I have gotten enough sleep two nights in a row. This is amazing. I'm not really sure what exactly has changed. In fact, I'm a bit surprised. Let me tell you my short story of Thursday and Friday.
I'd had a terrible time sleeping on Wednesday night as had become my habit. I went to work and sluggishly did my job. Afterwards, I got my lunch at Wendy's* and came home. When, I got home I had an email from the guy who had initially shown interest in my electric guitar about coming to see it. We exchanged a couple emails and set up a meeting for Friday.
Dad then started asking me to do shit. First he wanted me to clear out the bed of my truck and go pick up some soil. That's no big deal. I'm always annoyed when he asks me to do absolutely anything, but that I can get over. I went to get some soil and wasn't asked to help move it into place, which was nice, because actually working on something with my Father is basically torture.
Later that day, he came and asked me to go with him to pick up a car from a mechanic. Being in close proximity to him is very stressful for me. There's been a particularly anxious cloud over my head in regards to him recently and the way he was bitching didn't help**. So, once he got out and got the car, I had a panic attack.
I got home at about 7:00 and took half a Xanax, which helped a little bit, but wasn't quite effective as it had been in the past. I took the other half at about 11:15, which is a little bit earlier than recommended on the bottle***. That hit me and I was out by 11:30.
I remember setting my alarm on Thursday night. It didn't wake me up though. I don't know if it just didn't work, or if I just woke up and turned it off in a sleepy state. However, I actually woke up and it was 8:50. That was an oh-shit moment since I was supposed to be at work at 9:00.
My typical morning when I have to work is this****: My alarm goes out at 8:00. I get up, turn on my computer and take a piss. Once my computer is booted up, I check in order: my emails, Twitter, Tumblr, Blogger, YouTube, Google Reader, [site redacted], and Facebook. Those things usually take up my the right amount time before I have to get ready. After dressing, I'm usually out the door at about a quarter til 9:00
Back to the story. So, I jumped up and hurriedly got ready for work. I got into work at about 9:15. My function at work isn't particularly time dependent, so being late isn't such a big deal, but I still felt bad about it. However, I felt worse in general. I think what the way I was feeling was a hangover. I had a terrible headache and generally felt like shit until about 1:30.
When, I got home from work I got my amp and pedals set up in the garage for this guy to come check out my guitar. Dad wasn't home, which was such a relief. He had agreed to show up at 2:00 and he was a little bit early, which I liked. I grabbed the guitar and let him check it out. As he was doing it Dad showed up. My Stress level jumped. Fortunately, Dad didn't do anything to scare the guy off. I would've been much happier had he just not known that I was selling it though.
The guy agreed to buy it for $235 and he was gone by 2:05. It was a painless deal. I had money for a guitar that I rarely played. Well, almost painless. Dad came to bitch at me about it. Saying he would've bought and let me keep it and claiming that he was proud of "such a nice guitar in his house." He bitched at me for a while, but I basically tuned him out. I would never agree to sell him anything. If he could claim ownership over anything I use, it is just going to be hell later.
The rest of yesterday was pretty awesome though. Emma and I traded pictures. Now, I'm left in a quandary as to what to do with this picture. It certainly can never go in the garbage. Should it be in a museum? I'm not sure, but it needs a place with more dignity than my desk.
Pretty much the rest of my past two days has been spent playing Trials Evolution and not doing the homework I ought to be doing given my weekend plans. Tonight, I'm going to the Crew game and tomorrow I'm going to Sarah's for my victory Pie.
Thanks for reading
-Michael
*Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Emma xD
**I would like to be more specific, but I really don't want to worry anyone.
***It says "1/2-1 up to four times a day for anxiety; sleep" so it wasn't like I was abusing it.
****Provided I don't wake up before my alarm, which I have basically done everyday for the past few weeks.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Gaming Tuesday- Next Generation of Consoles
It's been a while right? I've been skipping out on doing this post for months, because I haven't had the desire to do it. So, a quick recap since the last time I've done this.
I passed 30,000 gamer score. It's very exciting for me, because that's what I call my "e-penis"*.
I missed playing a lot of the big games that came out near the end of 2011. I've really tightened my purse strings. I played Saint's Row the Third, Modern Warfare 3, and Assassin's Creed: Revelations.
A Super Late 2011 Wrap-up
In terms of 2011 games, I would say my Favorite was Saint's Row. I missed out on Arkham City, which I think I will really enjoy once I get around to it. L.A. Noire was disappointing to me based on the quality of gameplay I expect from Rockstar. There were amazing graphics in that game, but it just don't quite have what I like to see from an open world game. It was just too linear. Also, another thing really hurt was the game being on multiple discs on 360.
Modern Warfare 3 and Assassin's Creed both were great games, but they didn't quite do it for me. Call of Duty's campaign was even more over the top than Black Ops' was. It was nice to have the story wrapped up, but I really didn't have a fucking clue how to follow the story. The multiplayer was interesting and fun, but I just am so CoD fatigued that it just didn't offer enough for me to stick with it.
Assassin's Creed felt like a bit of a let down after how fantastic Brotherhood was. I'm not sure exactly how to quantify my feelings about. The gameplay was fine. The story wasn't as good, but it certainly wasn't a bad either. It just felt like such a rehash. I'm fine with sticking with what works, but I just didn't feel any progression in this game. It kind of just seemed like an annual money grab.
Saint's Row the Third was exactly what I expected it to be. It didn't try to be something it's not. It's fun. It's silly. It's easy. Lots of explosions. Lots of ridiculous weapons. Dick punches. Over the top and unabashed about it. It was just so enjoyable to play and stress free.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next-Gen Consoles
There have been lots of leaks and rumors about the next generation of consoles; many alarmist stories about DRM and the crusade against used game sales. I don't exactly understand why the video game companies have such an issue with Gamestop really, but they do and it may be enough of a carrot to them to start developing an a new console.
I'm not sure what exactly they're going to look like. I feel like the Playstation 4 leaks are more likely than the Xbox 720 leaks. However, I think both Sony and Microsoft didn't want to release next gen consoles until 2015, but it seems Sony trying to recover from the fiasco with PSN last year and their inability to compete with Microsoft in this round of consoles is causing them to push for something sooner. If there is any credibility to the 720 rumors, which I kind of doubt, it seems like Microsoft is pushing up in response to Sony to keep their edge.
I kind of have the feeling that Sony and Microsoft are on different paths. I think Sony is looking at a future with Blu-ray and Microsoft looking at digital distribution. Putting Blu-ray into a console was the PS3's crowning achievement and I suspect the next Sony console will improve on that with better internal memory.
Microsoft on the other hand seems to be refining the means of having a console that is disc-drive free. The introduction of Games-on-Demand and cloud storage to the 360 makes it a disc drive unnecessary except to play the newest titles. With that said, if Microsoft are indeed pushing up the 720 it would almost have to have a disc-drive, because I don't think the digital distribution is quite robust enough yet to be the only means to gameplay and if a 720 has a disc drive it would have to be Blu-ray. There is no doubt that HD-DVD was the wrong horse to bet on and the 360's lack of readable disc space was made clear by L.A. Noire last year.
I am a big proponent of digital distribution. There are some issues with DRM that will need to be sorted out, but I think would be a great future for video games. The lack of discs or a disc drive are two more pieces of hardware that one wouldn't have to worry about failing. It also is really convenient. I've started using Games-on-Demand recently and love it. Things are kind of over priced right now, but I feel like that would correct itself if there were new releases on there and the means of downloading was more efficient.
If I was braver, I would proclaim, "Physical media is dead." I'm not quite that brave yet, but I definitely think it's on it's death bed.
One thing I definitely believe that has come from the rumors is that an internet connection is probably going to be required to play the next generation consoles. It is unfortunate, but the nature of digital distribution and the prospect of piracy are going to make the manufacturers want an account to tie individuals to and a way to track them easily.
No one cares about Nintendo. Shut up and go play your Wii.
Thanks for reading
-Michael
*Yep
I passed 30,000 gamer score. It's very exciting for me, because that's what I call my "e-penis"*.
I missed playing a lot of the big games that came out near the end of 2011. I've really tightened my purse strings. I played Saint's Row the Third, Modern Warfare 3, and Assassin's Creed: Revelations.
A Super Late 2011 Wrap-up
In terms of 2011 games, I would say my Favorite was Saint's Row. I missed out on Arkham City, which I think I will really enjoy once I get around to it. L.A. Noire was disappointing to me based on the quality of gameplay I expect from Rockstar. There were amazing graphics in that game, but it just don't quite have what I like to see from an open world game. It was just too linear. Also, another thing really hurt was the game being on multiple discs on 360.
Modern Warfare 3 and Assassin's Creed both were great games, but they didn't quite do it for me. Call of Duty's campaign was even more over the top than Black Ops' was. It was nice to have the story wrapped up, but I really didn't have a fucking clue how to follow the story. The multiplayer was interesting and fun, but I just am so CoD fatigued that it just didn't offer enough for me to stick with it.
Assassin's Creed felt like a bit of a let down after how fantastic Brotherhood was. I'm not sure exactly how to quantify my feelings about. The gameplay was fine. The story wasn't as good, but it certainly wasn't a bad either. It just felt like such a rehash. I'm fine with sticking with what works, but I just didn't feel any progression in this game. It kind of just seemed like an annual money grab.
Saint's Row the Third was exactly what I expected it to be. It didn't try to be something it's not. It's fun. It's silly. It's easy. Lots of explosions. Lots of ridiculous weapons. Dick punches. Over the top and unabashed about it. It was just so enjoyable to play and stress free.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Next-Gen Consoles
There have been lots of leaks and rumors about the next generation of consoles; many alarmist stories about DRM and the crusade against used game sales. I don't exactly understand why the video game companies have such an issue with Gamestop really, but they do and it may be enough of a carrot to them to start developing an a new console.
I'm not sure what exactly they're going to look like. I feel like the Playstation 4 leaks are more likely than the Xbox 720 leaks. However, I think both Sony and Microsoft didn't want to release next gen consoles until 2015, but it seems Sony trying to recover from the fiasco with PSN last year and their inability to compete with Microsoft in this round of consoles is causing them to push for something sooner. If there is any credibility to the 720 rumors, which I kind of doubt, it seems like Microsoft is pushing up in response to Sony to keep their edge.
I kind of have the feeling that Sony and Microsoft are on different paths. I think Sony is looking at a future with Blu-ray and Microsoft looking at digital distribution. Putting Blu-ray into a console was the PS3's crowning achievement and I suspect the next Sony console will improve on that with better internal memory.
Microsoft on the other hand seems to be refining the means of having a console that is disc-drive free. The introduction of Games-on-Demand and cloud storage to the 360 makes it a disc drive unnecessary except to play the newest titles. With that said, if Microsoft are indeed pushing up the 720 it would almost have to have a disc-drive, because I don't think the digital distribution is quite robust enough yet to be the only means to gameplay and if a 720 has a disc drive it would have to be Blu-ray. There is no doubt that HD-DVD was the wrong horse to bet on and the 360's lack of readable disc space was made clear by L.A. Noire last year.
I am a big proponent of digital distribution. There are some issues with DRM that will need to be sorted out, but I think would be a great future for video games. The lack of discs or a disc drive are two more pieces of hardware that one wouldn't have to worry about failing. It also is really convenient. I've started using Games-on-Demand recently and love it. Things are kind of over priced right now, but I feel like that would correct itself if there were new releases on there and the means of downloading was more efficient.
If I was braver, I would proclaim, "Physical media is dead." I'm not quite that brave yet, but I definitely think it's on it's death bed.
One thing I definitely believe that has come from the rumors is that an internet connection is probably going to be required to play the next generation consoles. It is unfortunate, but the nature of digital distribution and the prospect of piracy are going to make the manufacturers want an account to tie individuals to and a way to track them easily.
No one cares about Nintendo. Shut up and go play your Wii.
Thanks for reading
-Michael
*Yep
Monday, April 16, 2012
Friend Zone
When you're me, most of the time when you like someone you either 1) are pining over someone who you won't ever speak to or 2) end up the "Friend Zone". I am pathologically shy and not attractive, so the likelihood of me starting a relationship with a strange woman is very low especially a romantic one. So, if I am to have a romantic relationship, and the nice things that come with one*, it will almost undoubtedly be with a girl I already know and am friends with.
Having a crush on some girl you don't really know from class isn't that bad. In fact it's kind of fun. Currently, I have one of those on Hipster Girl. Unless she takes an interest in me, nothing is ever going to happen between us and I'm fine with that. I will hand in the final on the last day of class and never see her again. I will have had my crush and moved on
It sucks having a crush on a friend and it not being reciprocated. It is really easy to build up resentment towards that person as well. I know I've been guilty of being upset with friends I've liked for not liking me back or having boyfriends. It is really easy to feel bitter and rejected, but it isn't right.
Your feelings probably aren't as subtle as you think; he or she knows that you like him or her. The person you like isn't being a terrible bitch or asshole or teasing you or trying to play you. You are emotionally valuable to that person as a friend. That is why you are in the "Friend-zone." It's not some malicious reason; it's because you are a friend. He or she is trying to be kind and to save the friendship by not flat out rejecting you, because he or she doesn't want to lose you and having to reject you is the last thing he or she wants to do.
Another thing is that the you trying to get your friend to like you, is almost the worst version of yourself. He is selfish and petty; doing things to get her to like him rather than because he is her friend. No one worth being with is ever going to like you back when you act like that. It likely just would make things weird between the two of you, which absolutely puts an end to your chances.
Friendship isn't the worst thing someone could offer you either. It can feel like being rejected, but if you view it maturely it is just the opposite. She isn't romantically interested in you at that time, but she is still interested in you as a companion, a confidant, a bro, etc. That person values you and to have anyone value you is an awesome thing.
It is really hard to stop liking someone. In fact, I personally think it is almost impossible. I don't think I've ever stopped liking someone, but if you try you can make it less so. There will always still be a part of me that has a crush on Lisa G.**, but the parts of me that love Harry Potter or are best friends with Nick and Patrick are much bigger, because I allow them to be. I really think the best way to get over a crush is to use the mind power you're focusing on trying to get into that person's pants on other things. Take the value that you've placed on dating her and place it onto being her friend. This isn't an immediate process or anything and feelings are hard to make go away, but which ever friend your crushing on's friendship is worth working on it.
Hank Green's Friend-zone video explained the ways out of the Friend-zone as basically either being that person's friend or bailing, because you can't handle not being their partner. The prior way is always preferable way for both parties, I believe. Perhaps the best thing to get through it is to know that no right now doesn't necessarily mean no forever, but you have to respect the current no and move your romantic interests elsewhere. If a time comes when you get to hook up, fantastic, but if it never does you have a friendship, which is a wonderful thing.
Thanks for reading and please comment
-Michael
*You know, dates, making out, sex, etc.
**I'm choosing not to link back to that post
P.S. I have been guilty of pretty much everything I criticize in this post.
Having a crush on some girl you don't really know from class isn't that bad. In fact it's kind of fun. Currently, I have one of those on Hipster Girl. Unless she takes an interest in me, nothing is ever going to happen between us and I'm fine with that. I will hand in the final on the last day of class and never see her again. I will have had my crush and moved on
It sucks having a crush on a friend and it not being reciprocated. It is really easy to build up resentment towards that person as well. I know I've been guilty of being upset with friends I've liked for not liking me back or having boyfriends. It is really easy to feel bitter and rejected, but it isn't right.
Your feelings probably aren't as subtle as you think; he or she knows that you like him or her. The person you like isn't being a terrible bitch or asshole or teasing you or trying to play you. You are emotionally valuable to that person as a friend. That is why you are in the "Friend-zone." It's not some malicious reason; it's because you are a friend. He or she is trying to be kind and to save the friendship by not flat out rejecting you, because he or she doesn't want to lose you and having to reject you is the last thing he or she wants to do.
Another thing is that the you trying to get your friend to like you, is almost the worst version of yourself. He is selfish and petty; doing things to get her to like him rather than because he is her friend. No one worth being with is ever going to like you back when you act like that. It likely just would make things weird between the two of you, which absolutely puts an end to your chances.
Friendship isn't the worst thing someone could offer you either. It can feel like being rejected, but if you view it maturely it is just the opposite. She isn't romantically interested in you at that time, but she is still interested in you as a companion, a confidant, a bro, etc. That person values you and to have anyone value you is an awesome thing.
It is really hard to stop liking someone. In fact, I personally think it is almost impossible. I don't think I've ever stopped liking someone, but if you try you can make it less so. There will always still be a part of me that has a crush on Lisa G.**, but the parts of me that love Harry Potter or are best friends with Nick and Patrick are much bigger, because I allow them to be. I really think the best way to get over a crush is to use the mind power you're focusing on trying to get into that person's pants on other things. Take the value that you've placed on dating her and place it onto being her friend. This isn't an immediate process or anything and feelings are hard to make go away, but which ever friend your crushing on's friendship is worth working on it.
Hank Green's Friend-zone video explained the ways out of the Friend-zone as basically either being that person's friend or bailing, because you can't handle not being their partner. The prior way is always preferable way for both parties, I believe. Perhaps the best thing to get through it is to know that no right now doesn't necessarily mean no forever, but you have to respect the current no and move your romantic interests elsewhere. If a time comes when you get to hook up, fantastic, but if it never does you have a friendship, which is a wonderful thing.
Thanks for reading and please comment
-Michael
*You know, dates, making out, sex, etc.
**I'm choosing not to link back to that post
P.S. I have been guilty of pretty much everything I criticize in this post.
Friday, April 13, 2012
Friday the 13th- mini post
I have a tradition on Friday the 13th*. It basically dates back to when I started driving and there happened to be Friday the 13ths in back to back months, so yea. I always make a mix CD on Friday the 13ths. So here's the playlist:
1. Electrical Storm- U2
2. Pacific Standard Time- No Use For A Name
3. Ontario- No Use For A Name
4. We're On Fire- Armoured Bearcub
5. Surrounded (or Spiraling)- Silversun Pickups
6. Substitution- Silversun Pickups
7. Alice and the Interiors- Manchester Orchestra
8. Linoleum- NoFX
9. Whoops, I OD'd- NoFX
10. The Dregs of Sobriety- No Use For A Name
11. Lady Liberty- Okkervil River
12. Under the Garden- No Use For A Name
13. Love to a Monster- Will Sheff
14. Dance with the Angels- Lisa Loeb
15. Jaw, Knee, Music- NoFX
16. The Trumpet Player- No Use For A Name
17. Wolves at Night- Manchester Orchestra
Not much to update. I haven't been able to get enough sleep any night this week, because I woken up between 5-6 everyday and haven't gotten back to sleep. I really have no fucking clue how I did High School. I basically didn't get enough sleep for four years straight and things were alright, but now I've not been sleeping well for a few weeks and feel like death.
Thanks for reading
-Michael
*Other than avoiding getting murdered and or tortured.
1. Electrical Storm- U2
2. Pacific Standard Time- No Use For A Name
3. Ontario- No Use For A Name
4. We're On Fire- Armoured Bearcub
5. Surrounded (or Spiraling)- Silversun Pickups
6. Substitution- Silversun Pickups
7. Alice and the Interiors- Manchester Orchestra
8. Linoleum- NoFX
9. Whoops, I OD'd- NoFX
10. The Dregs of Sobriety- No Use For A Name
11. Lady Liberty- Okkervil River
12. Under the Garden- No Use For A Name
13. Love to a Monster- Will Sheff
14. Dance with the Angels- Lisa Loeb
15. Jaw, Knee, Music- NoFX
16. The Trumpet Player- No Use For A Name
17. Wolves at Night- Manchester Orchestra
Not much to update. I haven't been able to get enough sleep any night this week, because I woken up between 5-6 everyday and haven't gotten back to sleep. I really have no fucking clue how I did High School. I basically didn't get enough sleep for four years straight and things were alright, but now I've not been sleeping well for a few weeks and feel like death.
Thanks for reading
-Michael
*Other than avoiding getting murdered and or tortured.
Sunday, April 8, 2012
I Don't Know If This Is Sappy or Pathetic
Yesterday, I went to watch the Crew play the New York Red Bulls. I knew I had made a mistake as soon as we got into the Nordecke. The section is in the northeast corner of the stadium, which meant at kickoff the sun was shining on our faces. I hadn't thought about sunscreen until that moment and desperately wished they sold it at the concessions. I'm not willing to pay $6 for a pop or other ridiculous prices, but at that moment I would've dropped a twenty for enough sunscreen to cover my face and arms.
So, now I have sunburn on both my forearms and my cheeks and the right side of my forehead*. What makes it even worse is that the Crew lost 4-1. Worse yet, within 13 minutes the Crew were down 2-0 and I just knew I was going to look like a lobster for the next few days.
While watching my team get dominated, my mind decided that it would be a really good time to be really bummed out about being single. I don't exactly what brought that on. I'm usually very good at avoiding that particular pitfall. I don't know if it was because I was being baked. Or maybe it was because Columbus Crew apparel on a girl is about my third biggest turn on.
It's silly and I kept telling myself that, but it didn't really help. So, I was sort of wallowing in the Crew loss and my singleness and looking around at all the girls who had obviously been dragged to the game by their boyfriends** or promiscuous drunk girls kissing their boyfriends and then them holding hands as they walked out (super run-on powers activate). I felt bad not that I didn't have that in that moment, but that I never have that.
I was kind of stressing about that, which heaped on top of all the homelife shit that's going down right now made my mood a very poor one. So, I took meds****, which is something I hadn't done in more than a month. The way I would describe the effects of it would be that it just so limits your cognitive abilities that you can't worry, which allowed me to get to sleep.
I woke up this morning and was totally over it and alright with my status.
I think mostly I just wish I had a pale girlfriend who always carries sunblock in her purse and is always with me when I'm too stupid to realize that the sun still burns even if it's a little chilly outside.
Thanks for reading
-Michael
*I don't ever intentionally part my hair, but apparently I had shoved it to the left at some point.
**Worse than that is the girlfriends who are dragged to midnight video game releases. This is going to sound hypocritical within this post, but some people are pathologically afraid of spending anytime alone, but seriously don't make your partner come stand with you in the cold and rain for Call of Duty, if they aren't interested***.
***Tangent Achievement Unlocked.
****Xanax to be more specific
So, now I have sunburn on both my forearms and my cheeks and the right side of my forehead*. What makes it even worse is that the Crew lost 4-1. Worse yet, within 13 minutes the Crew were down 2-0 and I just knew I was going to look like a lobster for the next few days.
While watching my team get dominated, my mind decided that it would be a really good time to be really bummed out about being single. I don't exactly what brought that on. I'm usually very good at avoiding that particular pitfall. I don't know if it was because I was being baked. Or maybe it was because Columbus Crew apparel on a girl is about my third biggest turn on.
It's silly and I kept telling myself that, but it didn't really help. So, I was sort of wallowing in the Crew loss and my singleness and looking around at all the girls who had obviously been dragged to the game by their boyfriends** or promiscuous drunk girls kissing their boyfriends and then them holding hands as they walked out (super run-on powers activate). I felt bad not that I didn't have that in that moment, but that I never have that.
I was kind of stressing about that, which heaped on top of all the homelife shit that's going down right now made my mood a very poor one. So, I took meds****, which is something I hadn't done in more than a month. The way I would describe the effects of it would be that it just so limits your cognitive abilities that you can't worry, which allowed me to get to sleep.
I woke up this morning and was totally over it and alright with my status.
I think mostly I just wish I had a pale girlfriend who always carries sunblock in her purse and is always with me when I'm too stupid to realize that the sun still burns even if it's a little chilly outside.
Thanks for reading
-Michael
*I don't ever intentionally part my hair, but apparently I had shoved it to the left at some point.
**Worse than that is the girlfriends who are dragged to midnight video game releases. This is going to sound hypocritical within this post, but some people are pathologically afraid of spending anytime alone, but seriously don't make your partner come stand with you in the cold and rain for Call of Duty, if they aren't interested***.
***Tangent Achievement Unlocked.
****Xanax to be more specific
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Blogity Blog Blog
Oops... I kind of let this place go for the entire month of March. I blame basketball and how shitty spring is. I've also has some semblance of a life this month, of which you are about get (suffer through) the (boring) chronicle.
Four weeks ago, I went to visit my Sister on a Friday night. Part of this was to avoid my father and one of his (many) ridiculous schemes. I also got to see Brett's, or the pieces of, kit car. We went out to dinner at O'Betty's, which was quite yummy. We watched the Ohio State game when we got back to their house and I left once the game was decided.
I got home at about 12:30 and was greeted by my Dad who had just purchased a laptop for my Mom*. He started by asking me if I was drunk or high, which I was definitely neither. I was really fucking tired though. He then proceeded to tell that I needed to call if I was going to stay out late and I shit you not, he said, "I don't want to lose one of the trucks." Then, he left me with the chore of setting up the computer when all I wanted to do was fall face first into bed, but I did it simply to get him to leave me alone.
He came to my room the following to bitch at me about something or tell me how great he is** and also to tell me that I am an adult and can come and go as I like.
On Saturday, after watching the Crew lose to Colorado on MLS opening day, I went to hang out with my best friend Pat who had come up for the Blue Jackets game on Sunday. I went over to the hotel he was staying at with his girlfriend and Tommy. We hung out there for a while and engaged in various shenanigans waiting for Nick to get off work.
We drove to Steak 'n Shake and got milkshakes and things. Our waitress had a mustache. Nick met us there and after paying we went bowling.
We went into the bowling alley, which was doing its best impression of a night club, got our shoes and a lane and started playing. I am a lousy bowler. My tendency was to miss all the pins in one direction and then miss them all again on the next throw in the other. It was fun nonetheless and we played lots of games. At about 1:30 the place stopped trying to be a night club and the lights came on, which I liked.
This was also the night that the clocks changed, so we ended up bowling until after 3am. I directed Pat's girlfriend back to their hotel and then headed home. I got home at about 4am. It wasn't done intentionally, but I guess it can be a looked as a way to spite my father.
On Sunday, I basically woke up and got dressed before Pat and crew picked me up. We had sometime to kill between their check-out time and when we needed to be downtown for the Jacket's game. We ended up wandering around the stores in faux-Easton for a while.
We got down to the Arena District and happened across Nick and his female companion***. We got in line for tickets and were joined by Nick's Friend and his sister, Devin. After discussions about which would be the best way to buy tickets with a 4 ticket maximum. We had a plan, but it went awry when they agreed to sell us 9 tickets at once. Since I didn't have cash, I ended up putting them all on my debit card and hoped I didn't overdraw**** and took the other people's cash.
We got food a Chipotle after getting the tickets. I've chronicled my difficulties with eating out before, so I had absolutely no chance at finishing the Burrito. It was of course quite good. We then headed to the arena and we had a lot of time to kill before heading to our seats and the Columbus Zoo was at the game that day. So, I won a zoo t-shirt from a table that had a friggin ant-eater on it. Then I got to touch an Armadillo. It was hard*****.
I don't have any particularly strong feelings towards hockey, but the game was fun to hang out with my friends and I didn't really care about the result. The early part of the game was mostly spent by Pat and I worrying about the selection of brackets. The Blue Jacket's lost 2-1 and Pat dropped me off at home at about 10pm. It was definitely among the busiest and best weekends of my life.
Fast forward to last weekend. It started out similarly to what I just told you about. I went down to Sarah's house after work. We were going to see the Hunger Games movie****** and watch the basketball games that night.
I got to her house a little earlier than I had planned and had to wait for my Sister. It wasn't a problem. I just sat in the truck listening to music. I heard her coming down the gravel road after a bit. When she pulled into the drive way I got out with my bag and the various things Mom had sent her. I, however, forgot my keys, which were then locked in the truck. I got AAA to come get the doors open that evening.
I stayed the night at her house. I squared away my plans for the day before leaving the following morning. I spent about 15 minutes at home before heading out to meet with Nick, Andy and Devin to go to the Crew's home opener. I picked up some Woodchuck on the way for our tailgate. We picked up tickets and got lunch before we went to the parking lot outside the stadium.
We ate, had some drinks and kicked a soccer ball around for a while before making the walk to the stadium. I wasn't entirely sober, so when we got separated as we entered the stadium. I took my free scarf and then just walked to our section. They showed up asking where I had gone and then we went down into the stands.
I got progressively less drunk, but early on standing up was a bit of a struggle, but a requirement of the section. Lots of singing and yelling throughout the pregame and game. Montreal had a player sent off in the 20th minute and the Crew scored two goals in their first victory of the season. After the game we went back to our meeting place and I headed home.
Now for some more general updates.
I've been having a really hard time getting enough sleep for a weeks. I keep waking up around 6am and can't get back to sleep. It's getting to be quite annoying. Dr. C says it's likely just increased stress and my anxiety not being managed as well as it could be. She upped my dose on Prozac and said it should start working in about a week, so hopefully that will help. I am really adverse to sleeping pills.
I've gone from working three days a week with an occasional forth to working five days every week. It's definitely helped my pay check.
I'm taking a class this quarter that will hopefully complete my requirements for an Associate's Degree. I've been trying to do this for a while now, so hopefully I can avoid sabotaging myself this time around. Also, this class contains Hipster Girl, which I will be chronicling on Twitter on Mondays and Wednesdays.
I also should say that I'm skipping BEDA this time around.
Thanks for reading
-Michael
*It sounds like a nice thing, but it's really just stupid.
**I can't really remember, because I mostly ignore him
***That's about the best way to describe it, I think.
****I didn't
*****Context is everything.
******I liked it.
Four weeks ago, I went to visit my Sister on a Friday night. Part of this was to avoid my father and one of his (many) ridiculous schemes. I also got to see Brett's, or the pieces of, kit car. We went out to dinner at O'Betty's, which was quite yummy. We watched the Ohio State game when we got back to their house and I left once the game was decided.
I got home at about 12:30 and was greeted by my Dad who had just purchased a laptop for my Mom*. He started by asking me if I was drunk or high, which I was definitely neither. I was really fucking tired though. He then proceeded to tell that I needed to call if I was going to stay out late and I shit you not, he said, "I don't want to lose one of the trucks." Then, he left me with the chore of setting up the computer when all I wanted to do was fall face first into bed, but I did it simply to get him to leave me alone.
He came to my room the following to bitch at me about something or tell me how great he is** and also to tell me that I am an adult and can come and go as I like.
On Saturday, after watching the Crew lose to Colorado on MLS opening day, I went to hang out with my best friend Pat who had come up for the Blue Jackets game on Sunday. I went over to the hotel he was staying at with his girlfriend and Tommy. We hung out there for a while and engaged in various shenanigans waiting for Nick to get off work.
We drove to Steak 'n Shake and got milkshakes and things. Our waitress had a mustache. Nick met us there and after paying we went bowling.
We went into the bowling alley, which was doing its best impression of a night club, got our shoes and a lane and started playing. I am a lousy bowler. My tendency was to miss all the pins in one direction and then miss them all again on the next throw in the other. It was fun nonetheless and we played lots of games. At about 1:30 the place stopped trying to be a night club and the lights came on, which I liked.
This was also the night that the clocks changed, so we ended up bowling until after 3am. I directed Pat's girlfriend back to their hotel and then headed home. I got home at about 4am. It wasn't done intentionally, but I guess it can be a looked as a way to spite my father.
On Sunday, I basically woke up and got dressed before Pat and crew picked me up. We had sometime to kill between their check-out time and when we needed to be downtown for the Jacket's game. We ended up wandering around the stores in faux-Easton for a while.
We got down to the Arena District and happened across Nick and his female companion***. We got in line for tickets and were joined by Nick's Friend and his sister, Devin. After discussions about which would be the best way to buy tickets with a 4 ticket maximum. We had a plan, but it went awry when they agreed to sell us 9 tickets at once. Since I didn't have cash, I ended up putting them all on my debit card and hoped I didn't overdraw**** and took the other people's cash.
We got food a Chipotle after getting the tickets. I've chronicled my difficulties with eating out before, so I had absolutely no chance at finishing the Burrito. It was of course quite good. We then headed to the arena and we had a lot of time to kill before heading to our seats and the Columbus Zoo was at the game that day. So, I won a zoo t-shirt from a table that had a friggin ant-eater on it. Then I got to touch an Armadillo. It was hard*****.
I don't have any particularly strong feelings towards hockey, but the game was fun to hang out with my friends and I didn't really care about the result. The early part of the game was mostly spent by Pat and I worrying about the selection of brackets. The Blue Jacket's lost 2-1 and Pat dropped me off at home at about 10pm. It was definitely among the busiest and best weekends of my life.
Fast forward to last weekend. It started out similarly to what I just told you about. I went down to Sarah's house after work. We were going to see the Hunger Games movie****** and watch the basketball games that night.
I got to her house a little earlier than I had planned and had to wait for my Sister. It wasn't a problem. I just sat in the truck listening to music. I heard her coming down the gravel road after a bit. When she pulled into the drive way I got out with my bag and the various things Mom had sent her. I, however, forgot my keys, which were then locked in the truck. I got AAA to come get the doors open that evening.
I stayed the night at her house. I squared away my plans for the day before leaving the following morning. I spent about 15 minutes at home before heading out to meet with Nick, Andy and Devin to go to the Crew's home opener. I picked up some Woodchuck on the way for our tailgate. We picked up tickets and got lunch before we went to the parking lot outside the stadium.
We ate, had some drinks and kicked a soccer ball around for a while before making the walk to the stadium. I wasn't entirely sober, so when we got separated as we entered the stadium. I took my free scarf and then just walked to our section. They showed up asking where I had gone and then we went down into the stands.
I got progressively less drunk, but early on standing up was a bit of a struggle, but a requirement of the section. Lots of singing and yelling throughout the pregame and game. Montreal had a player sent off in the 20th minute and the Crew scored two goals in their first victory of the season. After the game we went back to our meeting place and I headed home.
Now for some more general updates.
I've been having a really hard time getting enough sleep for a weeks. I keep waking up around 6am and can't get back to sleep. It's getting to be quite annoying. Dr. C says it's likely just increased stress and my anxiety not being managed as well as it could be. She upped my dose on Prozac and said it should start working in about a week, so hopefully that will help. I am really adverse to sleeping pills.
I've gone from working three days a week with an occasional forth to working five days every week. It's definitely helped my pay check.
I'm taking a class this quarter that will hopefully complete my requirements for an Associate's Degree. I've been trying to do this for a while now, so hopefully I can avoid sabotaging myself this time around. Also, this class contains Hipster Girl, which I will be chronicling on Twitter on Mondays and Wednesdays.
I also should say that I'm skipping BEDA this time around.
Thanks for reading
-Michael
*It sounds like a nice thing, but it's really just stupid.
**I can't really remember, because I mostly ignore him
***That's about the best way to describe it, I think.
****I didn't
*****Context is everything.
******I liked it.
Friday, March 2, 2012
Tornadoes... Again
I have already done two posts about Tornadoes (here and here). With the Outbreak going on right now, It's time for another one. The severe weather that was forecast for my area of Central Ohio didn't materialize, but south of here there have already been many touchdowns and will continue to be during the overnight hours.
Something strange is going on. I'm definitely a big believer in climate change and it's ability to make storms stronger. However, it shouldn't be causing this absurd up tick in the number of Tornadoes. It should be more gradual. Last year there were two Tornado Outbreaks of a historic nature and enough EF5s for a decade. The outbreak across the south in April 2011 was the worst ever surpassing even the famous 1974 "Super Outbreak" and a second outbreak in May 2011 that produced 242* Tornadoes including the horrible EF5 that struck Joplin, Missouri could easily take the title of third worst.
The outbreak that is going on tonight is probably going to have more than one hundred tornadoes, which is more than the average for the entire month of March. I suspect that there were at least EF4s in Indiana and Kentucky and there is the possibility for more major Tornadoes to develop.
In less than a year there have been 3 powerful and rare Tornado outbreaks and the spike in the amount of fatalities is horrifying. Weather forecasting has never been better and structures have never been stronger yet more people are dying than a decade or even two decades ago.
I've blamed the over-issuance of Tornado Warnings in the past, but the seeming increases to the strength and number of Tornadoes has to have a lot to do with it. I think the horrible storms have the past year have made people less prone to the 'boy who cried wolf' mindset with Tornado Warnings. However, there is little a population can do when an EF5 of EF4 bears down on a town even if they heed the warning.
The nature of storms is to create balance where there is imbalance. They exist where warm, moist air and cold, dry air meet. The greater the difference between air masses the stronger the storm. The nature of climate change is to cause extremes, which causes greater differences between air masses, but its hard to believe that things have gotten so much worse so quickly. Perhaps we have hit a critical mass though. I find it fascinating and terrifying at the same time.
Of course, there are conspiracy theorists who will believe that HAARP is responsible. Of course, these same people refuse to believe that Oswald acted alone or the attacks of September 11th, 2001 were the work Terrorists. They are also fans of logical fallacies.
Thanks for reading and please comment
-Michael
*The 1974 Outbreak only had 148 (6 of those were EF5s,)
Something strange is going on. I'm definitely a big believer in climate change and it's ability to make storms stronger. However, it shouldn't be causing this absurd up tick in the number of Tornadoes. It should be more gradual. Last year there were two Tornado Outbreaks of a historic nature and enough EF5s for a decade. The outbreak across the south in April 2011 was the worst ever surpassing even the famous 1974 "Super Outbreak" and a second outbreak in May 2011 that produced 242* Tornadoes including the horrible EF5 that struck Joplin, Missouri could easily take the title of third worst.
The outbreak that is going on tonight is probably going to have more than one hundred tornadoes, which is more than the average for the entire month of March. I suspect that there were at least EF4s in Indiana and Kentucky and there is the possibility for more major Tornadoes to develop.
In less than a year there have been 3 powerful and rare Tornado outbreaks and the spike in the amount of fatalities is horrifying. Weather forecasting has never been better and structures have never been stronger yet more people are dying than a decade or even two decades ago.
I've blamed the over-issuance of Tornado Warnings in the past, but the seeming increases to the strength and number of Tornadoes has to have a lot to do with it. I think the horrible storms have the past year have made people less prone to the 'boy who cried wolf' mindset with Tornado Warnings. However, there is little a population can do when an EF5 of EF4 bears down on a town even if they heed the warning.
The nature of storms is to create balance where there is imbalance. They exist where warm, moist air and cold, dry air meet. The greater the difference between air masses the stronger the storm. The nature of climate change is to cause extremes, which causes greater differences between air masses, but its hard to believe that things have gotten so much worse so quickly. Perhaps we have hit a critical mass though. I find it fascinating and terrifying at the same time.
Of course, there are conspiracy theorists who will believe that HAARP is responsible. Of course, these same people refuse to believe that Oswald acted alone or the attacks of September 11th, 2001 were the work Terrorists. They are also fans of logical fallacies.
Thanks for reading and please comment
-Michael
*The 1974 Outbreak only had 148 (6 of those were EF5s,)
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