what is the lobby?

2003.01.30 7.46

Dealing with the snow and cold weather has brought up something I never had a problem with in Houston -- dry skin. I'm going through moisturizer at an alarming rate. People here call it ''Lowsh'' (I'm spelling that phonetically). At first I thought I was having a poison ivy relapse from some garment that had escaped my wrath of deep cleaning. Now I know how Itchy and Scratchy must feel.

It is interesting to note that I have been on this project for about as long as the production of the two ''Matrix'' sequels has been going on. We will also finish up around the same time. I bought two sunglasses for $15 a piece off a website that specializes in movie replica-ware. They should show up in the mail over the next couple of days and I will of course publish my findings. My additional replica-ware inquiry has been aimed at the folks from AbbyShot.com. They make a "Lobby Reloaded" trenchcoat that has me foaming at the mouth. OktoberNight tells me it looks a lot like something a priest would wear. I initially saw a resemblence, but upon research of previous OktoberNight clothing opinions, I found another instance from 2001 when a black shirt I own with a high collar was described as priest-like. ((Black + High Collar) != Priest). I'm going for second opinions so feel free to send them in. Notice there is no white little square thing in the middle of the collar. If someone knows what that's called, you win a prize. Don't look at me for the answer -- I was raised Baptist as a result of the bible-thumping neighbors offering to take my sister and I to their church on Sundays. The parents got a free break from us as a result. The church benefitted, too. The money intended for the offering was instead spent on snacks and drinks at the conveniently located vending machines in the back lobby. We'd munch out sitting on these nice padded benches patiently waiting for noon to roll around so we could go back home and terrorize once again. Ah. Good times.

I'm going to hell for sure now that I've documented my sins. Speaking of sins, I am going to New Orleans again, only this time I won't be hobbled by severely sprained ankles. My mom, God love her, is staying home. This is a solo effort. I will only be in town for the weekend, but I'll be sure to squeeze five days of debauchery into two. It'll be just like I'm back in college, only with a clear complexion and a credit card. Ah. Good times.

happy neo year

2003.01.26 22.15

I know I still owe you the Oregon trip video. I've been busy, as expected. I only have 11 weeks left on the project before I return to Houston, so I am of course trying to take in as much as possible while I'm still here. The downside is figuring out how to take back my bed, desk, three pinball machines, two transparent chairs, a dog, and lots of heavy computer equipment. I'm thinking a sale is coming, but I have grown attached to the pinball machines. The bed and desk I can part with. I've got plenty of time to deal with that. My dad is in Boston this week for technical training, and I'm watching the final moments of Superbowl 37 on my $99 WalMart TV/VCR combo. Earlier I enjoyed ''The Goonies'' listening to the audio commentary featuring all of the original actors and the director. Quite freakish, really. That Martha Plimpton is so funky. Me likey. And hey, if I married her, Keith Carradine would be my father-in-law. How cool would that be? Tangent. Enjoy these ''Matrix Reloaded'' snapshots I took off the new SuperBowl commercial. All images are copyright Warner Bros. and are used only to make you buy more Warner Bros. products and to see their movies. So obey!

i'll have the usual

2003.01.21 7.29

During the most recent Getting To Know Your Neighbor bash hosted by the downtown Philly condo I live in, I was talking to a neighbor about home improvement. My tiling experience, specifically. She had recently redone her bathroom floor, but this alledged handyman guy in the building who did the work had done a sub-sub-par job. He'd barely grouted anything which left giant gaps between the tiles that would inadvertantly trap hair and dirt and whatever else fell on the floor (gasp!). He charged $300 for this. Feeling obnoxious and boastful (and light-headed thanks to my recent consumption of 3 beers in 30 minutes), I said something like, ''Hell, even I could fix that!'' So, she took me up on it. Sixty dollars for supplies (from my neightbor), one Home Depot trip and forty-five days later, I was in the bathroom chiseling out whatever mystery material was stuck between the tiles. It looked like a combination of non-sanded grout, mortor, and in one area this guy experimented with caulking between the tiles. Duh. Not of it was even, so I went through spurts of ''Man this is hard'' to ''Man this is so easy!'' Once done and vacuumed, I mixed some attractive sanded DeLorean Gray grout and began, uhhh, re-grouting. Take a guess why I picked that color and you win a prize. After a few hours, I was done with my cycle of meticulously applying grout and wiping the excess down with a wet sponge. On Thursday, I'll buff out the excess haze, fill in the edge gaps with sanded DeLorean Gray Caulk and seal the grout. I should have taken before-after photos just so you can see my mad home improvement skillz, but trust me, it's gonna look good. My word is bond, dude. James Bond. And my word wants a vodka martini, shaken, not stirred. Is it really necessary to say the "not stirred" part? It's as if you think the bartender is an idiot and that he doesn't understand what "shaken" means, so you toss in the additional "not stirred" to make him realize that shaking doesn't involve stirring. Okay. Tangent.

I bought a laptop from a friend at work. Nice laptop, a few imperfections on the display but for the price I was happy. I set it up on the plane ride into town on Sunday night. Once I returned to the confines of my cozy apartment, I plugged everything in and... nothing. The power supply acted as if it were on vacation. I had 16 minutes of power left to figure out the problem. After crazily fumbling through the battery options manager for two precious minutes, I threw my hands up in the air, looked at the ceiling, and screamed like I was kneeling over a dead Klingon. A distance neighbor behind the walls yelled, ''What the hell was that?'' I shut off all the lights and feigned absence. The laptop died, quietly. A phone call to my friend the next day revealed that I was given the wrong power supply. One Fedex package later (which I get later this afternoon), and it's onward to Round 2.

what a strange trip it has been

2003.01.17 13.42

I was doing a search for ''what a strange trip'' and found way too many articles titled that way, so I am joinging the fray. I heard a new Sleep Dentistry commercial on the radio today. It has been nearly two years since I wrote about it in my journal. They come right out and tell you that you are one pill away from "partially or completely forgetting all aspects of your dental visit.'' Does that sound wise? What would be more appealing is if this technique could be used in other non-medical fields. Sleep Shopping, for instance, for those guys out there who cannot stand making a visit to the mall with your special lady (or special guy). Ahem. How about Sleep Carpentry? Sleep Lawn Care. Sleep Laundry. And the list goes on. La dee dah dee dee.

visual documentation

2003.01.12 11.52

I'm in Eugene, Oregon writing this using Dude's wireless network. He's sharing out his modem connection, so it feels just like 1997 except with the cool wireless twist. Mmmm. Good times. I have video that I'll post of my little trip later this week. Going to be super busy at work so if my updates are skimpy. Off.

latest and greatest

2003.01.08 14.14

Turns out I had some kind of stomach bug and it wasn't food poisoning at all. Woo hoo! WhataBurger is back on the menu! They say the bug that all the people on the cruise ships have been enjoying these past few months is a likely culprit. It can be passed by as much as a handshake and can take a few days to incubate before it whoops up on your ass. Wondering if I am still infectious. Wondering if I should send a box of spit tainted candies to my enemies.

Going to Oregon this weekend. Eugene, OR. I hear they have great water parks. Not. I'm just excited to be going out of town again. Perhaps I'll eat at their McDonald's. More on this as it develops.

Plotting what car to lease next after the Saab lease expires. I hate the Saab, I'll admit it now. It just seems clunky to me. I suspect the previous lease owner was ragging it out, however. I think I will go with something simple with a hatchback. Maybe a Hummer? I can't say Hummer without giggling. Looking over my shoulder for HR department to serve me with cease and desist orders for aforementioned giggling like a little girl.

deprivation

2003.01.03 11.57

Returning to normal after most recent food poisoning incident. Thought of ingesting meat less sickening now. Lost 10 pounds. Did lots of deep thinking during recovery. Decided I should throw out all my old ugly clothes. Got as far as putting them into 3 bags. Next trip back to Houston and some lucky homeless person will soon be wearing my Superbowl 29 sweat pants and Star Trek: Three Captains t-shirt.

Spent New Years Eve at a warehouse in downtown Houston. Party was there, so this isn't as weird as it sounds. Party was semi-okay. Didn't meet anyone. Several girls talked to me as if they thought I was someone else. No idea. Giant soul patch on chin might be throwing them off. Hung out with Oktober and spent too much for cover. Came home to find Outlook Express spewing out email from 1/1/2004, albeit briefly. Wondering if the Flux Capacitor I have mounted on top of my computer has anything to do with that.

Saw ''Gangs of New York'' with my dad and ''Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers'' with aformentioned Oktober. Review for Gangs: ''Were there really gangs of firemen who competed against each other?'' I think that question right there should intimidate anyone. It was an interesting film overall, but the underlying history behind the story seems quirky at best. ''Rings'' was awesome, however. I got the 4 hour extended version of part 1, so watching this the next day rocked. Still wanna see ''Catch Me If You Can'' if I can catch it in time. Me.

Flew dog back with me to Philly on the first. Spent around two hours after arrival trying to get dog out of baggage claim jail. Success came at 2 A.M. after three trips around the terminals. Never saw dog more happy to pee before.