to the air.

I am happy that my last ex is doing what she wanted to and, apparently, doing it well. Kudos to her.

Ok. I feel better. Heh, I actually do. Got it out of my system.

Now for a bit of an update.

I'm in Norfolk and have been here since the beginning of Feburary. San Diego was nice and I learned alot in my class. I'm in another class and it's a hum dinger. Working hard at it though and hopefully I will make it through.

My class ends in May and I hope to take time off to go home to see my sister and niece. Then it's off to San Diego where I have to wait till they either fly me out to my ship or my ship returns to port.

Another advance in my military career

2006-12-24T13:56:02Z

On Friday, Dec 15th I was advanced from ETSN (Electronics Technician Seaman) to ET3 (Electronics Technician, 3rd class). This is a pay grade jump to the exalted ranks of Petty Officer. It was weird. All of a sudden other students were calling saying, "Good Morning Petty Officer" as they are want to do since most just completed Boot camp and that's beaten pretty well into us.

I'm on Holiday leave now and spending time with friends and family. It's extremely nice to see my niece and sister after over 6 months away.

I have till the 5th of Jan to relax and then it's off to San Diego for more schooling. I'm there for a bit and then off to Norfolk for, you guessed it, more schooling.

I won't get to my ship till early to mid Summer. Now I understand why I had to sign a mandatory 2 year extension to my contract. :)

Happy Holidays

2006-12-24T13:51:38Z

Happy Holidays to one and all!

My Lust Sign

2006-12-24T13:50:59Z

Another Hurdle

2006-11-24T02:03:35Z

I just graduated from ET "A" school yesterday. That's 6 months, to the day, that I went to Boot Camp. I was an Honor Grad which netted me kind words from Commander sullivan, the new CO for the Center for Surface Combat Systems here at Great Lakes, a challenge coin, and a day planner (for 2006 which makes me laugh a bit). The benes were nice but my pride at the first, getting congratulated by a Commander and Master Chief was outstanding.

My orders, picked but not written, will have me going to "C" school on the West Coast and then being assigned to the USS Ronald Reagan. I'm looking forward to living in California for the next decade or longer.

So now I'm on hold as I'm allowed to take 15 days of leave before reporting to my command, but I don't want to take this leave until I can do so over Christmas and New Years.

Oh, and on Monday I'm dropping my chit to be advanced to Electronics Technician, 3rd class (E-4).

Semper Accipio
- ETSN Jesse G Goble.

Welcome Aboard

2006-07-21T22:42:08Z

I've completed a journey that I started over 8 weeks ago. Hell, I've completed a task that I started in August of last year. I am now a sailor in the United States Navy. After losing my job last year and finding nothing in my field in my area I decided to do something that I've thought about on and off for the last 12 years. I decided to serve.

I settled on the Navy as I felt they would give me what I needed: Education and a chance to see the world. Other branches of service might give me the same chance at an education but I felt that only the Navy could allow me to see the world. You see alot when you're on a ship.

My first hurdle: losing weight. I was over the Navy's standards by a good margin. I started at 230 lbs. When I finally entered the Delayed Entry Program I was at 186 lbs.

Boot Camp was tough. It's designed to be. You need to break yourself of the bad habits you've developed in the civilian world and become a part of a team. Looking back it doesn't seem as it was tough at all but I remember that at the time I worried I wouldn't make it.

I graduated Boot today and I'm excited. Excited to, finally, be doing something with my life and excited to see where I'll be tomorrow.

Nice day

2005-09-10T23:27:46Z

I got woken up on Friday with pain. Pain in my kidney. Pain that I've, sadly, become accustom to feeling every couple of years. Yup, I figured it was a kidney stone so I got some water and tried to prepare myself for the wonderful period of time of white-hot pain I would soon have.

The pain came and then decided to move in. Usually I experience this pain for a half hour to an hour but after an hour and 15 minutes of this pain, it was just getting worse. I called my sister for some nurseily advice but my 2nd-shift-working, nite-owl sister was still sleeping. So I got myself together and managed to drive to the emergency room without breaking too many traffic laws nor getting into an accident.

Got to the triage area and was glad that no one seemed to be there. I rang the bell for assistance and then kneeled down as the pain got worse. A gent came out and I told him my symptoms. I think I managed to tell him that I had a history of kidney stones before but this was the worse. This among other statements are things I would end up saying alot for the next day or so. The guy, a nurse I think, then stepped out and I proceeded to fall out of the chair I was sitting in to vomit profusely into a nearby garbage can. I was relieved to note that there was a bio-waste bag in the receptacle as I wouldn't want to clean up what was coming up.

This was my first indication that this bout would be worse. Well, that and the fact that the pain didn't go away like it usually did. When I first past a stone the doctor explained that even though I experienced pain on a scale that I never had before it was a mild case as the pain passed after a time and I wasn't vomiting from it.

So I was taken into the ER where I continued to heave and couldn't lay still as the pain just kept going. I had blood drawn, an IV set up, and was given a pain shot. Or an anti-pain shot. Not sure what to call it. It was good though. The pain eventually fled as did my ability to stay awake. It's my preferred method of dealing with pain; sleeping through it. I was woken up to get an x-ray and I felt like I had worked out to my limit and I was just barely concious. I think I scared the tech taking me to the x-ray as I was all wobbley. I didn't fall though. After that it was more sleep and perhaps another pain shot. When I next awoke I was taken to get a CT scan. The scan revealed a 5mm stone as well as stones in my gall bladder. A nephrologist was consulted and he explained that they could do a procedure to remove the stone that wasn't really invasive. I think it involved a scope or some such. He also stated that as I stated the pain was reduced I might be able to pass it myself.

So I was admitted. I think it was during the admission process that I was asked the same questions for the third time, but I was also asked some wierd questions. I'm getting admitted because of pain in the kidney region. I've stated that I live alone. The answer to the question of, 'Do you feel like your home is a dangerous environment' is 'no'. Still, I understand they have to ask and don't begrudge them.

I had contacted my sister while I was still in the OR and explained what was going on. She told me she was on her way down. Unfortunately she didn't get there before I was admitted so had an interesting few moments finding me as the ER coordinator still thought I was in the ER and my sister pondered if the pain and meds made me misname the hospital I went to. I would chide her for this if it weren't for Thursday when I argued that we were going the wrong way and consistantly called the bridge we were heading for by the wrong name. She did find me and her and my niece kept me company as I rested and tried to figure out what was going on.

My meals were ok, but they had me on a clear liquid diet that does little to satisfy hunger. Still I don't remember actually being hungry. I did remember having a great desire to nap. My sister left around 6 and I settled in to watching Sci-Fi Friday programming. I think that the only time I can remember being hungry was when the shift nurses kept mentioning getting a pizza.

Sleeping in a hospital is a strange experience. The bed is comfortable for sitting and resting, but I roll around alot. With an IV in my hand this proves difficult. Also I was woken up a couple of times by my need to pee and once or twice by the nurse to check my vitals. I hope I remained polite but was probably just groggy.

I woke up this morning to learn that as of midnite I was taken off foods entirely as the nefrologist was planning on the scope procedure 'just in case'. I met with a different doctor, a generalist for the hospital, and we talked about what was going to happen. I then met with the nefrologist and he determined that I didn't need the sugery. I then was allowed to eat some ceral and was given a full-meal lunch, which I enjoyed. Then I sat around until my original doctor was to make rounds. I needed her go ahead to be discharged. The hall nurse checked with her when it appeared she wasn't going to be in today and since I had met with the other two doctors I was discharged and I came home. I slept most of today after cleaning up the mess I made in my Friday moring pain fest.

Now, I need to figure out if I qualify for medical assistance as I don't have a job or insurance currently. This means I need to get forms signed and returned to the hospital. Then I need to determine if this incident is going to hamper my chances to enlist. If it doesn't I also need to know what information my recruiter or the MEPS docs will need about this incident.

That's for Monday. I'm going to drink a lot of water and rest some more tonight. Tomorrow I'll exercise and try to start from where I left off.

Things I learned: Pain is bad and when it's not going away go to the hospital. A 5mm stone feels a lot bigger than it's size makes it out to be when it's travelling your unary tract. I can now take needles without the irrational urge to defend myself from the nurse poking me. I pee alot when I'm drinking water and have a saline drip IV going. Liters of pee which I strained and get to continue straining until I give up on ever finding and having that stone analyzed.

Weekend reflection

2005-08-29T17:48:02Z

True friendship comes when silence between two people is comfortable.
--David Tyson Gentry

Friends are the siblings, God never gave us.
--Unknown

Oh, the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person; having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but to pour them all out, just as they are, chaff and grain together, knowing that a faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and then, with a breath of kindness, blow the rest away.
--George Eliot

So long, Sayonara, and Farewell

2005-08-02T00:38:35Z

Things, of late, have been interesting. If things go as planned I will be leaving Pennsylvania at the end of the month. Some things have to go right before this comes to pass and I'm not entirely sure what will come of this move.

The only down side to this will be leaving some friends and my family. I'll miss my sister and niece and will try to get back every now and again to see Destanee as she gets older. I just can't find any way to stay here and make a living doing what I want to do. So off I go.

Wish me some luck...

You're on the Global Frequency

2005-06-28T19:05:42Z

I just saw the best new television show that will never appear on the air. Dumb TV execs.

If you are torrent capable, hit torrentspy.com and search for 'Global Frequency'. You'll thank me for it.

Memories

2005-06-23T14:24:15Z

I'm waxing nostalgic today. I'm thinking of some conversations my sister and I had concerning our parents. You see, my mom and dad separated before I was 4. I have no memories of them together as a couple. I don't actually know when they divorced but it was over way before that.

I've heard stories. Most I believe but some I wonder about. I know that my dad cheated on my mom at one point after I was born. My dad says that mom was acting crazy and not being intimate with him. Not that not being intimate was an example of her acting crazy but in my dad's mind, it could have been. My dad's friends threw him a birthday party and got him loaded and, I guess knowing of my mom's icy shoulder towards her, hooked him up with this woman that frequented the bar that my dad frequented or worked at.

My dad slept with this woman and got VD. Some time before realizing that he needed a dose of the ol' penicillin, he slept with my mom and passed on his 'gift' to her. So when he realized this, he had to tell her that he cheated and got a VD. I imagine that this was what led my mom and dad to separate but I wonder if this was an isolated incident and not symptom of a pathological behavior. I also wonder which VD it was, proving that I am a curious and disturbed individual.

More stories in my head. I remember being told that I was a 'failure to thrive' baby and that comes when the mother doesn't bond with the kid. Led to me being of smaller weight and prone to some bad health. I always wondered how this happened and as my relationship with my mom turned for the worse wondered if this was just an indication that she resented me. My sister tells me that at one point my mom left me with our Aunt Rene. Irene. She was actually my great aunt. I think my dad confirmed this but his attitude was that she shouldn't have done this, but I figure that if he had a problem with it he should have taken care of me. Being the type of guy that he is, I'm not surprised though. Responsibility doesn't come to my father.

My dad didn't believe that my sister was his child. She is. A paternity test proved that. I remember the time period when my sister was conceived. It was when my mom and I took a trip out to California to visit Dad. I don't think my older half-brother Joe went with us on this. I do remember that I thought that this meant that Dad was going to live with us. Or I just wanted to watch cartoons. Three year olds don't make such cognitive decisions.

Anyway, my dad didn't believe that my sister was his. He claimed that with the amount of people that came through my mom's house he had no way to be sure. His eyesight was pretty good though, I guess as I only remember twice from my first memory till my sister was born of him coming around. I do remember sleeping over my Aunt Rene's, who lived across the street from us, on weekends. I remember crying as Hee Haw played on the TV as I wanted my mommy. I can't remember why I wanted her, just that I did.

I remember all these things and am sitting here thinking about this stuff and just knowing that, since I have no contact with either of them and cannot believe what they tell me if I did, that I'll never know the truth about these things. I'm also curious to know why I'm so curious to know this stuff....

Quick thoughts

2005-06-06T13:36:46Z

Money problems, ones of my own making, are troubling me right now. I bet it's going to be about a month until I'm back to the comfortable position of living from paycheck to paycheck.

This weekend was good/bad. Good stuff: Hanging with Raph and Lana and eating very good Lasagna, Getting great Chinese food, and watching Justice League. Bad stuff: Humid hot weather, waiting 3 hours for a instance group in World of Warcraft that wasn't made up of people I thought to be childish, nothing else good on TV.

Stopped by my sister's house on Friday to drop Dave's birthday present off. I had it for a while but just kept forgetting to give it to him. My niece did not want me there. They were planning to go to Dave's parents' house and when my niece sees me she always assumes I'm there to babysit. It that were true on this day she wouldn't get to go to Dave's parents'.

Exercised a bit but still haven't done a full workout. I think I'm gonna push it tonight and do a full workout. What I did learn is that I seem to have a crap load of energy to work out at 10:00AM but not at 7:00PM. I wish work was more understanding of this fact.

Got to work today all excited to do some work but unable to ssh to our development server. Went to the machine room to check the server and set off the burgler alarm that should disarm automatically at 8:00AM. I noticed that the alarm was going to go off but I don't know how to disarm so I walked to the NCC to see if they could disarm it for me. Got to the NCC just as it starting announcing 'Burgler Alarm! Burgler Alarm! First Floor NOC'. Got the alarm disarmed and then checked the server and rebooted it. Some type of routing problem that Keith wants to blame on Jason causes it to become unreachable.

Did the work I dreampt about last night but with less gusto as I had when I first got here. I'm now taking a quick break before I start the rest of the work I want to accomplish today.

30 going on 13

2005-06-01T01:37:48Z

Let's start with May 30th:

I turned 30. I was pretty scared of turning 30. Most people I know are married or getting married or in long term relationships. Most people I know have or are having kids. My younger sister seems closer to marriage and the family that part of me thinks it should have at 30.

But 30 came and went and I'm still the same. In fact those worries and pains that I'm not in a long term relationship, or any relationship for that matter, don't bother me. I'm ok with not having kids and the house on the horizon. I'm embracing the kid in me and the friend in me and the brother/uncle in me.

So what did I do? On May 29th I went over my sister's again and had pancakes. We then went shopping as Dave, her boyfriend, has his birthday well today. We went to Sears and figured out that the elliptical she was getting him was too big to fit in my truck with Destanee in the back seat. The time there was well spent as Destanee and I figured that I could act as a boat and allow her to water ski on the linoleum. We did this till my arms and back felt like they were going to explode. So she bought it, had it set in layaway, and figured she'd have Dave use The Big White Truck to get it. We then went to Best Buy so she could pick up my present. I had to wait in the car. It was a PSP with Darkstalkers Chronicle (which Destanee picked out for me) and Spiderman 2. My sister told me that the checkout people were gushing over the PSP and asking if it was for Destanee. My sister looked at me while telling me this and said, "Yeah, I'm going to spend $250 for a game system for a 4 year old". People may do that but I think my niece would have broken it inside a week without constant supervision. We then had lunch at Friendly's so Destanee could get her vanilla milk shake. Then it was off to Wall-Mart where we got various sundries and household stuff. Amanda also got Dave a grill which was Destanee's gift to him. This we did fit in my car and it was back to the house. Destanee and I played more games involving me lifting her and what not and then watched some movies. We had dinner and Dave loved his gift. It was decided that we'd have a barbecue for our birthdays.

So once again we come to May 30. I woke up in time for the actual anniversary of my birth (7:17AM). I puttered arround and headed over to Amanda's to go for some lunch around 1:00PM. We then returned to the house and Dave started the barbecue. I unwrapped my present and Destanee and I played with the PSP while Amanda and Dave went to get the Elliptical. Dave and I somehow managed to lug this 6', very heavy box into the basement. Then Amanda's friend and co-worker Stacy showed up with her daughter Mikahla. There was much screaming and running and fighting and what not as two 4 year olds just ran wild. I joined them for some games, lifting them over my head, and chasing them around. We ate dinner which was really good. We retired to the house and the girls played and caused mischief. I left around 10:00PM to come home and get some sleep. The girls decided to make sure it was very difficult to leave so they grabbed onto my legs and ankles and I had to drag them to the door.

I was going to save the day I get off for my birthday for some 'rainy day', but as I didn't have any me time (just one of those things that made me really appreciate the fact that I don't have kids of my own) I took the day off. I went and saw Rise of the Empire and enjoyed it immensely. I might like to see it again, but I have to go see Hitchhiker's and Unleashed. I then went to Best Buy and got Untold Legends for the PSP as well as "Hero" and "House of 1000 Daggers". Got lunch and went to my chiro. Came home and answered an email. Then it was video game time. Played some World of Warcraft and got my mage to level 16. Stopped as I need to find a group for Ragefire Chasm. Broke out the PSP and played Untold Legends for a bit.

Date with Destanee

2005-05-29T15:59:29Z

My sister had a wedding to attend yesterday. A co-worker or friend I think. I'm surprised by my lack of interest in knowing who was getting married as I usually pick up on these details through some form of osmosis or sub-rosa eavesdropping. With weddings of friends though, it's not considered a Good Idea to bring a child (I guess. Having no child nor attending many weddings I'm not sure about the etiquette) so Amanda tapped me to baby sit Destanee. The wedding was at 1:00PM and I was asked to show up at 12:00PM.

I showed up at 11:00AM as I thought that a non-distracted Destanee might find adventure getting underfoot as Dave and Amanda got ready. I showed up with Batman: The Animated Series Vol 3 and a couple of other movies that I had bought the year before. My appearance and Batman did the trick as she plopped down on the floor and began watching the first appearance in the Bruce Timm animated universe.

I talked a bit with my sister to find out what the current rules were (Destanee wasn't allowed to eat in the living room as she's been making a mess) and finding out what there was for me to make for lunch. She told me that while the wedding was at 1:00PM, the reception was at 6:00PM and was that a problem. I answered 'No' and she told me she wouldn't be there that long.

Destanee and I started the day by watching eps of Batman. After a while we went outside and I opened and dumped bags of sand into her sandbox. We then played in that. It was mostly building up a lump of sand and smoothing it (and listening to Destanee's unique enunciation of 'smooth') and then digging caves. Destanee informed me that bears lived in those caves so we needed to block them up to protect people. After a while she switched to the swing set and I pushed her on the swing. After that she wanted to run so I chased her for a bit and then she decided that she wanted to go for a long walk. So we walked down 1 and a 1/2 blocks, crossed the street, walked up 2 blocks, over a block, down 3 blocks, and had a fight. Destanee and I were having fun looking at birds and plants and lawn decorations. I would twirl her and we'd run for a bit. Then she started getting really silly, walking for steps one way and turning around to walk 6 back the other direction. I asked her repeatedly which way we should go and she just ignored me. So I decided and it turned out to be a direction that she didn't want to go. I didn't want to waver though as while I indulge her she does need to know that she can't always get her own way and that choices have repercussions. So she threw a fit and cried and said that she wanted her mommy. Eventually she walked back with me and we went home. I tried to get her to talk about why she was upset as she doesn't communicate this well. She just made up stuff like she was upset because she missed Abby and I knew that wasn't what she was upset about. Got her home and things were better. Made her lunch (Hot dogs) and stayed in as it started to rain. Destanee and I bounced on her bed for a bit. More correctly she bounced and I would knock her on her back. We then watched more Batman and because she wanted to see a kissing move and liked the dog on the DVD box, we watched 'The Truth about Cats and Dogs'. Then we played tea party. Well, she mostly played and handed me things that I pretended to eat. We built stuff out of lincoln logs and returned to watching Batman.

About 11:00PM I got a call from Amanda stating that her friends wanted her (and I assume Dave) to go out to a bar. Now I had been up since 5:45AM that morning and Destanee also tuckered me out. Also Destanee wanted to stay up till Amanda got home and I didn't want to live through the fight that would ensue when that wasn't going to happen. I explained both of this to Amanda and said that coming home would probably be the best. She called back about 10 minutes later saying that they REALLY wanted her to go out so I just sighed and told her that she needed to tell Destanee she wasn't going to be home for a while. Amanda convinced Destanee more easily than I could that she should lay down with a blanket and take a baby nap till Amanda got home. So we laid down and I passed out before Destanee did.

At some indeterminate time early in the morning Dave and Amanda came home. They weren't quiet but weren't loud and I only woke up enough to rule them a non threat and go back to sleep. I woke up around 6:00AM this morning, cramped from sleeping on the couch. Destanee was still on the floor in a rather strange position. I decided that I'd like to take a showed and sleep in my own bed so I got up and got my stuff together. I then picked Destanee up and put her on the couch and covered her up. She stirred to ask if I'd leave Batman and I told her I'd leave disc 4 as we didn't get to watch it all. She said ok and I told her to go back to sleep and dream of Batman.

Got home and took a bath and then fell asleep till about 9:45AM. Got up took another shower and well, here we are.

Things that I liked about last night: Destanee telling me that I could come over any time and bring DVDs, Destanee telling me that I make hot dogs better than Amanda. Just hanging around with a silly, bubbly girl that has a great imagination.

Things I should have done: Gotten some money so I could have taken Destanee to McDonalds for the milk shake she wanted.

Another good day

2005-05-27T18:37:13Z

First off, let me say T-minus 3 days till my birthday.

Keith and I went to lunch in Allentown. We went to Ruby Tuesday's and once again sat in Taylanna's section. She's one of the hotter waitresses there so we were very happy. As we ordered, I did my "and we'd like you to smile a lot" spiel and she laughed and managed to smile (and look genuine about it) whenever we'd make eye contact. I even got her to do a cute little curtsy thing.

Keith was a bit upset that he couldn't embarrass me though. He wanted to have the staff sing whatever their version of "Happy Birthday" to me but they told him that they don't do that anymore. Apparently there were too many complaints from other patrons when they'd sing to a table.

Still, the food was nice and the ambiance wonderful.

After lunch we headed into the mall. Keith needed to pick up a copy of 'World of Warcraft' for his step son Randy. It was funny as Keith would spot a cute woman and totally forget where he was going or why we were there. And there were a lot of cute women. Many.

My sister called after we got the game and I chatted with her for a bit. It was mostly one of those conversations where I confirmed our plans and then didn't have anything to talk about. I'm sitting for my niece tomorrow so that she and Dave can go to a wedding. She also asked, with trepidation, if I'd be willing to sit during the week as Dave needs to do some auto work and can't with Destanee under foot. I told her that I didn't have a problem with that and to let me know what was good for Dave's schedule. I then mentioned that we both forgot our uncle's birthday and should talk about what to do.

So tomorrow I'll take some cartoons over to my niece's and put the sand in her sandbox and then play it by ear as whatever she wants to do (within reason) is what we'll do. Hopefully Amanda will have some food made for us. :-)

Blah. Mondays. Blah

2005-05-23T12:47:32Z

I like to whine and bitch. I realize this. I wish it weren't so but can't help myself.

I'm lazy. Left to my own devices I'll procrastinate and skip work. When someone snaps the whip though I jump and stay on task. It's Monday. Given to my own wishes, I'd have stayed home and played video games but because someone's mother told me that I should go into work so I get paid. Because she told me to do it, I'm here this morning.

I think this is a quality that I need to find in my next girlfriend. Someone who can last through my stubbornness, keep me pointed in the right direction, and keep swatting me on the ass to keep me moving. I wonder if there's anyone this patient.

Ask someone to pick a number between 1 and 40 and then run away

2005-05-23T00:16:26Z

Stole this from spacecrime.

I scored a 20/21. I think I missed some obscure hero I never heard about before and guessed correctly for another hero I never heared about. Good Luck if you play.

A good weekend

2005-05-22T22:31:35Z

Had me a good weekend.

My day sucked at work on Friday. Nuff said. Got home and got in touch with my sis. She and Destanee and I went to the Fine Arts Fiesta after running some errands. We had some food and walked around. I got to carry around Destanee, who wants to be called 'Bell' now, and just have some fun. It was great. Came home after this and watched TV and just relaxed.

Saturday had me meeting up with Lana and Raphael, friends from way back when I used to dance at a local studio. I hadn't talked with them since I quit due to transportation issues. This was about 10 years ago. They're both doing well and we and their mom hung out at the Fine Arts Fiesta. This was probably the most fun I've had in a long time. My *other* old dance studio was there and we watched them perform. I only recognized a couple of the dancers and the head instructors. It seemed that their advanced students, if they were the advanced class, were not as good as that from my time and I'm not just saying that because that was my class. Raph was unimpressed. He said that they didn't do anything difficult and I noticed that the moves that their numbers had incorporated a lot of moves that I did when I danced there, just ordered differently. And the music. They busted out the hamster dance club mix. Made me wince. They could of at least used Bananaphone or 'Badger'. I saw Jackie from my class and for some reason blanked on her name. So I walked up and asked her for it. She recognized me but I didn't talk with her for too long. I regret that. I should have shot the shit more and maybe asked her out or something. She'd have probably said no; A girl that good looking just can't be single but I didn't know that for sure and regret that as well. Oh well. Seems like missing moments like that is a reoccurring regret for me.

Walked around for a bit and got reacquainted with Raph and his life and made jokes embarrassing him as he couldn't believe my antics. Had a lot of fun.

Saw a really weird interpretive dance *thing*. It was suppose to have puppets but all it had was a lot of people with cardboard cut outs of feet, scary masks, and one overly hyper, overly flaming guy in a pink dress. It was pretty freaking. I got the impression that this was some type of religious message as they were handing out some type of paper at the end but I can't confirm this. My naturally evil aura kept them at bay.

Keith would have liked all the eye candy there. Lots of beautiful women, well probably girls. I didn't get the impression that there were a lot of good looking single women around. People might say I was being negative and I might be but I have to go with my gut on this. I didn't get a single vibe from women that I thought were appropriate for my age.

The studio that Lana, Raph, and I danced at was up next and I had fun trying to find out which girls Raph had relations with while talking in code. He had some hang ups about having his business talked about in the open and I mean more than the stuff about these girls. Weird to me as I'm pretty open about everything. I was a little worried that I put off their mom, but I think I'm just like that around parents. I have no experience dealing with mine on an adult level so I feel uncomfortable around other parents. Anyway, the recital that they put on was technically proficient though they didn't keep together for a lot of the group stuff. And it was boring. When they finished, I kept explaining "Is that it!?!" as I thought there should have been more.

Both studios pimped out their upcoming shows a couple of times and the 2nd studio passed out fliers for lessons three times. Three times I had to decline as I wasn't planning on lessons and didn't have anyone else to send to lessons. I started getting creative as the kids passing out these fliers didn't want to take 'No' for an answer.

Went back to their apartment and hung out for a bit. Shared, probably too much, of my history and what's going on in my life. Embarrassed myself with making an assumption about something and being totally wrong. This time I feel like an ass in a bad way. :-(

Came home and because I wanted to center myself though of people that have it worse off than I did/do. Relaxed, watched 'Justice League', and went to sleep.

Woke up this morning and watched 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch', which Lana loaned me. It was good. Not really my sort of thing and I got confused at the end. I didn't understand why Hedwig was walking naked down the street. Then I watched the making of Hedwig and had my question answered, I think. Learned a lot about what went into making, first the show and then the movie. I became really impressed at this point. I learned where the show came from, what they're trying to say, and what they went through to make the show happen. Frickin' awesome. I plan to watch it again sometime during the week and listen to the director's commentary as well. I've got time. Lana won't be back for at least another two weeks (in which she's missing her bro's b-day unless he's going to Philly. He should go to Philly. That would be cool. She's missing my b-day but I've got no plans and won't have enough cash to take myself let alone anyone else out for dinner. It's a German thing. I learned out it in German class at Muhlenberg. It's the birthday celebrator that pays for the dinner or snack and not everyone else who buys the cake. I kinda like it as I'm uncomfortable with anyone but my sister making a fuss for my b-day).

I felt perplexing-ly upset with not talking with Jackie as well as some other stuff. Mostly the petulant feelings that a 6 year old has when they want something RIGHT NOW. So I got out my saber and sat and went through some cuts and other stuff. Eventually this focus allowed me to move past these crap feelings and get on to just enjoying the day. Got some Burger King for lunch/dinner and listened to 'Serendipity' as well as 'Kissing a Fool' while I played World of Warcraft. Just finished up with WoW for the night and am relaxing until 'Deadwood' and 'Greys Anatomy' comes on.

I sense a powerful disturbance in the force

2005-05-22T20:18:25Z

Star Wars Meme by sailor_phobos

1st 2 Ltrs of 1stname + Last 3 Ltrs of last name

1st 2ltrs of moms last name+Last 3ltrs of city brn

Sith or Jedi

Jedi

Skin Color

Red

Eye Color

Yellow

Light Saber Color

Yellow

How close you are to switching sides: 61%

Username

You're Random Star Wars Quote:

The plans you refer to will soon be back in our hands.

Your Padawan (if you're a jedi)

pimpstresslana

Your apprentice (if you're a sith)

innocent_man

You're Master

stoictruebrujah

Quiz created with MemeGen!

The Misadventures of the Pants

2005-05-19T18:03:30Z

Keith and I decided to go to Allentown for lunch. Since my back was hurt, Keith said he'd drive. It's not a hard sell as he loves driving his Dodge Stealth. His car is very low to the ground and with my back it was an adventure getting in. As I was manuvering myself in, I felt my pants tear.

"Shit", I thought to myself, "This sucks".

I told Keith and he didn't say anything. I asked if we could stop at a store so I could get another pair and he looked at me and started to laugh.

"You're serious?", he said. "I thought you were joking".

We laughted about though I was annoyed that it happened. When we got to Allentown I hopped out and he informed me that the rip was very noticable. It was horizontal on the leg, at the top of my thigh. So I tied my fleece around my waist in a very unmanly fashion and we headed in.

I am so glad that I wore boxers rather than briefs today.

Replaced the pants and then we went to Ruby Tuesdays to eat. We joked about this pretty much through lunch, which was good with all the cute waitresses in the resturant and kickboxing on the TV.

Counting down to 30. T-minus 12 days and counting

2005-05-18T12:56:57Z

12 days till I turn 3-0. Birthdays are weird for me. I feel like I should be feeling something when I don't feel anything different.

Woke up this morning with Papa Roach's 'Scars' running through my head. Even before I woke up I was singing it in the shower.

Went to sleep early last night as I developed a migrane. It felt like an ice pick in the left side of my head. There was an amazing amount of pressure behind my left eye. Hrm. Wonder what the left side of the brain controls.

Yesterday, at work, I spent time helping a co-worker understand and debug javascript that I wrote for him that hides rows depending on what options are chosen. I also helped, though this help turned out to be unnecessary, another co-worker fix some HTML. Unfortunately I wasn't feeling well so I wasn't as patient as I would like to be.

I decided today on the drive in to buy my niece a set of plastic lightsabers so she can beat on me with them.

Watched House last night and thought it was a great episode.

Cast the cards for the first time in a while. Interesting results.

Bought a small bottle of bleach and splashed it all over my tub. Don't think it did too much, but it's a start. I'm going to get a bigger bottle and actually scrub after it soaks for a bit.