It rained last night. I haven’t been able to properly enjoy these storms, knowing that they officially qualify as a disaster, rather than simply in the minds of those who don’t appreciate precipitation. The effect has not been wonderful on my sinuses, either, so make sure you put that in your documentation (and smoke it), FEMA.
(more…)

This morning I ordered $700 of computer parts to put together a hackintosh. I feel a little buyer’s remorse as I will need some of that money for my future training and vacationing, but considering how long my previous machine lasted, if nothing else, I’ll have a good gaming rig for future fun times.
(more…)

Last night, I received some RAM I had ordered to speed up my old Frankenstein PC. On Tuesdays, some friends of mine who have been spread out across the country have been playing City of Heroes as an excuse to drink beer and shoot the shit online. My computer has been notably slower than the others, so I thought a little more RAM would be a cheap boost to the experience, particularly since it seemed to be Skype that was causing the issues.
(more…)

Last night, I dreamed that my friend, the choreographer and dancer Garrett, was in Iraq and for some reason I had gone to visit him. He was being his usual congenial self as he showed me around the base, which was shelled continually while we toured. Then, as he was loading the civilians — me included — into a large transport helicopter, his demeanor broke.

He was suddenly as terrified as I had been as the walls shook around us. He looked at me with the face of a child and said “I don’t want to be here, Chris. I wish I could go home.” Then, he immediately straightened up, nodded solemnly at me and waved as the helicopter lifted me away.
(more…)

This weekend, I meant to finish my work on a Fight Scene Database for the Society of American Fight Directors. I plugged away at it in PHP for hours on Saturday, but I learned little and progressed less, though not for lack of trying. I did get some functions working, but not as many as I wanted. I sound like my girlfriend; I suppose I can now sympathize.
(more…)

I called in yesterday and spent most of the day just being lazy. I did not attempt any projects. I did not work out. I took care of very little business. A part of me was glad of that, but I did feel twinges of guilt throughout the day. Then I went and played some board games with some former co-workers, now friends. Too often the subject turns to our former place of employment, which sadly did not do right by many of us. But the bitching ended in a quiet catharsis.
(more…)

I would never complain about this, but it’s very strange that lately jobs have been falling at my feet. A colleague of mine in a couple of shows now, Jackie, made mention of this at one point. She was mildly irritated and said something along the lines of “People just throw work at you.” I denied it at the time, but what in-roads I have made have evidently paid off (though without the “paid” part thus far.)
(more…)

I have not yet received my “economic stimulus” from the government, but I am assured by a surprisingly lithe IRS web site that it should be issued by the end of this week. I am one of the lucky people who gets the full amount of stimulus. Shiver in your seething jealousy, lesser citizens!

My personal political contribution to our failing economic state will be — predictably, unless you’re atlking about me — to put it in the bank. I have several things happening in August and September that are going to cost painful amounts of money. Rather than try to use the money I know I won’t be able to save, I intend instead to put money I don’t want or deserve toward that end.
(more…)

I did go to the CD release party. I missed the opening band who the posters informed me was called “Disguised by Birds” and Jason informed me that I would have liked. The second band, Test Site, was extremely loud and screamy, but pretty skilled in a speed metal sort of way. I enjoyed them, but my ears are still suffering a bit. 1956 closed strong with some songs from the new album. They also played my favorite song of theirs. I can never remember the title but the first lyrics are “She’s got lightning… in her eyes… don’t you?” Good stuff.
(more…)

Giants come and giants go
and they leave their mark on the foot-filled snow
I follow, losing faith as I go
I can’t fill the holes where my feet should go

Going nowhere, leaving nothing, doing nothing wrong

but I’m not giving all there is to give
still I do have big things I believe in
I’m no giant, but I’ll walk tall if I
keep climbing, keep climbing

Redwood falls as another grows
and they pass it on ’til the last one goes
If I knew how to love as they do
I would never stop growing into you

Going nowhere, leaving nothing, maybe just this song

but I’m not giving all there is to give
still I do have big things I believe in
I’m no giant, but I’ll walk tall if I
keep fighting, keep fighting

– Tracy Bonham, I’m No Giant