You are currently browsing the monthly archive for August, 2007.
I’ve been using a Schick Quatro for a few years now. I got a new Gillette Fusion in the mail and decided to test drive it. First off, I was skeptical about this whole 5 blades thing. I always felt that perhaps my Quatro had too many blades, and 5 was kinda pushing it too far. But damn, this thing gives you a damn fine shave. I greatly look forward to using the mysterious 6th blade tomorrow to trim finer areas (no, not like that you sicko). Plus, they gave me coupons that will keep me in razor blades for the rest of the year for practically nothing. I suppose it wins for now.
Things I Did On My Trip to The Pitt/Lawrence
1) Recounted my trip up to Lawrence for move in day to a father and daughter on their way to KU in the middle of Oklahoma. They missed the same turn off that my mom and I missed. They saw my silver Jayhawk on my car and asked if I knew the way while I sat on my car as I got gas. It was all very Dickensian.
2) Screamed “Veronica Mars Fucking Rocks” in the middle of a wedding reception with 20 people jumping up and down around me. The best people on earth are dorks. The best dorks on earth are dancing dorks. The best dancing dorks on earth listen to The Dandy Warhols.
3) Listened to the new Okkervil River CD over and over again. It’s a fine piece of work, even if it is shot. I also tried to plot a way into working them in a video game. Developing…
4) Sang “Ooooooooooooooooklahoma! Where the wind comes sweeping down the plains.” every time I crossed the border. It’s tradition. It’s important.
5) Mentally worked on my noveletta/video game script/screenplay idea. Eight hour drives through the middle of nowhere are a great place to get work done in your head.
6) Purchased a dapper new KU hat. Oddly enough, I never actually purchased a KU hat while at KU. I was given 2 before I ever came (neither of which I wore much). I feel like a better alumni.
7) Awkwardly called a girl while driving through Oklahoma to see if she “wanted to go out, but not this weekend, because I’m in Oklahoma, and I’ll be in Kansas, but I’ll be back next week, actually Monday, but I’m busy, so maybe Friday if she wasn’t busy, or next weekend if I don’t have to work, but I might.” Yeah. Smooth. Turns out her ex-boyfriend no longer has the “ex-” prefix. Whoops.
Completely fucked up something with the transmission in my car. That’s going to be an unpleasant trip to the dealership tomorrow. I just need my car to live for one more year. Then I can trade it in, get my Prius, and not worry. That’s not too much to ask, is it?
It’s nice to be back. I forget sometimes how important it is to divorce myself from my contained reality in Plano, even if just for a few days. I get a little over-invested in work sometimes, so it’s good to see how other people are coping with life experiences that are not my own. It also serves to remind me that I really need to do a better job of getting out of the wake up-go to work-come home-sleep rut that I tend to get into. I fear becoming my Dad and not marrying until my mid-30s. Unfortunately, I know I’m about to go into a super-rut until mid October. It sounds more depressing when you put it on paper and realize it’s 2 months of your life without coming up for much air. I feel that sort of commitment is healthy for something like saving children in Uganda, or fighting wildfires, but not for game development. In response, I’m going to try to plan some sort of excursion for October. I’d really like to just go camping for 3 or 4 days and climb to the top of a mountain or something. Self-actualization always seems to work the best for me when coupled with feats of daring.
In the meantime, I recommend the following things to help pass the time:
Read: Happier by Tal Ben-Shahar – I saw this guy on the Daily Show. It’s going on my to-read list, which means I’m not going to get to it until December. Somebody please read it and see if you’re happier. (Half-Joke)
Listen: Madeleine Peyroux and Okkervil River. Okay, it’s a tie. Okkervil’s new album is a wonderful treat, but I probably would have liked it anyway. Madeleine Peyroux is totally my new Jazz crush. She sounds a little like Ella Fitzgerald because of her slightly Georgian (the state) accent. Plus she’s cute as a button and looks like she needs a hug if you see her sing. But alas, I don’t think I have the social standing in the American Jazz community to ever meet her. 
Watch: Sunshine. Such a good movie.
