Yesterday I began wondering if I’d been conceived on the wrong side of the bed. I woke up furious, and was somehow able to maintain it for most of the day. I wasn’t making a conscious effort in that direction, mind you, but the anger usually fades; I don’t generally hang on to it for extended periods.
But when I went to work (hours after I’d gotten out of bed angry) I saw that a pen was missing from my desk, and almost lost my shit over it. “Every day!” I roared, like a maniac. “Every single day I come here, and someone has taken things from my desk. This is not a commune! PEOPLE NEED TO KEEP THEIR BOOGER-HOOKS OFF MY STUFF!!”
I’d had enough of the drudgery, where every single (groundhog) day is exactly the same. I hadn’t had a day off in a long time, and the whole world was pissing me off. But, after an hour or two I settled into it and things got slightly better. By midnight, though, I was physically exhausted to the point of almost needing to barf.
I was given the option of working this weekend, and was considering it. But following my unstable Wednesday, I decided to decline. Unless I receive an emergency phone call, I’ll be off until Sunday afternoon. And it’s a welcome break. I was starting to feel like one of those Chinese women who live inside in the iPhone work camp.
This morning I got up and polished off half a pot of coffee, while monkeying around on the internet. Then I started to write this update, but my heart wasn’t in it. So, I went out for a while. I have very little interaction with the real world these days, and just a quick walk around Sam’s Club feels like a Myrtle Beach vacation to me. It’s a sad state of affairs.
I had lunch at Moe’s, and my Joey Bag o’ Donuts burrito was expertly rendered. The ingredients were distributed evenly, and there was nothing dripping out the bottom, or anything of the sort. I wanted to give my regards to the “chef,” but she was a 17 year old hipster girl with an edge, and I knew she’d just stare back at me with silent contempt.
Then I went to Best Buy and purchased the new Van Halen CD. I can’t remember when I last bought an actual compact disc, but it’s probably been a year. Maybe more. I started feeling a bit nostalgic as I removed the shrinkwrap, and peeled off the topspine sticker. Ahhh… sweet memories. The only thing that could’ve made it better would’ve been a cardboard “longbox.”
I decided to buy the CD, because Best Buy has it for $9.99, which is roughly the same price as the download. And I can easily play the disc in my pre-iPod-era car.
I went in there prepared for the litany of questions a Best Buy cashier will unleash on yo’ ass. They always want to know my zip code, my email address, if I want to buy magazine subscriptions(?!), if I have a Best Buy card, etc. It’s almost as bad as the post office. But I only got the Best Buy card question, and a half-hearted follow-up on the same subject. She could tell I was in no mood for an interview, so the script was quickly abandoned and I was sent on my weirdo way.
As I peeled my disc beside the trash can outside the front door, I thought: “Huh, an old fashioned jewel case, too. I bet it would’ve been a pretentious digipak if Sammy were still in the band…” And I stand by that assessment.
I’ve only listened to half of it once, and it sounds pretty rockin’. I’m an unapologetic fan of the David Lee Roth-era Van Halen, and was looking forward to this album. I will be living with it over the next few days, and will let you know my opinion next week. Do you have one yet? An opinion on the record, I mean? Tell us about it in the comments.
And you know what else I’m kinda digging? The new show called Alcatraz. It’s admittedly not the greatest thing in the world, but it’s entertaining and we all four watch it on Thursday nights. I’m not sure what night it actually airs, but it’s always on the DVR waiting for us, every Thursday.
Are you watching Alcatraz? Any thoughts?
And on that note… let’s go with a positive Question of the Day. In the comments section, please tell us what’s making you happy these days. What’s your escape from the drudgery, in February 2012? Please bring us up to date on it.
And I’m going to go make a salad now, to go with dinner. Then I’m going to put on my “fat pants,” free-fall into a couch, and start workin’ the remote. Yes, there’s nothing like decompression…
I’ll see you guys next time.
Have a great weekend!
Now playing in the bunker
Treat yourself at Amazon: US and Canada
Good day, my friends.
I like food.
I decompressed a few minutes ago and one of my co-workers hollered “eeeewwwwww GROSSSSSS”.
I was ready to drop the show – but I guess I will check it out some more. They are trying to do another LOST (some of the same people) – but that ain’t going to happen.
My happiness revolves around gadgets these days. I have a waterproof cd player and radio in the shower, my iPad beside the bed, my car hooks up to my iPod for music or audio books – when I’m not listening to the satellite radio. And it goes on and on. I recently bought a tiny fridge that sits beside my bed. Everything is designed for maximum laziness and to fight off boredom. The only thing we don’t have is a wii or an xbox or anything like that. I just can’t bring myself to get a game thingy because I’m sure it’s all I’d do after a while.
Mardi Gras is a week from Tuesday. Wooohooo!!!
Happy to have a new combo to play drums for….first gig out tomorrow night
We had a guy that always bitched about people taking things from his desk.
After we used an entire role of duct tape to secure hislunchtime burrito to his chair he complained a lot less.
It’s tough to be happy in February. We’ve got a family birthday coming up though, and that should lighten the mood some.
C’mon Spring!
I like Alcatraz.
Up to this point they are only touching on a big grandiose story arc a little bit.
I prefer the villain of the week type of program. I don’t have time to keep up with a new show every week and if I miss one I’m screwed until it comes out on Netflix.
As long as they keep the creature of the week feature, I’ll be keeping an eye out for it.
I’m happy a lot these days. Adventure Time and Regular Show make me happy. Mindless car restoration shows on Velocity make me happy. My long-suffering lady, Mel, makes me happy. Finally getting around to fixing up the house makes me happy. The fact that two of my friends are now drawing Dick Tracy and The Phantom makes me happy. Getting to hear live music of all kinds makes me happy. The pending return of Captain Action makes me happy.
But mostly, the thing that makes me happy is…Uncle Grandpa!
http://youtu.be/-LvIG7MDSys
Good Morning!
Uncle Grandpa was good!
This makes me happy…
http://www.timeanddate.com/counters/fullscreen.html?mode=a&year=2012&month=04&day=05&hour=16&min=10&p0=414
Opening Day in the Nati!
I watched the first Alcatraz, which is aired Mondays at 9, liked what I saw but I keep forgetting about it. I’ll probably wait until it comes out on DVD, if it continues to get good reviews.
I’m hearing good things about the Van Halen CD.
My wireless gadgets and copious amounts of Bombay and Canada Dry Tonic. Daily.
What makes me happy these days? The childrens.
Son looks like he will be a Navy SEAL, after all
Daughter is FINALLY in Club Volleyball .. superstar
“gone git a scholarship”
.. and until they force us out, I can still walk to the beach.
I’m finally at a job that makes me happy. I love the folks I work with and I love what I do (historic preservation, by the way).
And to liven your day, I bought you a pitcher of fancy-ass microbrew in honor of our tenth anniversary together. Enjoy! xoxoxo aileen in jackson ms (formerly aileen in tampa, aileen in virginia, aileen in mobile, etc, etc, etc)
Thanks, Aileen! And congratulations.
My new bottle of 5-hydroxy tryptophan makes me happy. Plus some St. John’s wort. mmmm.
Not a lot makes me happy. I’m in a serious funk and would like to kick my own ass out of it but lately I just can’t. I’ve been consuming WAY too much alcohol (and for me to admit that means that I have probably been consuming WAY too much alcohol) & have just generally been feeling sorry for myself.
I just got over a bout with breast cancer that had me knocked on my butt for a while. I have a good paying job that I should be grateful for, but I’m bored out of my head and have no room for advancement, so I’m bummed about that. Then last night my boyfriend, who is uninsured just told me he received results from a mole removal he had to have done a month ago came back with bad carcinoma cells so the doctor he is paying cash to wants him to immediately come in for more checkups and possibly medication. Wonderful.
But, I’m breathing, I have a house, two dogs, two rats, 7 fish and a great guy who isn’t as scared for his own health as I am. As I said before, I have a good paying job and I have Jeff Kay to lighten my days. So for that I’m happy and ready for whatever comes. Oh, and I have Jason’s facebook posts to always look forward to. If you aren’t his friend, become one, because the shit he posts is priceless.
God Melissa, so sorry to hear about the fucking cancer. Keep your head up. I hope things turn around soon. I’m unemployed at the moment, we’re living on my savings which should last us another two days, roughly. And i’vebeen drunk for 15 years, pretty much.
When I got my job I was literally about 2 weeks from flat broke.
Between July and now I’ve seen $26,000 go away for bills, drinking, rehab, power tools, etc, and one big ass $10,000 stock market loss.
Melissa…think positive thoughts…I’ve been there with both skin cancer and breast cancer. Sucks, but your frame of mind can make a difference in recovery time as well.
As far as the unemployment thing goes…I hear all of you on that one, also. I have $13.08 to my name. That is checking and savings combined. Have been fighting/appealing for unemployment funds that were supposed to be direct deposited 1/27. Then, 2/6. Now, they are saying 2/15. New job’s first paycheck is NEXT Friday, and I have not paid my February rent yet. Yep, trying to THINK POSITIVE…again.
P.S. I LOVE my new job…that is a huge plus, right?!
Melissa: I cannot imagine what the breast cancer diagnosis does to a woman’s psyche. The women who come through our office for breast reconstruction are brave and resilient. It’s quite an amazing journey from diagnosis through reconstruction through the final phase of the nipple tattooing. I don’t know where you are within that “journey”, but I wish you all the best and sending you positive thoughts. And I agree…coming here everyday is a huge help.
Melissa,
Breast cancer runs in my family, so I have witnessed your fight.
Sending BIG positive thoughts to you.
Oh, and melissa. Fuck cancer.
Melissa, one of my closest friends went through what you’re going through – and she’s now 7 years free! All best wishes for you.
My dad actually went through breast cancer. They had to remove the tumor, including his right nipple. He said “hell, they might as well have taken the other one too, it ain’t like I need it”. He has also beaten colon cancer and has had quadruple bypass surgery and both carotid arteries roto-rootered clean. He turns 82 in April and we’re fortunate to still have him.
Heres hoping things turn for the better soon for you two.
I’m hoping for the best for you and your BF.
Employment. I’m not happy about the move. But I’m happy to have a job and cheap land where I can build tiny ass houses for me and my cats.
http://www.tumbleweedhouses.com/houses/loring/
That’s fucking awesome!
Happy? Nope! Only brutal desert hikes and assholic amounts of Jim Beam keep me afloat.
I like Alcatraz it’s like a good story arc on the X-files. I am not 100% on Sam Neill he’s a little too Damien [Omen III] and not enough Alan from Jurassic Park. I hope it has a enough of a following to keep it going and it just doesn’t end abruptly like Freaky Links and Lone Gunman
Agree with you on the EVH-Diamond Dave era.
Turn the lights on *bright* in your house now & then. You may have a touch of S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder – oh yes, it is real.) Load up on the vitamin D as well.
As far as current movie/TV scene goes, the vampires & Twilight crap is great… if you’re, say, 10 years old. C’mon, man.
Right now, IMHO, the ruling-est show on TV is Justified. And “Luck” also looks very promising.
I’ll leave on a cheery note: for those of you who are having an ultra-mild winter (like me), not to worry; we’re going to have our asses handed to us in March, I just know it.
Today’s quote from the late, great Richard Jeni, on weather: “Let’s go to the radar my ass; let’s go to the freakin’ window!”
Uncle Buzz got it right. Justified is THE show!.Tim Oliphant was great in Deadwood and even better in Justified.
Another agree-er here…Justified is one of the three highlights of my tv week, the other two being the Walking Dead and the Big Bang Theory.
I just killed a gallon of high test milk and I feel great !
I only saw the first “Luck” I should record the series.
And I’m anxiously waiting Season 3 of Boardwalk Empire.
Happy? I’m employed. My car is paid for. I had a kickass Cuban Sammidge for dinner. I have a kickass single-malt Scotch in my hand as we speak. Life could be a lot worse.
.
Well said, chill.
Our new kitty cat we rescued 2 weeks ago makes me happy. Especially that he is getting along fairly well with the other 3 psycho cats we have.
I’m quite happy with the amount of guns I have right now (though one or three or ten more wouldn’t hurt). I have a great job that keeps me busy, my college schedule is easy, and I’m less fat than I was a year ago. I have a truck that runs nicely and currently has more than 20 gallons of fuel in it, and a house that will be paid off before I turn 35. My girlfriend is amazing and my friends are all assholes (in a good way, though). So life is good. I’m digging life. I’m finally hitting my stride and if I hit the powerball this weekend, I’ll do something awesome-r.
Making me happy was taking a shit. I had the stomach virus thing going around here which led to an obstructed bowel and a three day hospital stay.
Hated everything about staying in the hospital. Especially my 70 year old looking, but only 48 year old roomate who is a diabetic, alcoholic, hypertensive fucking bitching machine who thought he was staying at the Ritz. Of course, his stay was all thanks to our tax dollars.
Not a fan of the nasal gastric tube. FINALLY took a shit after five days. On the plus side, I dropped 27 lbs.
Wow, Phil Jett. Hope you’re back to semi-normal soon! Power to the Poop!
I was in the hospital for a week back in 99 (tracheotomy sp?) and my neighbor, old old guy kept trying to pull out his catheter. Saw some old balls that week. Old balls. Fascinating. Rabbits.
Damn dude! I bet you cracked porcelain with that five-dayer!
Like the spray from a garden hose nozzle..
Mr. Moo and I have discovered Geocaching. It gets us off of our butts and out the door on the weekends and soothes the outdoorsman and the nerd in both of us. You can’t lose with puzzles, secret treasure and great scenery. We have been having a blast and it is defininely an enjoyable escape from the drudgery!
Unfortunately, I’ve had a bad case of the “blues” this week. Especially last night. Went to the local hole for wings. I definitely wasn’t in the mood for drunken jackassery. So I ate 3 out of a dozen wings and left. Those wings didn’t taste as good as I thought they would. I left the boyfriend there. Wasn’t in the mood for his drunken bullshit either. Went home and went right to bed…at 8PM. I feel much better today. Although still not completely out of the slump. Maybe I need more light too. Who knows.
But…it’s Friday and that gives my mood a little lift. That means I can work on some jewelry projects that I’m behind on. One of my favorite things to do.
Cheer up, damnit !!
You could need more light. Or a decent dozen wings. Nothing can piss me off than ordering food, patiently waiitng, PAYING for and then getting something medicore.
one day at a time… one day at a time…
Hey y’all. Anyone play words with friends?
All the time t-storm. Wanna play?
yes, how do we do this?
Are you playing on your phone? I think my username is carolyn0328.
and go!
That is another thing that makes me happy, I don’t know how I lived without an iPhone!
Don’t know if you guys will see this, but I’ll start a game too! (Look for MelissaTheConfused!)
I’m generaly a happy person. What used to piss me off merely amuses me lately. Except for this:
Have you ever hated a person just because of the car he drives and/or the way they drive it? Someone tailgating me is an asshole. If they’re in a BMW – double douchbag asshole.
I’m happy my cat seems to be on the mend. She’s still all bangd up looking but she seems happy and content. I’m happy Beloved is a fantatsic cook and one of the most thoughtful people ever. I’m happy I’m employed and that we’re expecting a little snow tomorrow.
Damit, I’m just one giddy muthafucka, ain’t I?
What if I was behind you Madz with my BMW – Bifurcated Meat Wand?
Bowel Movement Wagon
Maybe I should have said “Anyone driving a $60,000 Plus car – automatic double douche asshole!” rather than just pick on BMW owners/leasees.
For real. My Special Nemesis Vehicle, the auto-hated auto, is the Cadillac Escalade. Well, Hummers too.
And most BMWs are under $60k, but I grant you too many people buy them for the wrong reasons.
.
Big Mouth Wacko
ill be happy when i get my tax refund check
Every single day of my life I have remaining makes me happy. I love my job, I love my co-workers, I love my wife…but sometimes want to strangle my daughters.
I like it that I have a half dozen friends who can come to my door and just walk in. One single guy in particular can just walk in and say to us at dinnertime and say, “Can you feed me?” He is more than a friend, he is like my wife and my oldest son, and our daughter’s big brother.
I’m also happy that it is no longer 40 below zero. It’s into the 30s now, and after the big blizzard the snow has finally stopped after dumping over a foot of snow on us here in Nome. I’m also happy that the snowplow operater in my housing compound actually plowed by my house yesterday.
I am unhappy about the price of fuel. Yikes, the Coast Guard broke ice for a Russian tanker a couple weeks ago to deliver 1.3 million gallons of fuel. Gas is $5.94 a gallon now, up from $5.43 before the new fuel shipment. Diesel is $6.19 a gallon…this is the first time that a gallon diesel is more expensive than a gallon of milk!
Has anyone heard from AngryWhiteGuy? I know he was going through some serious chit.
Angry, if oyu’re out there, stop in and say hello. Hope everything is going well with you.
While we’re at it, where the hell is Buck? Prolly out killin’, skinnin’, guttin’, tannin’, smokin’ and eatin’ something damned good !!
Funny, as a side business, Beloved and I have a smoke house/sausage kitchen that caters to sports clubs and hunters. Maybe Buck is a customer.
Buck – how are you liking the beer brats?
So you can make your own bifurcated meat wand!
Yeah – and if anyone asks – it tastes just like chicken!
If Xanax is not the answer, you asked the wrong question.
I don’t know – personally, I’m kinda partial to diazepam.
.
Xanax… I finally understood the allure of drugs after taking one before my snip-snip procedure. Told my girlfriend at the time to make sure I never took it again. Waaayyy too nice, that Xanax.
I really don’t have much to complain about except that I’m freezing my TITS off in Northern Italy. Currently, the fireplace is making me happy. I am hoping Spring will make me happy real soon.
Happy Friday, Surfers!
I turned 50 today. five zero. It’s like a bad dream, like I’m refering to someone else who is old. Hell I haven’t even grown up yet. I keep telling myself it’s good to still be around to have more birthdays.
And I saw the first blooming daffodils of the year last week, so spring should be coming soon. And, um, lets see – baseball season is only eight weeks away. That’s all I got.
Hey, congrats and welcome to the Geezer Club. I think “old” means “15 years older than I am”. I distinctly remember 35 seeming old when I was 20.
A related question: How much younger does someone else have to be, before you can refer to them as “kid”?
.
I call people kid no mattervtheir age.
I’ve got a chance to turn 60 in October. That is the start of the long slow slide into the Void.
You’re good kid, real good. But as long as I’m around you’re second best. And that’s something you’ll just have to get used to.
happiness is finding out last week that i am eligable to retire in june this yr instead of dec
sucky job
got countdown to my amf [adios mother.. well u get drift] day
coworkers are even more happy than me about my amf day
go figgure
Jeff…
Thanks for the Butch Walker doc info. That makes me happy.
jtb
To Jeff and many others here,
I totally sympathize wtih you. I’m in a grumpy ass mood most days now, and I too have taken to drinking a bit too much for my own comfort.
Being a) unemployed, b) 52 years old, c) overweight and d) balding severely will do that to a person. And I was laid off because the company thinks I’m too old to sell software any more.
Add to that I recently started going to the Y during the day, and every time I start working out again two things happen a) i get REAL sick within a week (had that a few weeks ago) and b) my waistline actually EXPANDS a few inches (i cannot figure out this phenomonen, but it pisses me off royally).
right now, an old Statler Brothers song is running thru my head (No I’m NOT a country music fan, but my dad was and dammit, thats what we had to listen to when I was a kid). I think I have issues.
counting flowers on the wall, that don’t bother me at all
playing solitaire till dawn, with a deck of fifty one
Smoking cigarettes and watching Captain Kangaroo
now don’t tell me I’ve nothing to do!
Judy Garland died at 47. If you are interested in the paralells, and can stand seeing a terrific singer on TV fucked up on alcohol and who-knows-what-else, check out both parts of this interview with Jack Paar.
If you don’t know Jack Paar, just hum a few bars of “The Man That Got Away” and let it go at that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pxcw1tPwht0&feature=related
jtb
And a bonus track…Judy in only slightly happier days singing “Stormy Weather”. There have probably been better torch singers, but none come to mind.
jtb
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCqzt3AKo5k&feature=related
I can’t think of any better ones either. Does this mean we’re gay, jtb?
Aw crap…I’m a miiserable fuckhead who is deeply impaled on the on the recieving end of life’s fierce-fucking. It’s like getting a grudge fuck from an ex. (oh wait…huh?). On the up side?…I only shit my pants twice this week and peed in them once. I also no longer feel the need to masturbate during casual conversation.
** I’m in a Motel 6 west of Pokeafellow, Idahoe. It’s cold, damp and light snow/ sleet adds to the days misery. Thers’s a Texas Roadhouse about 1/2 mile from here and I’m thinking about walking there after my laundry is done. Was told to get the prime rib..but I’m a rib eye kinda guy. If I pick one over the other I’ll regret my choice and all the whlile think I should have ordered the other thing. I’m never happy. Never!
Sold the last TV I had. Realized staring at clock radio is quite a bit like watching American Idol.
My company sells and installs high end display systems. We even get a very good employee discount, but I have a late 1990s vintage 25-inch tube TV from Costco. The cobbler’s children have no shoes.
.
Chuck! You’re in Belpre! If I didn’t have my big screen high def TV, I’d lose my mind! I’m can’t wait for the next Actor’s Guild performance for entertainment. I’d lose my mind!
I have a Toshiba in my storage unit. Just gotta get a converter box. All I ever watch is local crime reports…I mean local news and some stuff on PBS.
Chuck,
Every time American Idol or any show with a name that starts, “The Real Housewives of…” airs, an angel kicks Edward R. Murrow in the balls at his request. He took all that shit from that drunk dick Senator McCarthy for THIS SHIT?
Good night and good luck.
jtb
Wait- some people are happy? Name one.