The Pure Life (My Blog)

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2010-07-29T10:31:00.001-07:00

Happy Cinco de Mayo de Tottenham Hotspur!

2010-05-05T19:37:00.001-07:00

Bathroom: Before and After

2010-01-03T18:11:00.001-08:00

How two stupid lines screwed up a potentially beautiful shirt...

2009-06-25T08:12:00.000-07:00

The actual 09/10 Away Shirt

My version, with the lines removed.

House Damage :: April 13, 2009

2009-04-13T09:10:00.001-07:00

Waffles at CNN.com

2009-03-01T13:33:00.001-08:00

Atlanta Snow :: March 1, 2009

2009-03-01T12:38:00.000-08:00

News of the Absurd :: Episode #075 :: 12/25/08

2008-12-25T08:05:00.000-08:00

A Package I Edited: Christmas Jam Turns 20

2008-12-23T08:04:00.000-08:00

I'm walking on sunshine.

2008-12-22T08:03:00.000-08:00

Several weeks ago, I stopped by my buddy Ryan's house to drop something off. He was sitting on his couch, broken leg propped up on the table, chain-sucking Otter Pops. Naturally, the TV was on, for this is what you do when you've broken your leg hopping a fence after an all-day beer festival.

Though feeling sympathy for his injury, I'll admit that I was slightly jealous of his uber-lazy new-normal. Intrigued, I asked Ryan what he was watching.

"It's Intervention on A&E. You're gonna wanna sit for this one."

It was a repeat... at least for the man who's done nothing but sit on his couch since cracking his tibia and fibula.

So, I plopped down next to him, grabbed an Otter Pop (which, as you'll find out, was humorously appropriate), and soon found myself glued to this hour-long program where, in each episode, some poor, sad bastard is duped into thinking he or she is being filmed for a documentary on addiction, but later learns that the entire thing is a clever ruse to lure them into an intervention. Yes. This is what it's come to.

On this episode, the addict of honor was a girl named Allison, who was tragically hooked on huffing computer dust remover... the spray stuff in a can. Ten cans a day had left her with just slightly more brain cells than the actual cans themselves, and if you didn't know any better, you'd think she had a stroke. I couldn't turn away.

Which brings me to the point of this conversation: Must we feel guilt from being completely enthralled and, perhaps, entertained, by the tragedy gripping this poor girl and her family? I'm not going to lie. I laughed my ass off, only stopping to remind myself that I was going to hell. Luckily, Ryan would be there with me. And, for what it's worth, so will everyone I know who has seen it on TV or on YouTube.

Deep down, without question, I hoped and continue to hope that Allison makes a full recovery and enjoys a healthy, substance-free life. But, as a spectator, I sat on the edge of the couch, anxiously awaiting her next huff and the cartoonishly funny pppppffffffftttttttt of compressed air passing through her drooping, oxygen-starved lips. Again! Again! Again! I was like a child hearing his dad fart for the first time. Again! Again! Again!

Of course, anyone who doesn't feel some level of deep sadness from watching this downward spiral of a human life is likely lacking that special something deep within which prevents us from growing a thumb-sized moustache and killing millions of people. On the other hand, speaking of Germans, we can actually thank our good-humored European friends for allowing us to have a word that enables us to understand our strange amusement at Allison's expense. That word is schadenfreude.

Roughly defined, schadenfreude is pleasure taken from observing the misery of another. So, for those of you who have been feeling guilty about laughing at poor Allison... relax. There's a word for it, so it must be OK. Besides, you're not alone. And, really, you're only laughing at the absurdity of the whole thing... the sound of the air reminds you of a fart (which is ALWAYS funny) and her manic behavior reminds you of the unique human potential to, quite simply, go completely bat-crap crazy.

Yes, we are a rather strange species, so sometimes you just have to sit back, take it all in, and suck down an Otter Pop.

CNN.com NEWS OF THE ABSURD #74

2008-12-18T08:03:00.000-08:00

Today's Viral Video

2008-12-17T08:01:00.000-08:00

Dec 3, 2008 Boquete

2008-12-03T16:16:00.000-08:00

This keyboard sucks, so I will only say that the san blas islands were amazing, boquete is beautiful, and the weather is perfect. more to tell when i get back to states. can´t bother to blog with this keyboard.

November 30, 2008

2008-11-30T16:52:00.000-08:00

The rains I had read about weren't exaggerated. I arrived in Panama City to rain and, from travelers in my hostel, listened to tales of endless downpours. But yesterday wasn't bad... had a nice walk-about in the old quarter and pretty much relaxed at the hostel. Lots of people were going out to the clubs, but being that I (a) don't like clubs, (b) didn't feel like wearing shoes and a nice shirt, and (c) was dog tired, I decided to call it an early night in order to have a full day today.

After waking up, I hit up the Balboa Yacht Club to see about getting hired on as a line handler on a sailboat going through the canal. No real luck there. Then, I ventured over to the Flamenco Yacht Club to try the same. This marina, however, was where all the really nice boats come in. Thus, not too many of them need a line handler (as they have their own crews). And speaking of nice boats... lo and behold, right there in the harbor was none other than the Maltese Falcon, the world's largest privately owned yacht. Perhaps you saw the 60 Minutes interview with billionaire venture-capitalist, Tom Perkins, who own the Falcon. Seeing this vessel was an amazing treat for me, as I had just finished his autobiography a couple of weeks ago. The last part of the book tells of the creation of the Falcon.

From there, I went to the Miraflores Locks of the Panama Canal. The museum, there at the locks, was Smithsonian good, and it was nice to get out of the humid heat and into the air conditioning. At around noon, I was able to see my first vessel go through the locks on its way to the Pacific Ocean. It was actually a tiny sailboat, and I was shocked at how much effort went into getting this one boat through the canal. At 3pm I saw a big cruise ship pass through. The canal locks are funny... they are a technological wonder and what they actually do is quite remarkable. But there is no "wow" moment. It's slow. Nevertheless, it's impressive. And having just finished a book on the history of the U.S. getting the rights to the canal, it was cool to finally see the end result of all the political and military madness.

Things are hot in Panama City, and I'm planning to move on tomorrow... either to the San Blas Islands or Boquete. Basically just heading to the airport in the morning and goign to wing it. On that note, I gave up on the idea of getting hired on as a line handler. I was told by a captain at the Balboa Yacht Club that it is easier from the Colon side (read: Carribean side) of the canal, as boaters will go with the trade winds. However, I didn't see too many boats passing through today, so I question the merit of wasting a day going to un-safe Colon for the CHANCE of getting on a boat. With only a week, I'd rather see some of the country and either get in the mountains or capture a sea breeze.

New Hardwoods for the Master Bedroom

2008-11-11T08:05:00.000-08:00

BDR :: Old Fourth Ward Block Party :: 10/04/08

2008-10-09T09:24:00.000-07:00

ANGEL FROM MONTGOMERY

WAGON WHEEL

I KNOW YOU RIDER

LOVE IN VAIN

FOLSOM PRISON BLUES -> IF I HAD POSSESSION OVER JUDGEMENT DAY

SWEET HOME CHICAGO

WE CAME TO GET DOWN

ME & PAUL

STATESBORO BLUES

This hasn't stopped being funny to me...

2008-09-16T09:27:00.001-07:00

[August 15, 2008] The Low Point of the Season?

2008-09-15T14:45:00.000-07:00

SNL :: Palin/Clinton

2008-09-14T10:32:00.000-07:00

Daily Show - Community Service is SO Lame

2008-09-05T09:13:00.001-07:00

The Fish Slap Episode

2008-09-04T16:54:00.001-07:00

Daily Show - Funny.

2008-09-04T14:15:00.001-07:00

News of the Absurd Challenge

2008-09-02T12:50:00.001-07:00

News of the Absurd #56

2008-08-20T07:46:00.001-07:00

BPL :: Prediction :: 08-09 End of Season Table

2008-08-15T16:02:00.001-07:00

WTF?

2008-08-07T06:05:00.000-07:00

My new car... finally a few photos

2008-07-30T09:22:00.000-07:00

Good Luck, TT

2008-07-23T15:36:00.001-07:00

Always a Yiddo in my book.

Big Stoopid and El Loco Graduate From Doggie School

2008-06-24T18:14:00.000-07:00

Super Happy Fun Day!

2008-04-05T20:34:00.001-07:00

Trap door... lots of paint cans

The water filter and faucet is all sorts of effed up.

The laundry room ceiling is messy.

You need a source of light, preferably a bulb, in the laundry room.

Jesus says, "The deck needs sealing and general cleaning.

The side of the house is cluttered with stuff.

Your doors need weather stripping or something.

This shelf, in the guest bedroom, needs brackets to stay up.

This smoke alarm needs to go on a wall... you need more of these.

Your thermostat is all sorts of effed up.

The sliding door handles suck, fall out, and need replacing.

Look! A new toilet paper roll. Notice the patching.

Dry your hands with a towel placed on this thing. Sexy.

The wall, pre-patching.

Pre-patching. This wall needs painting.

This shower needs a curtain and bar.

It's possible that Mikey got to something in the guest bedroom.

The River with Dad

2008-04-04T08:39:00.001-07:00

Storm Damage in Atlanta

2008-03-15T07:25:00.000-07:00

Cabbagetown

The Cotton Mill Lofts in Cabbagetown

A View of the Cotton Mill Lofts from Cyerra's Front Gate...
THAT'S how close it was.

The Stanley Cup!

2008-01-25T09:18:00.000-08:00

While it's in Atlanta for this weekend's NHL All-Star Game, I almost literally ran into the Stanley Cup on my way to a meeting. I've always wanted to touch it, so thank God for camera phones!

Glory! Glory! Tottenham Hotspur!

2008-01-22T13:59:00.000-08:00

SPURS ARE ON THEIR
WAY TO WEMBLEY!
[ click images to enlarge ]

The Blog is Slow

2008-01-10T05:03:00.001-08:00

Not traveling and not really using this feature at the moment.

Hi, Miss Crumrine.

Vietnam Photo Preview

2007-12-15T23:42:00.001-08:00

Just a few sample photos from our trip to Vietnam. I'll start
building the full album and narrative when I get back to Atlanta.

We had only been in the country for about an hour when we met Alex (middle), a photographer from Canada. He had been staying in Saigon for a while and knew exactly where to go. So, needless to say, our trip started out on a triumphant note. Nothing beats jet-lag like several lukewarm cans of 333.

One of the highlights of our stay in Nha Trang was a visit to the hot springs and mud bath. I'm not so sure the communal pool of slop did anything for my skin, but we had a pretty good time.

The four-day cycle trip begins in Nha Trang. Nathan, me, and the two Danish girls prepare for a nice long day of easy riding through the back country. Joining us, but not pictured, was a young couple from Austria. The six of us (along with our drivers) would ride together only for the first day before splitting off in pairs to complete our separate journeys.

The best meal of the entire trip... grilling wild meats and drinking rice wine with Chin and Hua.

Along the way, we stopped the bikes at different minority villages so we could observe their way of life. It's a little voyeuristic, but it was a fantastic opportunity to see the REAL Vietnam.

Saigon :: 12/14

2007-12-14T02:24:00.000-08:00

Well, this is the last full day in Vietnam, and was it ever busy.

Our wake up was at 5:00am so we could watch the sun rise from China Beach. However, it was incredibly cloudy, and all we got was a few yawns. That said, there WAS a surprise side show.

Turns out, at least in Da Nang, the locals LOVE to get up early, go to China beach, and exercise. From the very early darkness, literally hundreds and hundreds of locals were stretching, playing games, hoola-hooping, massaging each other, and swimming with little floaties. They were all smiling and having an absolute blast, and it was all very communal... not like watching a few random joggers on Venice Beach. People did everything together, and it seemed like it would make a good calendar... sort of like those "Nuns Having Fun."

Our flight left at 8:30 in the morning for Saigon, and we arrived about 9:30-ish. We immediately took a taxi to our new hotel, a charming guest house in the "Western" area of the city, and then booked a private car to take us out to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels. A tour, consisting of a bus and entrance ticket to the tunnels, costs about 5 to 7 dollars. However, they leave early in the morning, so the only way for us to get out there was to get a driver. So, for $35 we hired a private, plush-leather SUV to drive us an hour-and-a-half there and back AND wait for us. Not something I would do if I was traveling long term, but to pack one last activity into our two week holiday... totally worth it.

The tunnels were fantastic... google them. These were the underground passage ways used to hide from American forces in the area, and the tunnels and entry holes are so small that fat-ass Westerners can barely squeeze through. One of the highlights was the movie they show before the tour. It's 1960 film copied to DVD, and it was so laughably filled with propaganda that those of us in the room couldn't control ourselves.

"After the U.S. devil soldiers dropped their Washington, DC bombs on her village, this Cu Chi woman took arms and is seen here receiving a medal for her efforts in killing Americans... the same ones that destroyed her peaceful land of flowers and happiness."

Good times.

After we got back into CRAZY CRAZY CRAZY Saigon, we hit up the central market, bought a few last things, and are planning to, now, grab some spring rolls, take a little nap, wake up, eat dinner, and stay up for as long as we can... our flight leaves at 7:00am tomorrow.

So, that's it from Vietnam. Look for the complete visual blog on my site in the coming weeks.

Hue :: 12/13

2007-12-12T22:34:00.000-08:00

When I got to Hoi An four days ago, I had a few pants and a few t-shirts tucked neatly into my backpack. Now, after three nights in a place where the words "you buy something" haunt you in your sleep, I still have my pants and t-shirts, but I also have, tucked neatly into a NEW bag, two suits, three dress shirts, a leather jacket, and three pairs of shoes. Seriously. What the hell just happened?

Hoi An, for all it's old world charm, is nothing more than a tourist trap. Custom tailor shops line the streets, and I failed to meet even one person who didn't have something made. I kid you not, I met one girl who purchased 13 pairs of shoes. The post office is open all day, every day.

Besides the tailor shops, the city is flooded by merchants selling the exact same things at the exact same prices with the exact same sales pitch: "Sir, you buy something?"

But the narrow streets were quite beautiful, the nightlife is quality, and the beach even had a gentle peace about it, discovered on the designated no-more-buying-shit day, when Nathan and I rode bicycles to the water, set up the hammocks, and wasted away an entire afternoon listening to the sound of crashing waves. "Sir, you buy something?"

And a little of that, too.

After Hoi An, we took a bus to Hue, a bustling city along the Perfume River. There are about five universities here, and the youth adds energy to the night. From the balcony of the DMZ Bar, we could watch the main street below, and I noticed that the bikes were nicer, the clothes were fancier, and the streets were cleaner than other places we had seen in Vietnam. The market sucks, but it still seems like a very livable city. The Citadel, which we toured this morning, was also quite impressive. But not as impressive as Hue Beer... the best lager we've found so far in the country.

Now, as I write this, we are waiting for a 2pm bus to Da Nang where we will make like American GIs and chill out for a night on China Beach. We understand that there's nothing much to do in Da Nang, but we have to be there for an early morning flight to Saigon in the morning. So, we'll get up early, hopefully watch the sun rise over the South China Sea, and then get on a scary metal tube flying south.

We have some rather ambitious plans for Saigon, so we'll see how that goes. But as we near the end of the trip, we're moving full steam ahead toward the finish line where I, no doubt, expected to be greeted with a friendly Vietnamese face at the airport terminal.

"You buy something?"

Hoi An :: 12/09

2007-12-09T01:02:00.000-08:00

So, our three day motorcycle journey turned into four. It was sometime during dinner on our first night, throwing back shots of rice wine with our fresh boiled shrimp and rice, that Nathan and I decided that this was too much fun to make it short... too beautiful to rush... to real to forget.

Joining us on our first day were two girls from Denmark and a young couple from Austria. Each of us piled onto the back of our respective guide's motorcycle, leaning back against our overstuffed packs. This (mom) is one case where overpacking is a virtue. The more stuff you've crammed into your rucksack, the more backrest you have to relax on the ride.

Now, at the moment, it simply is not possible or justified for me to go into tremendous detail. Just know that the scenery was magic, the guides were outstanding, and the REAL Vietnam was all ours.

After the first night, Nathan and I split off with Chin and Nathan's driver, while the others went whatever way they were going. So, for the next three days it would be just the four of us. two motorcycles, and one open road.

The second day was actually the worst, if I actually had to call one as such. It was our longest day... about 250 kilometers. We visited rural workers, factories, villages, and more, and ended the night with a meal that goes far beyond words. Over a small chiminee-like piece of potters, loaded with fired wood and topped with a small grill, we ate, fondu-style, "wild meat." I put that in quotes because when Chin says it, it sounds like "whale meat." Nathan and I were looking forward to such a strange meal, but had absolutely no idea how the hell these guys found themselves a whale. So, our WILD meat consisted of cow, deer, goat, and rabbit. All them were spectacular (I mean SPECTACULAR) but I didn't care as much for the rabbit... too many little bones.

The highlight from the third day, a shorter day of riding, was a visit to an orphanage where we brought great smiles to the faces of the kids. Nathan, by the way, standing at 6'2", is a God to these people. For people who rarely see Westerners, Nathan is what you might call... A FREAK. Dinner on the third night was seafood hot pot... squid, shrimp, and tuna boiled in a soup. No whale.

Today, are extended fourth and last day, was more of the same, easy riding up the Ho Chi Minh trail (which we actually started yesterday). This morning, however, underneath a gorgeous waterfall, we were able to actually see and walk on the real Ho Chi Minh Trail, the same trail used by the NVA to head into southern Vietnam.

Now, safely off our bikes and with sad goodbyes to Chin and the other guide (his name escapes me... I suck), we are in a wonderful, lively little town called Hoi An. We plan to stay here for about three nights before heading up to Hue, and in that time we have already lined up some clothing to be made. It's just something you have to do when you are in S.E. Asia.

So, that is all for now. And if you are reading this, considering Chin as a guide... DO IT! You won't regret a single penny, but you'll forever regret not having the experience.

Nha Trang :: 12/06

2007-12-05T04:36:00.000-08:00

Not going to lie... we sort of tied one on last night, bar hopping here in Nha Trang. A group fo travelers all sort of met up at Crazy Kim's and then headed over the Why Not Bar until abotu 3:30am. Well, at least that's what time we decided to call it quits.

Of course, needless to say, morning didn't coem without a headache. I've had worse, though. For whatever reason, Nathan and I decided just to get up adn get moving and make something of the day. So, we went down by the beach, rented a couple of motor bikes, and set off north to check out some old temples. Riding cycles int he craziness that is Vietnam's city roadways was quite an experience, but it didn't take long to get the hang of things and work ourselves right into the hustle and bustle.

The temples were good for a half hour of obligatory tourism, but after that came the real fun. We rode our cycles through the backroads of the Nha Trang suburbs in search of these well known hot springs. For the longest time, we had little luck in locating them. However, int he process, we got to see a lot of the local flavor. And if I had to name that flavor, I would say it was rotten fish. Such is the life of poverty in Southeast Asia. That said, the people were full of smiles and the countryside was beautiful.

Finally, we found the hot springs and spent several hours soaking in mud and bathing in mineral water - nature's very own hangover cure.

Tonight we plan to take it easy, for tomorrow we embark on a three day motorcyle trip through the middle of the country, passing through small villages and getting a real look at Vietnam on our way up to Hoi An. This promises to be a major highlight of the trip, and Nathan and I are both pretty excited to get on the road with Chin and the Easy Riders. Chin is an absolute riot, and his favorite phrase appears to be, "Why fucking not!" It's not so much WHAT he is saying, so much as it's HOW he says it and HOW OFTEN. I laugh every time. Hey, Chin, let's talka bout the trip while Nathan and I eat dinner. "Why FUCKING not!" Every time with a big toothy smile. Chin. Good times.

Probably won't have too much access to interneet over the next few days, but I'll try and post when I can.

Nha Trang :: 12/04

2007-12-03T23:53:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Nha Trang!

Sorry for the late blogging, but, for some reason, we couldn't find any internet cafes in Ho Chi Minh City. However, we DID find about ten million people on motorbikes in what can only be described as organized chaos. It's absoltely mind blowing to see how these people move in and out of traffic, and I wouldn't dare attempt it. Crossing the street is like playing Frogger, as the rule of thumb is YIELD TO THAT WHICH IS BIGGER. So, for those of you doing the math, cars are bigger than motorcycles, motorcycles are bigger than pedestrians. That said, in Ho Chi Minh city I still rule most of the animal kingdom.

The flight into Vietnam was, amazingly, a piece of cake. Nathan and I first flew from Phoenix to Los Angeles and then L.A. to Hong Kong. That second leg is about 15 hours... or, if you have happy-sleep-pills, it's about five hours. Hopa!

Hong Kong to Ho CHi Minh City is just another two hours, so that was nothing. Once we arrived, we went straight to our hotel in the heart of town, checked in, and went to the famous Rex Hotel to have a beer on their rooftop and watch the end of the Tottenham/Birmingham soccer match. There, we met a guy named Alex from Montreal who, with his knowledge of the city, joined us for a night on the town.

The next day, December 3rd here in Vietnam, we purchased train tickets in the morning for an overnighter in the evening, and then hit up the city's big market to gaze at cheap crap. Always fun. Usually smelly.

Vietnam is sort of like Spain in that businesses sort of tend to take a break mid-day for whatever they might call a siesta. So we had a couple of beers at a cafe near a park and waited for the War Museum to open up. It's not Smithsonian good, but it did have many great photos and lots of old military weapons and vehicals to check out. Overall, it seemed very anti-America, but I suppose it is what it is.

The overnight train to Nha Trang (along the coast) was quite nice as Nathan and I shared a four person sleeper cabin by ourselves. We arrived here around 9am, checked into our beachfront hotel (yes, $23 gets you a balcony overlooking the South China Sea), and wandered around a bit before sitting on the beach, staring at the water, and drinking cans of Tiger and 333 (the local swill).

It's nap time, now, and then hopefully a big time in this big town that has a small feel to it. Like I said before, internet is sort of hit or miss, so I'll blog again when I can. Cheers!

PHOENIX :: 11/30 :: Just Hours to Go

2007-11-30T23:39:00.000-08:00

I arrived in Phoenix late Thursday night to the unmistakable scent of rain in the desert. When they get wet, the creosote bushes give off a smell that always reminds me of growing up. Ask any Arizonan and they'll agree - it's absolutely wonderful. That said, I'd actually like to smuggle a small bush back to Atlanta on my return. "Oh, this? It's a creosote bush. It's my carry-on."

Today, Friday, was spent sleeping and being lazy. The rain from the night before turned into an all-day downpour, the likes of which I can't really remember from my youth. Now, being that my to-do list for the day didn't go beyond "maybe wake up, maybe shower," this thousand-year flood was more than agreeable... save for the possibility that it might delay my flight out in the morning. But, as they say, you can't change the weather. So, never minding the fact that I'm about to have two-straight weeks of Asian cuisine, we ordered up some Chinese, sat on the couch, and vegged in front of the boob tube for the better part of the evening. Watching Suns games on TV has always been something I've enjoyed with my Mom and Dad. The Suns were our first professional sports team in the Valley, and we tend to hold them quite dear.

Grandma, visiting from Florida, didn't really seem to give a shit.

Anyway, the bags are packed, and in a few hours we'll pick up Nathan and head to the airport... that is, of course if it's not completely underwater. We shall see.

On that note, it'll be quite a while before I can even think of hopping online, but, hopefully, I'll be able to update this blog from time to time while we're in Vietnam. Though, other than the occasional trip to the internet cafe to make sure my world is at least slightly in order, I'm looking quite forward to a technology-free fortnight in South East Asia. No cell phone. No Blackberry. No iPod. No laptop. (dramatic pause) Hold me.

VIETNAM BLOGGING

2007-11-28T07:51:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, November 29th, I head to Arizona to see my folks and meet up with Nathan. After paying my dues with the parental units, Nate and I take off for 'Nam on Saturday, December 1st. I'll try my very best to post some notes along the way.

Scott in Atlanta

2007-08-25T21:18:00.001-07:00

Cousin Scott paid me a visit in Atlanta to see Kool & the Gang w/
KC and the Sunshine Band. Sadly, he knows EVERYBODY, and we enjoyed
the full backstage experience. Before the show, I gave him a taste of CNN.

CNN.com: News of the Absurd - Episode #003

2007-08-10T07:38:00.000-07:00

Martin Jol vs Other Managers

2007-08-09T07:39:00.000-07:00

I have full faith in Martin Jol and think he is a terrific manager for Spurs.
That said, there are two (perhaps rather petty) differences between
him and these other managers. What are they?

(Answer at Bottom)

Answer:

[1] They wear suits and ties that command respect and boast of authority.
Martin looks like part of the medical staff.
[2] Their teams qualified for this year's Champions League.
Martin's team didn't.

True, a man's outfit has nothing to do with his tactical ability,
knowledge of the game, or general coaching qualifications.
But a proper outfit might (might) have a positive impact on
a club's overall attitude and performance. Just a thought. That's all.

COME ON YOU SPURS!

Hot Tuna at Variety Playhouse 07/28/07

2007-07-31T11:57:00.001-07:00

click on any image to ENLARGE

March 4, 2007: West Ham 3 - 4 Tottenham Hotspur

2007-03-04T15:10:00.000-08:00

[ click any image to enlarge ]

Blogging is Slow at the Moment

2007-02-20T08:24:00.000-08:00

Not traveling for a while... so please continue keeping up with The Gryst.

Probably the Greatest Spurs Moment Ever

2006-10-04T19:30:00.000-07:00

SoccerNet Headline Writers Having Too Much Fun

2006-10-02T03:03:00.000-07:00

Peru Photos are Up!

2006-04-03T11:56:00.000-07:00

Click here to visit the Peru Page.

Photo Sneak Preview

2006-03-27T11:13:00.000-08:00

Machu Picchu

Lake Titicaca

Alpaca Meat in Arequipa

Back in the USA

2006-03-27T10:38:00.000-08:00

After spending a full day, yesterday, in Lima, I'm now back in the states. Photos and more should be up soon. As for 26th... I flew into Lima from Arequipa somewhat early in the morning, arriving in the capitol around 10:30am. There, I was picked up by a friend of a friend (my Peruvian USA co-worker's buddy from back home) and spent my 14 hour layover hanging out in dirt-town. Lima, while holding some charm at night, is a rather large and drab corner of the Earth. I'm glad I only spent one day there. That said, the Miraflores neighborhood is fantastic. After seeing Lima's main plaza, we hit up this cozy section of town for lunch. After lunch, we hit up a sports bar called The Corner... or, as I like to call it: Gringo McGringoson's. Basicall, this place could have been anywhere in the U.S., as it was filled with TVs and travelers. We watched some Argentinian soccer and the final two Elite 8 NCAA tournament games before Edgar drove me back to the airport for my 12:40am flight. Like I said, photos and more to come...

Arequipa (with effort)

2006-03-25T16:44:00.000-08:00

So, this is my last night in Arequipa before flying off to Lima in the morning for a 14 hour layover. It sounds bad, but I planned it that way. A friend of a friend is picking me up at the airport and we'll hit up a soccer match and see the city before catching my flight to Atlanta. That said... Arequipa is the perfect little hangout city. Not too big. Not too small. Great plaza. On my first full day, I explored the famous Monistary known for its colonial architecture. It's rather expeneive, as things go in Peru, but worth every single penny. In fact, it's right up there with Machu Picchu as the highlight of the trip. Seriously. It had amazing architecture and vibrant colors, and I found myself taking photos like a crazed idiot. Like the lost Inca city in the mountains, you need photos to explain how amazing it is... yet they will do it no justice. Spent the rest of the day hanging out in the Plaza de Armas, reading my book and watching people. Last night was rum night at the hostel... many of the patrons and staff ended up going out after several games of extreme Janga. It was an interesting night. This morning's activities involved watching Liverpool and Everton play on TV, followed by Chelsea v Man City. Once I was able to peel myself off the couch from my Premier League bliss, I spent the rest of the day wandering around the town, relaxing in the plaza, and waiting for my big dinner. Yesterday, while having a drink at one of the blacony restaurants overlooking the plaza, I started to chat with the owner/chef. He invited me to tour his kitchen and impressed me with his Alpaca meat and old world cooking tools. I promised him I would come back for dinner tonight. Amazing. He unloaded huge chunks of Alpaca meat on to my table, slabbed over two black, hot volcanic rocks. "Now, rip with hands!" No forks or knives. Photos forthcoming. Tonight should be a pretty laid back evening... most of us in the hostel are either leaving town or hiking in the area. Arequipa... the perfect place to chill out at the end of a vacation.

Arequipa

2006-03-24T04:36:00.000-08:00

In ¨The White City¨after a loooong, slow bus ride. The hostel is a little far from the center, but I will see how accessable the city is today when I start to venture out. Seems like a great place. All for now... lazy.

Copacabana, Bolivia

2006-03-21T08:30:00.000-08:00

Internet is slow, so I will keep it short. Tried to go from Cuzco to Copacabana, Bolivia yesterday, but, alas, it seems not possible. So, I made the best of Puno, Peru (2.5 hours to the Bolivian border), taking a trip to the Uros Islands on Lake Titikaka. The Uros Islands are floating islands, in fact, made of reeds. A little touristy, but I actually had a pretty good time. At night, I had great pizza in a bar and spent the rest of the night drinking free Cubra Libres. Basically, in many of these cities, there is so much competition for tourists that they give you free drink coupons on the street. I just went up and down the strip checking out different bars and people. Not a bad way to spend an evening I hoped I wouldn't have to endure. Puno isn't much, but it's not as bad as people say. This morning, I crossed the border into Copacabana and found myself a $5 room right on the freakin' lake. My room overlooks the water and has my own bathroom with hot water shower. Doesn't sound like much, but 'round here it's royalty. Today I will just chill out by the water and relax. Tomorrow, I will take a boat out to Isle del Sol for an all day hike from the north end to the south end before coming back to the mainland. Sunsets should be great. After two nights here, I plan to head back into Peru to the city of Arequipa. That will likely be my next blog before heading to Lima and then back home. Believe the hype - Copa rocks!

The Inca Trail

2006-03-19T18:13:00.000-08:00

Just arrived back in Cuzco after four days and three nights on the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Words really cannot describe the experience, but I will give it a short go. The first day for me and my three new Swedish friends involved an easy hike to the first camp, all while enjoying warm, sunny skies. Dinnter that night, as with all other meals throughout the trip, was unreal. Along with our guide and cook, we had seven porters lugging the gear over the 30 miles we would cover. These guys are amazing. With about 50 pounds of gear on their backs, they RUN up the mountain so camp can be set up for meals and sleeping. Most wear sandals. Anyway, the second day is the tough day and we thought we were well aware as to what was to come. Not a chance. In an off-and-on rain storm, we trudged up the mountain to close to 14,000 feet. There really is no sugar-coating it... day two is brutal beyond belief. Every time I turned a corner it was just mroe and more uphill. More cold. More pain. Finally, we reached the pass and worked our way down into camp two which was not as nice as the first camp... but welcome nonetheless. Somehow, the sun came out about 30 minutes before we got there, so we were treated to super views of the snow-capped San Gabriel Mountains. The next day was non-stop rain... NON STOP. The first part involved more uphill climbing to the point of mental numbness. All of us were soaked to the bone, and it got to the point where it just wasn't worth trying to put on dry clothes because they would onyl get wet too. Again, however, as we neared camp three, the sun came out and allowed us to enjoy our biggest and grandest Inca Site yet. The camp was more fun than the others because, well, it had a bar. As the 15 km day three marked the last day of heavy walking, everyone (our group and all the other groups) celebrates after dinner. Drinking cheap Peruvian beer with our guides and porters, we Salsa danced the night away until the wee hour of 10:30pm... wake up for day four was 4:30am. Up into the darkness, we quickly had breakfast and made our way to the sun gate to watch the sun light up Machu Picchu... this was our first view of the ancient city of the Incas. From the gate, it was about 40 minutes to the actual site. We checked in and Flavio, our guide, gave us a 2-plus hour tour of the ruins, bringing this 15th century civilization to life. From there, we had free time to kill until the train back to cuzco... I took a well deserved nap int he shadows of the ruins and then did some more exploring. Once I get back to the states and put up photos, hopefully I can bring more life to what was one of the grandest experiences of my life. Now I am back in Cuzco, and plan to head down to the Bolivian side of Lake Titikaka (ha ha ha... it still makes me laugh). More than likely, however, I will have to spend one night in the Peruvian nothign town of Puno. Anyway... my first shower in days felt great, and I'm ready to move on to week two.

Soccer

2006-03-15T09:13:00.000-08:00

Last night, a group of us from Loki made our way to the stadium for the big Copa Libertadores match between Cienciano (us) and Caracas FC (them). The home side one 2-1, and it was the best $5 one could spend for third-class soccer. The seating is kind of funny... one buys a ticket for a specific section (ours was "Oriente"), and then you sit where you like within your section. There are no seats, however, but rather just poured concrete levels. Needless to say, because of cold and ass-pain, we stood the entire second half. After, we all piled into the Irish Bar (getting the true Peruvian experience, of course) to "celebrate the victory." Anyway, today is another relaxation day... tomorrow the big hike begins. Cuzco is fantastic.

Lima and Cuzco

2006-03-14T05:09:00.000-08:00

Well, I finally arrived in Peru a little after midnight last night. Spent the night at the airport in the food court with all the other backpackers who end up killing a few hours before making their connecting flights for elsewhere in Peru. Compared to what all this country has to offer, Lima isn't the most popular place to hang out. My 6am flight this morning to Cuzco was amazing, flying over clouds and the snowy peaks of the Andes popping up through the cover here and there. The descent into Cuzco was, for this white-knuckle flyer, less than fun... but also quite a thing to behold. Really, though, mountains should never come that close to your wings. I was met at the airport by Michelle, a Welsh lady who runs the trekking company, Llama Path. With her driver, she drove me around Cuzco (the oldest city in South America) and told me a little of the history. She also explained to me that my trekking group on Thursday will consist of me... and three Swedish girls. I know, this vacation sucks already. I was dropped off at my Hostel (Loki Hostel) and went up to their amazing cafe to throw down some Coca Tea (da da da da da da da da COCAINE!). The tea helps with altitude sickness as we are at 11,000 feet. So far I feel OK, but who know how I will do. Tonight, after catching up on some sleep, I'm meeting an English dude I met on the plane to catch a Copa Libertadores soccer match here in town. We flew over the stadium and it should be quite an event... for those who care, the Copa Libertadores is South America's top club competition. Tomorrow I meet with my group at 6pm to go over the details of our 4 day, 30 mile trek through the Andes, ending at Macchu Pichu. So, that's it for now. Off to drink some more Coca Tea and check out the amazing views.

The New Sleeping Bag: REI Polar Pod +20

2006-03-08T04:26:00.000-08:00

Houston Who?

2006-03-06T08:20:00.000-08:00

Hey web-editor... Dynamo or 1836? I guess anything worth doing is worth doing half-assed. That said... Dynamo logo looks good. NOTES ON THE IMAGE: No doctoring, here. This was really how it looked shortly after the announcement. Things seemed to be updated properly by 11:35am EST... about half an hour after the official announcement. (Click to Enlarge)

It's Been a While...

2006-02-14T01:06:00.000-08:00

I really don't spend any time updating the blog portion of this website. However, check in to this spot when I'm in Peru and Bolivia in March for notes on my travels. That's it for now.

Hook 'em Horns!

2006-01-05T11:00:00.000-08:00

Like all things Texas... I REALLY HATE THAT. Nevertheless, Mr. Young, now that you've won a national championship would you please just throw yourself into the NFL Draft so that my Cardinals can finally have a franchise quarterback. Seriously, we're going to give you a brand spankin' new stadium and everything - not to mention, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. C'mon! Do it for me. By the way... I really don't hate all things texas. I'm just sort of bitter about the fact that my favorite hockey team as a kid (the North Stars) left Minnesota for Dallas, that there are always more Cowboy fans at Cardinals games than Arizona fans, and that the Suns always struggle against the Spurs. As a lifelong Suns fan, that last one really kills me.

Widespread Panic: New Year's Eve Run

2006-01-04T05:51:00.000-08:00

December 30, 2005
1: Second Skin > Rebirtha > Driving Song > Vacation > Driving Song > Love Tractor, None of Us Are Free > Climb to Safety
2: You Should be Glad, Pigeons, Don't Wanna Lose You, Chilly Water > Drums* > Hatfield > Chilly Water, Low Spark of High Heeled Boys > All Time Low > Low Spark of High Heeled Boys, Rock, Space Wrangler
E: Doreatha, I'm Not Alone
* with Dr. Arvin Scott on percussion

December 31, 2005
1: (Sitting on) The Dock of the Bay, Fishing, C. Brown, Henry Parsons, Casa Del Grillos, Tallboy, Expiration Day, Georgia on a Fast Train (Billie Joe Shaver), Can't Find My Way Home, Blue Indian, Travelin' Light
2: Action Man > Pleas, Mr. Soul, Diner, Surprise Valley, City of Dreams, Give
3: Georgia on my Mind, Midnight Train to Georgia, Ain't Life Grand, Greta, North, Ribs and Whiskey, Pilgrims, Thin Air (Smells Like Mississippi) > Drums > Maggot Brain, Big Wooly Mammoth, Conrad, Flat Foot Flewzy
E: Impossible*, Gimme (a Kiss on Tuesday)*, Fishwater, Porch Song
* with Sam Holt on Guitar
[Set 1 Acoustic; First 'Georgia on a Fast Train'; Countdown by Aqua Teen Hunger Force; First 'Georgia on my Mind'; First 'Midnight Train to Georgia'; Last 'Impossible' 04/27/02]

A Present For Mom

2005-12-26T21:19:00.000-08:00

Behold! The power of PhotoShop! Mom, just click the restored photograph to enlarge it - that would be the second one. Then drag it to the desktop. Now, you can upload it to YOUR blog.

Our home in Paradise Valley, Arizona (1976). Notice the pen mark in the upper-left quadrant.

This is the restored version of the very same photo. I cleaned it up while watching the end of Monday Night Football - I'm that good.

Happy Holidays

2005-12-24T15:32:00.000-08:00

My fondest memories from this time of year are the winters spent at our cabin in northern Arizona. Atlanta's nice... but it's just not the same. Wouldn't you agree?

The Crayon and the Pumpkin

2005-12-21T10:39:00.000-08:00

Check out this old photograph mom found. That's me on the left and my older brother, Jason, on the right. Someday I'd like to go to a Halloween party with Jason dressed exactly as we were then... just so I could take a picture to frame next to this one. Someday.

A Good Sign

2005-12-16T07:07:00.000-08:00

Check your politics in at the door.

I Still Have Panic Tickets For Both Nights

2005-12-15T08:14:00.000-08:00

Message to my friends: I still have available tickets for both nights of the Widespread Panic run at Philips Arena over New Years. Cost is $50 each. Just email me if you want in. Right now, Drew is joining me on Friday, and Tall Eric and Margaret Hyman will be helping me ring in 2006 on Saturday. So, that means 2 more for the 30th and 1 more for the 31st. I have no concerns about NOT being able to get rid of these tickets - it's Panic NYE for crying out loud - but I would much rather have good friends join me than dish them off to a local ticket broker or a dirty hippie in the parking lot. Hey, you wookie, you don't need a miracle... you need fifty bucks.

Chris Robinson Stinks Up The Fox

2005-12-13T10:22:00.000-08:00

Last night I attended the Phil Lesh and Friends concert at the Fox Theater in Atlanta. One of Phil's friends on this tour is Chris Robinson from the Black Crowes. I was actually pretty excited to see him. Sadly, Mr. Robinson was a total embarassment to the world of music. He looked lost. He didn't know the words. He was out of rhythm. Even with the "music stand" karaoke machine in front of him, he still bumbled the lyrics to "Hard to Handle." For goodness sake, he helped make that old song popular for a new generation of music fans... and he totally botched it. It wasn't just one song, or a note here and there. He was simply terrible. However, in all fairness, he did play and sing a very nice "Peggy-O." Beyond that - garbage. Phil was good, as usual, and the rest of the band sounded great. The big highlight of the night was "Uncle John's Band" with a mandolin lead. Beautiful music. Anyway, I hope Kate Hudson (ahem, Yoko Ono), dumps this guy for what he did last night. By the way, do a google search for Chris Robinson photos and almost every one has Kate in it. That's sad.

Vacation: Arizona

2005-12-03T20:31:00.000-08:00

Not that anybody cares, but I will be in Arizona from December 3rd through the 11th visiting my folks. Of course, I'll have access to my email and cell phone... it's not like I'm going to Mongolia. The basic plan of events are as follows: wake up, eat, climb Camelback Mountain, soak in the hot tub, eat, take a nap, read, eat, sleep, repeat. It's a rough life in the Sanoran Desert, but somebody has to live it. This vacation actually started out on a rather sour note - I missed my flight from Atlanta to Phoenix, sleeping through my alarm and waking up half an hour before takeoff. It wasn't the $25 that I had to pay Delta that really got under my skin so much as it was the fact that I was actually stupid enough to miss my flight. I'm better than that. I suppose I could blame my workweek from hell, getting home at 11pm each night, but that still doesn't satisfy me. Anyway, appologies to my roomies for the opera of foul language I sang throughout the house at 8:30 in the morning when I realized that I had overslept. Viva Arizona!

Cry Me a River

2005-11-09T15:45:00.000-08:00

No, really. My heart truly bleeds for the oil companies during these difficult times. Seriously, sir, there's no need to actually take an oath even though you are testifying before the friggin' U.S. Senate. I mean, how can we not trust a face like that?

Thailand Photos Are Up

2005-11-02T15:56:00.000-08:00

Click here to see photos from Thailand. As of right now, it's still incomplete... but keep checking.

Hook, line, and sinker

2005-10-31T09:18:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how many people actually believed that I was engaged to some Thai girl! Behold, the power of the written word. The key to a good lie is the subtle hints. To just bust out and say, "Look at me, I asked a Thai girl to marry me!" is too bold, too fast. Instead, you must be rather coy, mixing broad ideas and accute details. Anyway... good times.

UPDATE: Tow Rai

2005-10-29T18:28:00.000-07:00

Tow Rai was trampled by an elephant on her way to Pai. She's dead. I didn't really like her that much, anyway.

The truth is that I was getting even with Mom, who sent me no less than ten emails containing bird flu warnings, causing minor paranoia. I thought I would just pass on a little paranoia her way in the form of a mystery fiance named "How Much?" It worked, we're even, and I assure you there will be no more crying wolf. The next time I say I have a fiance, it will be real... and she'll be Russian... delivered by UPS.

So, I'm back home after a lot of flying. Tired. Will write more later, but I'm back.

And so it ends...

2005-10-28T00:11:00.000-07:00

We're back in Bangkok, taking care of all that pesky paperwork. Looks like it will be at least 6 to 8 months before Tow Rai can come to America. So, tonight she will head back to Pai and play the waiting game. As for me, I have checked into the Siam Oriental Inn on Kho San Road. Basically, I'm just using it for a place to shower and store my stuff until I leave for the airport at 3:30am. This morning, before coming here, we took a ride on the Death Railway which offered some interesting sites of the river and the countryside, and then hopped on two busses back to Bangkok. This area of town is backpacker central, so it'll be good for those last minute things I want to pick up. Anyway, it's been a great trip. Tonight, as per my fear of flying, I will stay up all night, probably have a couple drinks, and attempt to pass out on the plane as soon as I sit down. Cheers.

The Bridge on the River Kwai

2005-10-27T03:22:00.000-07:00

After a comfortable overnight train trip from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, I made my way to the bus station at some rediculous hour in the morning to catch the next ride out to Kanchanaburi. I'm traveling with my new fiance, now, and it was a real pain trying to convince Tow Rai that seeing the bridge on the River Kwai was going to be a fun experience. Kanchanaburi isn't really worth more than a night's stay, but I will be able to work in all four things that I wanted to do: see the bridge, see the cemetery, see the museum, and ride the death railway. The museum (the new one) is Smithsonian-good. Unbelievable. There really is no need to visit the town's other two crappy museums, especially since this new one is right across the street from the cemetery - very nice, as well. Walking to the actual bridge took about 40 minutes (somebody isn't pleased with me right now). The bridge is great, but it's flanked on all sides by cheap trinkets. What amazes me is that they all sell the same damn thing... how do they make any money? Most of it is horrible jewlery and carved elephants. But, like I said, the bridge is kind of fun, especially after visiting the museum and cemetery. Tomorrow, after we ride the death railway, it's back to Bangkok for the night where I face a rather daunting amount of legal paperwork (though, if I keep up these crazy travel hours and long walks, it may be unnecessery). Kho San Road is the choice for lodging, but the guest house doesn't really matter. It's going to be an all-nighter as I plan to stay awake through the wee hours before going to the airport at 3:30am for my 6am flight. It sounds bad, but it helps get me back on U.S.A. time. Other than that, the trip is almost over and, of course, I really feel like I've hit my travel groove over the last several days. Oh well, that's the way it works.

Still in Pai

2005-10-25T23:04:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I rented a moped and tooled around this great little mountain town, visiting a temple, some hot springs (80 degrees celcius!), a waterfall, and a Chinese refuge. It's pretty basic Thailand stuff, but it managed to fill the day. In the evening, after gorging on more Pad Thai, I ended up at an open mic night, and performed three songs. Fortunately, there was no monitor for the musician, so I couldn't hear how bad I must've sounded. That being said, the guy who runs the open mic night asked me to come back tonight... so, either I wasn't all that bad, or they really need musicians to pass the time. Today, my only plan is to do nothing - perhaps read a little. I may even walk up to the temple on the hill, but that will take some serious inspiration. With only a few days to go until I return, my plan is to spend the night here in Pai tonight, then bus it back to Chiang Mai tomorrow in time to catch my overnight train to Bangkok. Upon arriving in Bangkok, I will then hop on another bus for Kanchanaburi, spending one night on a river guest house and taking in all the WWII sights. The next day, I will go back to Bangkok, put my stuff in storage, party on Khoa San Road, stay up all night, and be at the airport around 4am to catch my flight at 6. So, the next few days will be crazy, but lots of fun. Should be back on the evening of the 29th. Go White Sox.

Pai (pronounced "bye")

2005-10-23T01:25:00.000-07:00

This morning I started thinking about this question: are third world countries disorganized and lacking for logic because they are poor, or are they poor because they are disorganized and lacking for logic? The catylist for this thought came as I stood waiting for my bus to Pai, a small mountain village 3.5 hours away from Chiang Mai. Like the bus stations in, say, Ecuador, the bus station in Chiang Mai was chaos on top of madness. Paper flies everywhere, tickets are sort of haphazard, and there's barely a place to sit down among all the food stands and markets. Really, it's quite fun and full of energy. A Grayhound station in the states may be efficient and organized, but it is usually a sad, cold, lifeless environment. If we could somehow combine the best parts of both of these styles, we'd be in business. However, I was in Chiang Mai and paying more attention to the chaos, rather than the fun. Eventually, I somehow managed to get a bus ticket. Let it be known that the bus to Pai is not the finest piece of machinery ever built. In fact, it ranks right up there with the model T. Thrown onto this heap in huddled masses (yearning to be free), we are cooled only by open windows and actual fans bolted to the ceiling. I could go on and on about this bus, but it would serve no purpose. Besides, one is too busy concentrating on not adding projectile vomit to the mix as we move around the mountains like a snake. But, through it all, the views are spectacular, and a fun little village waits at the top... where I couldn't get a guest room for a rather long time. Many of the accomodations were wiped away by August and September flooding - skeletons of the old inns rest along the banks of the river. A Canadian couple eventually took me over to the house they are staying in and hooked me up with a room. It's nothing special, but it beats walking around in the heat with a rucksack, daypack, and (sigh) garment bag. Anyway, should be about three days in Pai before my overnight train to Bangkok. The theme for the next three nights is to perfect the art of chilling out --- learning the craft through my own unique, logical manner of dissection... which is to be totally UNchill.

Lothar of the Hill People

2005-10-22T02:46:00.000-07:00

Hello! I am Lothar, of the Hill People! Just returned from the jungle of northern Thailand where we made several hours worth of treks - we being me, a couple from New York City, and our two guides. Along with those treks, we rode elephants (both ultra touristy AND cruel), ate several amazing meals (the grandest being the veggie dinner cooked by our guide), rode bamboo rafts down the river (touristy in a Disneyland kind of way, photo waiting for you at the finish), happened upon two snakes (please send new underwear), and saw some great scenery. Best, however, was the night we spent in the Karen Hill Tribe village, high in the mountains. Sleeping in a guesthouse of sorts on flat bamboo and light bedding, we enjoyed the fresh, cool, mountain air and enjoyed hanging out with our gracious hosts. There was no electricity up there, so we dined (on our heap of food) by cnadlelight, and then spent the rest of the early evening by the campfire. The second eldest of the host family walked down to the main village to grab a guitar, and Ban, the main guide, and I took turns playing songs. Somde, our sherpa of sorts, sang along to everything and actually knew three or four words. Now, back in Chiang Mai, I checked back into my guest house, cleaned up, and went for my third fitting for my big purchase: 2 suits, 2 shirts, and 2 ties. All for $225... which isn't a tremendous deal, but still very very good, especially considering that I got to choose the fabric and had everything measured to me. And, so long as I was becoming Mr. Fashion Nerd with my light brown and dark navy suits, I had my two custom shirts made for cuff links. I figure I can get a nice dress shirt anywhere, so I might as well make these special. The ties will be chosen tonight when I go back for the final fitting. Needless to say, it has been an interesting experience. I only dread having to cart this stuff back to the states in one piece. Anyway, that's it from here. Tomorrow it is on to the mountain backpacker town of Pai for about three nights. Cheers.

Chiang Mai

2005-10-20T21:15:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhh... it's hard to believe that I had to find relaxation, not at the beach, but, rather, in the city. For as much fun and sun as I had on Samui, I simply could not escape the development and commercialism. Here in Thailand's north, in Chiang Mai, life is easy. Yes, it's a big city, but the people are friendly, they talk slowly, and it's easy to get around on foot. After arriving yesterday, I checked into the Eagle House No. 2, a great little guest house close to all the action. I wandered around a bit, and then went on a search for the pants they give you to put on when you get a massage. I could live in those things. I was asking around for a Tesco supermarket, where I heard they could be found, when a nice older woman explained that I could find them just as easily at the famous Chiang Mai night market. She was heading that way on her moped, so she gave me a lift. Inside, this place has everything - including the pants. So, now I'm stocked up. Seriously, the answer to world peace is for the entire planet to stop what they are doing, put on a pair of these pants, and drink tea. In about an hour's time, we'll be less intereted in bombing each other, and more into the idea of just sitting around. Of course, industry will fail, but at least we'll all be comfortable as we watch the downfall. Anyway, lighting and rain knocked out power briefly in the bazaar, so they just lit candles as we walked around. No biggie. When the rain stopped, I walked back to my place, changed, and had a nice Thai dinner in town, watched some Champions League soccer (Man U vs Lille), and then crashed out early for the night... still need sleep from the Full Moon Party. The plan from here out is to explore the town a little more today, a two-day hill trek starting tomorrow, three days being mellow in the town of Pai, an overnight train to Bangkok, a day-trip to the River Kwai bridge, and then home... to the ol' grind. Anyway, this could be my last update until I get back from the hill trek. Cheers. Oh, and happy birthday, Drew.

9am at the Samui Airport

2005-10-19T19:01:00.000-07:00

This place is great... it looks like it was built by the gang on Gilligan's Island. Seriously, the entire airport is open-air, thatched-roof huts. Anyway, last night was the big Full Moon Party on Ko Pah Ngan. Shuttled over there from Samui with mind-boggling efficiency, I arrived around 9:30pm. At that time, things were still rather tame despite the fact that buckets were moving like they were going out of style. Here, on Samui, most drinks are had via the bucket... ice, a Red Bull-like product, coke or sprite, and a mini bottle of some local booze. They drop a bunch of straws in there and multiple people can share the cough syrup. Needless to say, it was knocking people on their ass. By 3am, there were hundreds (yes, HUNDREDS) or people passed out on the beach. Most were still drinking and dancing to the loud, thumping, music, but it looked like a giant game of last man standing. With thousands of people spread out over Hat Rin beach, the party was still going until 8am. I, however, left on the 5am ferry back to Samui. I was warned that if you do not use drugs, it's a really bad time, but I have to say that I rather enjoyed it. Great people watching... flame twirlers, glow paint, madness. At one point, a group was hudled over a guy laying on the beach. Ï asked some European guy what happened. "He fell. He has taken drugs." Thanks, Captain Obvious. This was the scene. Now, as I sit at this perfect airport in paradise, I am on my way north to Chiang Mai. If part one of this trip was ocean, tourism, and party - part two will be mountains, real people, and zen. Looking forward to it. Until then...

Well we're movin' on up!

2005-10-17T19:27:00.000-07:00

I decided to stick around the islands just long enough to experience the Full Moon Party on Ko Pha Ngan. Basically, it's a giant dance party for about 10,000 people on one of Hat Rin beach. Think Appocolypse Now!... with fire twirlers, glow-paint, and DJ music. I'll take a boat over in the PM, and a boat back to Samui in the early AM. Then, on the 19th (right after I get back from the FMP) I fly to Bangkok and then to Chiang Mai. I decided, that, yes, I can only take so much beach and this trip would not be complete without a visit to the north. It wasn't in the original plan, but that's quite alright. I've always beleived that the best things in life come from a change of plans. However, in order to have a CHANGE in plans, you must HAVE a plan in the first place. Also, instead of staying two nights in Kanchanaburi (River Kwai bridge), I will do a day-trip from Bangkok on my last day, allowing for over a week in the north. So, yeah... movin' on up. Should be nice just hanging out up there. As for Samui, it pissed rain yesterday, so we played cards at our huts and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Today, I plan to get some beach time in and maybe go down south island for a snorkle. That's it for now.

When at Charlie's, Pay the Extra Baht

2005-10-15T20:00:00.000-07:00

I was just about set to move to Lamai beach and find other lodging arrangements. I just couldn't take that room of mine. However, I followed the advice of one of the BootsnAll members on the message board, and paid the extra 200 Baht ($5 U.S.) for the upgraded room. Night and day. My toilet flushes. I have space for my things. The bathroom walls are tiled rather than dark and mucky. That said, I'll be staying out my Samui days at Cahrlie's Huts. So, I say it again... get the $500 baht room with a fan, and your life will be much better. The basic plan today, after a late night of hanging out in Soi Green Mango (a large, touristy plaza with bars), is to have some food, get a Thai massage, lay out on the beach for a bit, and relax with my book. And, speaking of the book... Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintanance is one of the greatest reads I've ever had the pleasure of taking on. Let's see... what else? Should be in Samui tonight and tomorrow, if I DO NOT go to the full moon party on Ko Pha Ngan. This island is starting to get busy as people pour in in anticipation of the party. Everyone, it seems, is going. I'm sure it's a great experience (once), but I'm still giving serious consideration to heading up north to Chang Mai. However, if I go to the FMP, I'll just stick around Samui and make a night trip out of it. Who knows. That's it for now. PS: despite the fear of bird flu, stick with the chicken. I ate meat last night and as soon as I ate it I knew there would be problems. Nothing major, but a little upset in the stomach. Cheers.

Ko Samui

2005-10-14T19:48:00.000-07:00

To those of you who doubted my motorcycle abilities, let it be known that I kicked some serious ass on that thing. Piece of cake. My only issue came when I, um, ran out of gas. All that scenery and wind blowing past me sort of forced me to forget about that special little guage. However, a cute, little Thai girl ran down from her home and offered to take HER motorcycle to the petrol station to get me a liter of fuel for 30 baht - that's about 75 cents. I gave her a 100 baht bill, and she ran into her home. Super. A few moments later, she came back out, clad in her Muslim head-cover... guess she couldn't go into town without it. I sat outside her home with the rest of her family and watched some DVD until she came back. She fueled me up, I gave her some baht for her trouble, and was back on the road. Kind of a fun experience. Yesterday, I made it over to the large, white-sand island of Ko Samui. The ferry ride over gave us some of the finest scenery I have ever seen. The beach is nice, here, but it's totally over-developed. That being said, there was plenty to do. Last night, me and a British couple I met on the boat went out for Thai dinner and, later, beers. We hung out at this bar for hours, talkign and watching Ultimate Fighting on the TV. And, speaking of fighting, the plan for tonight is to check out some Thai boxing at the arena right by my bungalow. I'm staying at Charlie's huts on Chaweng Beach. Apparently, Charlie had no need for hot water or a flushing toilet... but, really, neither do I. Also, as far as looking into the future... I'm thinking I may shorted my stay on the islands, skipping the Full Moon Party, and just head up to the north so I can go on a hill-tribe trek and chill out with all the monks. One can only take so much sand... perfectly fine and white as it is. That's it for now.

Taking it Easy in Ko Lanta

2005-10-11T23:13:00.000-07:00

Find Phuket on the map... then look a little east. There, you may or may not find the small, quiet island of Ko Lanta. It's totally dead right now as it is the off season, so I have much of these golden beaches to myself. It's great... for a couple of days. Yesterday, on my way over to Ko Lanta, I stopped in Phuket and Krabi. The highlight was checking out the Vegetarian Festival in Phuket Town. I guess getting out of Whoreville was also nice. Here in Ko Lanta, I woke up at 6am this morning and swam in the ocean with not a soul around... just a couple of dogs. Later, after breakfast, I rented a motorcycle and toured the entire island. Funny thing, I don't know how to ride a motorcycle. But, I figured it out - eventually. Without a doubt, this is the best way to travel in a place like this. I probably won't stay as long as I had planned because it is so quiet, but I will enjoy the peacefulness for a couple of days and then move on. Next item of business... read my book on the beach and do nothing. Tomorrow, I will take my cycle to the eastern shore and watch the sunrise before moving on. Cheers!

2005-10-10T20:15:00.000-07:00

Finally arrived in Bangkok after over 24 hours of flying. On the plus side, I DID manage to watch March of the Penguins on my way over. My hotel in Bangkok, Majestic Suites in Sukhumvit, is nicer than I need, but it was pleasant to have a propper room after all that travel. Today's plan is to see the Grand Palace and a few other sites, riding the sky train and taking water taxis. Tonight I am meeting up with a family friend at 9, and tomorrow I plan to fly down to the islands. Until then, I'm just going to enjoy a good laugh as I view the local scenery. Basically, I'm in Whore-ville. Population: me. Whatever you've heard about Thai prostitutes being everywhere in areas like Sukhumvit... believe it.

And away we go...

2005-10-08T06:54:00.000-07:00

I stayed up all night on Friday so I would be good and tired when I fly today for Thailand. The journey will consist of three planes. The first is an 11:30am flight from Atlanta to Minneapolis. My second flight, the big 12.5 hour mama-jama, takes me from Minneapolis to Tokyo. Finally, I'll fly from Tokyo to Bangkok, getting in at 11:50pm on October 9th. All in all, I'm looking at 22 hours of total flying time. So, like I said, being able to sleep is key. Fortunately, I was able to kill some time at Mike & Angelo's with Swami Gone Bananas - a local improvisational rock band. I spent the rest of Friday night watching Grateful Dead DVDs and packing. Speaking of... below is the official packing list for this trip. After all is said and done, I will go over this list again and revise it for others to use as a guide when planning their Thai vacation. But, here, in completely OCD-detail, is what I'm taking (it looks far worse than it is):

01. Kelty Redcloud 5600 Backpack
02. REI Duck's Back (100 L) -- Rain Cover for Pack
03. (2) Personal Info Sheets (Main pack & Day Pack)
04. Self-Care Supplies (In Ziplock Bags in Top Compartment of Pack)
04a. Shampoo (Travel Bottle)
04a. Body wash (Travel Bottle)
04a. Toothbrush (with Holder)
04a. Floss
04a. Small Toothpaste
04a. Listerine
04b. Sunscreen
04b. Off! Insect Repellent
04c. (2) Razors
04c. Travel Shaving Cream
04c. Toe Clippers
04c. Fingernail Clippers
04c. Tweezers
04d. Deoderant
04d. Small Hand Lotion
04d. Several Q-Tips
04e. (30) Daily Vitamins
04e. Various Pills for Aches and Colds
04f. (2) Tiny Gold Bond Bottles
04f. (2) Mini Purell Hand Sanitzer Bottles (Pocket Size)
04f. (3) Slightly Larger Purell Hand Sanitizer Bottles
04g. Small Quick-Dry Pack Towel
05. Money Belt
05a. $400 Cash
05a. Passport
05a. Driver's Liscense
05a. Debit Card
05a. Credit Card
05a. Old College ID (You Never Know)
05a. Healthcare Card
05a. (2) MARTA Tokens (Atlanta Subway)
06. Jansport Day Pack
06a. Journal
06a. Second Notebook
06a. "Feel This Book" (Terrible... will finish on plane and toss)
06a. "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"
06a. "The Rough Guide to: Thailand"
06a. Pen
06a. Sharpie
06a. Mints
06a. Fake Wallet (Go ahead, steal it)
06a. Business Cards
06a. Work ID (Personal Reason... Not Necessary for Others)
06a. Digital Camera
06a. Extra Compact Flash Card
06a. (8) AA Batteries (for Camera)
06a. Old Beer Coozie (Hey, it's the tropics)
06a. Eye Shades for Sleeping
06a. Tiny LED Flashlight on an REI Caribeneer
06a. (2) Small Combo Locks (For Pack, After Flight)
06a. Rope-Style Lock for Pack
06a. Ugly Comfy Travel Socks (for the plane)*
06a. Headphone Splitter (So I Can Also Watch Someone's DVD Player)
07. Eagle Creek Cube: Red
07a. (5) Boxers*
07a. (2) Low Running Socks
07a. (1) Black Socks
08. Eagle Creek Cube: Black
08a. Nylon Cargo Shorts
08a. Green Bathing Suit
08a. Blue Bathing Suit
08a. AU Mesh Shorts
09. Eagle Creek Cube: Blue
09a. AC/DC T-Shirt
09a. Rapids T-Shirt
09a. Cerveza Imperial T-Shirt
09a. Hurley T-Shirt
10. Teva Flip Flops*
11. Old-as-Hell New Balance Runners
12. Eagle Creek Flat Fold
12a. Checkered Button-Down Shirt
12a. Brown Button-Down Shirt
12a. Long-Sleeve T-Shirt*
12a. Blue Jeans
12a. Cargo Pants*
13. Belt*
14. Sunglasses*
15. Extra Ziplock Bags
16. Roll of TP
17. Rain Coat
18. Booze for the Plane (I Hate Flying)
* Worn On Flight

Well, that's the packing list. If it seems light on clothes, that's because it is. I've read dozens of posts on the travel boards that say it's best to just buy some clothes once you get to Thailand. So, I plan to pick up a few things (and, now, I have storage space in the pack). Besides, random Thai t-shirts and cheap, linen beach duds seem more comfortable than whatever I have here. Anyway, as it stands, it is 6:54 in the morning. The roomies are asleep - I'm wide awake. Next update... A LONG TIME FROM NOW. Cheers.

New Backpack, More Last-Minute Things to Do

2005-10-07T09:24:00.000-07:00

I lucked out - REI, as part of their fall sale, had the new backpack I wanted: Kelty Redcloud 5600. So, I exchanged my REI Mars Pack (which, when I inspected it at home, wasn't what I hoped it would be) and picked up a few other useful tools for my trip (i.e. chain lock, backpack rain cover, and a small LED mini flashlight). Then, I cruised down to the Book Nook and picked up a copy of Robert Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Seriously, how disgustingly heady can I get? Anyway, it's a book I've always wanted to read and I figured this would be a good trip for it. So, now that the big stuff is taken care of, I only have a few more minor things to do before I leave tomorrow - one of which will be checking out Swami Gone Bananas at Mike & Angelo's in Buckhead tonight. I never go to Buckhead (primarily because the collar of my polo shirts just won't flip up high enough), but I'll make an exception for M & A's to see Swami. Basically, they're a band comprised of extremely talented tye-dye clad dudes who wail out some terrific jams from the Grateful Dead, Allman Brothers, and a host of other improvisational rock groups. I plan to stay up all night to get my body nice and tired for the 22-hour flight to Bangkok, so it should be a fun way to kill some time.

Thanks, Big Red!

2005-10-03T21:08:00.000-07:00

Not a bad way to start out my 28th year. The Arizona Cardinals managed to win last night in Mexico City, providing me with a joyous transition from being 26 to 27 years old. Yes, today is my birthday. Honestly, though, what with preparing for Thailand and trying to ignore the whole "getting closer to thirty" thing, I really hadn't been paying attention to the fact that this day was approaching. But, alas, it's here. I know that 27 really isn't that old, but I'm starting to feel it - my hair is starting to thin out on top, the bar scene is getting somewhat tiresome, and I found myself rather annoyed Saturday night by all the obnoxious young kids at the Allman Brothers show. That being said, I plan to plow into this new year of my life, this clean slate, with a positive attitude and general zeal for life... which is pretty easy to say when you only have to work three days this week. The Thailand clock is ticking - only five days to go.

John Butler Trio at Variety Playhouse

2005-09-28T21:52:00.000-07:00

I caught John Butler Trio last night at Variety Playhouse in Atlanta. I'm guessing that many of you haven't had a chance to listen to the band's music, if you've even heard of them at all, but this is one of the most talented groups out there touring today. I first learned of them from the editor of Paste magazine during our weekly segment with him on Headline News. I jotted down the name "John Butler" and placed it at the back of my brain. Then, this summer, when I was checking out the grids for New Orleans Jazz Fest, that name popped out at me. I had only heard one clip of a song from JBT, the one we played on Headline News, but it was just enough to convince me that there was something special in this band. So, I convinced my buddies that we should check them out in the blues tent on our first day at Jazz Fest. Well, even after seeing Widespread Panic, Dave Matthews, and a host of other bands, we all agreed that JBT was the highlight of the weekend. Anyway, I ended up going to see them last night by myself because it's difficult to convince people to go see an act they've never really heard of... even if it was only $15. Just like they did at Jazz Fest, JBT blew the crowd away - Mr. Butler can pick a guitar like an animal. So, if you happen to get a chance to see them in your town, do it. This is a band we will be hearing for a long time, and they're better than 99% of the crap that's out there right now. By the way, Tristan Prettyman, hailing from Steve Poltz country in San Diego, opened the show and did a great job. She's beautiful.

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Thomas Roberts Wears Flip Flops

2005-09-27T15:13:00.000-07:00

It gets really warm in our Headline News studio, so Thomas wears flips with his suit and tie to keep cool. You don't see it because, as a general rule, nobody is really supposed to see the anchor's feet. But, I assure you, he's sporting Abercrombie & Fitch sandals. I'll try and bring my digital camera into work one of these days and provide you all with further evidence. Anyway, just thought I would share (since he's sitting at the anchor desk, right now, reading my blog). To learn more about Mr. Roberts, visit his bio at cnn.com.

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Humans Say the Darndest Things

2005-09-23T11:14:00.000-07:00

25 Mind-Numbingly Stupid Quotes About Hurricane Katrina And Its Aftermath

I'm sure some of you have already received and read this email, but here it is:

1) "I don't think anybody anticipated the breach of the levees." –President Bush, on "Good Morning America," Sept. 1, 2005, six days after repeated warnings from experts about the scope of damage expected from Hurricane Katrina

2) "What I'm hearing which is sort of scary is that they all want to stay in Texas. Everybody is so overwhelmed by the hospitality. And so many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway so this (chuckle) – this is working very well for them." –Former First Lady Barbara Bush, on the hurricane evacuees at the Astrodome in Houston, Sept. 5, 2005

3) "We've got a lot of rebuilding to do ... The good news is — and it's hard for some to see it now — that out of this chaos is going to come a fantastic Gulf Coast, like it was before. Out of the rubbles of Trent Lott's house — he's lost his entire house — there's going to be a fantastic house. And I'm looking forward to sitting on the porch." (Laughter) —President Bush, touring hurricane damage, Mobile, Ala., Sept. 2, 2005

4) "Considering the dire circumstances that we have in New Orleans, virtually a city that has been destroyed, things are going relatively well." –FEMA Director Michael Brown, Sept. 1, 2005

5) "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job." –President Bush, to FEMA director Michael Brown, while touring hurricane-ravaged Mississippi, Sept. 2, 2005

6) "Now tell me the truth boys, is this kind of fun?" –House Majority Leader Tom Delay (R-TX), to three young hurricane evacuees from New Orleans at the Astrodome in Houston, Sept. 9, 2005

7) "Well, I think if you look at what actually happened, I remember on Tuesday morning picking up newspapers and I saw headlines, 'New Orleans Dodged the Bullet.' Because if you recall, the storm moved to the east and then continued on and appeared to pass with considerable damage but nothing worse." –Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, blaming media coverage for the government's failings, "Meet the Press," Sept. 4, 2005

8) "What didn't go right?'" –President Bush, as quoted by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), after she urged him to fire FEMA Director Michael Brown "because of all that went wrong, of all that didn't go right" in the Hurricane Katrina relief effort

9) "I mean, you have people who don't heed those warnings and then put people at risk as a result of not heeding those warnings. There may be a need to look at tougher penalties on those who decide to ride it out and understand that there are consequences to not leaving." –Sen. Rick Santorum (R-PA), Sept. 6, 2005

10) "You simply get chills every time you see these poor individuals...many of these people, almost all of them that we see are so poor and they are so black, and this is going to raise lots of questions for people who are watching this story unfold." –CNN's Wolf Blitzer, on New Orleans' hurricane evacuees, Sept. 1, 2005

11) "We finally cleaned up public housing in New Orleans. We couldn't do it, but God did." –Rep. Richard Baker (R-LA) to lobbyists, as quoted in the Wall Street Journal

12) "If one person criticizes [the local authorities’ relief efforts] or says one more thing, including the president of the United States, he will hear from me. One more word about it after this show airs, and I…I might likely have to punch him, literally." –Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), "This Week with George Stephanopoulos," Sept. 4, 2005

13) "There are a lot of lessons we want to learn out of this process in terms of what works. I think we are in fact on our way to getting on top of the whole Katrina exercise." –Vice President Dick Cheney, Sept. 10, 2005

14) "I believe the town where I used to come – from Houston, Texas, to enjoy myself, occasionally too much – will be that very same town, that it will be a better place to come to." –President Bush, on the tarmac at the New Orleans airport, Sept. 2, 2005

15) "I have not heard a report of thousands of people in the convention center who don't have food and water." –Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, on NPR's "All Things Considered," Sept. 1, 2005

16) "Last night, we showed you the full force of a superpower government going to the rescue." –MSNBC's Chris Matthews, Sept. 1, 2005

17) "We just learned of the convention center – we being the federal government – today." –FEMA Director Michael Brown, to ABC's Ted Koppel, Sept. 1, 2005, to which Koppel responded: "Don't you guys watch television? Don't you guys listen to the radio? Our reporters have been reporting on it for more than just today."

18) "Mayor Nagin and most mayors in this country have a hard time getting their people to work on a sunny day, let alone getting them out of the city in front of a hurricane." –Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA), on why New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin failed to follow the city's evacuation plan and press the buses into service, "Fox News Sunday," Sept. 11, 2005

19) "Louisiana is a city that is largely under water." –Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, news conference, Sept. 3, 2005

20) "I also want to encourage anybody who was affected by Hurricane Corina to make sure their children are in school." –First Lady Laura Bush, twice referring to a "Hurricane Corina" while speaking to children and parents in South Haven, Mississippi, Sept. 8, 2005

21) "It's totally wiped out. ... It's devastating, it's got to be doubly devastating on the ground." –President Bush, turning to his aides while surveying Hurricane Katrina flood damage from Air Force One, Aug. 31, 2005

22)"But I really didn't hear that at all today. People came up to me all day long and said 'God bless your son,' people of different races and it was very, very moving and touching, and they felt like when he flew over that it made all the difference in their lives, so I just don't hear that." –Former First Lady Barbara Bush to CNN's Larry King, after King asked her how she felt when people said that her son "doesn't care" about race, Sept. 5, 2005

23) "FEMA is not going to hesitate at all in this storm. We are not going to sit back and make this a bureaucratic process. We are going to move fast, we are going to move quick, and we are going to do whatever it takes to help disaster victims." -FEMA Director Michael Brown, Aug. 28, 2005

24) "I understand there are 10,000 people dead. It's terrible. It's tragic. But in a democracy of 300 million people, over years and years and years, these things happen." --GOP strategist Jack Burkman, on MSNBC's "Connected," Sept. 7, 2005

25) "A young [black] man walks through chest deep floodwater after looting a grocery store in New Orleans..." "Two [white] residents wade through chest-deep water after finding bread and soda from a local grocery store after Hurricane Katrina came through the area in New Orleans..." –captions at Yahoo News, Aug. 30, 2005

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Another Song About Mexico

2005-09-21T22:13:00.000-07:00

Took this photo of Roger Clyne last night at Smith's Olde Bar - Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers are from Arizona. For those of you who aren't familiar with these guys, here's the two-second history: Used to be called The Refreshments. Had a hit single called "Banditos." The chorus was, "Everybody knows that the world is full of stupid people, so meet me at the mission at midnight - we'll divvy up there..." They also did the theme music to Fox's "King of the Hill." The Refreshments split up and reformed as Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers. And that's that. Other songs you may know are "Mexico," "Mekong," and "Down Together." However, they're prolific beyond their hits. Whatever that means. They're a great band, but they sorta make me laugh. These days, I'm so into my improvisational-based rock (which is a snobby way of saying JAM BANDS), that I find myself slightly bored at other types of shows. Actually, bored isn't the right word... this is impossible at a Roger Clyne show. It's just that when I see the Allman Brothers, or moe., or Widespread Panic, I have no idea what they are going to play. Everything is a mystery. But when I see Roger Clyne or Jimmy Buffett (mind you, both being favorites of mine), I go into the show knowing what I will get to hear. That element of surprise is sort of gone. Not only that, but I have to wonder how uninspired the artists are on some nights having to play, say, "Margaritaville" again. Seriously, I can't get up for a Buffett show like I used to. Buffett used to be the center of my world (which is sad), but now it's like I'm going through the motions with him. Roger puts on a slightly less predictable show, always packed with enormous energy, but I still know what's coming out. I'd pay much much more to see these guys come out and NOT play the hits - throw caution to the wind and play some of the less popular songs. I know these hits are what sells and why most people make it out to the shows, but I hope for something more. Life is not supposed to be predictable... that's why we live it and travel and take chances. I suppose I shouldn't be complaining. I'm not. Like I said, Roger puts on an incredible show, and all of his songs are well thought out, meaningful, and catchy. I just don't see how he can keep doing this with the same enthusiasm until he's old - it would be great to see him even when he's grey. Of course, I just have to remember that while I enjoyed myself last night, the first-timers were simply blown away.

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Seriously, am I in Third Grade?

2005-09-20T06:39:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to use this space to gloat over my friend Mike after destroying his Capitol Hill Cripples this week in Fantasy Football. Believe me, I'm quite aware as to how completely frat-boy-ish and juvenile this whole pretend sports craze is, but it's not a bad way to keep up with old college friends. That being said, I have set up strict guidelines for myself so as to restrict how this game will affect me as a normal, functioning, adult human being. The first rule is that I never discuss fantasy football in public (of course, I realize the hypocrisy in saying such a thing in this particular forum). Outside of this post, I generally keep quiet on the subject. There's nothing cool about it, so it's best not to bring it up. The second rule is that I do not allow wins and losses to dictate my mood. Final scores mean nothing to me - seriously. If I happen to win a couple hundred bucks at the end of the season, I view it as an added bonus to the 17 weeks of keeping in touch with my old DC buddies. The third, and final, rule is that I refuse to bring a print-out of my weekly matchup to the sports bar with me like a lot of other people. If I even bother to sit around a bar all afternoon on my Sunday, which is rare, I'm certainly not going to be a slave to that piece of paper showing me the position-by-position comparisons of my team versus my opponent. I'm just not that into it these days. Yet, somehow, I found enough time to create this very Euro-snobbish logo. It's lame. I know. I hate myself sometimes.

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MLS Saturdays

2005-09-17T12:28:00.000-07:00

Don't get me wrong. I love college football on Saturdays. In fact, I barely left the couch last weekend with all those top-25 matchups. But, to be perfectly honest, my true excitement stems from MLS soccer. I know... it's not the greatest league in the world. But it's our league, and if there was ever a chance for soccer to make it in America, it will come through the success of Major League Soccer. After ten interesting years, the league has blossomed from something that hardly resembled professional soccer to something that now finds teams building brand new soccer specific stadiums. This is a sure sign that survival is a possibility. Like I said, it's not the best soccer in the world (see the English Premier League, Italy's Serie A, Spain's La Liga, or Germany's Bundesliga), but I'm a fan. Not having a hometown team from Arizona, I've somehow morphed into a Colorado Rapids fan as they were the first to represent the four corners region (Real Salt Lake entered the league this season). It should be noted, however, that I first really got into soccer watching DC United games when I was in college. While I have never actually played organized soccer, save for when I was a kid, I've found myself getting more and more involved with the sport. The deeper my understanding has become of the players and leagues around the world, the greater my appreciation has grown. I'm even trying to play a little bit - Saturday mornings at Piedmont Park. There, I'm definitely the worst player on the field, perhaps even pissing off a few of the hard-cores, but I enjoy it. It's great to get out there and play some footy, and hopefully get a little better at the sport I have grown to love. See Soccer? I Hardly Know Her in the Essays Etc. link. (Pictured here: Pablo Mastroeni of the Rapids and the US National Team... despite being born in Argentina, he calls Phoenix his hometown)

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Phil Lesh and Friends

2005-09-15T11:40:00.000-07:00

It occurred to me that I simply wasn't spending enough money these days, what with my trip to Thailand, the Allman Brothers show, and outrageous gas prices. So, it was sort of bittersweet news to learn that Phil Lesh and Friends will be rocking The Fabulous Fox Theater in Atlanta on the 12th and 13th of December. You can't say no to the Dead, or at least something that resembles the Dead. Anyway, there goes another eighty bucks. But, check out the lineup: Chris Robinson, Jimmy Herring, John Molo, Mookie Siegel, and Barry Sless. OK, I can't actually vouch for the last three names... but Chris Robinson and Jimmy Herring will bring the house down. Plus, this is Phil Lesh we're talking about. When Phil comes to town there are three things you can count on. (1) Horrible singing on his behalf. (2) Special guests. (3) Long liberal rants that remind you how burned out this guy is. But that's why we love him. Special thanks to Jacqui for sharing the news and taking care of the whole mail-order bit. I'm becoming rather poor... but it's worth it.

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At the Car Wash!

2005-09-14T20:49:00.000-07:00

Last night we decided to play trivia at Prince of Wales in midtown, across the street from Piedmont Park. One of our questions was: Who sings the song "Car Wash?" Of course, we had no clue because it's one of those songs that everybody knows by ear but hates so much that they never bother to learn who the artist is. Anyway, the answer is Rose Royce... the swinging cats seen in this photo. So next time you're at a bad party and somebody plays "Car Wash" you can turn to the person next to you and say, "I bet you don't know who sings this." And they'll say, "No. I don't." And then you can say, "You stupid bastard... it's Rose Royce!" Then you will have proven your superior knowledge.

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The World is Really BIG!

2005-09-13T18:09:00.000-07:00

So, one day you're sitting around thinking, "Gee, I've been pretty fortunate. I've done some traveling. I've seen a few things. I'm going to Thailand in three weeks." Then you venture onto world66.com and create a map of the countries you have visited. That's when you realize that, maaaaaaaaaan, you ain't seen nuthin'!

There. Now I feel a little better.

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