6.28.2008
Bugs!
What the fuck went wrong when nature came up with bugs? Particularly gnats, flies, and mosquitoes. Almost every other creature on the planet is terrified of humans, and run away if we even move in their direction. But bugs? No! They just swarm around your face and ears for the hell of it. I don't care if you are standing in the middle of a giant field, the bugs will find you and will continuously buzz in your ears and eyes, as if saying, "Hey! Who are you? What are you? Why are you here? Hey! Hey! Yeah, you! Listen to me! Look at me! What are those circles on your face? Can I touch them? Are you listening to me? Hey! Hey!" No amount of swatting or water splashing will discourage them. God damn these fearless, curious insects.
6.27.2008
Public Idiocy
I read the letters to the editor in the Post-Crescent pretty much every day during my lunch break at work, and I am continually amazed at the childish and ignorant rantings of the adult population of the Fox Valley. It is all to clear that these people merely want to see their names in print, and don't actually put significant thought into what they say. Either that, or they just want to stir up controversy and be able to brag about it later. In either case, its pathetic. Recently, one string of letters has really bewildered me. I am writing my own letter to the editor in response. In case it doesn't get published (which I expect will be the case), here is what it says:
I have been reading the series of letters and calls published over the last week in response to Merv Farmer's June 17th "It's Your Call." While I must admit that I am relieved to see that few people share his opinions on the current presidential candidates, I am amazed by the hostility many people expressed toward a free and open exchange of ideas. The berating of the Post-Crescent editorial staff for "exposing his bigotry via publication (Letters, June 27th)" is nothing more than a condemnation of the PC's efforts to remain an unrestrictive voice of its readers. What gives one the right to declare an opinion unfit for publication and discussion? The instant we begin to associate the mere discussion of ideas with endorsement, the ability of the public to engage in a healthy and constructive dialog evaporates. No debate can be "meaningful" if one side is muffled. We the People should not be so eager to silence views that conflict with our own, nor should we condone any such action that takes place, be it public or private. If we do, then our Rights are reduced to nothing more than fancy script on tattered paper.
I have been reading the series of letters and calls published over the last week in response to Merv Farmer's June 17th "It's Your Call." While I must admit that I am relieved to see that few people share his opinions on the current presidential candidates, I am amazed by the hostility many people expressed toward a free and open exchange of ideas. The berating of the Post-Crescent editorial staff for "exposing his bigotry via publication (Letters, June 27th)" is nothing more than a condemnation of the PC's efforts to remain an unrestrictive voice of its readers. What gives one the right to declare an opinion unfit for publication and discussion? The instant we begin to associate the mere discussion of ideas with endorsement, the ability of the public to engage in a healthy and constructive dialog evaporates. No debate can be "meaningful" if one side is muffled. We the People should not be so eager to silence views that conflict with our own, nor should we condone any such action that takes place, be it public or private. If we do, then our Rights are reduced to nothing more than fancy script on tattered paper.
6.25.2008
One of those Prehistoric Surgical Procedures
There are two types of people in this world: those who get their hands wet before they put soap on them, and those who soap up before they even get their hands wet.
I finally got to go up to my cottage last weekend. In fact, I went up two separate times over the weekend. On Friday morning I rode up with my grandparents, and then Courtney came up to visit later that evening. It was great finally being able to see her again. We only stayed until Saturday afternoon, though, since my grandparents and I both needed to be home later that day. I went to a graduation party and played quite a bit of volleyball, as did Clay. I can still vividly picture him screaming, "Christ be with me!" when the ball came hurtling in his direction at one point.
So then Sunday morning my parents and I went back to the cottage, and stayed over until Monday. I had been trying to get in touch with Dombrock about meeting up with us there, but never did, so I wasn't sure what was going to happen with that. It wound up not mattering, as he showed up Monday afternoon with a few friends anyway. That gave way to some harrowing (and mildly illegal) tubing, beginning with Dombrock breaking the tow rope off of one of the tubes (the red one, with the handles that had mostly disintegrated), and ending with the most epic tube switch maneuver in recent history. Dombrock got whipped into my tube, causing his to flip sideways. As he fell, he managed to grab on to the back of my tube. Slowly he pulled himself up so that we were on the same tube. His tube had flipped upside down, so the next time we got whipped over next to it, I flipped it back right-side up. At this point, I managed to slide out from underneath Kevin on to the other tube. All this took place while being whipped around behind a boat in surprisingly rough water (we had the lake to ourselves).
I finally got to go up to my cottage last weekend. In fact, I went up two separate times over the weekend. On Friday morning I rode up with my grandparents, and then Courtney came up to visit later that evening. It was great finally being able to see her again. We only stayed until Saturday afternoon, though, since my grandparents and I both needed to be home later that day. I went to a graduation party and played quite a bit of volleyball, as did Clay. I can still vividly picture him screaming, "Christ be with me!" when the ball came hurtling in his direction at one point.
So then Sunday morning my parents and I went back to the cottage, and stayed over until Monday. I had been trying to get in touch with Dombrock about meeting up with us there, but never did, so I wasn't sure what was going to happen with that. It wound up not mattering, as he showed up Monday afternoon with a few friends anyway. That gave way to some harrowing (and mildly illegal) tubing, beginning with Dombrock breaking the tow rope off of one of the tubes (the red one, with the handles that had mostly disintegrated), and ending with the most epic tube switch maneuver in recent history. Dombrock got whipped into my tube, causing his to flip sideways. As he fell, he managed to grab on to the back of my tube. Slowly he pulled himself up so that we were on the same tube. His tube had flipped upside down, so the next time we got whipped over next to it, I flipped it back right-side up. At this point, I managed to slide out from underneath Kevin on to the other tube. All this took place while being whipped around behind a boat in surprisingly rough water (we had the lake to ourselves).
6.24.2008
6.08.2008
There's bitches by it, they're all up on it.
Talk about weather. My weekend in Madison and Milwaukee was pretty much dominated by any number of Tornado warnings, flash flood warnings, severe thunderstorms, damaging winds, and the whole deal.
I went down to Madison on Saturday to get together with a couple friends from school before I had to meet up with the few 'Hatters that were coming to our gig in New Glarus (singing for Moldy's Grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary). I got down there at about 1:00, and it was sunny and extremely hot. Went and checked out my friend's apartment before he had to work, then met another guy for lunch at the Union. As it turned out, we would end up spending most of our time in the Union. The tornado warnings started kicking in around 2:30 or 3:00, and every time we went outside we were forced back in either by pouring rain or official people telling us to take shelter. By the time I met up with the 'Hatters at 5:00, it was pouring. We headed down to New Glarus and did our 6-man gig, for which I was stand-in VP. It was a bit rough, to say the least. After the gig, we went back to our Hotel. We had been bought 4 rooms under the impression that the majority of the group would be there. Instead, we had 4 rooms to split among 6 people, and we didn't even use one of them. At least we scored a sweet complimentary breakfast this morning. Made to order omelettes, mini pancakes, pastry things, general Swiss deliciousness.
So we left the Hotel and most everybody headed back to Madison while I made my way to Milwaukee to get together with Andy and Nate. It wasn't raining on the way there, but apparently the majority of the Milwaukee area was flooded pretty bad last night. Andy and I went to Kopps for a lunch of a gigantic double cheeseburger and fries. Then, of course, there was Smash to be had. And a couple hours of later, it's time for me to head home. No sooner did I get out of Milwaukee but the highway traffic is going 40 miles and hour because the water is coming down in sheets and running down the highway like a river. That continued for about half an hour, and then the rest of the trip was just rain and lots of lightning.
Talk about weather.
I went down to Madison on Saturday to get together with a couple friends from school before I had to meet up with the few 'Hatters that were coming to our gig in New Glarus (singing for Moldy's Grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary). I got down there at about 1:00, and it was sunny and extremely hot. Went and checked out my friend's apartment before he had to work, then met another guy for lunch at the Union. As it turned out, we would end up spending most of our time in the Union. The tornado warnings started kicking in around 2:30 or 3:00, and every time we went outside we were forced back in either by pouring rain or official people telling us to take shelter. By the time I met up with the 'Hatters at 5:00, it was pouring. We headed down to New Glarus and did our 6-man gig, for which I was stand-in VP. It was a bit rough, to say the least. After the gig, we went back to our Hotel. We had been bought 4 rooms under the impression that the majority of the group would be there. Instead, we had 4 rooms to split among 6 people, and we didn't even use one of them. At least we scored a sweet complimentary breakfast this morning. Made to order omelettes, mini pancakes, pastry things, general Swiss deliciousness.
So we left the Hotel and most everybody headed back to Madison while I made my way to Milwaukee to get together with Andy and Nate. It wasn't raining on the way there, but apparently the majority of the Milwaukee area was flooded pretty bad last night. Andy and I went to Kopps for a lunch of a gigantic double cheeseburger and fries. Then, of course, there was Smash to be had. And a couple hours of later, it's time for me to head home. No sooner did I get out of Milwaukee but the highway traffic is going 40 miles and hour because the water is coming down in sheets and running down the highway like a river. That continued for about half an hour, and then the rest of the trip was just rain and lots of lightning.
Talk about weather.
6.02.2008
Above the City in the Rain Cloud
I can't believe I am already neglecting this thing after having it for about a month. It's not like I have that much to do right now. I'm just working a lot. But anytime I'm sitting around and think, "I should write a new post," I think of something else to do, or I just choose not to. I'll try to keep up a little better from now on.
I think I am finally getting over my allergies. The last five weeks have been absolutely miserable as far as my health goes. I was using at least 5 different kinds of medication daily, and nothing seemed to help. The only thing that finally made it a little better was when we got some rain to knock the pollen down a bit. Anyway, I can finally breathe through my nose again. Up until two days ago, the only thing I had really smelled in five weeks was what I think was a natural gas leak at the maintenance building at Reid. So that was nice.
No matter where I look, I can't seem to find copy of the studio version of "The Lime Tree" by Trevor Hall to download. Every single instance I can find of it on the internet is hosted as a Windows Media Playlist, rather than an actual MP3 file. I suppose I shouldn't be complaining, since I'm essentially just trying to steal it. Anyway, the only version I have is live, which is alright, but it doesn't have any of the bongos, chimes, background lead guitar parts, or background vocals. Without those things, the song is still pretty good, but with them? Its fucking unbelievable! The song stays mellow throughout, but still manages to throw a number of different musical lines at you at once. Most importantly, it has one of the best vocal jam sessions I have ever heard outside of a Dave Matthews Band song. Hall has a very unique voice, but it sounds fantastic when he jumps the octave in this song.
Tomorrow I get to go to this sweet event up at Lambeau Field. Apparently almost all the UW athletic coaches gather for a big "meet & greet," and you can just go right up and talk to them, get their autographs, pictures, the works. Its not like a panel thing, where they just sit up in front of a crowd. They just wander around in the Lambeau Field Atrium. Anyways, I'm pretty pumped for that. I think I'm gonna take a UW pennant or something for all of them to sign.
My weekend schedule for week didn't work out the way I originally planned, so I don't think I'm gonna be able to go up north with the rest of my friends from Madison when they go up in two weeks. It's the weekend of the city tournament, and I doubt my boss wants me to ask off over that weekend, since it would only leave the newbies to do everything by themselves, which is just asking for trouble when you're dealing with a bunch of arrogant golfers who want to act like its the damn PGA Tour.
The nice thing about my weekend schedule work out this way, though, is that I think I am off over the 4th of July weekend, so I can actually go to my cottage and celebrate that this year. I am a little upset I have been home for about three weeks and still have not gone up north once. Freakin' golf course.
Anyway, I gotta go make a lunch for tomorrow before I go to bed. That's right, I go to bed at 9 o'clock most nights. You would too if you woke up at quarter after 5 to go to work in the burning sun lifting heavy objects all day. I just want to make it to this weekend so I can go down to New Glarus for a summer 'Hatters gig. I don't want to go the entire summer without getting together with the group.
Peace.
I think I am finally getting over my allergies. The last five weeks have been absolutely miserable as far as my health goes. I was using at least 5 different kinds of medication daily, and nothing seemed to help. The only thing that finally made it a little better was when we got some rain to knock the pollen down a bit. Anyway, I can finally breathe through my nose again. Up until two days ago, the only thing I had really smelled in five weeks was what I think was a natural gas leak at the maintenance building at Reid. So that was nice.
No matter where I look, I can't seem to find copy of the studio version of "The Lime Tree" by Trevor Hall to download. Every single instance I can find of it on the internet is hosted as a Windows Media Playlist, rather than an actual MP3 file. I suppose I shouldn't be complaining, since I'm essentially just trying to steal it. Anyway, the only version I have is live, which is alright, but it doesn't have any of the bongos, chimes, background lead guitar parts, or background vocals. Without those things, the song is still pretty good, but with them? Its fucking unbelievable! The song stays mellow throughout, but still manages to throw a number of different musical lines at you at once. Most importantly, it has one of the best vocal jam sessions I have ever heard outside of a Dave Matthews Band song. Hall has a very unique voice, but it sounds fantastic when he jumps the octave in this song.
Tomorrow I get to go to this sweet event up at Lambeau Field. Apparently almost all the UW athletic coaches gather for a big "meet & greet," and you can just go right up and talk to them, get their autographs, pictures, the works. Its not like a panel thing, where they just sit up in front of a crowd. They just wander around in the Lambeau Field Atrium. Anyways, I'm pretty pumped for that. I think I'm gonna take a UW pennant or something for all of them to sign.
My weekend schedule for week didn't work out the way I originally planned, so I don't think I'm gonna be able to go up north with the rest of my friends from Madison when they go up in two weeks. It's the weekend of the city tournament, and I doubt my boss wants me to ask off over that weekend, since it would only leave the newbies to do everything by themselves, which is just asking for trouble when you're dealing with a bunch of arrogant golfers who want to act like its the damn PGA Tour.
The nice thing about my weekend schedule work out this way, though, is that I think I am off over the 4th of July weekend, so I can actually go to my cottage and celebrate that this year. I am a little upset I have been home for about three weeks and still have not gone up north once. Freakin' golf course.
Anyway, I gotta go make a lunch for tomorrow before I go to bed. That's right, I go to bed at 9 o'clock most nights. You would too if you woke up at quarter after 5 to go to work in the burning sun lifting heavy objects all day. I just want to make it to this weekend so I can go down to New Glarus for a summer 'Hatters gig. I don't want to go the entire summer without getting together with the group.
Peace.
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