January 29, 2004
The Friendly Confines.
I don't have a lot to talk about today, but I just saw that the Chicago city council just approved a plan to make Wrigley Field a landmark. I think this is a fabulous idea! This will ensure that the Cubs can't just decide to demolish it some day just because they want a new stadium with a jumbo tron, more box seats, and a swimming pool next to the bullpen. There has been like 20 new stadiums built in the past 15 years and it doesn't look like it will be slowing any time soon. Not that I think Chicago fans would ever forgive the Cubs for building a new stadium, but it might be easier to swallow if Wrigley stayed the same and the Cubs came to play a select few games there. Personally, I hope they never leave because to me that would be removing the last brick in what used to be Americas past time. Baseball has become million dollar contracts, corporate sponsorships, and players jumping from team to team. One of the best things about Wrigley is the fact that there aren't any advertisements inside the park. You have the ivy covered brick walls, the people watching from roof tops across the street, and all the history. The place where Babe Ruth called his shot. How could you not like Wrigley? It encompasses everything that used to be good about baseball. This is why it's such a great thing that they have passed a measure to protect this valued piece of history. This is so much better than what Boston wants to do to it's most beloved stadium. If Wrigley is the jewel of the National League then Fenway is the jewel of the American League. Now the plan for Fenway, if they pass it, is to tear it down and build a new park that would also have a "green monster", Fenways most distinguishing feature. I think that idea sucks. It would be like your mom killing your childhood pet because he was old and then saying, "Don't worry we will get another dog that has a brown tail too". Thats just obscene to me. But anyhoo, Chicago is doing the right thing by making Wrigley a landmark. This is why The Cubs are the most loved team in baseball. This is why I am a huge Cubs fan. It's so much more than just baseball, ya know? This was the feeling behind my tattoo for all of the people that always ask, "Why the Cubs?". Because being a Cubs fan is something to be proud of! Anyhoo, on that note ..... I'm going .... going ......going .........GONE!
January 27, 2004
We will rock you!
Last night Julie scored some tickets to a special performance of Queens musical “We Will Rock You”. Apparently, Pepsi was premiering their new commercial, “Pepsi Gladiators”, that I am assuming will hit the airwaves on Super Bowl Sunday. The commercial, with Britney Spears, Pink, and Beyonce is set in a gladiator colliseum with the trio breaking into a spontaneous version of "We Will Rock You”. Pepsi, obviously, thought it would be cool to have a special performance booked to pat themselves on the back for a commercial well done. The commercial was pretty cool, and the fact that Britney, Pink, Beyonce, and two of the original Queen band members showed up for the premiere was even more cool. Because of a secrecy agreement I signed for Miss Spears I can not speak of the crazy night of debauchery that came later. Luckily she gave me a Porsche to keep my mouth shut. ;) Anyhoo, the show was sort of ….. lame. The show is set 300 years into the future where corporations have taken over all music, banned all musical instruments, and creative musical expression. The future is full of boring glitz and effects without any true artistic expression. A group of “Bohemians” looking for their ancient text to complete their “Rhapsody” find remnants of an old freedom fighter rock group called, Queen. Finding a secret guitar and finding the chosen one who knows all of the old song lyrics they conquer the “Queen Killer” corporation and return rock and roll to the world. And with each passing piece of story they would break into a Queen song that “kinda” fit the situation. For example when they were needing transportation they broke into singing, “Bicycle”. This show was like a musical of some 70’s version of the future. The theme being that we should promote artistic expression and not these corporate pop idols who are destroying the face of rock n’ roll, and the ironic thing is that the glitz, lasers, and the jumbo tron effects in the show caused them to fall victim to their own message. The songs were great, as Queen songs are, but they put this lame story, cheap effects, and cheesy humor around them. If I were Freddie Mercury I would be rolling over in my grave. It’s very surprising that the show is in its second year. But all in all, I still enjoyed the evening, it was nice to see the cast all pumped up to perform for Britney and such. And that pretty much rounded out my evening. Of course, that is all I am at liberty to talk about. ;) Let’s keep this whole thing on a down low….
January 25, 2004
The Adult Club
I know I have written a couple of entries about growing older, but something happened this weekend that I feel I need to voice. One of my old acquaintances from Springfield is over here in the UK matriculating at Oxford. She and a friend asked to come visit this past weekend. So I had two twenty year olds coming to stay for the weekend, and before you jump to conclusions, it's not like that. My one problem with this scenario was this, would I be the fun friend who you go to London to hang out with or would I be the old guy with a place to stay in London? So, hmmmmm....sadly the weekend turned out to be the latter. I realize there's a ten year difference, but I guess it was one of the first times that I felt like an adult. I was being perceived as such so therefore I suddenly felt old. Now this is not a bad thing... maybe it's about time I grew up. I am going to be 31 in two months. The whole weekend was as if a foreshadowing of my future was occurring. It was like my two kids were home visiting from College. As a parent you just want them to stay and visit and have fun with you, but as a kid you know all you want to do is drop your bags off and head out with your friends. For the first time, I felt really bad about all those times I would go home and just bolt. I realize its the way things go and I accept that, but I figured I had a good twenty years before I would have to learn this lesson. But as a future parent I guess I will just chalk it up as being one step closer to being prepared. ;) Hey, I guess I'm all grow'd up after all! Damn! I was really hoping to put it off for a few more years. And all I want to know is, do I get some kind of nifty adult club membership card? That would be soooooo cool. :) I could flash it to get into "special" adult places. Maybe this adult thing won't be so bad......
January 23, 2004
The unknown!
After a long trek through the park, I stumble upon an old English house sitting on the most beautiful grounds London has to offer. This particular house, now a museum of seventeenth century paintings, is completely free for common passer-bys, like me, to wander in off the beaten path. Noticing a charming little foot path that took you around to what used to be the servants quarters, I decided to explore. What I came across was something I very much desired. A little soup kitchen to purchase the things that would warm a tired soul on his journey back home. Todays delicacy was that of the butternut squash. Now, coming from the American south, we wern't prithee to such saucy soups. If it wasn't Chicken Noodle or Tomato, we didnt dare eat it. But on this day, I was much more adventurous. So after purchasing this most desired warmth, I began to walk back down my path, but was so very rudely cut off from a woman barging into the door screaming at the very sweet soup lady. Now, obviously, if there was something wrong with the soup I would be greatly appreciative to stick around to find out. So I would stay and watch what was to become of said soup. Holding up a wet and torn paper bag the lady began yelling, "Look at this! You sold me soup that spilled all over my car! I made it all the way back to Hampstead to discover the lid on this soup came off and spilled all over my bloody car! I have never been more outraged in my entire life. It's all over my car!" With great composure the soup lady said with a delicate smile, "I'm sorry madame I would be happy to get you another soup." "I don't want another bloody soup. I will never get soup from here again! Just give me a sandwich dammit!", the lady said as she threw her soup soaked bag onto the counter. Well, seeing quite enough, I decided to continue my journey homeward. Along the way, I began to think how absurd this little encounter had been. Obviously this lady was very upset that soup and spilled all over her beloved car, but why yell at the soup lady? When you are driving home with hot soup do you just toss it in the car and forget about it? I dare say not! After mentioning this encounter to a friend her response was, "Thats a Brit for you." Hmmmm.... a Brit indeed. A very interesting look at human behavior in the most unexpecting of places. It just goes to show, you never know what will happen or what you will find wondering through the park. It made me think of all the things the new Mars Pathfinder shall come across on it's journey through the unknown. And so, on this random day of my life, I give you a random experience, and leave you with a random photo conveying that you never know what you will find in the great unknown foot path of life.
One of the first pictures sent back from the Mars Pathfinder.
January 21, 2004
Dorks Anonymous!
So, I was thinking about this little competition that Matt and I have started with our web cams... I was actually wondering if we could be bigger dorks? I dare say... YES WE COULD! And with some hard work and the right motivation we will, someday, achieve dork greatness!!! Now, I realize a lot of people tell me, "Oh AJ, you're not a dork. You are just creative and funny." No. I'm actually a dork... for the most part. I've always taken a sort of pride in that. I guess first I should define, dork. It's not a social outcast like most people assume. It's not even a whale penis... well actually a dork is a whale penis but thats not my point. I have always thought the term dork was someone acting goofy or silly. This is a good thing right? Now, not to say I'm always a goofy/silly kind of person. Most of the time I'm just the easy going, witty, smart ass A.J. My dorkness is actually contained most of the time, but on rare occasions it comes out. Almost always around my very closest of friends. Thus Matts and my video competition. Actually the one person that I'm always a dork around is... Greg. For some reason, you put us together and not only are we dorks, but sadly enough the nerdy geeks inside of us come out also. It's actually very fun. But to drive a point home before I get off on more tangents I should say, acting this way is very therapeutic. It's almost a freedom of the soul. I feel my happiest and most alive when I just let down all of these walls and this cool exterior I have. Hey! Don't laugh! I honestly wish that I had the courage to act like this around more people, but I guess I'm always afraid of being judged. Fear is a terrible thing! I think silliness, for me, is a byproduct of happiness. The happier I get the more... giddy I get....and the silliness ensues. So, why should dork have such a bad connotation when it comes from such a good place? I think people that have the courage and freedom to be themselves should be applauded. I dare say Matt and Greg have more courage than I do and I have often thought I would like to be more like them. But I gots to be me, yo! So, without further ado... Hello, my name is A.J (Hello A.J.).... I've been a dork now for almost 31 years. :) (Applause!) Thank you! (A.J. takes a bow and exits stage left.)
P.S. I highly suggest you go to Matt's blog and watch his latest video. It's bloody brilliant. ;) And it's from A Mighty Wind to boot!
January 19, 2004
To vote or not to vote?
So, I was thinking about this whole president thing. Ya know, who to vote for and who to send on permanent vacation to Iraq. I doubt I need to say who I decided to send to Iraq? Or would that be cruel and unusual punishment? They went there once, and if a person is willing to go there on their own measure... it cant be that cruel, can it? I guess the cruel part would be to take away their precious red neck body guards and letting them fend for themselves. Now that would be down right funnyitious, ya'll!!! It could be the best new reality TV show. Tune in every week and see a dumbass and a dumbererass try and survive in a new culture surrounded by people who are very very different. Oh wait... that sort of sounds like a Simple Life with Paris and Nicole. Well, I still say it could be a winner nonetheless. Anyhoo, I think I got off on a tangent there. So, as I was saying, who the hell do I vote for? I'm pretty much a Democrat, but from what I have seen from the Democrats lately, they are all worthless as well. No one with a real voice. Just a bunch of misfits trying to say enough to get their name out, but not saying enough to scare any potential voters away. Just all... well.... politician like. But still needing to find a candidate to stand behind, I decided to find out who best, well.... agrees with everything I believe in! Imagine that! Luckily Greg sent me a web site that figures out just that! It's pretty cool. I suggest you try it and share your results. Click here for the link. Mine came out to be 100% Dennis Kucinich. First of all, who the hell is this guy and why haven't I heard of him? Even more interesting.... I agree with 23% of what President Bush stands for. Wow! No wonder I dislike him. :) But oh well, I guess all in all these elections will be like every other election. Some people will be happy, some people will be unhappy, and some people will move to London and quietly snicker to themselves for moving away. I have never really been too involved in politics, but I still think its important to exercise your right to vote. And I don't know about you... but I'm still confused about who I will vote for. Do you know who you are voting for? These guys?
January 17, 2004
Performance Art? Not!
Today, out of a page of Matt's Christmas blog, I did something rather silly. A video blog... of sorts. Equipped with only my computer web cam and a new microphone I got for Christmas I created this "masterpiece". I must warn you that it's a 45 meg file so those on dial-up... I'm so very sorry as it will take you like an hour to download. Everyone else click my picture and then come back in 10-15 minutes. I hope you enjoy...
Click on me! I'm a dork!
January 15, 2004
Sake 4 Sleep?
So, the latest on the insomnia front.... I slept from 12am-3am, 6-8am, and 10am-noon. That's a step in the right direction I guess. I'm getting a full 7 hours. :) At one point this morning I was in one of those, " Am I asleep? Would I be thinking if I were really asleep? I might be almost asleep?' modes and in my eyes half open kind of way I see a blurry figure walk into the room. And I realize this makes no sense what so ever, but my brain tells me, "Oh, it's just Greg. Silly old Greg.... ya know, blurring himself in my London flat again". Well, I did one of those close my eyes for a second and then open them again and have the figure right in front of you things (did that makes sense at all?) and I see this blurry figure coming in to kiss me! Well, my first reaction was to well...... "AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!" Scream! No offense Greg. Scared the crap outta me! Well, needless to say it wasn't really Greg, but Julie. I think my scream scared her as well. :) Hee hee. Ahhhh... yet another cool brain malfunction from the lack of sleep. Gotta love 'em. I do have an idea to help me sleep tonight. I'm suppose to be going out for Sushi here in about an hour so my plan is this.....ready?....it's pretty bloody brilliant if I say so myself.... drink as much Sake as I possibly can! I figure if I can just pass out... that's just as good as sleeping. Right? Well, because it is sleeping I guess. So, thats my plan! So, I should go get ready... oh and about my last posting. Seems yet again that everyone has different opinions on finding Mr. or Miss Right. I guess I may have gone a bit overboard in my rant, but well, ya know, it was MY rant and I can cry if I want to, cry if I want to. But to add one last thing, heres a little something.....
January 13, 2004
Emotional Baggage...
So, once again I was slammed with insomnia last night. Did some more random thinking. I watched some dating reality show on TV yesterday and I began thinking about relationships and what a long shot it is that we ever find a person to spend our life with. I mean, here are millions of single people out there going through life with all this baggage. And don't say you don't have any because we all have it. Granted some have way more baggage than others but we all have it chained to us. Dragging it from relationship to relationship gradually adding more and more and thus making it even more difficult to find a person that accepts your baggage and even more difficult yet... you accept theirs. You have guys wandering around afraid of commitment like it goes against every instinct in their body that says, "Must spread seed to many to ensure survival of species." You have women running around dating the men that are afraid of commitment and after a few relationships... they too end up bitter and afraid of commitment. You have nice girls that go around dating assholes because thats how their dad treated them and they think that must be love. You have nice guys that can't find nice girls because... well they're not assholes. Which one would assume that leaves the nice guys and the bad girls to make matches. Well, no! Sadly enough the bad girls are going out with the assholes behind the nice girls backs. So being left out of the scenario the nice guys become shy and end up downloading porn off the internet to get their minds off the fact that they are being screwed over in the dating pool. Then you have the shallow girls out their looking for money and happiness, but the little known truth is that money doesn't give you happiness. So you get these women who give up happiness with nice , not-so-rich guys for unhappiness with the rich guys. I knew someone who took the money over the nice guy and now she sits in her mansion all alone, hopped up on anti-depressants. Then on the other hand you have the guys who "Can't" deal with a wealthy woman because it compromises their masculinity or something. This scenario is even more absurd, but alas it happens. And all in all, people can't just find someone that makes them happy...you also have to find someone that is both attractive and hope they are attracted to you. You have people with soooo many different interests and wouldn't it be nice if you found someone with similar interests? And I won't even get into the whole sexual aspect of relationships... thats a whole other blog.You have ALL of these forces keeping people uninterested in each other, and yet, people are still out there putting up the good fight. It's surprising that people have relationships at all. So, once again, my insomnia had me thinking about crazy crazy stuff. If you are in a relationship (And happy) thank the Gods that may be every day because you beat the odds! And those of you who are single.... all I can ask is,"What keeps you from giving up?" So much baggage to deal with. It boggles the mind. Or at least MY insomniatic mind! All in all, I'm glad I'm not out there! How are you surviving?
January 11, 2004
Insomnia
So last night I was hit with a bit of my old friend insomnia. Luckily football was on until 4am so that occupied my time. What sucked was the 3 and a half hours later just being in bed listening to my thoughts ramble on and ramble on in my head. Ya know, the kind of meaningless thoughts that really shouldn't even be rolling around in your mind at all, "Cirrus Clouds Highest in the sky, wispy and white, Cirrus clouds are almost out of sight! Cumulus Clouds are puffy and white. When they're in the sky, the weather will be alright! Stratus clouds are when the sky looks gray. We may get rain or snow that day!" This repeating over and over in my head for 3 hours!! Ahhhhhhh!!!!!! Why God why? But then, a strange thing happened, I had a memory surface that I hadn't thought of in years. And since I don't want to forget it again or that maybe it has some meaning... I will write it down. This particular memory was the first time I ever asked a girl out. Ya know, more than just asking, "Will you go with me?" Not that you actually had anywhere to go, but nonetheless, the first time when I actually had somewhere to go was at age 12 going on 13. It was the semester that I had moved from Fort Smith to Arnold, Maryland to attend Magothy River Middle School. Her name was Sherry and she was in my 6th period science class. And as it always is, I told a friend of mine that I was gong to ask her out, and I would later find out that he told her about my "plan". The plan, which I spent hours and hours thinking about, was to wait until after science class and while walking to 7th period...... ask her out. A very in depth and thought out plan I must say. So, the day arrived and all through science I was soooo freakin' nervous. The bell rings, I get up to walk toward her, and then I hear the teachers voice, "AJ, I need to speak with you." I think it had something to do with my daydreaming in class, but whatever it was it was throwing my plan all off!!! Damn it! The teacher pulls me aside and says, "Bla bla bla bla..... bla bla", all the while the room had emptied and my chance had passed. She finished her little speech, I head out the door sad and depressed, and immediately run into Sherry. Great... my chance isn't lost... or is it? What does 12 year old AJ do? Keeps walking.... and doesn't say a word. :) I am soooo smoooth. What can I say? I panicked! But, alas, my story of woe has a happy ending. I later find out that she knew I was going to ask her out so she had been waiting for me. Well, that took a lot of pressure off. The next day after 6th period the teacher didn't bitch at me for daydreaming, and I asked her to go to a movie some time. Which we did the following Saturday. In good fashion, my mom took us and dropped us off. Police Academy was the movie and yeah.... I'm a stud.... I held her hand. :) Though, that was the only time we went out. I would soon move back to Fort Smith and forever lose touch. So, thats my tale that so kindly kept me up this morning. Sad and sweet. Hopefully tonight I will be able to sleep. I hope and pray that I won't be thinking about all the different kinds of clouds. How silly was that? Anyhoo, Commander A.J. out....
January 09, 2004
Restaurant Snob!
I was out at a restaurant the other night, as I am most nights because of my simple lack of motivation to actually get a pan and fire and actually cook some good ol' food, grub, din din, edible goodness, or whatever your stomach calls for. Anyway, this particular restaurant, which I won't mention, was in the style of a restaurant I used to frequent while in college. Ya know the typical good food, good drinks kind of place...Fridays, Applebees, El Chico and any other slice of Americana franchise you can get your hands on. Anyway, as I was sitting at this establishment I began to think how crappy these places truly are. This place was considered going out for a nice dinner and as I sat there listening to everyone say how "nice and great" this place was, I started to feel a strange feeling coming over me... I felt like a snob. Have I become a restaurant snob? I mean I don't look down at these particular restaurants or the people who frequent them... I just think this particular genre of food establishment shouldn't be considered "nice". I know nice is a very subjective word but I think the next time I hear, "Ooooh let's go celebrate Betty Sue's birthday. We should take her some where nice..... like Western Sizzler!" , I think I will go on a full blown shooting spree! Running from restaurant to restaurant shooting people with my super soaker and telling them, "Get a clue, yo!" Yeah, I had to include that yo because every time I use my super soaker I feel like some sort of gangsta from the hood. In fact, if you ever see me with my super soaker, refer to me as A to the MF'n J! I gots to keep it real, yo. But I digress, I know this makes me a snob, and I'm not very proud of that, but I think it does a great injustice to all the truly great restaurants out there that truly put forth an effort to be something special. Does this mean I will stop eating at these places? No! Some of my happiest memories come from sitting at Fridays eating, drinking, and playing trivia. All this little rant does for me is tell the world that these places are just a step up from fast food and therefor should be thought of like wise. Support your local restaurateurs and venture out and find the TRULY nice places. Franchises will be there for a long time, but that mom and pop bistro on the corner probably, at best, will be there a year. OK, fine, I'll stop preaching, I will now step of my soap box and cower in the corner until tomorrow when I shall venture out and blog once again. :) Good day to you. :)
January 07, 2004
Holiday Photos
So, I made it back to London and so far so good on the jet lag this time. :) I was just uploading some of the photos from the holidays and thought I would publish some here. All in all, the holidays were very good. Did a lot of people and saw a lot of things.... wait.... reverse that. I did a lot of things and saw a lot of people. So enjoy! I will be back on my normal schedule for blogging for a while so keep checking in and commenting.
So, heres Christmas at the Robinson household in glorious Fort Smith, Arkansas. That would be Monica and Greg in the photo with me. My two oldest friends in the world who happened to get married and decided to give birth to a wonderful baby girl on my birthday. Well Monica gave birth...Greg just watched. :)Funny how things happen in life. :) And speaking of their daughter... she's the one showing holiday spirit by giving to the Salvation Army. Isn't she sweet?
The day after Christmas I flew back to San Francisco to catch the last Forty-Niner game of the year. Like most other Forty-Niner games this season they screwed up and lost the game on some serious bad play calling. The game was still great fun. It was a beautiful day outside watching football and drinking beer with Mike, Mish, and Julie. What more could ya want?
New Years was with friends in San Francisco. Dinner at a very lovely bistro where I ate Caviar, Sonoma rabbit, and my favorite... Creme Brule. I sound very cultured, don't I? That is until I put a paper crown on my head. :) I don't remember why but I'm sure I thought it was a good idea at the time. I spent the stroke of midnight in a high rise apt. that had a great view of the Fireworks show over the bay. Very cool.
I kicked off the new year by driving up to Lake Tahoe and trying my hand at snow boarding. It was very beautiful as you can tell. And the photo shows my enthusiasm as I tame the feared Squaw Valley bunny slope!! I am fearless!!!! Fearless I say! And now I am back safe at home...resting from the holiday madness. So that, ladies and gentlemen, concludes my holiday slide show. Thank you for watching. See ya next time...
January 05, 2004
Up up and away!
Just a quick note... sitting here in San Francisco airport waiting for my flight back to London. I am sooo not looking forward to this 11 hour flight! I'm drugging myself up so I can hopefully just pass out for the whole flight. :) Mmmmmm over the counter drugs. :) Anyhoo, just wanted to let everyone know I am alive. I know a few of you were worried once you heard I went snow boarding in Tahoe. :) But alas, I didn't break myself. It was actually really really fun. :) Tahoe got 4 feet of snow the few days prior to us getting there! So needless to say it was very white and very cold. :) It was -3 the day we left. Buuurrrrrrrrr!!!!! So, once I get back I will upload some pictures of the holidays and post them for all to mock. :) So, time for me to board das 747... talk to you's soon. And I promise I will catch up on my emails when I get back as well. I swear! ;)
