10/09/08 09:34 - 56ºF - ID#46013

Little Victories

Last night I felt like garbage. I am prone to depression, you might not believe. Autumn especially seems to provide one or two week long bouts. So when I was feeling crummy last night for no apparent reason I thought I had one coming on. I spent the evening in bed doing homework and passed out around 11, not a normal evening for me when I am feeling well.

Over the years I have developed a number of strategies for dealing with my depression. For one, I no longer deploy my 'drink' strategy, as that only works for about an hour. But exercise is one that has been in repertoire for a little over a year. Feel like shit? Go for a jog. Want to lock yourself in a New York hotel and write poetry? Do some squats.

So this morning I pulled out onto Elmwood on my bike to go to work when I get stuck behind the dreaded bus. Getting stuck behind the bus is hell, and this is doubly true for cyclists who have to breath in the exhaust. So at Bidwell I decide I am going to pass the fucker and beat him to Allen. Ten minutes later I was laughing at the bus still stuck at Summer. HA!

When inconsequential things can put your mood in a long funk, you need little victories to keep your spirits high. So now I am off to conquer the world and have a kick ass day. You do the same.

Permalink: Little_Victories.html
Words: 251
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/08/08 08:30 - 61ºF - ID#46002

Goodreads

Howdy,

A friend invited me to a social networking site last week called GoodReads. It is like Last.FM but for books. So far I have gotten a few good recommendations from checking it out, but more interesting is that I get to see what my friends like to read.

So, if you are on there just comment with your user name.

Mine is MunchingZombie

Permalink: Goodreads.html
Words: 65
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: music

10/08/08 10:55 - 57ºF - ID#45992

Shugo Tokumaru

I used to love Japanese music. Acts like Malice Mizer, Der En Grey, Gackt, and most horrible of all, X Japan. Oh, just thinking about them makes me want to curl up into a ball of shame.

But I recently stumbled upon an act I really like, Shugo Tokumaru. His songs are layered really nicely. With lots of goodies going on beside the melody.

Take a listen

and this, I just can't get enough of this video. Katamri without the ball.

Permalink: Shugo_Tokumaru.html
Words: 97
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/08/08 09:34 - ID#45989

Chunky Monkey

I have been giving advice to John McCain all week. Mostly in the format of yelling at boxes of text and images on my computer screen. But last night I got to him in all of his animatronic glory on TV. And here is my two cents.

Get a suit that fits.

Permalink: Chunky_Monkey.html
Words: 52
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/07/08 12:51 - 56ºF - ID#45977

Today's PSA

Just a reminder

Genesis used to be a great band.

It is just too bad that ~~Phil Collins~~ someone other band member is a douche bag even though he is a great ~~drummer~~ instrumentalist of some sort.

That is all.

Permalink: Today_s_PSA.html
Words: 49
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/07/08 10:41 - 42ºF - ID#45974

Little Britain's Big Swim

Howdy,

I saw an enjoyable documentary yesterday in which David Williams of British Comedy troupe Little Britain prepares himself for nine months, while on tour, to swim the English Channel for charity.

Permalink: Little_Britain_s_Big_Swim.html
Words: 39
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/06/08 08:35 - 54ºF - ID#45969

A Man of Impeccable Character

What happened to John McCain?

With people I have serious disagreements with, I try not to assume that because there are disagreements that the person is entirely bad. Particularly with politics I try to see people in the GOP in the best of lights possible. John McCain was such a person before this election. Perhaps this was due to the fact he was from distant Arizona and his activities were under less scrutiny in the New York universe. But he has lost it.

It seems that now that his campaign has been derailed by selecting the most incompetent possible vice-presidential candidate, John and Sarah are just going for character attacks. After all, they barely lied their way through the debates so why not just attack the man himself?

What happened?

Permalink: A_Man_of_Impeccable_Character.html
Words: 132
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/06/08 06:59 - 54ºF - ID#45967

work rant

I am discovering that our datebase system at work is beyond fucked up. My guess is that 40% of the information is incorrect because it has not been updated in a decade. This is good, because I can fix it. But it is bad because people are going to be mighty angry. Both shooting the messenger and defending their hiring choices.

If only the last person who did fundraising was around. She is so amazingly awesome we could knock this problem out in a week.

Permalink: work_rant.html
Words: 84
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/06/08 02:28 - 55ºF - ID#45964

Drink

Over the weekend my brother and father wanted to get beer, and certanitly wasn't going to stop them. In fact, I went and got it for them.

My brother told me "get I C Lite". Now, I don't drink lite beers. If I want a beer I will have a beer, and if I want water I will have water. None of this in-between nonsense. When I looked at him like he had just recommended the feces on the menu he said "oh... fine. Get whatever you want" and looked saddened, like I didn't respect his opinions on such things.

As it turns out, I should have no respect for his opinions. Oh, I was told of surprising, good taste. At the grocery store I found a case. It looked pretty wretched, but I didn't want to disappoint. It is also brewed in Pittsburgh, which seems like a town that knows its beer.

The moral of this story is, never take alcohol advice from a man who loves jagger-bombs.

On a side note. Two people who volunteered on the campaign are dropping off cookies! I love them. They are the finest people on the planet.

metalpeter writes at 07:26:56 10/06/08 - Comment #39749: I admit I don't like beer. But don't give up there are so many kinds. Some companies (Pete's Wicked, Samuel Adams) make lots of different kinds and then come out with the seasons like Winter Brew as an example. I once saw (yes in my wilson farms days) a beer made from Poatoes (think it was out near St. Patrick's day and I don't think a single six pack got sold, but could be wrong about this).

james writes at 04:27:46 10/06/08 - Comment #39736: I am sad to see such little support for an estrip brewery outing. ^_^

LET"S GO!

jason writes at 04:25:55 10/06/08 - Comment #39735: Flying Bison has some good brews. I don't know if you can buy it in the store yet, but you can get a six-pack of Blizzard Bock at the brewery, and it's a very tasty beer. They also have a Barleywine style of beer called "The Herc" that is something like 9 percent, although the Barleywine beers aren't my #1 choice. I've done the tour before and the owner is a really cool guy who is passionate about crafting top quality beer.

heidi writes at 04:21:07 10/06/08 - Comment #39734: I'm up for an estrip adventure to flying bison!

drew writes at 03:24:24 10/06/08 - Comment #39727: Pittsburgh invented the beer/whiskey combo, which is even better.

And everything from Penn Brewery is great.

We should have an estrip outing to flying bison brewery. They offer a free class on the first sat of every month.

jason writes at 03:16:44 10/06/08 - Comment #39726: Ouch! You got tricked into ordering Iron Shitty! Lol @ Janelle describing it as "pee-pee" but she's absolutely right. Here's a tip - don't shit on IC when you're at a Pittsburgh Pirates game.

Pittsburgh has a really good brewery/German restaurant called Penn Brewery. I've tried the Penn Pilsner and the Penn Gold, both were very good. I wonder what their wheat beers are like?

I know you've been curious about the world of beer, (e:James) and I've failed our community by not sharing in the (shameful) variety of brews I've tried this year. If you never believe anything else I say, trust me when I say there are winter beers out there that do the job, although bourbon is tough to beat. I think I'll make a post later with my latest faves.

james writes at 02:42:15 10/06/08 - Comment #39721: I did see what looked like a ton of micro-brew made in Pgh at a generic grocery store. So I am sure the town has plenty of quality offerings.

But it is getting cold now. Time to put away the beer and pull our the wine and whiskey (not at the same time).

janelle writes at 02:37:15 10/06/08 - Comment #39720: OMG, you drank Iron City beer! I won't even be in the same room as that stuff because it smells like pee-pee. I refuse to kiss my husband until 24 hours has passed after him drinking it.

I'm so sorry you had to experience the worse that Pgh has to offer.

Permalink: Drink.html
Words: 195
Location: Buffalo, NY

10/05/08 06:44 - 56ºF - ID#45949

Magus.

On a happier note

I am playing my favorite video game on a Super Nintendo Emulator. Chrono Trigger is just as awesome as I remember it.... now if only I can remember how to travel through time in the right sequence to get the best ending.

Permalink: Magus_.html
Words: 46
Location: Buffalo, NY

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