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[Jul. 24th, 2008|12:50 am] |
I'm not typically a fan of country music, but I am a fan of the group Little Big Town, and when I found out they'd be playing at a nearby county fair, I decided to jump at the chance to see them. This was my first county fair, and I haven't even been to any state fairs, so it was interesting to see the livestock - everything from pigs to cows to chickens to rabbits. And then of course you had your typical carnival games and rides, as well as crazy carnies and fair food.
Cows!
The concert itself was really good. This group is big on vocal harmonies, and they didn't disappoint. I decided to splurge and get the closest seat I could - after all, I don't go to as many concerts as I should, and I always enjoy myself.
Little Big Town
Finally, just because I liked this picture, here are what I called the Ebony and Ivory pigs:
Living together in harmony... (or Jungle Fever, one of the two...) |
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[Jul. 21st, 2008|07:27 am] |
Well, I'm all caught up on Doctor Who now. Having watched all of series 4 this weekend (I rewatched a few episodes at the beginning), all I can say is, wow. I almost want to wait awhile to write more, but I didn't want to let these thoughts slip away.
( some thoughts )
Also, I was thinking about this, and this question might be a bit controversial, but I want to ask it anyway. I was thinking about the idea of forgiveness, the negative effects of anger and holding grudges, etc. For the past few years, and probably even more, there's been some chaos and violence in the world, as well as increasing doubt and economic uncertainty. What would it take for you to forgive the people responsible for it? Could you ever forgive the terrorists behind 9/11, or other terrorist attacks (Spain, London, elsewhere)? Could you ever forgive George W. Bush, or any of the people who worked with him? If not, if they're beyond forgiveness, or if you'll never get the circumstances you want in order to forgive them, what do you think that anger and/or fear are doing to you? How might that be negatively affecting your life, to carry that with you and hold it close to your heart? Or, how do you deal with that anger/fear so that it doesn't have too much of an adverse effect on you? At this point, I only have questions, not answers, but I thought these were questions worth asking. |
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[Jul. 20th, 2008|12:09 am] |
I went and saw Dark Knight today. Even though it was the 3:30 pm showing, and there were showings every half hour, there was a long line to get in, and we were so far back in line that we had to sit up near the front. With that said, I thought it was really good, and I'm really glad I went. I have to echo what a lot of other people are saying - Heath Ledger did give a really good performance. In a way, it recalled the previous campy versions while still being its own dark and twisted interpretation. The movie itself was a little long for my taste, and took some unexpected turns, but overall, I enjoyed it.
One of my thoughts upon leaving the theater was that I wondered if this version of the Joker would be a good Halloween costume. Hmm...
My parents enjoy listening to the televangelist Joel Osteen. Last night, he spoke at the United Center, and my parents had some extra tickets, so I decided to break out of my comfort zone and tag along. It was... interesting. He reminded me a lot of Obama, just in his message of hope and inspiration (and request for money :) ). His remarks were surprisingly non-religious at times, almost like he was there to entertain and provide self-help advice more than to preach and quote scripture. Something about it didn't sit right with me, and I don't just mean my general distrust of people from Texas (though that doesn't extend to every Texan, of course). Part of the "hope message" he offered was about promotion at work, financial success, etc. - almost to the point of saying that if you are a good Christian, you will be wealthy - and that just seems to run contrary to my understanding of what that religion is supposed to be about. Rather, it seemed like the goal was to make people happy and tell them what they wanted to hear. But then he must be doing something right, as he seems to have amassed quite the following... |
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[Jul. 18th, 2008|12:26 am] |
Per Pelosi, Bush is a total failure. I liked hearing that - I agree with that - but at the end of the day, they're just words, and don't really amount to much.
Per some news reports, Jesse Jackson also used the "n-word" in his off-air comments while visiting Fox news. This calls to mind the controversies from the past few years with Michael Richards and Don Imus. What's worse, to use the language intentionally and publicly, or to rail against the language in public while using it in private. Hmm...
I just finished series 3 of Doctor Who. I was going to go right ahead and finish series 4, but I decided to see everything (largely) in order. I had heard some negative reviews of series 3, but I largely enjoyed it (though some of the individual episodes left something to be desired). I suppose the one thing I really didn't like was ( ... ) But anyway, thanks again to Jen for helping me out with my Doctor Who problem - you are the best!
I am actually getting excited about Dark Knight. I don't usually get excited about movies, especially since I wasn't too impressed with Batman Begins, but I think I'll try and see it this weekend. Somehow it's become an "event" movie, and it just won't seem as attractive to watch it next week.
I caught the first act of Dr. Horrible, and, well, to be honest, at least as far as the dialogue goes, it really seems like if you've seen one Joss Whedon production, you've seen them all. I think it would be funnier to me if I hadn't already watched shows made by him. With that said, it's worth watching and entertaining enough, and just to give us all a sense of urgency, they will be no longer available after Sunday at midnight. |
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[Jul. 16th, 2008|06:53 am] |
I had that family reunion over the weekend. I'm really glad I went; it's nice every now and then even just to be reminded that I have extended family. I haven't seen them in at least four years, and it was really great to see everyone and catch up with them again.
I came across this quote recently, and I really like it: "Men are not against you; they are merely for themselves." - Gene Fowler. It's easy to forget that and take certain things personally. (Though to be fair, some men really are against you.)
I guess there's a new Joss Whedon production online: http://www.drhorrible.com/. Something about a new online musical/singing blog... It didn't load for me, so I might wait a few days and try again.
I thought this story was interesting. It's a bit scary to think about how ways in which biology and technology will combine. Maybe this is one area in which I'll gladly be a Luddite. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for evolution, and if this is it, this is it; this could also mean our extinction, though. I'm not naive enough to think we fully understand the consequences of our actions. I think we as a species need to jump the "being responsible with credit and loans" hurdle before trying for the "altering our biological makeup with machines" hurdle. I think it would be interesting to study this whole future projection/transhumanism field - if only I had the time... |
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[Jul. 9th, 2008|01:20 am] |
I don't know why, but I've had a difficult time yawning lately. I'll feel an overwhelming need to yawn and I'll slowly inhale, but I either can't relax enough or stretch my lungs enough to fully yawn. And it's driving me crazy. It eventually happens - after a few attempts, anyway - but it's very annoying to have to yawn and not be able to.
I just finished reading a book on assertiveness. Not the militant "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it" assertiveness, just a more reasonable approach - sticking up for your rights, speaking up when it's warranted, deciding when to be assertive (vs. aggressive or passive). It's helped me think about my relationships with people, and how I deal with others. I still have a ways to go, but I've taken a few steps down the right path.
I really want to see this production: Funk It Up About Nothin' at the Chicago Shakespeare Theater. According to the website, it's an "an 'ad-rap-tation' of Much Ado About Nothing." I'm not sure if it will be funny, unintentionally funny, or both. The only question now is figuring out when to see it. |
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[Jul. 6th, 2008|10:49 pm] |
I went to a Milwaukee Brewers game today and had a pretty good time. We arrived at Miller Park about an hour/90 minutes before the game and spent some time tailgating. My brother cooked the hot dogs and brats (those portable grills are amazing things), while the rest of us just sat in our lawn chairs, drinking and having a good time. On our way into the stadium, there was a free giveaway of a bobblehead of the "Barrel Man," who I guess was the mascot for the Brewers for a few years. The game itself was pretty good, and fairly high-scoring for baseball. I had to laugh at one of the stadium's traditions - at each game, they have the "Sausage Race," where mascots of different types of sausage (Italian Sausage, Hot Dog, Polish Sausage, etc.) race around the field. Good times.
I'm a bit disturbed by this. I mean, I know there's a lot of crime and violence out there. Is there just more of it now? Or is it just being reported differently? Scary stuff...
There was some downsizing at work recently. In light of that, I thought it was interesting to read this article.
Ugh, I'm going crazy seeing all of this Doctor Who information out there that I don't want to read yet because I haven't watched the entire past series. I lost one of my sources for watching the episodes, so the last one I saw was (I think) 4 or 5. I'll have to find a way to watch the others soon... |
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[Jul. 5th, 2008|11:59 pm] |
I'm back! And without any bullet wounds. Good thing.
Every year, the city of Chicago holds an event called the Taste of Chicago, which is a weeklong festival centered around food from Chicago restaurants (about 50+) and entertainment from local and national acts. (It always includes the Fourth of July, too.) I had never been, despite having lived in this area for almost my whole life, so I decided it was about time.
I'm glad I went, if even just to see what I was missing out on all these years. They didn't have the variety of food I expected. It was mostly your typical American fare - pizza, brats, burgers, etc. - and while they did have other more ethnic foods, they seemed really "safe" - for example, a Thai restaurant offered pad Thai and potstickers. I probably could have been more adventurous with my selections, but I was tired and the food was expensive, so I really wanted more of a "sure thing." For lunch, I had a boneless BBQ rib sandwich, a small serving of Pad Thai, and a lemon Italian ice. For dinner, I had a slice of deep dish pizza (though it wasn't that big or deep), and a slice of turtle cheesecake.
It was very crowded, too - and that's probably an understatement. I met one of my friends from college there, and he brought one of his friends from Americorps, and we walked around, listened to some bands, went down by the lake. It was a good way to spend the afternoon, though I'm really tired now. Bonnie Raitt was the headlining act tonight, and I listened to a few of her songs, but ended up leaving to make sure I caught an early train home. Like I said, I'm glad I went... though I'm not sure I'd go again. It was a little too crowded for me.
Pictures under the cut. I can't tell if the pictures make the food look appetizing or disgusting (or neither). The food itself was somewhere in between.
( pictures ) |
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[Jul. 5th, 2008|11:28 am] |
Well, I'm heading downtown in just a few minutes. I hope I don't get shot today. (Oh look, there was another incident last night, too.) Wish me luck!
(By the way, when they say the Loop, they mean the actual downtown area of Chicago. The first one was just a few blocks away from the Sears Tower, Grant Park, Union Station, the Art Institute, etc. The second one was right on the corner of Millennium Park, near the theater district and the Michigan Avenue shopping area. I think I'll make it an early night tonight...) |
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[Jul. 4th, 2008|05:08 pm] |
Happy 4th, Americans. Up yours, England. Bwa ha ha.
I watched the Chicago fireworks on TV last night. They didn't measure up to previous years. They started late, and when they did start, the network put the Hummer logo in one corner and the TV program logo in the opposite corner. (Always looking for new ways to monetize everything, huh?) I'm pretty sure that in previous years, the fireworks were accompanied by the Grant Park orchestra, but this year it was all top 40 hits of yesterday and today (Coldplay's "Clocks"? Really?). So yeah, thumbs down from me.
Another hilarious link. This reminds me of the time a girl dressed as a ninja robbed a gas station. I think this is funnier, though, because it was unintentional. Next we'll hear about a ninja crime wave - the Foot Clan? - and we'll have to call in TMNT. Ninja vanish!
I'm going down to the Taste of Chicago tomorrow, and I might go to a concert in Millennium Park at night. On Sunday, I'm going to a Milwaukee Brewers game for my dad's birthday. Because of that, I think I'm just going to take it easy for the rest of today, and just enjoy my day off.
By the way, I got the music for the wedding. It's doable. I also just found out that they're expecting about 150 people. Umm, yeah, we'll see how well that goes... Between now and then, I think my biggest challenge is not so much learning and working on the music, but getting myself prepared psychologically. I shouldn't worry, though - it's only an hour in my life, and I'll be fine. |
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[Jul. 4th, 2008|01:16 pm] |
Start date: Sunday, June 17, 2007
End date: Sunday, March 14, 2010
Goals complete: 37
Goals left: 64
89. Play 18 holes of golf
My brother's bachelor party was recently held at a golf resort in Wisconsin. Even though I'm not much of a golfer, I went along because, hey, I'd be an ass to miss my own brother's bachelor party. While up there, I got the opportunity to play 18 holes, and I enjoyed it. It was great because the course I was playing on was relatively empty, so I could just do my own thing and take as long as I needed on each hole. I've been going to the driving range recently to work on my swing, and it's nowhere near perfect, but it was good enough to make it through the course. This was a good exercise in doing something I'm not good at and having fun anyway. It also made me think to myself, can I really see myself doing this in a few years? It takes a long time to get good at this game - is it worth it? I'm going to keep working at this, if even just so that I'm able to participate in things like this as they come up again. Golf is also a nice distraction from life - I noticed that I was able to clear my head while out on the course and not worry about things from real life.
92. Attend a non-Christian religious service
I attended a Jewish wedding ceremony in the third week of June. Two of my friends from college got married in a ceremony up in Wisconsin. This was the first Jewish wedding I've attended, and it was really interesting learning about the different traditions, like the ketubah, the chuppah, the breaking of the glass, etc. (They provided notes/explanations of these things for us gentiles.) Of course I was more concerned with seeing my friends get married than reflecting on my own religious beliefs versus those of this faith, but I'm glad I was able to step outside my box and have this experience.
( The List ) |
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[Jul. 2nd, 2008|01:49 am] |
Happy Canada Day, all you Canadians.
In other Canada news, I was surprised to learn about censorship in Canada. Apparently, there are lists of government-banned books and movies. Who knew?
I started watching 30 Rock, season 1. It's much funnier than I remember it. I had stopped watching because I was disappointed about how Rachel Dratch's role was minimized, then eliminated from the show. But I am now enjoying it.
I thought this was hilarious.
I'm singing for my brother's wedding, and I'm getting frustrated trying to get copies of the music. Who knew it would be this difficult? I went to the library, and found one piece, but the rest of the songs present their own problems. There's one song that I need for solo voice and piano/organ, but I've either only been able to find choral versions, or solo piano. There are also some songs/mass parts that I'm guessing are only found in church hymnals. Oh well, I just hope the music director will be willing to make copies for me... |
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[Jun. 26th, 2008|08:37 pm] |
I was in the car the other day listening to the (relatively) new Robyn CD. I had downloaded it for free awhile back, but when it came out in the US, I decided to "vote" with my dollars and buy the album. I was just driving along, and to my surprise, this song came on at the end. I really like it.
I also recently got the new Aimee Mann album. I didn't like it at first - it seemed a little boring to me - but now I love it. The music's started to do it for me, and there's something about melancholy music that just kind of helps me to be happy.
I'm having second thoughts about the little golf outing this weekend. I guess no one planned for me to actually golf, so my options once there would be to tag along with the "real golfers" (and, I don't know, keep score or drive the golf cart), or find something to do in the hotel. I want to go because it's more or less 1/2 of my brother's bachelor party, but at the same time, it'll just be a waste of the weekend, and I'll end up feeling like I'm in the way. |
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[Jun. 26th, 2008|12:20 am] |
Internet meme timeline
In case you wanted to know more about our history.
After my college reunion this past weekend, I'm having a sort of post-reunion blues. My life just seems relatively empty in comparison. Hopefully I can change that... |
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[Jun. 25th, 2008|02:01 am] |
I just spent way too much time paying a missed toll. I hate the tollway system. I did learn a valuable lesson from it, though: measures introduced as "temporary" have a good chance of not being so. (Another lesson: beware incremental changes that you don't notice until it's too late.) If I have my tollway history correct, it was originally supposed to just last for a few years (at least here in Illinois), but it's still here 30 years or so later. We now have the I-Pass system, which is great if you have one, but it sucks if you don't. I drove a rental car up to Wisconsin last week, and I didn't bring my I-Pass, so when I reached a toll that cost $1.00 (non I-Pass users pay double), with no attendant on duty and only accepting exact coin change (I think I had 70 cents, which I threw in out of desperation, but the light didn't turn green), I was SOL. If it's going to charge $1 or more, they should have machines that take dollar bills.
I'm spending this week in a dazed stupor. I just got done with some laundry. I could really use a good clean (get rid of some clutter), and also a good sleep, time to read, and time to work out. What I don't get is, why do we work so hard? Why spend most of our lives working? Sometimes I wonder how great the "American dream" really is, these benchmarks that we're all supposed to be striving towards (college, house, family, then the cycle repeats with the next generation). I mean, sure, it's great to have money and be able to spend it on things, but that can't be it. |
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[Jun. 17th, 2008|01:15 am] |
I've been doing okay with my workouts lately. I decided to dial it back for now and just focus on doing the elliptical for 30 minutes a day, rather than doing that in addition to lifting. I figure it's easy enough for me to make excuses as it is - right now I really just need to make it easy and build the habit, and add in other things later. Even doing something simple will still make me stronger and build my endurance, as long as I keep it up on a regular basis. One thing that's going to be a challenge is the whole diet thing. It's not that I don't know what to do; it's just that it's so easy to use food to cope with certain things in life. I need to retrain myself, and change the way I think about certain meals.
I've been reading this assertiveness training book (Your Perfect Right), and funnily enough, it's making me feel bad about myself (so much for "self help"). I don't know, it's just caused me to look at myself, and it makes me feel like I've been really passive in my life. I can't say I've done much in my life for which I didn't have the approval of some sort of authority figure. And I can tie a few of the areas of my life in which I'm unhappy to my need to please other people. That's no way to live.
I went to a small university, small enough that we have class reunions every so often. I have one this weekend, and I'm getting a little nervous. It seems like so many people are in med school, law school, or grad school, on their way to their JDs and MDs and Ph.Ds. In contrast, I haven't done much that's really that impressive since graduation. It'll be nice to see people again; I just hope it's not an accomplishments pissing contest.
My brother is having a bachelor party weekend at a country club in Wisconsin at the end of the month, and I signed up to go. Unless I go off by myself during the weekend (which I won't), there isn't much to do besides golf. Eep. I have two weeks to improve my swing well enough to fudge my way through 18 holes. We'll see how well that goes... |
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[Jun. 12th, 2008|03:57 am] |
So, Dennis Kucinich introduced articles of impeachment for George W. Bush, huh? I have mixed feelings about this. It's not that I don't think Bush should be impeached (though, to tell the truth, I gave up on justice for his misdeeds a long time ago - that just doesn't seem to be the way the world works). It's just that it seems like it's too late. The damage has been done, and our long national nightmare will soon be over with. I'm also wondering what effects this might have on the presidential campaigns.
House Approves Amtrak Funding. This is the first really good news I've heard lately coming from Congress. I grew concerned awhile back that Amtrak would die off. I know for many, rail transportation is a thing of the past, but I think we need to keep our transportation options available.
I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by life. I have a lot I want to do, and not much time to do it in. That's true for both work and home life. Not only that, but I'm overwhelmed by the amount of people in my life. I feel like I've reached a point at work where more people throughout the company know of me than actually know me, and while in some respects that may be good, it's also a bit intimidating. I feel like I used to be more friendly and outgoing, and now I'm more withdrawn and introverted. Outside of work, I have various family reunions and college reunions and other similar events coming up over the next few months, and it's just mindboggling to think about how many people I will be either reuniting with or meeting for the first time.
I woke up a few hours ago and couldn't go back to sleep. I've decided to start using beer as a way to deal with insomnia. I'm more of a social drinker than anything else, but I had a few beers Sunday and Monday night, and it helped me relax and sleep through the night. I guess I'll be trying to drown my sorrows - or at least my sleeplessness - from now on. Whatever works, I guess... |
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[Jun. 8th, 2008|09:08 pm] |
I had a really good day yesterday.
I started off by going downtown to the Field Museum (Chicago's natural history museum). I liked it much more than I thought I would. It was great walking in and seeing Sue the T. Rex. I then went to the birds and animals area, and at first I thought, "Wouldn't it be better to just go to the zoo?" Also, one of my gripes about museums is that if I can learn about something by reading a book, why bother going to a museum? But then I saw the variety and diversity of what they had there, and started loving it. I don't know why, but I really liked seeing the big animals - like the 9-foot bear, the rhino, the large cats.
After I made my way through that section, I went to the "Ancient Americas" section, which was pretty awesome. It was all about the migration of people to the Americas and their culture. After that, I went upstairs and went to the paid exhibit I chose: "Nature Unleashed: Inside Natural Disasters." This was the one thing I was a little disappointed in, just in that it wasn't as cool as I envisioned based on some promotional material I saw. There was one display that was really cool - you stepped into the middle of a circle of video screens, and saw footage taken (I guess) by a 360 degree camera as a tornado approached and passed directly overhead. But everything else was just videos and posterboards. Finally, I went to an exhibit on the development of life from the beginning of the world to the present, all the way through all of the major extinctions that it's believed we've had. To me, that's fascinating to think about, just how life has evolved, and then disappeared, and then evolved again, all the way to where we are today. I liked seeing the dinosaur bones, too - I had forgotten about those.
I then went to the Adler Planetarium. This was a little underwhelming, though I'm glad I went if even to fulfill my curiosity. I liked the exhibits on the Mars rover (above) and different facts about the planets and the galaxy. I just wish there were more displays about the planets and stars, and less about the history of the study of astronomy, or what stars meant to cultures thousands of years ago. One fun fact I did learn - I had never heard about the Oort cloud, but apparently we have one, and it defines the boundary of our solar system. One show/movie was included, and I chose one that showed computer animations of different events (the Big Bang, the meteor that theoretically led to the extinction of the dinosaurs, the moon walk, etc.). There was one on cosmic collisions that I wish I had gone to, but didn't have time. It seems like if you're going to the planetarium, go for the shows, and not the exhibits.
After that, it was time for Avenue Q. Let me just say that this show exceeded every expectation I had for it. I was already familiar with the music from the show, but seeing it live, it was just perfect. It was hilarious, and I want to see it again (too bad that was its last night here). It was one highly enjoyable night, and well worth it. |
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[Jun. 7th, 2008|09:34 am] |
Coke is featuring some of its brands from around the world on its cans of Coca-Cola in honor of the upcoming Olympics. I'm a sucker for gimmicks like that. Though one thing I've been curious about is Coke made with real sugar, rather than high fructose corn syrup. When I first heard about that, I was intrigued, though I think I'll have to leave the country to find it.
Awhile back, I saw a website that had collected links to my social networking profiles all on one page. Creepy, huh? In an effort to throw up some smoke, I changed my MySpace location to Sao Paolo, Brazil. I had forgotten about this until I got a newsletter recently of the MySpace Brasil News. Haha...
I really enjoyed this Howard Stern/Rosie O'Donnell interview. YouTube players (with audio, not video) at the link. |
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