So Sunday I was feeling a little spontaneous and decided to go to a soccer game. I traveled via metro train (aka the packed sardine can of death). Due to train malfunction I arrived at RFK about a half hour late.

I purchased a nose-bleed seat and watched the game. The DC United beat the LA Galaxy 4-1. The United’s second goal was the most impressive, a nice head knock into the goal. I left before the end of the game - I had not ate lunch. I traveled back to Virginia and got off at Clarendon and spent most of the day walking around and just chilling. I met a friend later in the evening for coffee and book browsing. It was a good sunday.

Muhhahahaha. Ranch dip.

Why don’t sloths make good pets? Are they vicious when they get older?

Itchy Sloth

Laugh along…

A ‘C’, an E-flat, and a ‘G’ go into a bar. The bartender says: “Sorry, but we don’t serve minors.” So, the E-flat leaves, and the C and the G have an open fifth between them. After a few drinks, the fifth is diminished: the G is out flat. An F comes in and tries to augment the situation, but is not sharp enough.

A D comes into the bar and heads straight for the bathroom saying, “Excuse me. I’ll just be a second.” An A comes into the bar, but the bartender is not convinced that this relative of C is not a minor. Then the bartender notices a B-flat hiding at the end of the bar and exclaims: “Get out now! You’re the seventh minor I’ve found in this bar tonight.”

The E-flat, not easily deflated, comes back to the bar the next night in a 3-piece suit with nicely shined shoes. The bartender says: “You’re looking sharp tonight, come on in! This could be a major development.” This proves to be the case, as the E-flat takes off the suit, and everything else, and stands there au natural.

Eventually, the C sobers up, and realizes in horror that he’s under a rest. The C is brought to trial, is found guilty of contributing to the diminution of a minor, and is sentenced to 10 years of DS without Coda at an upscale correctional facility. On appeal, however, the C is found innocent of any wrongdoing, even accidental, and that all accusations to the contrary are bassless.

The bartender decides, however, that since he’s only had tenor so patrons, the soprano out in the bathroom, and everything has become alto much treble, he needs a rest - and closes the bar.

A few months back I decided I was going to try to become a volunteer fire fighter. My immediate family are either artists or law enforcement - I figured this would be my way of contributing to society without necessarily being shot at. A few factors also led to this. I’m not satisfied with my current career in terms of feeling like I’m making a difference in the world. I’m out of shape, and the lifestyle I was following would eventually do me in if I didn’t change. And lastly, too many people look for help from others and do not expect to return that help. I can’t go through life feeling like I didn’t at try to be the person I think I am.

I’ve researched what it takes to join the local station. I talked to the Chief there and got the necessary steps I need to take. I’m on step one, getting healthy and physically able to meet the demands required.

About 3 month ago I started on the nutrisystem diet. I’ve been on several in the past and this one seems to work for me. I’ve lost 30 lbs and expect to lose much much more. I’ve started a good exercise routine, but I need to start adding more cardio. To this this I need to stop smoking - which has been a bane to my existence. I know my lungs are damaged. It will take a while for them to heal. I’m considering using Chantix, a pill to physically make ill every time I light up. I’ve used the patch before, but I have a frustrating day and it’s too easy to peel it off and start again.

On a side note - the weight loss has rendered my current wardrobe two sizes too big. I’m not sure on whether to get new clothes or wait it out until I lose more weight. Even the jeans I had kept in the closet that were too small for me are baggy. Dilemma.

My goal for step one is to run a mile in 8-12 minutes. I’ll continue past that, I would like to have an attractive waistline. But for the firefighter gig, I just need to be healthy enough to pass the physical.

The next step is to take the classes which can last between a year or two (I think it includes EMT training which I think is fascinating). I consider myself to be pretty smart, so this shouldn’t be a problem.

Finally, and I won’t lie about this, I know that women prefer skinnier, more athletic guys. I’ll consider that a bonus. I promise to use my new found powers for good, not evil.

Wooo!…. Wooo!…. Wooo!

Brokeback Mountain
With all the hubbub about this movie, I was kinda disappointed. All the actors gave stellar performances, and I was okay with the excessive guy-on-guy face sucking. The problem arose during the second half of the movie - it just sort of fizzled out. We follow both men through their lives and it never really goes anywhere. If I read the novel and this happened I would have been pissed. I’m glad I saw it, just to say I saw it and I can give my opinion about it - I’m just disappointed that it wasn’t better.

Enchanted
This was a fun movie (especially following a downer movie like Brokeback). I dug the perfomances by all actors, and I liked Patrick Dempsey’s character. It’s hard to believe he’s the same guy from “Can’t Buy Me Love” and “Loverboy”. Even when I watch Grey’s Anatomy, my brain can’t really make the connection. I’m glad Disney made this movie instead of, say, Warner Brothers. It’s basically Disney making fun of Disney - which nobody else can do without getting the snot sued out of them. I wish they had more DVD features, like a commentary track - even though they have a long commercial saying tons of features are included in the Blu-Ray disc. I don’t HAVE a Blu-Ray player (yet) - so why rub it in?

Play Misty for Me
Every single man should watch this movie, much like every married man should watch Fatal Attraction. The movie is sorta dated from the early 70’s with its songs and clothing choices. This was Clint Eastwood’s first commercial movie directorial debut and bits and pieces show of some bad directorial decisions such as a long unnecessary love song montage of the main character (Clint) and his girlfriend (Donna Mills) - during the latter half of the movie - when both should be hiding in a bunker from the psycho stalker. Remember guys, don’t sleep with an Evelyn - it’s REALLY not worth it. The most frightening thing about the DVD is the “Making Of” featurette - Donna Mills hasn’t aged! Really.

Next up: Final Fantasy VII, Steamboy, and Capote.

Ratatouille
This was a fun movie. Not my favorite Pixar movie by far, but I enjoyed the story and the animation. It seems a weird subject for a film. A rat that cooks. The ending was satisfying and I’m glad they didn’t go for the typical happy ending - even though it does end happy. I also enjoyed the short - I forget what it’s called - but it was well done. It still doesn’t top my favorite Pixar shorts “For the Birds” and “Knick-Knack”.

The Water Horse
I’ll start off by saying I’m a big fan of the Loch Ness monster. For years I believed it existed (I still have hope). This film however, kinda makes the whole mythology something else - like the monster is nothing more than a boy’s pet. Interesting concept, I just didn’t like how they portrayed it. The movie by itself is great, but I wished they stayed away from Nessie and instead created another myth. I had no interest in watching it again.

Death at a Funeral
For the short time I had this one at home, I watched it about 6 times. I highly recommend it if you like British farce humor. All the characters are compelling and funny - especially Alan Tuduks (Wash from Firefly) character. Excellent movie. I wish Frank Oz, the director (and former Muppeteer and voice of Yoda), makes more movies like this using the same cast - they all seem to work remarkably well together.

Next up: Brokeback Mountain, Enchanted, and Play Misty for Me.

There are things I have yet to uncover about me. I decided to start a journey on self-betterment because my life was unsatisfactory. The thing is that I see holes within myself, that hold me back, that prevent me from truly being happy. For the longest time I was “Take me as I am” and the acceptance fell on the world. But takers have been few and far between and now I realize in what ways I am not desirable - even to myself. And it’s not what people think that bothers me, it’s that I have to change for myself. I have to be the guy that I’ve always wanted to be, then perhaps others will see that too. I am no prince charming and have no desire to be one. I’m not even sure what the female equivalent is, if there is one - I’m not looking for a princess charming that’s for sure. My point is that I’m making the effort for myself. I have my flaws and it is my responsibility to remedy them. Whether or not somebody wants to join me during that journey or meet me at that end is up to them. In the meantime, I’ll work on my appearance, my personality, and my life in general.

Who am I now? I am the pixel pusher, the note bender, the source of laughter, and the scotch ender. I am the sky scanner, the winter heater, the foot tapper, and the book eater. I am the lightning rod, the earth shaker, the silent wolf, and the straw taker. I am the pillow to lay on and I am cover during the strongest weather. I am the spanish star and I am the crossroad.

And I have only begun.

Sometimes I come across fruit that needs to be photographed for historical purposes. Navel oranges are freaks of nature in themselves, but this:

I’m hesitant to say it tasted good.