The End Of Yet Another Week

Another Friday looks me directly in the eyes with it's hypnotizing promise of fun, adventure and frolic for the weekend. With that kind of promise, who wouldn't rush to buy stock? So, as they say, I'm in.

I'm finding myself in less than my typical party mood for a Friday. I get email from reunion dot com and it seems today is the birthday of my first "real" love. The mention of this person that I haven't seen or thought much about for thirteen or so years has put me in a rather pensive mood.

It has me wondering if that particular love was so profound because I was young and not bittered by my experience or was it just great and I didn't know enough to know how great it was due to lack of experience. This is much too deep of a seed to plant in my pre-drunk mind. Will this thought manifest itself later tonight when I'm three sheets to the wind? Will it be ugly? Should I stay home and listen to some of the music that she and I used to enjoy together, have a good cry and wonder where it all went wrong? Hell no, I'm a man, diversion is the key to not having to confront such "chick-like" thoughts. Back to dwelling on the past for now. I used to get angry and jellous and yell and scream and carry on, that's what drove her away. I didn't stop to think how abusive that sort of behavior is and the damage it causes. That's how I was the majority of my twenties. I'm better now. I don't allow my buttons to be pushed. A lot of women consider me aloof because I don't often get visibly upset. I'll turn and leave. I'm not sure which they hate worse.

I guess passion and "spark" are as equally as dangerous as they are intoxicating. Sharon, if you're out there, happy birthday. I'll drink a toast in your honor and all the things that made us grin.

Albums Are On The Way Out

I read today that the sale of singles via downloading digitally has out sold full length albums. Well, duhhhh. It's not because people don't have the attention spans for long playing albums, it's that for the most part, the music industry is putting out crap. Do I want to pay one dollar for a song I like or $17.99 for a cd that has one song I like. Before the internet you couldn't buy a single for a lot less of an investment than the long play album. Oh, yes you could, it was called a 45. I hope one day that music goes totally independant. Screw you record companies. All this telling me what I want to hear is finally going to bite you in the rear. It is about time. What will they do when America gets over the rapper thug scene? Think of all the companies that make spinning rims, what will they do? Make something useful? I doubt it.

Poker? You Brought Her.

What is up with people playing poker being television worthy? Isn't this something that is frowned upon? Isn't it illegal most places? Just another chapter in my continuing rants regarding reality television. What's next? Let's have "Beer Fest" style drinking contests and televise them. Just in case some network decides to do it, remember I thought of it first. It's not that absurd of an idea, after all, quarters is like a sport.

There are channels for all kinds of things, the comedy channel, the movie channel, the news channel and the weather channel just to name a few. I think there should be an alcoholic channel. I forgot, that would be ESPN. Seriously, there would be the great quarters championships, billiards and darts contests as well as the beer drinking contests. There would be lots of beer commercials, hell, the whole network would be a beer commercial. Where better to advertise the discount D.U.I. lawyers. That reminds me, if you had the alcohol channel you could cut down on trips to the local bar. A community service I tell you. There could be informative programing as well. There could be a show about which household products that contain alcohol are safe to drink in an emergency like when the bars and liquor stores are closed.

I'll have to cut it right here, I have to go meet with some investors over a few drinks. Have a great weekend.

Saint Patrick's Day (Part 2)

"The most important thing to remember about drunks is that drunks are far more intelligent than non-drunks. They spend a lot of time talking in pubs, unlike workaholics who concentrate on their careers and ambitions, who never develop their higher spiritual values, who never explore the insides of their head like a drunk does." - Shane MacGowan of The Pogues

I have to say that Saturday was fun. My friend Eric was the voice of reason and talked me out of going to any bars. We bought a couple of eight packs of Guinness, a bottle of Baileys and a bottle of Bushmills. I had a bunch of friends, family and neighbors over to my place and utilized the at-home-bar. I got up early and put the corned beef in the slow cooker. We had green cabbage and baked red potatoes. Friend Kim pointed out yesterday that the meal I prepared is not a traditional Irish meal. I don't really care because it was fantastic and there wasn't a crumb left. I got a really great picture of my nephew Connor drinking his Sprite from a shot glass.

Saint Patrick's Day

Hmmm, wonder what kind of weekend I'm going to have? Got Guinness? In the picture up above you can see me getting in shape at the Dubliner for the beer fest known as St. Patrick's Day. My sister-in-law Val is to the side of me and you can almost see my brother next to her. My friend Eric took this candid shot of yours truly. Let's be careful this Saturday and remember what Deaf Frat Guy says "Friends don't let friends beer goggle." I'm only kidding, beer goggle away! Who's going to remember?

Friends

FRIENDS
Where would I be without friends, to take good care of me,
My friends,
What would I do I would be alone
On my own.
* Enemies, some say add spice to your life
* But I've always hated to be so disliked
* I cant see why in this short span of time
* Anyone does without friends.
FRIENDS
Will always help when you're feeling down,
On the ground,
Your friends
Will put a shoulder to the wheel
I feel
* REPEAT.....
FRIENDS
This is a song to thank you all
For being good friends,
You only number just a few,
But you are my good friends.

Lyrics to one of my favorite Gentle Giant songs.

Reality?

How is that reality television is always about people that don't live in reality? Because if it were it would be called a documentary. Escapism is entertaining, documentaries are informative. Knowing that, I've decided to live my life like it's a reality show without the video cameras.

It's up to all the people that I know or encounter to edit what they see and come up with the most interesting plot line and drama. I'll entertain, disappoint, be loved, hated, but mostly misunderstood. But, then again, don't people do that already with everyone?

I guess that we're all stars in our own "reality" dramas wondering when we'll be voted off the island and sent home. I can only eat so many bugs, sing so much Karoke, and search for so many bachelorettes. It's time I change the channel. I wonder what's on Comedy Central?

General Pace & Gay Peoples

Another high profile person has said something to offend gay advocacy groups. General Pace, the Pentagon's top general stated "Homosexuality is immoral." He has offered no appology for his comment but has issued a statement acknowledging that he should have focused more on his support of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy and less on his personal moral views.

While I may not agree with his moral view on homosexuals, I have to give him some credit for not being another one of these people that issues a less than sincere appology after being caught just to save face in a politically correct on the surface society. As an American, General Pace has every right to his personal moral views. The key word being personal. A lot of homosexuals have given their lives for this country but they shouldn't be singled out as anything other than United States soldiers. If you were to single out any group based on race or sexual preference how would that be any different from segregation? No one should have any rights other than those guaranteed by the constitution and no one should have any less as United States citizens.

If someone calls you a fag, who looks like the jerk, the person name calling or the person being called a name? Sticks and stones people.

Ultra Mellow Weekend

I was wrong about not having any adventures over the weekend. I had many domestic adventures. For starters, I caught up on eight loads of laundry and found money in my pocket that I assumed I spent, treasure! I got my car washed and it looks all nice and shinny. I went to Costco and stocked up on goodies. I cleaned almost every inch of my home. I managed to attend a wine and cheese party at my neighbor's, very cool. The featured wines were two of my favorites, merlot and pinot noir. We had great cheese and fantastic olives and crackers. I think the wine and cheese thing is going to be a regular happening. I'm even considering keeping an open mind to white wine. I never set foot in a bar or resturant all weekend and didn't miss a thing.

How Is It That Life Is So Hard And I'm So Soft In The Middle?

Super stupid drunk night last night. Too bad most of it happened during my blackout. It sounds like it was pretty darn fun. It was my friend's birthday and we were doing Irish Car Bombs. Irish Car Bombs are shots of Jameson Irish wiskey and Bailey's Irish cream in Guinness. There were Jagermeister shots in there too. I was doing very well until I lost my balance and rearranged my face on a stucko wall. I look awful. The girls rushed me into the bathroom and cleaned my wounds right after it happened. They were good to me. I haven't been near that drunk since my friend the minx had to make me a baked potato and put me on the couch so I could sleep it off. That was a few years ago. I guess it's out of my system for a while. Tonight I'm laying low, no drinks for me this weekend. I'm going to barbeque with my friend Eric tonight and watch a movie. I don't plan on having any adventures this weekend. I may have nothing to report Monday. Maybe I'll have time to send out some emails I owe to people. Tanya from Russia I know I'm long overdue. Vagabond Bob, I still don't have my poetry book but I'm glad you have a new posting. I'm going to bust on you if you don't keep your promise of 13 days in a row. I'm one to talk. Minx, I like the new look of your site. Eddie, I'm really lovin' the accoustic album, Key West, The Cross, all great. Congrats to Al on his book deal, too cool. I have to go and make more coffee.