Merry Christmas
Hope you got not only all ya wanted but that got something you weren't expecting. You know, a surprise.
I got a surround sound 5.1 stereo system. This will not only help the rat bastards XBOX but my consistant DVD collection. I think nothing helps the expierence of watching a movie than it's sound. In fact I always wonder if Star Wars Ep IV would have been nearly as successful without not only it's sound effects but the fantastic score by John Williams. I can listen to the score and know where it lands in the movie. And it still evokes the same emotion from me.
Also my sis and brother bought me Dazzle for my computer. This means that hopefully you'll be seeing a bunch of old school crap that I did back in high school. Cause I'll be able to digitize anything from VHS on to my computer. Hopefully Jeff will have made avalible a bit more space on ferristech tohost those things.
I only just now am in Springfield. I was able to spend a couple more days in Jeff City than I expected. That was nice, a couple of more days with dad. We played some poker on the computer dealy I got him. I still creamed him.
Well I'm back in Austin late Tuesday night where I'll be greeted by my girlfirend and Ryan and Kristen's rommate.
Well hope you all had a good Christmas.
Matt
AP: Chicago. 5pm.
I'm sitting at the Chili's bar in O 'Hare airport. Now why I'm flying through Chicago to get to Missouri from Auisitn I still don't understand... but I'm here with a 3 hour layover so I might as well eat and drink. Was just talking to an Army guy from Ft. Hood (right near Austin) and a senior from the University of Arizona. She likes Tequilia and spends lots of time buying stuf (especially tequlia from Border towns.) Army guy is on his way back to Kuwait. He's drinking Captain and Ginger Ale. She's drinking Margarita's. I'm drinking Sam Adams cause off the tap Sam Adams is the best. Four others are joining me in the Sam Adams. Odd there. Besides my two talking comprades there's a cofee, a Heinekin, and a Bud Light.
Was thinking about the Bloody Mary like the last time but our bartenders 60 she's cutting the Army guy off on his fourth. He's on his way back to Kuwait and she's cutting him off. *shakes head.*
A conversation erupts as Chicago declares today (shortest day of the year) as Homless Memorial Day. One guy talks about the woman in NYC who pretneded to be homeless 10 hours a day and made 100 grand a year. Can't even trust the homeless anymore.
I wish the serviceman luck in Kuwait and he leaves (hopefully to get a few more drinks elsewhere) and I talk to the chickie for a bit longer about tequlia and our faves then she leaves for her flight.
588-2300 Empire. A jingle known to anyone who's spent more than a few days in Chicago. A giant carpet emporium that's been around forever. Such smart advertising. If you've heard the jingle more than a few times you kow the number. 588-2300 Empire! Note to ad execs you should always include the name of your product in the jingle. Empire carpets I'll never forget. NA-29 000. Another number for National Carpets. Coke is it! I like Kix for what Kix is got... I know what the product is for.
So one of the guys at the bar has just turned 40 and thinks he's having a heart attack (as far as the story goes.) So the EKG shows the heart flutter and the doc tells him it's not a heart attack... it's just his body telling him no more caffiene. Duly noted.
Lastly, Kristen doesn't think she's getting enough love here so... I miss you, babe and hey, it's another day down. Only 5 more. I'll be back quick I promise.
Go Longhorns. *high five* ;)
Matt
Traveling. I usually don't travel ON Christmas. Well, I say that and I know I can think of at least 5 or 6 instances where that occurred. Wake up early Christmas morning open the gifts jump on the road over the river and through the woods (literally) to Grandmother's house. Where we get anther Christmas so that was worth it.
Travelled only a few times on Thanksgiving.... kina throws over the whole rythm of your day. I mean Thanksgiving is about parades and football and tritofan induced sleep. Not traveling 3 hours to somone elses house having to dress a bit nice not in PJ's no matter how much you insist it MUST be all right.
So I'm travelling today to Springfield and then another 2 and a half hour jaunt to Jefferson City to see dad. Christmas for us is tomorrow because both my sis (stuck at KY3 the place to be) and my brother working his other job as hotel night --- manager, watchman, maid... I don't know. So Christmas I'll be in the apartment all alone watching hours of a Christmas Story Scrooge and It's a Wonderful Life..... Unless Friday's is open.... then some Unflitered Wheat by the Giant glass full.
I'll write more because, you know, I'll have lots of time. :)
Mattt
There's lots of smaller wacky traditions that exist in my house around the holidays. My dad goes nuts. Not in the way your annoying Aunt Lula does ... but in the way he decorates. He sets up his Scrooge village on the mantle. The fake tree in the window. Decorated with a bunch of old decorations that we made as kids. (I have a golden gingerbread man that I think is missing it's right leg that I Obviously made in Kindergarten... but it's still there.) Tinsel around doorways, fake pine wrapped around the banisters. And I don't think anything but Christmas music (Johnny Mathis, Bing Crosby and the Time Life Chistmas collection included.)
And at some point on Christmas day we tune on to TNT to watch A Christmas story with Ralphy trying to get an official Red Ryder carbine action two-hundred shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time. Cause it plays for 24 hours and at some point you need to watch something.
I actually remember seeing this movie in the movie theaters and my parents and I knew this was an instant classic that would around for years. After all how great is the line "You used up all the glue on pourpose!"
And for those of you who always wanted the glow of electric sex in the window I'd advise you go HERE!
More tradations tomorrow.
Matt
P.S. You'll shoot you're eye out.
We had a server tonight actually start her contractions tonight during her shift and, yet, finish it out. Her contractions started about 7:00 and were 45 minutes apart. SHE CLOSED. She closed the shift out.
One thing I've always given respect to women to is childbirth. God knows men couldn't handle it. I get a paper cut and whine like a little baby. Not to mention what pregnancy would do to football season. "What do you mean Peyton Manning is knocked up again."
But seriously, we'd see her stop breathe for a few minutes and then right back on the floor. Ridiculous.
At least her water never broke there's something a table doesn't need to see.
Matt
Apparently the exchange rate from pounds to dollars is something like 1.95 to 1.
So for Christmas AJ bought me an XBOX. Damn fool. How can anyone live up to that?
Been eyeing them recently, Ryan and I had even thought about putting together a little fund to buy one in a few months.
Then this.
Aj, you arte a gentleman and a scholar. And a damn fool bastard. (I only say that as a reflex... to deflect my sincere gratitude away.)
It's an awesome machine and even came with NCAA College Football 2005.
Since my new girlfriend is a Longhorns fan I can only assume she'll be picking up the controller for a season... that can't turn out much better than the actual season itself... with a berth in the Rose Bowl... I don't hear much complaining. Other than the usual ... boy does the BCS suck (which it does)... and wouldn't it better with a playoff system like Div. III (which it would.)
Matt
I love coffee. I don't get to drink it much.... mostly, cause coffee at 2 pm just doesn't seem right. :)
Occasionally when I drive Ryan to work I'll stop by the 'Bee's and pick up a cup for myself. Or if I have to work before noon, I'll pour a big cup.
So this morning I had to drive Ryan to airport, he's spending the weekend in Springfield, Mo. So 5 am we hop in the car and I have a small cup of coffee with me. I arrived home and went to urinate. And it smelled like coffee. This happens from time to time when I drink coffee. The smell is strong enough that standing in normal peeing position I can actually smell the pee.
Ridiculous.
So the question I ask is: is it all wrong to smell coffee when you pee?
And the only answer I've come up with is: only if you haven't been drinking coffee.
Matt
I'm having milk problems.
I love milk.... But I never drink it. I buy it and buy it... but always leave like three quarters of it left. Before it goes bad.... and then another two weeks when in turns into geletin before I actually throw it away.... And it's only about this time when I think to myself.... you know ... some milk would be good. Then I have a 1/2 gallon of cottage cheese.
I've become this bizare creature of habit and I never think to incorporate milk into it. I'm always eating chinese or frozen pizzas.... neither of which really goes well with milk.
I even have cereal... I just never eat it.
Hopefully I can re-intergrate Milk into my diet.... much like I should be working out.... if I can incorporate milk and working out.... I'd be a much healthier guy.
Matt
I've been thinking about how many times I've written about not having written. It's a tough count. I'd do it but it would just be easier to write this than do the actual counting.
I have, firstly, gotten all but two things bought as far as Christmas shopping. It's quite the record this year.
Secondly, work has me working six days a week. I've been making fabulous amounts of money which I'll be putting in the bank to make up for January which will totally suck. As always.
And thirdly, I have a new lady friend. It's nothing to get too psyched about. But, as is typical in my dating history, this is something that's been brewing for a while and so we're trying our best to take it slow without rushing into anything. THAT has been hard. When you have six months of good flirting under your belt it's hard not to jump into the rest.
So that's about all I'm going to say about that for now. Partially cause I don't wanna jinx anything but mostly, because I don't know about her thoughts about so openly sharing the interesting bits of our time together.
Just expect more info as time wields.
I'm going to try and write an interesting thought of the day over the days until and around Christmas. Just a little present for everyone. Some of these I'll have written and some I'll have heard or seen at earlier moments in my life. Most will be funny.
Till then....
Matt
Oh and if you noticed damn comments from SPAMMMERS on in my comment box don't click on them.... their damn annoying. Bastards in this world... gotta ruin everything.