Published May 25th, 2010
in TOP SECRET.
It’s a beautiful spring week, I’m a relatively healthy young(ish) man, my car’s paid off, and I have some leftover pizza for lunch. Why do I feel so anxious? I have a lot going on at work, and that’s a contributing factor, but I can make it through that– I always do.
No, what has had me wringing my hands for a couple of days is a betrayal of trust that I incited. You might think it was nothing if I told you about it, but it really hurts me in retrospect. I hate it. It makes me mad at myself. I don’t really have any lessons learned to offer from this other than to follow your heart and your instincts, even if you have to say no to a friend.
They’ll get over it.
NP :: White Rabbits - “The Salesman”
Published May 24th, 2010
in Media.
Whatever you thought about last night, it was still the greatest thing on TV this decade.
Thanks for the memories, LOST.
Charlie, Hurley, Eko, Sawyer, Rose & ‘nard, and everyone else, you were the best.
NP :: Jason Isbell - “However Long”
Published April 12th, 2010
in Movies.
Many years overdue, I watched THE WRATH OF KHAN last night. It was pretty cool (I’m no STAR TREK fan,) but it was not the face-melting sci-fi epic that I’d been expecting based on the opinions of others. I stand by my decision to go see BAMBI when offered a choice of films in 1982; I loved me some cartoons.
Montalban is great, of course, and Shatner is Shatner. It is credited with “introducing” Kirstie Alley to the world, so fans of “HEY LOOK AT ME I’M KIRSTIE ALLEY AND I’M STILL ON TV!” over on The OxygenTime Network have this to thank, I guess (she was never my favorite part of “Cheers.”)
I will say that it’s a good looking film for 1982. Having not seen TRON at the time, I’m sure it was impressive enough. Certainly THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, appearing two years earlier, is miles beyond it, though, right? Right.
I believe THE SEARCH FOR SPOCK comes on HDNet sometime this week, and I might just record/watch that one, too. I honestly can’t remember if I’ve seen it or not. I KNOW we went to see THE VOYAGE HOME (Whales!) and I think maybe the one previous, but I’m not certain. Also missing from my memory banks: Did I ask to go see these early Trek films, or was my dad interested in them? He was no huge sci-fi afficianado later on, so I’m guessing that Young Gray was eager to check out ANYTHING involving spaceships.
I do hope he got to see a movie he liked once in a while. Our last trip to the theater together was REMEMBER THE TITANS, which he liked very much. Inspirational sports stories were usually a win for Mike Whitten. Thanks for putting up with everything else you might have taken me to, Daddy.
Published March 12th, 2010
in General.
In January!
I had a birthday. Turned 35, and rediscovered the joys of Teen Wolf.
In February!
I went to Florida to see a Space Shuttle launch (!!!), and saw a Led Zeppelin perform with a Foo Fighter and a Queen of the Stone Age.
In March!
Well, I don’t really have that much March under my belt as of yet, but the plan is to see the Harlem Globetrotters this weekend, so that’s pretty cool! Also, scored some tickets to the CoCo show!
How’s your year going, friend or stranger?
NP :: Chopin - Sonata #2 in B-Flat Minor for Piano, Op.35: I. Grave - Doppio Movimento
Published December 14th, 2009
in lists.
WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTS
Liz saying “Sharkfarts” on 30 Rock
Live Meatwad Christmas performance @ Criminal
Hangar steak + jalapeno mac & cheese @ PURE
LOST S1, D3 review w/ Melissa
Polenta pancakes @ Radial (BEST EVER?)
Made it out of Sand People enclave alive in KOTOR
Chicken pizza + a decent new Simpsons episode!
WEEKEND LOWLIGHTS
Working late Friday night
The Weather
Still behind on every project ever started
Had to come back to work today
NP :: The Bird and The Bee - “Diamond Dave”
Published December 11th, 2009
in Media.
I used to really enjoy coming up with random little posts. I guess that enthusiasm has mostly just been sapped by Tweeter and the fact that I can upload photos from anywhere. Still, there are plenty of ideas that can’t be squoze into 140 characters. Hopefully I’ll do a better job of throwing them up here from time to time. Or not.
Whatever the case, here’s a quick one.
Amusingly Appropriate Products I Heard Ads For While Listening To Conservative Talk Radio On XM During Drive Time:
Data backup software
Prostate care pills
Wang-enlargement pills (WITH free measuring device)
Hot flash treatment medication
Brandy! (the drink, not the fine girl)
The brandy really tickled me. That just doesn’t seem like something that needs to be advertised. You find a drink you like through word of mouth, or trial and error, and you stick with it. I guess if anyone knows their brandy, though, it’s someone who hosts a talk radio show (???).
I’m grasping at straws here, but I thought it was pretty funny. You couldn’t pick a beverage more closely associated with portly old guys smoking cigars in a secret back room if you tried!
Alright, back to the grind. Stay frosty, Internet.
Published November 18th, 2009
in Music and Atlanta.
Thanks to the kindness of The Internet and local merchants, I got to see three great musical acts last night FO’ FREE!
1) I’d been hearing some of The XX on XM (appropriate) for a few months, and definitely liked one of their singles. They played a show at 529 last night, but that sold out with a quickness. FORTUNATELY, the good folks at Criminal arranged for an in-store performance at 8pm. We got about a half-dozen songs from this British trio (recently minus a member), and they sounded really, really good. If you like quiet-ish Brit-pop with an edge of rock to it, check them out.
2) Justin Townes Earle was opening for Dan Auerbach at the Variety, so I entered Criminal’s ticket drawing, and won! I’m a pretty vocal supporter of JTE, having seen him a couple of times in the past. He’s sort of a modern-day version of Hank Williams, I guess? Tall, skinny, country– the voice definitely sounds like Williams to me, but the vocal mannerisms that contribute to that impression are probably not accidental. Anyway, he’s a great song-storyteller, and I recommend. You should buy his EP, Yuma.
3) I’m only a casual fan of The Black Keys, and I never did get that album they made with Dangermouse, but I like their sound. Dan’s the guitarist of the duo (and the primary singer, I guess?) His band, The Fast Five, includes a member of My Morning Jacket and some Weird Beard in a Man With No Name poncho who played the bongos with two maracas in each hand (I think he might have been there mostly for show.) Distractions aside, this band sounds good together, and they know how to rock a set. I didn’t know a single song they played, but it all made the Variety rumble with pleasant frequencies. Approve! Nice use of lighting, too.
So, big thanks to Criminal Records!
Who have you seen perform lately? Were they good?
NP :: Cannibal Ox - “The F Word”
Published October 12th, 2009
in Movies and Comics.
After I finished off the first disc of “The X-Files” Season 1 last night, I turned out the lights, and headed to sleep on the couch. Obviously I wanted to make my bed even less than I wanted to sleep in it.
Anyway, at some point in the wee hours, I had a pretty elaborate dream. Very detailed. I seemed to be on location for a movie shoot– somewhere outdoors for much of the dream, but occaionally inside. I’m pretty sure it was one of the middle volumes of The Chronicles of Narnia, but I couldn’t tell you which one right now without a plot reminder. There were child actors running around, I think, and they all seemed to know me at least a little bit. I didn’t bother them too much though– kinda stayed out of their way.
Here’s the more interesting (to me) part– a couple of my favorite comic book creators were there, just hanging out. Yep. Brian Michael Bendis (who looks kind of like Michael Chiklis) and Mark Texiera (who looks like I don’t know what, as I’ve never seen the guy) were there for who knows what reason, and we were talkin’ comics. It was cool.
I specifically remember trying to think of what my favorite TEX book would be near the end of the dream– I guess I wanted to get something autographed before I left.
In conclusion, this is what happens when you spend all afternoon reading funny comics on the porch, and then eat dry shredded wheats and a fruit bar for supper, I guess?
How was your weekend? I went to a Mexican birthday party, and saw Big Trouble In Little China.
NP :: Silversun Pickups - “Sort Of”
Published October 8th, 2009
in Food, Social, Music and Atlanta.
I must admit, this weather is pretty comfortable. As you may know, I’m all about “not being cold,” for the most part. I prefer warmer weather. Do not enjoy shivering. This is a very nice compromise of temperatures we’re enjoying, though.
Pretty big week so far– Ashley and friends visited, we ate some tasty foods, I finally got to try a Coke Freestyle machine (!), we saw U2 and Muse at the Georgia Dome, and I’ve even gotten some work done along the way. My place it a bit cleaner thanks to the threat of company, and I’ve almost got the computer situation figured out, I think.
OH, and we finally checked out The Biscuit Barn up by my mom’s place. As expected, they make some pretty tasty biscuits. Would eat again.
How goes your life, Internet?
NP :: Alice in Chains - “Got Me Wrong”
Published September 25th, 2009
in General.
Hey, gang.
Not the greatest day ever, but I made it through.
Earlier in the week, I was expecting today to be CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION. I had a new computer on the way, you see. I’ve been scraping along on this ol’ Dell for nigh on six years now, and it’s time for an UPGRAYEDD.
I had recently asked one of my most hardware-savvy friends for system recs, and he sent me one– a suggested Dell and a pretty decent/cheap video card that would rock the games I wanted. I didn’t pay enough attention to the config before I hit PURCHASE, though, and realized too late that the card wouldn’t fit that PC. Awesome. Doubly awesome (not) because I’d shared the recommendation with a friend, and he’d ordered, too. Double-D’oh!
Well, boring story short, I found a video card that’ll work for friend, and I’m gonna just figure out an entire alternate system for myself (I refused shipment on my PC today). It’s no fun telling a friend that you guided them into a several hundred dollar mistake, though. I don’t recommend it.
Add all this stress to the fact that I didn’t get much to eat today during my 9+ hours at my desk, and ehhhh… not the best Thursday. I’ll recover, though.
- - -
Checked out Harry Shearer’s SILENT ECHO CHAMBER display at The Contemporary on the way home. Very amusing to stand and watch for 10 minutes or so. Eager to see him speak in a couple of weeks.
Well, at least I got a bit of exercise and a reasonably healthy dinner and some MUST SEE TV out of the evening.
Here’s to hopin’ to a good Friday.