Thursday, August 30, 2007
Michael Jackson Is Dead
Well, not that Michael Jackson, this Michael Jackson. This Michael Jackson was a beer and whiskey expert who more or less help start the microbrew revolution in America. I bought one of his books and learned about some microbrews that were in New Jersey particularly a brew pub in Long Valley. I respected his opinion and the fact that he got me to try new brews that were exquisite. Seattle had several brew festivals I went to over the years. I wonder if there are any here in Jersey. I went to wine tastings. Well, during Oktoberfest I'll hoist one to Michael Jackson.
A funny PSA
One of my favorite shows is The Office on NBC. They did some fake "The More You Knows"
My favorite one was this one about not taping yourself having sex.
Ain't that the truth, you never know whose hands they may fall in .
Another Seattle Story
I was walking around Atlantic Highlands when I noticed one of those wooden flower carts. You know the ones you see outside of flower shops with the big wheels? Anyway, seeing that without the flowers reminded me of something that happened to me in Seattle back in 1993.
Back in the day, sigh. Seattle was the scene man! I was fortunate to see much of it first hand. By 1993, New York had finally caught on to what was happening and the scene was in its last throes. One of the things that was great was that there was many free outdoor concerts that featured many of the local bands of various degrees of success performing.
One of my favorites was Duffy Bishop. She was a bluesy musician in the Janis Joplin vein. I was watching her perform at Volunteer Park and enjoyed the performance. After her show, I realized that I was close to Lake View Cemetery. This is where Bruce Lee is buried. It also is where Brandon Lee is buried whose death had occurred a few months before. I decide to pay vigilance.
I walked over wondering if I could possibly find it. It wasn't hard. There was a worn out trail that led to it. Bruce's headstone was large and elaborate but Brandon's had not been finished and his ground was soft. I was there for a minute when I heard two people approaching.
It was two men, a skinny man with stringy hair and a worn out "trucker" hat pushing another man in one of those flower carts I was talking about. The man in the cart had some sort of Phocomelia that left him almost no body parts lower than his waist. He was sloppily attired too, but by far was the more articulate of the two.
I was uncomfortable of course but more for the fact that I thought there would be some pan handling involved since the Capital Hill district is a notorious beggar's oasis. But they were fans of Bruce Lee, able to recite snibits of dialogue from his films. We talked a bit along with another stranger about the shame that was Brandon's death while filming the Crow. the advantage of talking by a grave is I didn't have to worry about rudeness in not looking face to face with the man in the cart. Like I said the man was articulate, so the conversation went well, I turned my head occasionally an noticed that he had to have a colostomy bag, no mind you, since the poor guy had to be pushed in a flower cart he had to have a makeshift colostomy bag. It was basically a network of tubes and plastic bags. I can just imagine how he's doing now.
Anyway, they left after about ten minutes, I watched them go down the hill. It was an interesting sight to say the least. I turned in the other direction because one of my favorite Seattle bands, the Posies were playing. I tried to forget what I saw, but I grew up Catholic, which means I feel a sense of shame for thinking that way.
Back in the day, sigh. Seattle was the scene man! I was fortunate to see much of it first hand. By 1993, New York had finally caught on to what was happening and the scene was in its last throes. One of the things that was great was that there was many free outdoor concerts that featured many of the local bands of various degrees of success performing.
One of my favorites was Duffy Bishop. She was a bluesy musician in the Janis Joplin vein. I was watching her perform at Volunteer Park and enjoyed the performance. After her show, I realized that I was close to Lake View Cemetery. This is where Bruce Lee is buried. It also is where Brandon Lee is buried whose death had occurred a few months before. I decide to pay vigilance.
I walked over wondering if I could possibly find it. It wasn't hard. There was a worn out trail that led to it. Bruce's headstone was large and elaborate but Brandon's had not been finished and his ground was soft. I was there for a minute when I heard two people approaching.
It was two men, a skinny man with stringy hair and a worn out "trucker" hat pushing another man in one of those flower carts I was talking about. The man in the cart had some sort of Phocomelia that left him almost no body parts lower than his waist. He was sloppily attired too, but by far was the more articulate of the two.
I was uncomfortable of course but more for the fact that I thought there would be some pan handling involved since the Capital Hill district is a notorious beggar's oasis. But they were fans of Bruce Lee, able to recite snibits of dialogue from his films. We talked a bit along with another stranger about the shame that was Brandon's death while filming the Crow. the advantage of talking by a grave is I didn't have to worry about rudeness in not looking face to face with the man in the cart. Like I said the man was articulate, so the conversation went well, I turned my head occasionally an noticed that he had to have a colostomy bag, no mind you, since the poor guy had to be pushed in a flower cart he had to have a makeshift colostomy bag. It was basically a network of tubes and plastic bags. I can just imagine how he's doing now.
Anyway, they left after about ten minutes, I watched them go down the hill. It was an interesting sight to say the least. I turned in the other direction because one of my favorite Seattle bands, the Posies were playing. I tried to forget what I saw, but I grew up Catholic, which means I feel a sense of shame for thinking that way.
Nothing Good Happens after 2AM
I tell you, I was in near blissful slumber when I thought I heard my phone ring. I ignored it because I thought it was a drunk who dialed the wrong number. And wouldn't you know it a message was left. I didn't recognize the number so I ignored it until I inadvertently heard it today.
Woooo, it was someone who was drunk alright, if not, this person was clearly out of mind when the call was made at 3:30 in the morning. Man, the things that were said, amazing. I can't imagine what the person did to invite such vitriol.
I've never heard such hatred, such ignorance. This person needed a good night sleep, and maybe to sober up, or a change of diet. Such irritability.
I remember a time back in Seattle when an ex girlfriend called. I sure can pick them sometimes. I made it a point not to call that woman after she broke up with me, as a matter of fact I stopped drinking too to prevent myself from doing that. She had seen me and felt I was stalking her. I shuddered when I saw her because I had a friend who had someone put a restraining order on him. She was one of those women who was a spendthrift who always got on my friend's case for not spending enough money on her. So after she broke up with him, he had to deal with the consequences of that, including losing his job, getting evicted, and paying thousands of dollars in fines.
I guess she got her wish.
Anyway, The woman who I dated wanted to let me know she was dating my best friend at the time and they were together at the time. I heard him in the background. He was not pleased she was doing this, but like I said I can pick them sometimes. These scenarios ended my first phase of living in Seattle. I severed ties with my group of friends and moved on alone.
I guess this is my punishment for not going to church. Because after college the only way to meet women, are bars and work and since I worked in many bars, my co-workers hung out in bars.
Like I said, nothing good happens after 2, go to sleep.
Woooo, it was someone who was drunk alright, if not, this person was clearly out of mind when the call was made at 3:30 in the morning. Man, the things that were said, amazing. I can't imagine what the person did to invite such vitriol.
I've never heard such hatred, such ignorance. This person needed a good night sleep, and maybe to sober up, or a change of diet. Such irritability.
I remember a time back in Seattle when an ex girlfriend called. I sure can pick them sometimes. I made it a point not to call that woman after she broke up with me, as a matter of fact I stopped drinking too to prevent myself from doing that. She had seen me and felt I was stalking her. I shuddered when I saw her because I had a friend who had someone put a restraining order on him. She was one of those women who was a spendthrift who always got on my friend's case for not spending enough money on her. So after she broke up with him, he had to deal with the consequences of that, including losing his job, getting evicted, and paying thousands of dollars in fines.
I guess she got her wish.
Anyway, The woman who I dated wanted to let me know she was dating my best friend at the time and they were together at the time. I heard him in the background. He was not pleased she was doing this, but like I said I can pick them sometimes. These scenarios ended my first phase of living in Seattle. I severed ties with my group of friends and moved on alone.
I guess this is my punishment for not going to church. Because after college the only way to meet women, are bars and work and since I worked in many bars, my co-workers hung out in bars.
Like I said, nothing good happens after 2, go to sleep.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
A Quick One
One thing I noticed when I apply to jobs is the thought of where I live. I wonder if people in NYC know where Atlantic Highlands is in relationship to a commute.
Then I notice that I am living in my third town in Jersey since I moved back barely two years ago.
I got one address for my driver's license, another for my insurance and my current one for every thing else. I have lived in more places in two years than I did in my 16 years of living in New Jersey before I moved to Seattle. I hate moving but I have done it three times in that period of time, and each time I got rid of more things. I will soon have nothing if this trend continues.
Then I notice that I am living in my third town in Jersey since I moved back barely two years ago.
I got one address for my driver's license, another for my insurance and my current one for every thing else. I have lived in more places in two years than I did in my 16 years of living in New Jersey before I moved to Seattle. I hate moving but I have done it three times in that period of time, and each time I got rid of more things. I will soon have nothing if this trend continues.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
So That's The Trip
Two years ago I started my life back in New Jersey. Although it has been mostly a disappointment I don't regret the decision. If I was still in Seattle working at 5-spot, I would be making good money as a sous chef. I would be having my weekly fun doing Karaoke at places that are a lot more fun than the Karaoke places on the Jersey shore. I maybe would have a new girlfriend but that is speculative, I would continue to go to Mariner games at a regular basis, and my enjoyable routine of going to Caffe Ladro would be intact and enjoying life but I would be always pining for what was going on back here.
For one thing I would not be close to my nephew. I see him on a regular basis watching him grow for real. I get the opportunity to bond with him. I am not a stranger to him. I see my friends more, but not as much as I hoped. Part of the reason is that I never realized how far from the city the Jersey shore is. I grew up an hour away from Manhattan. It was New Jersey, but not the New Jersey that gets mocked. No, that New Jersey is here at the shore. So, access to the city is far and more of my friends had moved away from the area anyway.
I have been to Shea a few times, for the first time in 15 years. I had the opportunity to go to the Phillies new park which is great too. Someday, I hope to visit all the ballparks. I have a better chance here on the east coast to get many of them out of the way. I also look forward to seeing Citifield. Plus I was able to go to Cooperstown recently when Madame X was in Vegas. It was beautiful even in March. I look forward to the day a Mariner gets in, because that'll happen before a Met gets in.
I get to see my parents more, I don't know how long they'll be around but when Madame X's grandmother was dying, her uncle was in Hawaii and did not make it in time and I did not want that to happen to me. Now, when I save up money, I can go to different places instead of going back and forth from Seattle to New York. I plan on retiring to Seattle or Portland. No doubt I will be on the west coast but not in the desert.
The job market is better for graphic design is much better here. An though I still haven't gotten that job yet, I have with a little help form my friends built up a decent portfolio that continues to get better. It will happen. As it is, I will be working for TSA soon. Good money and many opportunities for a huge variety of advancements. I finally have my "fallback" job.
My cat, Spookie died about two weeks after I got back to New Jersey. My trip would have been more eventful if I didn't have him with me. I was concerned for his welfare but I probably traumatized him to death with the trip. He never adjusted to my parents place. I thought he would enjoy the company of my parents, particularly my dad, but within a week he had stopped eating. He developed an infection in his eye, staggered outside looking at frogs the last night of his life and died when I went to get my New Jersey license.
As far as my main reason for coming back, to start a lifetime relationship with Madame X?
Well, I have to remind myself that Crisis = Opportunity. So, the fact the relationship went sour was a good thing. I got my freedom back. I don't have to try to please someone who lacks the patience and vision on how good things were going. I was able to use the relationship as an excuse to move back. I did more in this relationship, a lot more than I did in my other longer relationship in Seattle. I learned that this is not enough for some people, and I'm better off with someone who was supportive like my previous girlfriend, but at least Madame X didn't cheat on me. Still I can't rely on women to make my life better even though in every relationship I've seen has a supportive female. I may or may not find someone better.
Either way lesson learned.
I am not locked into being stuck here at the Jersey shore. With my job at TSA I can more closer to the city when my lease is up, or even closer to my brother, whatever, I am free. I still don't like the weather, but I'm back and I'm here to stay.
For one thing I would not be close to my nephew. I see him on a regular basis watching him grow for real. I get the opportunity to bond with him. I am not a stranger to him. I see my friends more, but not as much as I hoped. Part of the reason is that I never realized how far from the city the Jersey shore is. I grew up an hour away from Manhattan. It was New Jersey, but not the New Jersey that gets mocked. No, that New Jersey is here at the shore. So, access to the city is far and more of my friends had moved away from the area anyway.
I have been to Shea a few times, for the first time in 15 years. I had the opportunity to go to the Phillies new park which is great too. Someday, I hope to visit all the ballparks. I have a better chance here on the east coast to get many of them out of the way. I also look forward to seeing Citifield. Plus I was able to go to Cooperstown recently when Madame X was in Vegas. It was beautiful even in March. I look forward to the day a Mariner gets in, because that'll happen before a Met gets in.
I get to see my parents more, I don't know how long they'll be around but when Madame X's grandmother was dying, her uncle was in Hawaii and did not make it in time and I did not want that to happen to me. Now, when I save up money, I can go to different places instead of going back and forth from Seattle to New York. I plan on retiring to Seattle or Portland. No doubt I will be on the west coast but not in the desert.
The job market is better for graphic design is much better here. An though I still haven't gotten that job yet, I have with a little help form my friends built up a decent portfolio that continues to get better. It will happen. As it is, I will be working for TSA soon. Good money and many opportunities for a huge variety of advancements. I finally have my "fallback" job.
My cat, Spookie died about two weeks after I got back to New Jersey. My trip would have been more eventful if I didn't have him with me. I was concerned for his welfare but I probably traumatized him to death with the trip. He never adjusted to my parents place. I thought he would enjoy the company of my parents, particularly my dad, but within a week he had stopped eating. He developed an infection in his eye, staggered outside looking at frogs the last night of his life and died when I went to get my New Jersey license.
As far as my main reason for coming back, to start a lifetime relationship with Madame X?
Well, I have to remind myself that Crisis = Opportunity. So, the fact the relationship went sour was a good thing. I got my freedom back. I don't have to try to please someone who lacks the patience and vision on how good things were going. I was able to use the relationship as an excuse to move back. I did more in this relationship, a lot more than I did in my other longer relationship in Seattle. I learned that this is not enough for some people, and I'm better off with someone who was supportive like my previous girlfriend, but at least Madame X didn't cheat on me. Still I can't rely on women to make my life better even though in every relationship I've seen has a supportive female. I may or may not find someone better.
Either way lesson learned.
I am not locked into being stuck here at the Jersey shore. With my job at TSA I can more closer to the city when my lease is up, or even closer to my brother, whatever, I am free. I still don't like the weather, but I'm back and I'm here to stay.
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