How to lose a guy in ten days

Sorry, long time no post.... so lets get started.

Catherine was telling me about this phenomenon called "Mercury Retrograde" (yeah... she's into all that astrology stuff.) I already forgot what it means, so, according to astrology.about.com Mercury slows down and Since Mercury rules communication, it's said that everything goes haywire in that area -- emails get deleted or bounced back, mail is returned, calls go out into the ethers, etc. Some people find that their computers go on the fritz or phone lines go down. Well, it ended on October 15th. Since then my car's maitenance light has come on, my computer completely died(which would explain the delay in posts) and my cable box no longer shows the time. So much for Mercury Retrograde, not that I bought into it in the first place.

On Tuesday Cat and I went to Hollywood to see a taping of the Jimmy Kimmel show, with the Alkaline Trio performing. It was pretty boring. The crowd sucked, the Trio played five songs, two were good (not great, but good) one was decent, and two were forgettable. Matt Skiba looked like a cross between Heath Ledger's Joker, Mike Ness, Willy Wonka, and a salamander. Sigh, at least he's not dressing like a Vampire or A Clockwork Orange anymore.

So I'm the only one working today at my work. Well, outside of a supervisor. So from 2:30 to 11 I will be not only manning the checkstand and photo, but I will be serving ice cream. Indeed a happy halloween to me.

I love 30 Rock, but I'm a bit afraid about this season. Now, before I go any further, let me just say that I missed the season premire yesterday and my tivo decided it didn't want to record it (take that Mercury Retrograde) but it sure seems like it's getting an awful lot of press. And don't tell me, "well it won 3 Emmys last year" because Arrested Development won it's share of Emmys and nobody watched that show. As great as Tina Fey was as Sarah Palin, I think that turned a lot of people onto 30 Rock, and that's not always a good thing. Plus, they're running out guest star after guest star (Jennifer Anniston? Oprah Winfrey?) Honestly Tina, just stick with your SNL friends, like Chris Parnell, who was amazing as Dr. Leo Spaceman.

I've got to get ready for work

it's so much less confusing when lines are drawn like that....

Another day where I come home and pass out. Chris woke me up. We're heading out tonight, not too sure where we're going. I'm not too worried about that.

I woke up today feeling like shit; tired; and with no real desire or motivation to get out of bed. But I had school, and a couple papers due so I dragged my lazy ass to the shower and sucked it up. It's strange, everyone's so afraid of drunk drivers but nobody seems to care that every morning a half-awake Matt drives 40 miles to school.The only reason I stay awake is because I play my music at extremely high volumes and chat away on my cell phone. I showed up for my first class today, Public Policy Making, and actually spoke in class. I think it caught the teacher off guard a bit. Normally I sit in the back of the back of the room, mind my own business and draw.

In between classes I noticed that in one of the quad area's there was a religious deomonstration. Some old man who looked a lot like Santa Claus was ranting and raving about how Jesus died for our sins, and everybody is guilty of sin and pornorgraphy and promiscuous sex is evil. I'm sure Jesus really cares whether or not I'm having sex with someone I'm emotionally involved with, and if I'm getting off watching women take their clothes off on my computer. He has nothing better to do with his time then to monitor such things. This is yet another reason why I distance myself from religion.

Again my stomach is hurting. I really don't know what's up. Maybe I am... nah.. couldn't be.

I should really take a shower...

This is Unusual...

Today was another day in which I thanked my parents for raising me with morals, values, and proper etiquette. For not being gun toting, bud drinking, flag waiving, cross bearing, crackhead redneck Chuch going fundamentalist Christians. Family after family after family came in for ice cream, all void of intellectual thought and reasoning. Kids ran wild while Mom (who was either fifty pounds over or under weight) screamed at them to order their one scoop of ice cream. Dad on the other hand (complete with hillbilly facial hair and at least one article of clothing branded by an alcohol brewing company) was nowhere to be found until it was time to pay, which was normally ten minutes after they started ordering, cause their five kids took five minutes to decide what they wanted, and two more changing their minds after their order. It's day's like these that I'm thankful my Mom did not smoke crack while she was pregnant.
I don't understand the whole Rockband/Guitar Hero obsession this country has. For that matter, I don't understand the whole video game obsession . I have a Nintendo Wii, but I don't think I've played it in a good three weeks, and before that I was only playing it for Mario Kart. But with Guitar Hero and Rockband, I don't understand the point? I will admit, I've had a good time playing Rockband while singing The Clash, but that was due to a lot of vodka in my system. But why not just pick up an actual guitar? Then you're not bound to the same 50 shitty songs that appear in both games. I guess it's just easier hitting buttons then strumming actual strings? Whatever, thanks to games like Rockband and Guitar Hero and Madden and whatnot kids play virtual guitar and virtual football instead of, you know, play actual guitar and actual football. At least most kids aren't playing actual Grand Theft Auto.
I'm falling in love with Stacy Clark. I have no clue what she looks like, but I absolutely love her voice. Sure, I only know one song, but I can't stop listening to it. It kind of sums up my mindset right now.
Watched the Angels lose again in Oakland, this time due to shitty defense. I don't know, all of a sudden I'm just not as comfortable as I was a week ago. I did however get a ticket to game two of the their divisional series. I'm hoping it's against Boston. I really, really despise Boston.
For the past month I've been a ball of nerves. It's not fun, and I can't explain it. My stomach hasn't felt right in a while, it constantly hurts. Sometimes it's hard to sleep. I'm not sure what that really means? Is it connected to nerves? Or should I go to the doctor? I don't know
I have a paper to write on an article in the Press Enterprise about California's growing budget problem. I should probably start that now.

A Few (Days) Overdue

I know, I know... I'm laggin on the posts. Well here's to making up for all the lost time. Before I begin, within the next couple of days there will be a MEGA version of "Matt's Favorite Albums," instead of five, I'll reveal ten or fifteen to make up for lost time (OMG.) Anyways... some Random Thoughts...

...Lets start with my favorite subject, those Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. I attended Wednesday's Angels/Mets series finale. The Angels took a 4-3 lead into the ninth, only to see all-star closer Francisco Rodriguez cough up the lead, and Justin Speier lose it in the tenth. Rodriguez has only blown two saves this entire season, and I've had the pleasure of being at Angel Stadium when both have happened. Unfortunately Torii Hunter didn't bail him out this time, like he did in May with a walk off grand slam. But I can't complain too much about the Angels, as they're coming off a sweep of the first place Phillies. They were dominant, holding the high scoring (Utley, Howard, Rollins, Burrell) Phillies offense to just five runs. I don't think enough can be said about the job Ervin Santana and Joe Saunders have done this year. And it looks like Vlad Guerrero has finally woke up.

...Another story involving Big Vladdy, my Dad attended some kind of charity auction for his boss, and came home with two pieces of memorabillia. One, for me, was a signed ball from the afformentioned Vlad, and the other a pretty big sized photograph of Mickey Mantle and Joe DiMaggio, autographed. My Dad is a big Yankee fan, but you dont have to be a Yankee fan to admire something like that.

... So like I said, the Celtics would win in six. I pretty much called this series, saying Boston would win both at home, the Lakers would take three and five, sending back to Boston, and the Celtics would take game six. I didn't think, however, that Boston would dominate the way they did. Look I hate the Lakers, but that was even embarassing for me to watch knowing the Lakers are my "hometown" team. And poor Lamar Odom; I'd be shocked to see him wearing yellow and purple come next October. While we're talking about basketball, I'd like to quote Jim Alexander from The Press Enterprise regarding The Los Angeles Clipper's offseason. "Resign Elton Brand, or you might as well move back to Buffalo." (Forgive me, I might have paraphrased that a bit.)

...So to add to my July excitement, which includes new albums from The Alakline Trio and The Street Dogs, plus seeing Kyle, "Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten" will finally be seeing the light of day. What is "The Future is Unwritten?" It's a documentary about the life, and the influence of Joe Strummer the lead singer of The Clash. I've been waiting for this to come out for some time now, and finally on July 8th, it will! Oh, and the first week of August will see "The 59 Sound" by The Gaslight Anthem. Pretty good summer if you ask me.

...For the first time in three years I skipped the Warped Tour. Did I make the right decision? Well I'm certainly not crying over missing The Devil Wears Prada or Boys Like Girls or whoever is on the tour this year. My friend Nicole went, here is a text she sent me: "It was weak. Saw every type of music but punk. Pretty fuckin sad." My thoughts exactly.

...My current addiction: Mario Kart Wii.

... Oh, my sister introduced my friend Ashley to my Mother as "Hannah Montana." She doesn't believe she looks like Hannah, I'll let you decide.

What do you think???? If you look to the right, you will my first ever poll question. The question is "Does Ashley look like Hannah Montana?" Answer away!

...Anyways.. thats about it for now.

Smell you later,

Matt