And Away We Go

Ok, heads up...I'm taking a hiatus. I know I know, I just wrote a ton, and now I'm leaving again.

Well, I'll be back, so hold tight!

I'm going to Vegas for the New Year.  Should be fun!  I'll make sure to explain it all when I get back.

Happy New Year everyone!

Where's the Glue?

Dammit.

God Damn Kids

They just look at you like you have two heads.

Are you kidding me? Look at this god damned mess!

"Whoops" "Sorry." "Won't happen again."

Where the hell am I supposed to put all this?!

Serioulsy? How hard is it?

How hard is it to remember to wipe your feet before you come inside?

Fuckin' kids.

Darkness Chittering Away

It was eerie. Enough that if you were walking alone through the trees, down the meandering path, you'd certainly pick up your pace. Hurrying to get out of the darkness and into the light. Any light. Some light. But, it wasn't eerie enough to make your fear for your life. No, it wasn't that eerie.

It was the right level of eerie. The amount that would cause the hair on the back of your neck to raise up. Stand tall against your skin. It was the kind of spooky that would cause you to think it was cold enough to see your breath in the shafts of moonlight breaking through the tree limbs, even when its not. It's healthy. It makes you breath deeper. Your blood pumps faster, harder, circulating your your body to keep the nervous shivers away. It wasn't that scary.

The wind ran through the trees, flowing like an invisible river, howling as it strained against the dead birch, maple, and oak standing in its way. Leaves clung on to dried out, creaking branches, hoping not to be swept away.

The creatures were busy, scurrying amongst the fallen leaves, kicking up loose soil and snapping twigs. Lightning bugs flicker on and off lazily in the late night fog, reminding you that beyond the haze was something unseen.

Was the noise coming from behind you? In front of you? To your side? It was everywhere.

In the distance, a loon called, echoing amongst the barren woods. It felt as if it was calling towards you, at you.

Was the loon crying or laughing?

It's been a while

I know, I know, I relapsed, but give me a break!  It's been the holidays and I'm theoretically supposed to be on break, hence, not writing, not working, not doing anything.

But nooo, i have to come into work for 8 hrs a day and sit here, doing nothing, while the rest of the industry is dead.

Literally. Nothing. I do nothing all day. It's super boring. Time passes slow. Not fun.

Oh well, I guess I could write something in the mean time...

Tall

He wasn't scared. He wasn't nervous. He just felt insignificant in the lazy fog surrounding him.

He was walking amongst giants.

OMG

This is nuts. I saw this video awhile ago and thought I posted it - but apparently I did not.

Here is more OK Go being awesomely creative.

And yes. This video is "real." Animated completely with toast.

Seasons Greetings

This is the turn they met on. It's seemingly normal. Simple. Curved.

It isn't out of the ordinary, this particular curve, but rather common. The Korean subway corporation runs 199 trains a day, traveling through 115 stations, on 4 different lines. What is uncommon, is that amongst the 3,879,000 passengers that use the subway each day, these two met, at this spot and quickly became enthralled with one another.

He was standing alone, looking at his feet, wondering why his darn shoe laces kept untying themselves. His hair stuck out, greasy from a long night of tossing and turning in his sleep, unwashed as he slept through his first two alarms.

She stood behind him, alone - watching this peculiar fellow as he bent over, staring admirably at his shoes. She couldn't tell if he was cute, but by his mannerisms, she hoped he was. She liked him already. It didn't matter what he looked like from the front. She was sold.

He had seen her before. He was sure of it. Positive. She always took this train every first and third Tuesday and Wednesday of the month.

He was a fan. Her clothes were never in style. He adored her braces and her hesitant smile. She was awkward. She was perfect.

Missed Opportunity

God dammit!

I missed my opportunity! Today was crap. A ton of errands, a ton of driving, numerous Xmas gift deliveries - some of which had the wrong address - and a lot of being yanked around. AKA being told to do something, to drive somewhere, then once I would reach there, I'd get a call telling me to "never mind" and come back.

What could have made to day better? Saved it?

A free Foo Fighter's concert. Yes, that's right, they are currently performing (as I write this) in LA, FOR FREE.

Wtf. I saw the add for it on their website, to win "tickets to a free secret show." So, logically, what did I do? I applied. Unfortunately, I was not one of the selected few.

I wish I could have gone - I knew the venue, but you needed a ticket.

Damn.

But, on a good note, this means that A) their new album is dropping soon  B) they are going on tour shortly  C) with a tour beginning, they will certainly be playing in LA again.

It's been almost three years since I've seen the Foo.

I don't know how much longer I can go without them in my life.

The sun rose over the smoking valley. All was barren. Scorched.

It wasn't mist floating over the burnt grass, but smoke from the explosions that rocked the countryside. No one had seen it coming. The air raid sirens hadn't even sounded.

Everyone had been caught off guard - occupied with their daily lives. Now, there were a few left. Scrounging for supplies, unburying themselves from the rubble, searching for loved ones and others.

Fallout had begun.

Aside from the radiation beginning to fall, the diseases had begun to spread. The fires and shockwaves had destroyed to CDC, releasing everything ever collected and studied.

One lone tree stood in the middle of a pasture - its companions uprooted and destroyed.

Meek to the world surrounding it, the tree stands as a symbol of hope to those lucky enough to view it.

Neo!

Hot damn, celebrity sighting today!

Neo himself, Keanu Reeves!

He had his big ol' scruffy beard and everything. Yay for Keanu and his facial hair!

Dusting

It was comfortable. So comfortable. Beyond comfortable.

Warm and cozy. Soft and delicate. The blanket was her shell. It kept her safe from the air drifting in from under the windowsill.

She watched, as the world seemed to move in slow motion outside. It was hard for her to see anything. It was lost in the blur that was the wind, swirling.

She smiled, as the scent of chocolate wafted its way from the cup in her lap to her nose, guided by the curves of the blanket.

As the world disappeared in the snow outside, what could be a better companion that a cup of cocoa.

Tough

Sometimes life is tough. Too tough.

His mind was blank - thoughts absent. He was trying to focus, but he just couldn't. He was lost in the haze that had taken residence in his head.

He wasn't upset or confused. He was just unsure. Not at a crossroads, but a void. A blank canvas.

Did he want fish or chicken for dinner?

Times Up

I woke up here. It's cold. Dark, the walls are textureless, purple. The air is stale - sterile.

They caught me. And now I'm done. In twenty years, time travel has been created. But, it is highly illegal. As a result, only criminals use it - to their benefit of course.

I guess you can say I'm not a good guy. I am hired to kill people. My watch goes off, I go to a field, a loop opens up. Well, first I wait. I need to get there early. When it happens, a person appears, gagged, and blindfolded. I shoot them. I go on my way.

Let me explain - these people are from the future. By sending them back in time, whoever is responsible in the future is safe. The people disposed of, cannot be traced. No bodies in the future and if their bodies are found in my time (the past), the person doesn't exist theoretically. Perfect scenario to off people.

Today, someone came through the hole that I didn't expect. Me. From the future. How could I kill myself? I hesitated and he bolted.

My people have found me and I woke up here. I know they'll come through that door soon and it'll be over. I risked their business. They can't have that.

It's over.

Cool Moment

Well, it's a couple days late.

But a man has officially been cured of HIV.

How. Awesome. Is. That!

Thank god for stem cell research.

I Don't Mean to Offend

Ok, let me start off this blog with an apology. I know this post will offend someone, somewhere, out there, in the world. I'm apologizing ahead of time - "I'm sorry if I offended you."

I certainly don't mean to, if I do, but I need to point this out, because, well, I think it's absolutely hysterical.

This post is all about a movie poster. It's great advertisement, but not in the way you'd expect. It's, um, a little...hm...

Well, here it is, we'll discuss after you see it (make sure you click it to see it in its full, awesome glory)

Please tell me you see it right? I really don't know what Warner Bros. was thinking.

Did they just miss it or did they leave the poster as it is on purpose? So little kids would love it, but anyone older than 15 would giggle at it.

If you don't get what I'm talking about...it's one of the most homosexual posters I have ever seen, as unintentional as it may be!

Look at how Yogi and BooBoo are standing. Then look at their facial expressions.

THEN...look at the slogan on the bottom of the poster!

Holy. Shit. This is like pornography - in a completely hilarious way. I really don't know how this poster made it through Warner Bros. without being flagged or stopped. I salute whoever let it pass into the public eye.

Hell, even the nose sticking out of the hole in the O in the title is homoerotic.

The huge smiles and glassy eyes will burn in my soul for the rest of eternity...  (and yes, this is a real poster).

And, for all those who think I'm in any way being negative to homosexuals, homosexuality,  their lifestyle, or choices, I am not.  I love them.

Hell, I'm a lesbian myself - I absolutely love women.

I Want To Go Here

Ok, so there is a valley in Austria, that is a national park throughout the year.

But...

In the spring, all the snow in the mountains melts and turns said valley, into a crystal clear, green lake.


Water Level 8.0 m from Alex.Be. on Vimeo.



How beautiful is that!? And sort of creepy...

Should Be Interesting

Well...

Tomorrow is the company X-Mas party. Should be interesting...

I'm allowed one guest and with Rob going to San Diego, Jordan (my other roomy), shall be accompanying me.

I'm not too sure what to expect, but I'm going to make it a good time, no matter what.

It's at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, with dinner served and open bars. It's a classy event, so Jordan and I will be dressing up. I may go classic, donning a black suit, white shirt, and black tie, but I may mix it up a bit, we'll see.

From what I hear, its the time where everyone in the company gets loose and lets their hair down. I'm excited to see some tipsy executives.

The best part of it all? Free cab vouchers. Rather than go, drink, and pay more that $40 bucks to get home, we will be brought home via Trailer Park.

Yay!

I'll keep you up to speed as the madness ensues!

Looking Out

Ugh, god, what horrid beasts they are. Awkward. Floating around like they own the place.Hah! Sucks to be them.

It's kind of fun to mess with them. Go up to the glass and touch it. Most times they'll come over and just sit there, staring. Stupid animals, with their big glassy eyes and blank expressions. Yeah, I see you, do you see me? I'm looking at you, thats right, what of it. You going to hurt me? Haha you couldn't last out here. You'd just flounder around, flailing, out of your element.

Wait a minute. I think it just hit me. Son of a bitch! We're the ones getting played! We couldn't make it over there, on their side of the glass. I never thought of it before, think about it - there are so many of them, all the time, just looking, pointing, giggling, smacking the glass. God damn, it scares me every time!

They at least get to leave too! I wonder whats outside of that room. Wait, is there something outside of this tank? This "ocean" that we call home? Let's not kid ourselves here, this is a tank. Not a sea, an ocean, a bay, hell, it's not even a pond. At least those are in the wild.

Wow, I'm a fish. Just a boring, stupid old fish. Is there even anything to live for anymore? Yeah, I got Gil, A Finny, and Sammy the Salmon, but honestly, we swim in our own piss! Gawd, that's just nasty!

Maybe I'll end it tomorrow. Swim as fast as I can into the glass and break it, drown those annoying school kids, who rap on the glass and make funny faces at us. Imagine their surprise as the glass wall breaks, flooding the room and drowning them. Haha, they'd be to busy picking their noses to suspect anything.

Shit, this glass looks tough.

Oh well, if I can't break it, I'll just swim into the filter. Get sucked up there and rot.

Christmas Disaster

Watch the video below to see kids get their holiday hopes and dreams crushed.




Good ol' Rudolph took one right between the eyes!




He sure got owned.

Blue Planet

He had to keep going. There was no other way out, yet he was drawn deeper and deeper into the abyss, like a moth to  a flame - helpless.

It was down there. Somewhere in the cold blue, between the jagged rocks. Waiting for him. He needed to find it, reach it, face it.

The tank was almost empty. His breaths were starting to become labored, pulling out whatever oxygen was left in the polished steel container. His hands were pruning, feet numb, legs cramping from exhaustion. He wasn't sure if he would make it, but as long as there was air in the tank and the flashlight kept showing him the way, he would continue.

It's when the light died that the true trouble would begin.

SJ is Here!!!!

Congratulations to Sonny and Melanie for the birth of their beautiful 8lb baby boy, SJ!

I'm so happy for you!

Below the Surface

How did he end up here? He couldn't remember. It was cold. He was pretty sure he was shivering. His ears were ringings, not from a loud noise, but from the cold, the wet, draining cold that was enveloping him.

He needed to get out of wherever he was.

Opening his eyes was tough. Every time he tried, they burned. They wanted to open, to know where he was, if he was with anyone, but at the same time, they refused. It hurt. Too much.

He tried to say something, but he was shivering too much to open his mouth. The damn cold. It has a way of controlling you. Taking you over. Rendering you useless.

He had to pull it together. Wherever he was, he couldn't breath. His lungs were burning, filling with spent air, the carbon dioxide was itching to be released. His chest felt like it was ready to burst - his life was ready to leave his body, evaporate into the air around him, disappear, just like he would, never to be fond again.

He flailed a bit. Nothing was around him. It was as if he was falling in slow motion. He was moving as quickly as he could, but it felt as if he was going no where.

That's when it happened. His hand brushed something. It brushed her. Her hand. Drifting there, soft, frozen, delicate, wrinkled. It all flooded back to him in an instance.

The walk in the woods. The snow falling around them, slow and gentle. The kind that would dust your face if you were to look up in awe at its beauty, as it drifted down to the ground, delicate like hundreds of tiny dancers.

Today was the day. The proposal. He loved her, loved them, their life. It was ready to ask her. Winter was her favorite time, white her favorite color. She loved the quiet of winter, the breeze as it plays through the limbs of the barren trees. It was perfect.

She insisted it'd be fun to make snow angels. That the ice was thick enough. That making a snow angel on a lake was like no other snow angel he had made before. Once made, you could turn over and see into the water like a window. She swore the water was crystal clear, purified by the low temperatures.

He agreed. That's when it happened.

She giggled and ran to the middle of the lake, sliding onto her back, flailing her arms and legs out, enjoying every second of it.

He was about to step onto the ice when he heard the hollow, deep, echo rifle from below the surface. She sat up and looked at him. Both there eyes were wide.

And just like that, she was gone.

He ran, as fast as he could, faster than he ever had.

His eyes screamed as he opened his eyes. The icy water burned as he scanned for her hand. Seeing it through the crystal blue water, he grabbed it. His lungs were still burning. His skin felt like it was melting off. He couldn't see the hole in the ice. His clothes were heavy. So were hers. He wasn't sure if there were going to make it out.

Leading with his free hand, it broke the surface. The air immediately set to work freezing the exposed cloth and skin.

He dragged her out, to the edge of the lake. His took his jacket off, placed it around her, rubber her. Shook her. Spoke to her.

She was a light blue. Lips pale, eyes closed. He kept rubbing, kept shaking, kept pleading.

This couldn't be happening. He yelled for him, for someone to come with a blanket, a fire, a ride to safety. His voice just left with the wind, lost amongst the barren trees of the wintery forest.

He hugged her and began to cry. Rubbing her shoulders, her face, her whole body. He kept peeling his clothes off, wrapping her in them. Hoping he'd see some movement, some sign of life.

Nothing.

He fell onto her, sobbing, his face against her shoulder. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out the box, opened it, and slid the ring on her finger.

He laid there, pouring himself out, when he heard a slight wheeze, followed by a couch, and water hitting the side of his face.

Sitting up, he saw her eyes were barely open, with her hand raised in the air.

"What's this," she murmured.

He smiled back, "us."

Change to Reinvent

I love when things are reinvented. When people reinvent themselves.

Many, I find this happening in films, sports, or bands. Look at Andy Roddick, when from a serve and forehand only young kid, to an all court player, who comes to the net as much as he stays back. Or, if you don't know much tennis, how about the Foo Fighters. David Grohl started the band shortly after Nirvana disbanded and began as a semi-grunge band, quickly turning into a rock band, then for an album a heavy rock band, then an acoustic mellow band, then right back to solid rock. Awesome.

It's interesting to watch bands evolve - everyone does it at some point, The Beatles, Bowie, hell, even Brittany Spears.

Anyway, to get back to where I was going with this, I talked about going to a concert this past weekend and one particular part of it stuck out for me (I saw OK Go). They have this song "Return" which is a magnificent piece of lyrical writing, full of moving verses and deep meaning, but it also has eerily beautiful and hypnotizing harmonies.

All in all it's a great song. Bottom line. Top of the top, best of the best.

Here it is in its glory:



Great right? Well - it gets better. In the middle of the concert, the band walked off stage, taking off their instruments as they went. Of course I was like..."umm this can't be close to over, what gives?" Very quickly, they ran - well, I guess walked back on stage carrying a huge table with shiny metal objects on it. All of the members of the band then proceeded to put on white gloves and grab hold of the objects in front of them on the table.

If you guessed it, you are right, they picked up church handbells. 


I was not prepared for what ensued. One of possibly, the most beautiful renditions of a song I have ever witnessed or heard.

While it is not the actual video from the concert, this is them performing it.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.  Make sure you turn up your volume, it's a little quiet.



Staggering. In a good way.

This band already does so much - great performances, insanely creative music videos, now a rock song played live, on handbells - which may even sound better.

Congratulations OK Go, you've successfully reinvented yourselves...again.

Pajama Man

Today was a normal day. Nothing too exciting about it.

I got some tapes from Fox, some champagne, cupcakes, a dvd, pretty much the usual.


I miss my friend Kevin, also known as Pajama man. In honor of him, I'll share two jokes.

Why did the monkey fall out of the tree?                    Cause it was dead.

What's brown and sticky?                                           A stick.

He likes those kinds of jokes - so you probably should too.

Here is a picture of Pajama man: