Posted 11:07 AM
"I lost the time"

Whenever I'm asked for my favorite movies, my mind goes pitifully blank (man, that seems to happen SO MUCH these days). But when I'm not on the spot, I can think of several of them. "Shawshank Redemption" has fantastic storytelling and character development. "American Beauty" left me guessing until the very end...and the photography is amazing. "Sliding Doors" explores the bizarre world of "what ifs". And my favorite law/crime thriller without a doubt is "Primal Fear".

Whenever "Aaron" blacks out in the movie...he has this great phrase. "I lost the time". We used to throw this around in college pertaining to any night where one may have suffered an unfortunate blackout, necessitating a lengthy explanation of the past night's events (or not, depending on what he/she may have done).

I lost the time this weekend. I think I only asked what time it was once.

It felt so good to do that. I hadn't needed a vacation that badly in the history of my life. I need another one again already.

It's a good thing my dog, who had lost the time by running away for 4 days, came back.

And while writing this, I've lost the time again.

Tick tick tick

Posted 8:06 AM
Food For Thought

If we're Doritos...somebody forgot to close the bag.

Now, the air wreaks of staleness that has a hold on us like Super Polident (whatever happened to those Martha ads...did she finally kick the bucket?).

I have to admit...I read the industry websites. That's a good thing and a bad thing when your nose is this out of joint about your job. In a lot of cases, you can find people on there who have it way worse than you do. Other times, it just makes you more angry when you realize that we're all in the same "let's get screwed" boat.

But I came across this post from a woman who goes by "Mom"...she's usually a protaganistic instigator on the message board known for thoughtful discussions in a wasteland of bitching.

Suppose you could name your own salary. What are you worth? If you were allowed to name your salary but couldn't use any sort of comparison data to arrive at a figure how would you do it? By that, I mean, as an example: You're a reporter in Market #130 and you make 25K. The ND tells you to name your salary based on your own personal value to the news operation. Could you do it? Do you have a solid understanding of what your value is to your shop or are you more concerned with salary because you know someone else who does less than you is making more than you. Let's say everyone gets to choose their salary (realistically) so there's no reason to be envious or jealous of the other guy. Try not to base your salary on your financial needs. Using your worth to the company as your only criteria will you give yourself a big raise, a small raise, no raise or (gulp) a cut in salary. What are you worth?

One of the first responses...was from this guy, who called himself 'Stock Plummeting'. Read on:

How introspective! How self-aware! How utterly, repulsively banal. Sorry mom, but given years of degradation at the hands of unappreciative superiors concerned only with monetary streamlining, my self appraised value is skewed to say the least. There was a time, long before cynicism overcame my zest for the business that I could (and did) confidently ask for what I believed I deserved. I break big stories. I win awards. I consistently do work that I am proud of and others acknowledge. What do I get in return? Backstabbing malevolence at the hands of insecure management coupled with nakedly brazen nepotism on the part of insipid, out of touch ownership. Makes a guy feel real worthwhile. Sorry to vent spleen here, Mom, but your post reminded me of a better time when I was a better man...or maybe just more naive. Either way, I miss him...so does my family.

I sure hope we have the good sense to avert something like this happening to all of us. Fortunately, I think we can thank our lucky Budweiser that we've found a way to vent some of those frustrations with guitars and mountainsides. And God forbid if any one of us ever DOES get this jaded...this cynical...I hope we'll be dragged up the mountain by the rest of us and beaten into submission using only CWs and a lake.

By the way, here's Mom's response:

Stock Plummeting,
I wish I could offer you a raise...or at least some homemade cookies.

I'd settle for the cookies right now. Thank God we all get a batch in about 11 days. Hang in there kids...

Posted 7:07 PM
There's no wrong way

It's been a long day. Lots of time on my feet. They said thanks when I kicked my shoes off and peeled off my socks tonight (yes, it was warm out...and socks really do peel). When I got home, I wanted a smile from my dog and a hug from my couch.

And dinner. Damnit, I knew I forgot something.

So it was off to the Bi-Lo of Broken Dreams (copywrite Woo-Doo) to dodge homeless people and welfare folks to find somethin' to eat. No-prep was the only requirement other than...it had to be one of those (I hate this term) "comfort foods" (Damnit, Oprah)

I came home, heated for 12 minutes in the microwave, and sat down to eat it.

And just like every time I've ever eaten a pot pie, I poked about 20 holes in the crust with a fork. I let it cool for a minute or so. Then, I pried a piece of the crust up with my fork...subsequently rolling the fork sideways and mashing that piece of crust into the middle.

Then, a big bite. Mmmm....pot pie.

Systematically...crust-piece by crust-piece, that's how I eat a pot-pie. When all the crust is gond...i just mash up what's left of the middle and finish it off.

As for my Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, I usually gnaw off the sides of those all the way around...and then eat the middle. Somewhat similar. Never realized that till now.

And as for corn on the cob, I take random chomps here and there. not row by row, not around the cob...just wherever I can get a mouthful.

So how do you eat a pot pie? What are your strange eating habits?

And no one better answer, "Uh..huh huh...I can eat a whole packet of powdered cheese".

Posted 6:16 AM
Same idiot, same great taste

Fear regression.

I've talked about how much fun it's been to go back in time in the past couple of weeks. How sentimental things reviving youth can be very refreshing (you know, like a Junior Mint).

I may have changed my mind.

Notoriously stingy (insert religion joke here), I will jump at the opportunity to make a guaranteed buck. Or 5. Often, this meant I was 'dare guy'. 'I dare you to pinch that girl's a** and drive off...c'mon, I'll throw in 5 bucks! So will he! So will she!' How simple. I do something half-assinine, I get cash in hand. Easy concept.

You'd think you'd outgrow stunt-related peer pressure as you approach your upper 20s. You'd think wrong.

5 bucks was as great a motivator as any. I had no cash in my wallet. I wanted a hot dog and a beer. I remember some cheering and chanting and egging. But more than anything, I wondered what it would be like...what it would taste like...and if I could do it.

Insert: Woo-Doo: "Hey y'all, watch this!"

And that is why I chugged the packet of powdered cheese.

Yes, it was worth it.

No, I'll never do it again.

Well, maybe if you sweeten the pot to 20 bucks I would....

Fear regression.