So... a month or so ago I went to dinner with a bunch of people... met the woman sitting next to me for the first time, and spent most of the night commiserating over the fact that 'men suck'- she having recently been through a breakup, and myself on the verge.
There is also a friend of mine... who I have sort of always had a bit of a crush on... well he started dating someone... who at first I hated, just b/c she took him off the market. But then I actually got to know her a little, and realized I like her.
Well, since then, they've broken up. (her doing.)
And I felt like eating out. So I rounded up the woman from paragraph one, and the guy from paragraph two, and we went out to dinner. Intended as a 'friends go to dinner', but I also knew it had the potential to be an "all three of us just got dumped" bitch session.
So we went to Mulberry's for dinner. off off off the beaten path in Lackawanna, but delicious.
Then we were going to get an after dinner drink. But the other woman decided she had to get to bed. So the guy and I went for a drink. Which turned into a few. Including several random "hey I know you" moments for him- I forgot he's a bit of a local celebrity. I asked him "is that flattering, or annoying?" and he said the 'hey I know you, can I buy you a drink?' and a handshake is flattering. The drunken "let me tell you my life history by the way did i tell you you're amazing?" is annoying.
Anyway, so we had a couple drinks, and then hit the last bar, since he knows the bartender... and as we approached the door he said "oh and XX (the ex) is here." I said "is that good or bad?" (giving him a chance to back out since we hadn't opened the door yet) and he said "oh no it's fine." So we went in... said hi to her... ordered our beer... she then went outside... he had to follow her...
Ugh, how awkward!!! I mean, he and I have been friends for years. But I'm sure it looked strange from her end, to have him show up with just me, so soon after their breakup....
Hopefully I'm overreacting.
and drunken point #2- I hate this election.
I hate the fact that I am made to feel guilty if I am not super pro-Obama.
I am almost ashamed to admit that I do not want "GOBAMA!" stickers on my car.
I mean yeah he's black and that's amazing and revolutionary and all that... but does that in itself mean he's capable/prepared of running our country??
And then there's the added factor that NOT voting for him makes me look racist. there's more to it than race. Sure, he wants "change", but that's so easy to say....
I just don't know what to do. I don't LOVE Obama. I don't HATE McCain. But... Sarah Palin scares the bejeezus out of me. And the right wing republicans scare the crap out of me too, and I really don't want to be associated with them...
But have you noticed that anti-McCain jokes are totally ok and accepted, but if you dare criticize obama you are some racist bigot who thinks poor people should just die?
Part of me hopes that mccain wins just so the holier than thou obama fanatics will put a sock in it.
PART of me.
Ugh. This is why I avoid politics as much as possible.
Fuck. I really don't know what to do. Maybe I'll avoid the subject altogether and vote libertarian. Josh, Jason, where are you when I need you?
Jenks's Journal
My Podcast Link
11/04/2008 00:27 #46506
drunken ramblings11/02/2008 20:41 #46478
duh...Peter made me realize I didn't post my pix from the party. There are only two, but here you go!
metalpeter - 11/03/08 17:56
Even though there are only two thanks for posting them they both are very good.
Even though there are only two thanks for posting them they both are very good.
mrmike - 11/02/08 21:44
Sorry I missed the shenanigans
Sorry I missed the shenanigans
paul - 11/02/08 21:01
Oh that hay. There is still hay everywhere.
Oh that hay. There is still hay everywhere.
10/30/2008 09:39 #46420
and another postmaking up for lost time I guess...
Or procrastinating. One or the other.
First- Trying to upload a new user sound. (seems I still have sufjan christmas music on there...) The new song is "Each Year" is by Ra Ra Riot. Just discovered them. Like 'em a lot. Very Vampire Weekend-ish.
I would also like to know....
How come they can completely re-pave a big chunk of 198, from start to finish, in like two days this summer, and yet it's been like 5 months now and while Bailey Ave finally has asphalt down, they still haven't painted lines? It's pretty ridiculous. I just figured "wow, this project takes a long time" until they did 198 super fast and made it clear that it CAN be done quickly if they choose to.
This morning I was driving to a meeting at South Campus... and there was a guy on the corner of Bailey and Winspear... at first I thought he was trying to catch the bus. Then after he jumped in and out of the street a few times, I realized he was just plain old crazy. (like, mentally ill for real. Not just "wow, he's c-razy!")
He was running up and down the side of the street, using a banana like a telephone and talking into it. And then he started walking up to (moving) cars and holding the banana out to them, as if they had a call.
It was funny... but pretty sad to see at the same time.
There's a similar guy that's often on the corner of Elmwood and Forest... older black guy... salt and pepper beard... usually wearing a sportcoat... often yelling at traffic and shaking his fist. Then I saw him in the ER at ECMC one day. His name is Sylvester. Apparently he takes an ambulance to the ER every day, complains that his feet hurt, asks for a box lunch and two vicodin, and bus tokens to get back downtown, and does it again the next day. Everyone in the ER just knows him and is like "oh hey sylvester how's it going".
Not exactly an efficient use of healthcare dollars if you ask me. I mean clearly the guy needs help, but... there has to be a better way.
And on that note... I'm going to go try to get me a flu shot.
Or procrastinating. One or the other.
First- Trying to upload a new user sound. (seems I still have sufjan christmas music on there...) The new song is "Each Year" is by Ra Ra Riot. Just discovered them. Like 'em a lot. Very Vampire Weekend-ish.
I would also like to know....
How come they can completely re-pave a big chunk of 198, from start to finish, in like two days this summer, and yet it's been like 5 months now and while Bailey Ave finally has asphalt down, they still haven't painted lines? It's pretty ridiculous. I just figured "wow, this project takes a long time" until they did 198 super fast and made it clear that it CAN be done quickly if they choose to.
This morning I was driving to a meeting at South Campus... and there was a guy on the corner of Bailey and Winspear... at first I thought he was trying to catch the bus. Then after he jumped in and out of the street a few times, I realized he was just plain old crazy. (like, mentally ill for real. Not just "wow, he's c-razy!")
He was running up and down the side of the street, using a banana like a telephone and talking into it. And then he started walking up to (moving) cars and holding the banana out to them, as if they had a call.
It was funny... but pretty sad to see at the same time.
There's a similar guy that's often on the corner of Elmwood and Forest... older black guy... salt and pepper beard... usually wearing a sportcoat... often yelling at traffic and shaking his fist. Then I saw him in the ER at ECMC one day. His name is Sylvester. Apparently he takes an ambulance to the ER every day, complains that his feet hurt, asks for a box lunch and two vicodin, and bus tokens to get back downtown, and does it again the next day. Everyone in the ER just knows him and is like "oh hey sylvester how's it going".
Not exactly an efficient use of healthcare dollars if you ask me. I mean clearly the guy needs help, but... there has to be a better way.
And on that note... I'm going to go try to get me a flu shot.
jbeatty - 10/30/08 12:00
I'm not certain of the specifics of either construction project but I would assume that there are a multitude of reasons why one project is finished much more quickly than another. Money probably being the largest one. Depending on how the contract is bid out there may be more incentive for the contractor do the job quickly or take their sweet ass time. Also I would assume that some jobs are more involved than another. Repaving the top layer will certainly be much quicker than ripping out the entire road and starting from scratch. City paving seems to be more involved than highway with the amount of utilities running either directly underneath or adjacent to the road.
I'm not certain of the specifics of either construction project but I would assume that there are a multitude of reasons why one project is finished much more quickly than another. Money probably being the largest one. Depending on how the contract is bid out there may be more incentive for the contractor do the job quickly or take their sweet ass time. Also I would assume that some jobs are more involved than another. Repaving the top layer will certainly be much quicker than ripping out the entire road and starting from scratch. City paving seems to be more involved than highway with the amount of utilities running either directly underneath or adjacent to the road.
11/01/2008 18:00 #46466
halloweenieHi everyone...
Good to see so many of you last night- sorry I had to duck out early. I had promised to meet some friends at Cozumel, and thought I would come back, and by 230, when I could no longer handle being the only sober one (I was on call), I didn't think you guys would still be going. Can't wait to see more pix! Did IMK every show??
Cozumel was ok... but it's "Dan's bar" so I was a little on edge all night. Plus no drinking. Plus... I'm just not really back to myself yet... or something. I'm not sure what it is, but my game is off. So I spent the whole night feeling invisible, and watching my friends get picked up left and right, which is a little depressing. I'm also a little sad that not ONE SINGLE person got my costume. I was a Drama Queen! One guy thought I was Burger King. Yeah dude.
And speaking of costumes...
I don't think storebought "slutty cop" costumes should even be allowed to ENTER costume contests, let alone win. I also don't think Sarah Palin or Michael Phelps should have been big winners, since that seemed to be about what ever 3rd person I saw was wearing.
But I *did* see a few good ones-
One girl was Kan Jam (disc golf), with two yellow circles that said KanJam on her boobs, and a big black can-thing around her waist, that said on the ass 'jam it in the slot and you win'. I don't know if she made it or bought it, but it was pretty clever. One guy was dressed up as... a scary dead nurse joker zombie? in a dress? I dunno. his name tag said "i believe in harvey dent" or something like that. Guess it was a batman thing? Either way, he creeped me out. A friend of mine was a sock monkey... it was pretty fantastic. And the unoriginal "doctor" costume. There were lots of those. Have to say, this is the first year in a while that no one has asked me to steal scrubs for them. maybe next year I'll go in REAL blood-spattered scrubs, and real white coat, complete with blood/coffee stains, and my name on it. Somehow I'm not sure that would be much fun. And then there was the usual gaggle of slutty girls. Slutty cops, slutty nurses, slutty beer wenches, slutty witches etc etc ad nauseum.
There was one girl wearing this weird outfit... a shimmery 'cape' and some silver shield, and a belt, and underwear over black tights, and lots of black eye makeup, and silver sparkly stuff in her hair... and an alien/baby (not sure which) pinned to her waist.... I finally asked what she was, and she said "Astro-girl" (or was it "Estro-girl" I'm not sure) "a super hero of my own creation." At one point her baby/alien fell on the floor - the nasty floor of the bar - and she picked it up and put it in her mouth. Ew. One guy was wearing a jacket and tie, very conservative/preppy looking... with a name tag on that said "wall street", and he had a little stuffed doll thing strapped to his pants... ('bent over'), and the doll's name tag said "my 401K"
Sock monkey and tooth fairy
The aqua teens. Love it!
And the absolute best costume EVER: the yip yip aliens from sesame street.
Good to see so many of you last night- sorry I had to duck out early. I had promised to meet some friends at Cozumel, and thought I would come back, and by 230, when I could no longer handle being the only sober one (I was on call), I didn't think you guys would still be going. Can't wait to see more pix! Did IMK every show??
Cozumel was ok... but it's "Dan's bar" so I was a little on edge all night. Plus no drinking. Plus... I'm just not really back to myself yet... or something. I'm not sure what it is, but my game is off. So I spent the whole night feeling invisible, and watching my friends get picked up left and right, which is a little depressing. I'm also a little sad that not ONE SINGLE person got my costume. I was a Drama Queen! One guy thought I was Burger King. Yeah dude.
And speaking of costumes...
I don't think storebought "slutty cop" costumes should even be allowed to ENTER costume contests, let alone win. I also don't think Sarah Palin or Michael Phelps should have been big winners, since that seemed to be about what ever 3rd person I saw was wearing.
But I *did* see a few good ones-
One girl was Kan Jam (disc golf), with two yellow circles that said KanJam on her boobs, and a big black can-thing around her waist, that said on the ass 'jam it in the slot and you win'. I don't know if she made it or bought it, but it was pretty clever. One guy was dressed up as... a scary dead nurse joker zombie? in a dress? I dunno. his name tag said "i believe in harvey dent" or something like that. Guess it was a batman thing? Either way, he creeped me out. A friend of mine was a sock monkey... it was pretty fantastic. And the unoriginal "doctor" costume. There were lots of those. Have to say, this is the first year in a while that no one has asked me to steal scrubs for them. maybe next year I'll go in REAL blood-spattered scrubs, and real white coat, complete with blood/coffee stains, and my name on it. Somehow I'm not sure that would be much fun. And then there was the usual gaggle of slutty girls. Slutty cops, slutty nurses, slutty beer wenches, slutty witches etc etc ad nauseum.
There was one girl wearing this weird outfit... a shimmery 'cape' and some silver shield, and a belt, and underwear over black tights, and lots of black eye makeup, and silver sparkly stuff in her hair... and an alien/baby (not sure which) pinned to her waist.... I finally asked what she was, and she said "Astro-girl" (or was it "Estro-girl" I'm not sure) "a super hero of my own creation." At one point her baby/alien fell on the floor - the nasty floor of the bar - and she picked it up and put it in her mouth. Ew. One guy was wearing a jacket and tie, very conservative/preppy looking... with a name tag on that said "wall street", and he had a little stuffed doll thing strapped to his pants... ('bent over'), and the doll's name tag said "my 401K"
Sock monkey and tooth fairy
The aqua teens. Love it!
And the absolute best costume EVER: the yip yip aliens from sesame street.
jason - 11/03/08 13:49
Those yip yip aliens still crack me up.
Yiiiip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip
Uh huuuh uh huh uh huh uh huh
Those yip yip aliens still crack me up.
Yiiiip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip
Uh huuuh uh huh uh huh uh huh
metalpeter - 11/02/08 11:24
I will admit you did tell me what your costume was so I didn't get it, but see once you explained it, it made perfect sense. One question did you take any pictures at the (e:strip) party? Hope you had a good time at both things. In terms of being picked up. Are you cute/sexy/hot yeah not sure what term matches you the most, but maybe your (don't know them) your friends are more "Bar Hot". What I mean is that there is just that certain look that guys like to pick up at bars. I'm also wondering if you thinking or worring about seeing Dan there gave off body Langauge that kept people away but I wasn't there so I don't know. NOt sure what to say about the costume contest other then I think to win as Micheal Phelps the person needs to wear swim trunks of some kind or a racing suit and the person who does that as all they wear should be the winner if they do is traingout fit a racing spedo type thing, oh yeah but with no shirt and no shoes I doubt they would get let into the bar. Glad you had a good time but I wish it was a better time.
I will admit you did tell me what your costume was so I didn't get it, but see once you explained it, it made perfect sense. One question did you take any pictures at the (e:strip) party? Hope you had a good time at both things. In terms of being picked up. Are you cute/sexy/hot yeah not sure what term matches you the most, but maybe your (don't know them) your friends are more "Bar Hot". What I mean is that there is just that certain look that guys like to pick up at bars. I'm also wondering if you thinking or worring about seeing Dan there gave off body Langauge that kept people away but I wasn't there so I don't know. NOt sure what to say about the costume contest other then I think to win as Micheal Phelps the person needs to wear swim trunks of some kind or a racing suit and the person who does that as all they wear should be the winner if they do is traingout fit a racing spedo type thing, oh yeah but with no shirt and no shoes I doubt they would get let into the bar. Glad you had a good time but I wish it was a better time.
10/29/2008 23:01 #46415
Wanna hear a story?Well I'm going to tell it anyway.
First a little work story...
So today I went to clinic. I was seeing the chairman's patients. Ooh la la. I've never done that before.
So I went in to see this one guy... a new patient. 80 years old. Two years out from a Whipple. Just moved to town and needs a new doc.
A whipple is an operation done for pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic ca is bad bad bad. So to be two years out is pretty amazing.
But so before I went in to see him, I read his chart. He had filled out the little questionnaire, and for 'occupation' it said retired. For spouse occupation it said retired RN.
So I went in... chatted with him... took his history... examined him... chit-chatted. I wouldn't say I dumbed stuff down, but I tried to avoid medical jargon- the way I always do. But he seemed like a pretty smart, well-informed patient. And his wife was a nurse, etc. They asked good questions, etc.
So I'm all done, and go to leave, and as I'm walking out, out of curiosity, I ask "so what kind of work did you do before you retired?"
He chuckled, and said "I'm a general surgeon."
Doh!!!
At least I didn't treat him like an idiot. (and actually, when I took the chairman in to meet him, he (the pt) told him (the chairman) what a great job I'd done. Aw, yay!)
Ok, but my real story...
So a year or so ago, this guy emailed me on myspace. We went back and forth a little, he was a good writer and really funny, so we went on I think two dates. Great guy, but just not really any spark. So be it.
Well... a couple months later, a friend (more accurately, a friend's roommate who I don't know ALL that well) emailed me on myspace... she said that this guy had asked her out, and she saw that I was his friend, and wanted to know the scoop. I said what the hell, go for it. that was a year ago. Fast forward: they have moved in together, and she says he is perfect for her and she is "totally going to marry this boy". Awww! I love feeling even partially responsible for that.
But so here's where it gets funny.
A few days ago some other guy emails me. We're going back and forth. I start to realize we probably have some friends in common (shocking, right? heh). So I start asking around... Ask my friend (the one whose roommate is living with the guy she asked me about...), he says "oh yeah I know that guy- he's a good guy. But you should really ask my roommate- she dated him for 7 years."
Whoa! So now it's my turn to write to her and ask her if I should go on a date with this guy.
Only in Buffalo, I swear. :)
OMG OMG just got a new baby pic. WTF, she's like super playful and interactive now? last time I saw her (sunday) all she did was sleep.
Too cute! Time to get cracking on her costume! ;)
First a little work story...
So today I went to clinic. I was seeing the chairman's patients. Ooh la la. I've never done that before.
So I went in to see this one guy... a new patient. 80 years old. Two years out from a Whipple. Just moved to town and needs a new doc.
A whipple is an operation done for pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic ca is bad bad bad. So to be two years out is pretty amazing.
But so before I went in to see him, I read his chart. He had filled out the little questionnaire, and for 'occupation' it said retired. For spouse occupation it said retired RN.
So I went in... chatted with him... took his history... examined him... chit-chatted. I wouldn't say I dumbed stuff down, but I tried to avoid medical jargon- the way I always do. But he seemed like a pretty smart, well-informed patient. And his wife was a nurse, etc. They asked good questions, etc.
So I'm all done, and go to leave, and as I'm walking out, out of curiosity, I ask "so what kind of work did you do before you retired?"
He chuckled, and said "I'm a general surgeon."
Doh!!!
At least I didn't treat him like an idiot. (and actually, when I took the chairman in to meet him, he (the pt) told him (the chairman) what a great job I'd done. Aw, yay!)
Ok, but my real story...
So a year or so ago, this guy emailed me on myspace. We went back and forth a little, he was a good writer and really funny, so we went on I think two dates. Great guy, but just not really any spark. So be it.
Well... a couple months later, a friend (more accurately, a friend's roommate who I don't know ALL that well) emailed me on myspace... she said that this guy had asked her out, and she saw that I was his friend, and wanted to know the scoop. I said what the hell, go for it. that was a year ago. Fast forward: they have moved in together, and she says he is perfect for her and she is "totally going to marry this boy". Awww! I love feeling even partially responsible for that.
But so here's where it gets funny.
A few days ago some other guy emails me. We're going back and forth. I start to realize we probably have some friends in common (shocking, right? heh). So I start asking around... Ask my friend (the one whose roommate is living with the guy she asked me about...), he says "oh yeah I know that guy- he's a good guy. But you should really ask my roommate- she dated him for 7 years."
Whoa! So now it's my turn to write to her and ask her if I should go on a date with this guy.
Only in Buffalo, I swear. :)
OMG OMG just got a new baby pic. WTF, she's like super playful and interactive now? last time I saw her (sunday) all she did was sleep.
Too cute! Time to get cracking on her costume! ;)
metalpeter - 10/30/08 20:16
I think she is trying to do the Spock "live long and prosper thing"
I think she is trying to do the Spock "live long and prosper thing"
tinypliny - 10/30/08 06:23
I love your stories and OMG, I want that kid! I think she is a born public speaker. Look at that shrug, look at that semi-smile, look at those gestures! wow.
I love your stories and OMG, I want that kid! I think she is a born public speaker. Look at that shrug, look at that semi-smile, look at those gestures! wow.
mrmike - 10/29/08 23:34
I disagree. She looks like she is telling a story, complete with signals. Beautiful kid and glad to have you in the hallowed halls of estrip once more.
I disagree. She looks like she is telling a story, complete with signals. Beautiful kid and glad to have you in the hallowed halls of estrip once more.
paul - 10/29/08 23:23
That baby is so cute. It looks like its making a peace sign. See you at the party.
That baby is so cute. It looks like its making a peace sign. See you at the party.
Voting is only part of it. If there are issues we care about, we need to make some noise between elections. It's not easy to stay up to date with what your representatives are doing, but when you call and put pressure on them, they usually take it seriously, especially on a local level. Putting one guy or another in the white house won't make our wildest dreams come true, sometimes I really wish it were that easy. But honestly, we have a more important role to play between elections. Pick the party or person closest to your values, but don't expect any of them to do what you want, keep an eye on those sombitches.
Vote your conscience and if anybody has a problem with your own personal choice? FUCK 'EM. They're unimportant anyway.
i don't hate mccain either. but i can't stand palin... and i think obama will do a better job with edcuation. so that's my choice. i don't think you are a jerk, and trust me i've heard my fair share of obama jokes...
Ok, I'm sorry if I offended anyone with this post- I'd had a few drinks.
And I'm not saying I'm pro/anti obama OR mccain. That's the problem. There are things I like about each of them, and things I really DISlike about each of them. I flip-flop daily.
I just hate the way the media has made obama out to be god, and mccain the devil.
And maybe it's just our demographic (i.e. young and college educated) but it seems no one has any problem telling you to vote for obama... but if anyone dares suggest 'vote mccain' they are practically booed out the door.
I voted for Bush. Do I admit that EVER? No. Has he done a terrible job: yes. But do we really think Kerry and his ambulance chaser running mate would have done much better? I just don't know....
But it's like if you're young and you're not a bleeding heart liberal something is wrong with you.
Bleh, that's why I just stay out of it and keep it to myself.
Well, since the media has been crowning Obama for so long, it's no surprise that it doesn't occur to anyone that McCain could win. If he does win, this country will be on fire, I'm sure of it.
But don't let any asshole screw with your mind or otherwise try to influence you. Just know where it's coming from - there pretty much isn't anything they won't do as long as they get what they want. Morality isn't a concern for the man of action.
For the non-left winger, there are plenty of good reasons not to vote for Obama, if what he and his campaign have said and done are to be believed. People take this shit personally, thinking that by voting Republican you are taking food out of their mouths. I know at the party there was one dude who kept on eyeing me weird. Ignore the external shit and vote the way you want.
I don't think just because you don't love Obama you would be considered a racist. I am voting for him and it certainly is not because he is black. I'm voting for Obama because he is the most viable candidate for my class. Sure I could vote for Mckinney but I don't really like her. McCain is so far removed from my life the thought of voting for him hasn't even crossed my mind. If I was in the upper class, who knows who I would be voting for because the way that I perceive life now would be completely different.
All that said, I do believe that there are people who won't vote for him because they are racist. I don't think it is you but if you were a Hillary supporter I would raise an eyebrow if you voted for McCain. If someone routinely votes Democratic and then votes for McCain I would also raise an eyebrow. So although I am not voting for Obama because he is black, I think it is a very proud moment in the History of this country that we have a black man so close to the WHITE House.