My long work-end is over. I now have the next two days off.
I know I made it sound absolutely horrible, but working this weekend wasn't all that bad. But it was pretty boring. So boring, that I decided to take pictures of work. This is my shop. Normally, all the trucks aren't around because they're out on jobs.
This is the inside of my shop.
This is one of many wells on base, and one of my major responsibilities. It doesn't look like much, but it goes into the ground about 700 feet. It's a great job made even better by working with a great crew. The absence of my co-worker is what made this weekend so dull. A lesser man would have taken extra-long lunches and surfed the internet during downtime. Yes, I am that lesser man.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Monday, May 28, 2007
Memory Gospel
My Dad is a Vietnam Veteran. He served in the Air Force as an F-4 mechanic from 1965 to 1969. Though he did spend a good amount of time in Vietnam, most of his time overseas was spent in the Phillipines. When I was growing up, he rarely talked about his experiences over there. I saw a few pictures and heard a few stories, but most of them were rather lighthearted or humourous.
When I was 15, my parents and I took a summer vacation to Washington, DC. It was my first time there, and we were typical tourists, taking in as many historical attractions as we could. The day before we left, we went to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. I couldn't believe how big it was, bearing the names of all those people who died. There were several visitors that day, and the three of us got separated for a few minutes. I was wandering around, reading names, and looked up to see my Dad a few yards away. As I walked toward him, I saw his head was down. A big knot formed in my stomach. It was the only time I've ever seen him cry.
Being only 15, I didn't really know how to react. I just stood there, dumbfounded, and waited until Mom walked up. If I could go back to that time and place where my Father and I stood before that Wall, I would have hugged him and comforted him and held him until he stopped weeping. Even now, when I think about it, that same knot still forms in my stomach.
My Dad is also a big biker. Every year, he rides in a rally called Rolling Thunder, where bikers from all over the country ride to Washington, DC for Memorial Day weekend for various services, events, and a big parade. This year was no exception. He still has a hard time going to the Wall. He knew those men. They had families and hopes and dreams and lives. It doesn't matter anymore why they were there. Their names represent a wound in our history that is slowly healing. Just like my Dad.
When I was 15, my parents and I took a summer vacation to Washington, DC. It was my first time there, and we were typical tourists, taking in as many historical attractions as we could. The day before we left, we went to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. I couldn't believe how big it was, bearing the names of all those people who died. There were several visitors that day, and the three of us got separated for a few minutes. I was wandering around, reading names, and looked up to see my Dad a few yards away. As I walked toward him, I saw his head was down. A big knot formed in my stomach. It was the only time I've ever seen him cry.
Being only 15, I didn't really know how to react. I just stood there, dumbfounded, and waited until Mom walked up. If I could go back to that time and place where my Father and I stood before that Wall, I would have hugged him and comforted him and held him until he stopped weeping. Even now, when I think about it, that same knot still forms in my stomach.
My Dad is also a big biker. Every year, he rides in a rally called Rolling Thunder, where bikers from all over the country ride to Washington, DC for Memorial Day weekend for various services, events, and a big parade. This year was no exception. He still has a hard time going to the Wall. He knew those men. They had families and hopes and dreams and lives. It doesn't matter anymore why they were there. Their names represent a wound in our history that is slowly healing. Just like my Dad.
That's My DJ!
After the exhibit yesterday, I had dinner with Jonathan at a great little vegetarian Chinese restaurant. We then met up with Carrie, Emily, Tara, Chris, Taylor, Marty, and Gideon for the Girl Talk show at the Urban Lounge. I was a little reluctant to go to another late show since I've been working all weekend, but if you know anything about Girl Talk, you know it's not a show to be missed.
The opening act was a local band called The Vile Blue Shades, an 11(!)-piece band which included three drummers and a dancing girl who wore nothing but a fishnet body stocking and well-placed blue rope. They didn't come on until 11, but their blend of experimental punk and progressive dance made me not even care about work today.
Girl Talk is actually just one guy, Gregg Gillis. He played the Coachella festival a few weeks ago, and I'd read that his set blew everyone away. The only thing on the stage was him and two lap-top computers, and as soon as the first beat dropped, people stormed the stage to dance all around him. Normally, bands wouldn't permit something like this, but Mr. Gillis welcomed it. His music isn't made up of his own music. It's mash-ups of tons of different artists, but he puts everything together so well, he makes it his own. Plus, there's a new sample every few seconds and it really keeps you on your toes. Few people could mix Fleetwood Mac with Paul Wall with Steve Winwood with Britney Spears with The Smashing Pumpkins and make it sound even remotely danceable. But he did it. The whole dancefloor was completely packed, and not a single person stopped dancing the whole time. About halfway through, he brought his set-up to the middle of the dancefloor, so the entire stage could be used for dancing and everyone could see better. He had to end his set at 1 AM, and by the time we walked outside, I'd traded sweat with half the crowd.
By far, the best line of the night was early on, when we were having a pre-show party at Chris's place. Gideon walked in the door and...
Gideon: Man, I'm pretty drunk already.
Carrie: When did you start drinking?
Gideon: When I was 17.
I laughed and laughed and laughed again.
The opening act was a local band called The Vile Blue Shades, an 11(!)-piece band which included three drummers and a dancing girl who wore nothing but a fishnet body stocking and well-placed blue rope. They didn't come on until 11, but their blend of experimental punk and progressive dance made me not even care about work today.
Girl Talk is actually just one guy, Gregg Gillis. He played the Coachella festival a few weeks ago, and I'd read that his set blew everyone away. The only thing on the stage was him and two lap-top computers, and as soon as the first beat dropped, people stormed the stage to dance all around him. Normally, bands wouldn't permit something like this, but Mr. Gillis welcomed it. His music isn't made up of his own music. It's mash-ups of tons of different artists, but he puts everything together so well, he makes it his own. Plus, there's a new sample every few seconds and it really keeps you on your toes. Few people could mix Fleetwood Mac with Paul Wall with Steve Winwood with Britney Spears with The Smashing Pumpkins and make it sound even remotely danceable. But he did it. The whole dancefloor was completely packed, and not a single person stopped dancing the whole time. About halfway through, he brought his set-up to the middle of the dancefloor, so the entire stage could be used for dancing and everyone could see better. He had to end his set at 1 AM, and by the time we walked outside, I'd traded sweat with half the crowd.
By far, the best line of the night was early on, when we were having a pre-show party at Chris's place. Gideon walked in the door and...
Gideon: Man, I'm pretty drunk already.
Carrie: When did you start drinking?
Gideon: When I was 17.
I laughed and laughed and laughed again.
Create to Destroy
After work yesterday, I showered and headed straight down to SLC to check out the 337 Project building. We didn't have any luck getting inside last Friday, so I wanted to make one final attempt before it's demolished.
The wait this time was only an hour, and there was plenty of stuff on the outside to make that time fly by. What I realised this time was that even the outdoor exhibits were something from inside the house. Most of the interior doors were removed and used as canvases. The window screens. Parts of the plumbing. Everything.
This artist was still doing some work outside, painting ceiling tiles.
I only waited about 45 minutes before my ticket was called to go inside, and what I saw was completely indescribable. Each artist collectively made this structure into a living, breathing artwork. Sometimes entire rooms had a theme, while other rooms were tagged by several different people. I saw it all. Real and surreal. Dark and humourous. Sensual and spiritual. Political and environmental. Social and personal. Audible and silent. And everything inbetween. It was so fascinating to see all these different people's inspirations and perceptions of life.
I took pictures, both inside and out. They just don't do it justice. Nothing could really capture how wonderful this project is, and it's sad that it will all be torn down in a few weeks; but the artists feel the only way to fulfill their dream is to demolish the whole thing.
This room was probably my favourite. I wish there were some way to post a 3-D picture. It was very haunting.
I got the chance to talk with a few different artists. They all had different stories and motivations and visions. It made me feel so lucky to live in such an interesting world full of such beautiful people.
The wait this time was only an hour, and there was plenty of stuff on the outside to make that time fly by. What I realised this time was that even the outdoor exhibits were something from inside the house. Most of the interior doors were removed and used as canvases. The window screens. Parts of the plumbing. Everything.
This artist was still doing some work outside, painting ceiling tiles.
I only waited about 45 minutes before my ticket was called to go inside, and what I saw was completely indescribable. Each artist collectively made this structure into a living, breathing artwork. Sometimes entire rooms had a theme, while other rooms were tagged by several different people. I saw it all. Real and surreal. Dark and humourous. Sensual and spiritual. Political and environmental. Social and personal. Audible and silent. And everything inbetween. It was so fascinating to see all these different people's inspirations and perceptions of life.
I took pictures, both inside and out. They just don't do it justice. Nothing could really capture how wonderful this project is, and it's sad that it will all be torn down in a few weeks; but the artists feel the only way to fulfill their dream is to demolish the whole thing.
This room was probably my favourite. I wish there were some way to post a 3-D picture. It was very haunting.
I got the chance to talk with a few different artists. They all had different stories and motivations and visions. It made me feel so lucky to live in such an interesting world full of such beautiful people.
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Lonely Weekend
It's gonna be a long weekend. It's bad enough that I'm working all weekend. What's worse is that I'll be the only one in the shop. All by myself. Luckily, the boss is giving me even more comp time next week. And I'm never one to turn down extra days off.
For my exciting Friday night, I think I'll make a trip to the supermarket; and, if I'm feeling really frisky, I might even rent a movie. Does the excitement ever end?
For my exciting Friday night, I think I'll make a trip to the supermarket; and, if I'm feeling really frisky, I might even rent a movie. Does the excitement ever end?
Friday, May 25, 2007
We Had Some Massive Nights
The Urban Lounge is a little hipster bar in SLC. It's small and dark and smokey, and the perfect venue for a band like The Hold Steady, who played there last night.
The opening band was The Heartless Bastards, a indie-blues-garage band from Cincinnati, fronted by Erika Winnerstrom, whose voice was as sullen as Beth Orton and as gravelly and commanding as Patti Smith. Their songs had simple melodies that really stuck, and I was a little disappointed they only played for an hour.
The Hold Steady are one of those bands that are really amazing, but since they don't get any play on the radio, then nobody really knows about them. They're from Brooklyn and play alt-bar rock that's reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen or The Afghan Whigs. That's not normally my type of music, but what sets apart The Hold Steady are their superb lyrics, telling stories of relationships and alcohol. Combine that with catchy melodies and driving guitars, and it's a formula for an album that ended up on several "Best of 2006" lists last year.
The only drawback about shows at The Urban Lounge is that they start so late. The Heartless Bastards didn't take the stage until 10, so it was after 11 by the time The Hold Steady came out. It's not so bad on the weekends, but when you have to work the next day, it's draining. However, I was so into the show I didn't care at all. Craig Finn's voice is very distinct and on stage, he's very animated, which is odd considering how the music is so laid back. You can feel his pain when he sings, "I've had kisses that make Judas seem sincere," and you know he means it. The entire band had a great vibe, and I feel lucky to have gotten to see both bands in such a small venue.
The opening band was The Heartless Bastards, a indie-blues-garage band from Cincinnati, fronted by Erika Winnerstrom, whose voice was as sullen as Beth Orton and as gravelly and commanding as Patti Smith. Their songs had simple melodies that really stuck, and I was a little disappointed they only played for an hour.
The Hold Steady are one of those bands that are really amazing, but since they don't get any play on the radio, then nobody really knows about them. They're from Brooklyn and play alt-bar rock that's reminiscent of Bruce Springsteen or The Afghan Whigs. That's not normally my type of music, but what sets apart The Hold Steady are their superb lyrics, telling stories of relationships and alcohol. Combine that with catchy melodies and driving guitars, and it's a formula for an album that ended up on several "Best of 2006" lists last year.
The only drawback about shows at The Urban Lounge is that they start so late. The Heartless Bastards didn't take the stage until 10, so it was after 11 by the time The Hold Steady came out. It's not so bad on the weekends, but when you have to work the next day, it's draining. However, I was so into the show I didn't care at all. Craig Finn's voice is very distinct and on stage, he's very animated, which is odd considering how the music is so laid back. You can feel his pain when he sings, "I've had kisses that make Judas seem sincere," and you know he means it. The entire band had a great vibe, and I feel lucky to have gotten to see both bands in such a small venue.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Utopia Parkway - Mad Props #2
Mad Props to Adam Schlesinger. You may not have heard his name before, but chances are you've heard his music. He's the pop mastermind behind the bands Fountains of Wayne and Ivy. FOW, most famous for their hit "Stacy's Mom," produce some of the best power-pop out there. Each of their albums combines catchy melodies with painfully humourous lyrics, creating addictive songs you can't help but sing along with. Ivy, however, is a much more mellow lounge-pop band fronted by Dominique Durand, whose voice is equal parts Nico sultry and Edie Brickell laxness. When an Ivy song comes up on my iPod, it's suddenly a lazy Sunday afternoon in the park.
Besides writing songs and playing in these two bands, Schlesinger also writes songs for such movies as "Josie and the Pussycats," "Music and Lyrics," and "That Thing You Do!" even earning an Oscar nomination.
Most recommended are FOW's "Welcome Interstate Managers," and Ivy's "In the Clear." Though both albums are totally different, you'll be able to hear Adam's presence on both. And chances are, you'll be addicted immediately.
Besides writing songs and playing in these two bands, Schlesinger also writes songs for such movies as "Josie and the Pussycats," "Music and Lyrics," and "That Thing You Do!" even earning an Oscar nomination.
Most recommended are FOW's "Welcome Interstate Managers," and Ivy's "In the Clear." Though both albums are totally different, you'll be able to hear Adam's presence on both. And chances are, you'll be addicted immediately.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Fire Water Burn
As if I didn't get enough camping during the exercise last week, I went again last night; but this time there was beer. Thaddeus is in town for a few days, so he, Caleb, Josh, Zack, and I went camping at a place called Northfork.
Northfork is only about 45 minutes away, and it's a gorgeous area. The campsites were well-maintained and secluded.
And there were silkworm cocoons everywhere.
We made hobo dinners that tasted great.
After the sun went down, the temperature dropped quite a bit. But the fire kept us plenty warm. We roasted marshmallows, and Josh roasted a Twinkie. He said it was pretty good, but I wasn't about to try it.
We woke up this morning to a familiar sound - raindrops on the tent. I don't think I've ever gone camping where it hasn't rained at least once. It didn't stop us from having a good time, though.
Northfork is only about 45 minutes away, and it's a gorgeous area. The campsites were well-maintained and secluded.
And there were silkworm cocoons everywhere.
We made hobo dinners that tasted great.
After the sun went down, the temperature dropped quite a bit. But the fire kept us plenty warm. We roasted marshmallows, and Josh roasted a Twinkie. He said it was pretty good, but I wasn't about to try it.
We woke up this morning to a familiar sound - raindrops on the tent. I don't think I've ever gone camping where it hasn't rained at least once. It didn't stop us from having a good time, though.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
All the Drama You've Been Craving
Last night, Scott, Mark, Brian, and I went to the 4th Annual SLAM. This is an event put on by the Plan-B Theatre Company where five 10-minute plays are created, cast, rehearsed, and performed in a 24-hour period. The titles are drawn out of hats and the actors are distributed at random. All the details are left to chance, and it's the job of the troupe to bring it all together. Most of last night's plays were closer to 15 minutes, but they were all great. Some were funny, some dramatic, some tragic, some a mixture. I found it amazing that the actors could even learn their lines in such a short period of time. It's been a long time since I've been to the theatre, and I'd forgotten just how much I love it.
After the play, we headed to John's house for a little party where I met Amy, with whom I am totally smitten. Definitely the coolest girl I've met in a long time.
John was just going to have a small gathering, but word travels fast and there ended up being quite a few people there. Far more than I've ever seen at his house before.
Mikey, Floyd, Kyle, & Jeff just got back from Florida, and they were all tan and stuff. Plus, today is Mikey's birthday, so he was doing some extra celebrating.
My alcohol intake has been rather low lately. I had some bourbon last night, and I was surprised at how fast it hit me. I didn't get sloppy drunk, but it was just enough to make me extra social. Thanks to John for his hospitality and to Paul for letting me crash at his place.
After the play, we headed to John's house for a little party where I met Amy, with whom I am totally smitten. Definitely the coolest girl I've met in a long time.
John was just going to have a small gathering, but word travels fast and there ended up being quite a few people there. Far more than I've ever seen at his house before.
Mikey, Floyd, Kyle, & Jeff just got back from Florida, and they were all tan and stuff. Plus, today is Mikey's birthday, so he was doing some extra celebrating.
My alcohol intake has been rather low lately. I had some bourbon last night, and I was surprised at how fast it hit me. I didn't get sloppy drunk, but it was just enough to make me extra social. Thanks to John for his hospitality and to Paul for letting me crash at his place.
Painted By Numbers
A couple years ago, Doug bought a house in a really great location in SLC. He's slowly been making different improvements on it, and finally decided to make the most drastic and important one yesterday. Painting it.
You can see why it needed to be painted. I mean, pink isn't exactly the most attractive colour for a house, unless you're Elton John. I love projects and was happy to help out.
We started around 11 AM, and painted all afternoon.
We painted everything but the rear wall, and, as you can see, it's a vast improvement. The hardest part was getting inbetween all the bricks. We finished around 6 PM, and gave ourselves much-deserved pats on our backs. It makes me feel good to help people, especially when they buy me beer.
You can see why it needed to be painted. I mean, pink isn't exactly the most attractive colour for a house, unless you're Elton John. I love projects and was happy to help out.
We started around 11 AM, and painted all afternoon.
We painted everything but the rear wall, and, as you can see, it's a vast improvement. The hardest part was getting inbetween all the bricks. We finished around 6 PM, and gave ourselves much-deserved pats on our backs. It makes me feel good to help people, especially when they buy me beer.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
Artful Dodgers
One thing that surprises a lot of people about Salt Lake City is the amount of culture and art in the area. There are several great theatre programs, an accomplished symphony, a world renowned ballet company, and the theatre study at the U of U is one of the top ten in the nation. One of the coolest things is a monthly event called the Gallery Stroll, sponsored by the Salt Lake Gallery Association. The third Friday of every month, all the art galleries in the downtown area stay open late so people can come browse. They serve wine and cheese, and it's a great opportunity to see new pieces from local artists.
Chad has invited me to the Gallery Stroll several times, but I've never really had the opportunity to go. So last night, I made sure I was free to join him, Christina, Mike, Jake, and Jeff for the festivities.
We walked around for two hours and saw only a fraction of what was available. But every gallery had something cool and unique.
One gallery had watercolours from children in an underpriveleged school district. They each painted pieces based on famous artists, and used the proceeds to help their school. It was adorable.
I saw so many great pieces, and never before have I been so desperate to have several thousand dollars in my wallet so I could take a few things home.
One reason I wanted to make it a priority to go last night was to see Project 337. It's an old building scheduled for demolition next month, but before it's destroyed, 137 local artists have turned it into a big canvas and painted every square inch of it. Last night was the first night it was open. When we got there, the wait to go inside was three hours, but we looked around at the exterior, which was pretty spectacular in itself. There were tons of people there, and it seemed everyone was unique in his or her own way. We never made it inside, but luckily, it will be open the rest of the weekend, as well as next weekend, so I'm definitely going to make an effort to see it.
One thing I haven't mentioned is how drunk everyone was before I even made it down to SLC. I stayed sober the whole night, but watching every elses antics was quite amusing.
After the Gallery Stroll, we went to eat at The Red Iguana, which is some of the finest Mexican food in the Salt Lake Valley. Then we headed back to Mike's place for a few more drinks.
Despite the appearance, Chad didn't pass out. But he does have two different shoes on. Somewhere along the evening, he and Jeff traded one shoe. Those artsy people always have to be different.
Mike has a great apartment downtown at the Gateway. This is the view out his window. Last night made me realise how much of a city boy I really am, and how great it would be to live in a downtown area surrounded by all the diverse people and culture and architecture. Salt Lake City really is a great town.
Chad has invited me to the Gallery Stroll several times, but I've never really had the opportunity to go. So last night, I made sure I was free to join him, Christina, Mike, Jake, and Jeff for the festivities.
We walked around for two hours and saw only a fraction of what was available. But every gallery had something cool and unique.
One gallery had watercolours from children in an underpriveleged school district. They each painted pieces based on famous artists, and used the proceeds to help their school. It was adorable.
I saw so many great pieces, and never before have I been so desperate to have several thousand dollars in my wallet so I could take a few things home.
One reason I wanted to make it a priority to go last night was to see Project 337. It's an old building scheduled for demolition next month, but before it's destroyed, 137 local artists have turned it into a big canvas and painted every square inch of it. Last night was the first night it was open. When we got there, the wait to go inside was three hours, but we looked around at the exterior, which was pretty spectacular in itself. There were tons of people there, and it seemed everyone was unique in his or her own way. We never made it inside, but luckily, it will be open the rest of the weekend, as well as next weekend, so I'm definitely going to make an effort to see it.
One thing I haven't mentioned is how drunk everyone was before I even made it down to SLC. I stayed sober the whole night, but watching every elses antics was quite amusing.
After the Gallery Stroll, we went to eat at The Red Iguana, which is some of the finest Mexican food in the Salt Lake Valley. Then we headed back to Mike's place for a few more drinks.
Despite the appearance, Chad didn't pass out. But he does have two different shoes on. Somewhere along the evening, he and Jeff traded one shoe. Those artsy people always have to be different.
Mike has a great apartment downtown at the Gateway. This is the view out his window. Last night made me realise how much of a city boy I really am, and how great it would be to live in a downtown area surrounded by all the diverse people and culture and architecture. Salt Lake City really is a great town.
Friday, May 18, 2007
Give and Take
There used to be three people working my job on my shift, but Jim is now working in the training office, leaving just Johnny and me. Hence, when either of us wants time off, we have to make sure the other one will be present. Johnny has been planning a trip over Memorial Day for a long time, so it looks like I'll be working all weekend long. I had the last long weekend, President's Day, off, so it's only fair. I'll have to miss the big annual Moab camping trip; however, I'd rather work over Memorial Day in order to have Labour Day off.
As compensation, the boss gave me Monday and Tuesday off. So, if anyone wants to party early next week, give me a call.
As compensation, the boss gave me Monday and Tuesday off. So, if anyone wants to party early next week, give me a call.
Roughing It
Whew! So, that happened. I spent the last 48 hours practicing field exercises, and all I have to show for it is dirt-clogged pores and sore muscles. Luckily, they gave us tomorrow off to recover. I could describe all the fun things that went on, such as convoy training, defensive fighting positions, and troop movement, but I'm sure you'd rather pry out your toenails with a crowbar. I will now proceed to Roosters for a much-deserved beer.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Out of Breath
Yesterday was exhausting, and when I went to bed last night, it was still light outside. And after rolling around on the ground with an M-16 all day today, tonight will probably be the same. But the worst part of this training, by far, is having a lead instructor who really, REALLY likes to hear himself talk. Tomorrow night, we're staying out in the field, so I won't be back until Thursday afternoon, no doubt with dirt rubbed into my skin and a sweat-soaked uniform. This weekend can't come soon enough.
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Overkill
There's yet another exercise going on this week, the third one in which I've participated since I got back from Iraq. This one focuses on field training (tuck-n-roll, weapons, defensive fighting positions, etc.) instead of the usual chemical warfare crap. And Wednesday, we even get to have a sleep-over at the exercise play area. This is the stuff that makes me want to cross-train to a nice office job.
Monday, May 14, 2007
Out-of-Towners
Last night, John, Ryan, Nick, Nick, and I went to the Bees game. They played the Nashville Sounds, and, after 11 very exciting innings, the Bees won 9-8.
After the game, we went to Brian and Ryan's house. Brian's sister, Leslie, and her husband, Jeff, were visitng from Dallas for the weekend, and they were super-cool. The weather was great, and we spent most of the night socialising on the porch.
Nick has the funniest stories, and an amazingly low alcohol tolerance. When the two are combined, the laughter doesn't stop for hours.
It was a nice, mellow evening, and I consumed the perfect amount of alcohol. Thanks to Nick for driving, and, as always, thanks to Brian and Ryan for their endless hospitality.
After the game, we went to Brian and Ryan's house. Brian's sister, Leslie, and her husband, Jeff, were visitng from Dallas for the weekend, and they were super-cool. The weather was great, and we spent most of the night socialising on the porch.
Nick has the funniest stories, and an amazingly low alcohol tolerance. When the two are combined, the laughter doesn't stop for hours.
It was a nice, mellow evening, and I consumed the perfect amount of alcohol. Thanks to Nick for driving, and, as always, thanks to Brian and Ryan for their endless hospitality.
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Pieces of the People We Love
Traits I inherited from my Mom:
Her ability to forgive
Her desire to make people happy
Her compassion
Her work ethic
Her sense of style
Her love of laughter
Her belief that everything will always turn out fine in the end
Her capacity to love
Happy Mother's Day
Her ability to forgive
Her desire to make people happy
Her compassion
Her work ethic
Her sense of style
Her love of laughter
Her belief that everything will always turn out fine in the end
Her capacity to love
Happy Mother's Day
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Fit to Fight
My PT test this morning went well. Not my best score ever, but still better than average, and nothing to be ashamed of. The best part is I don't have to test for another year. Now, to celebrate, I'm going to have a weekend of gluttony and sloth. Once I covet someone's donut, I'll only have four more deadly sins to commit.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Weakling
When I got to work this morning, three different people had brought three different types of donuts. And, of course, I had to sample all three. Twice. I have no will power when it comes to food. This wouldn't be that big of a deal except I have my PT test on Friday. I'll still be so stuffed, I won't be able to do a single crunch, and my 1.5-mile run will be little more than a quick walk. Somebody get me a cattle prod!
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Nothin' But A Number
Just out of curiosity, I decided to put a counter on the wax. I probably won't keep it forever. And unfortunately, it counts every visit once; not every different person that visits, which I think would be a more accurate assessment. Regardless, I'm gonna see how this thing goes. It will either be a huge ego boost, or a big disappointment, for which I'm totally not prepared. If you see the posts starting to get a little depressing, then you should probably come here more often.
Hope Is Important
Things at work have been rather volatile lately. Not in terms of drama or backstabbing (though, those types of things go on occasionally), but it's just the fact that nobody really knows what's going to happen in the next year.
For some reason, the powers that be have decided to get rid of all military personnel in support positions at Hill Air Force Base, (i.e. Civil Engineering), and replace them with civilians. And fewer civilians at that. Apparently, they believe that, due to deployments and training, one civilian can do the work of three military. They've obviously never seen government civilians on the job.
As a result, the plan is to gradually get rid of all the military in my squadron by April of '08. People will get orders, but no one will be replaced. The system that controls assignments has my position expiring on 30 January 2008, but in reality, it could be anytime.
I'm praying for an assignment to Europe. I don't care where, but my main choices are in England, Germany, and Italy. Unfortunately, we've been told the plan is to man overseas bases at 90%, and beef up stateside bases, especially Red Horse (rapid deploying) units. My first assignment at Nellis was Red Horse, and I loved it, but I'm not so sure I want to go back there yet. Regardless, I've updated my assignment preference list (aka "dream sheet") to include all my overseas assignments plus a few choice stateside bases.
On top of all that, we've been tasked to provide seven bodies for a deployment to Qatar in September. Four months in Qatar would be like a vacation, and I've repeatedly volunteered to go. However, this deployment is not in my rotation, and the chances of me going are slim to none. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Not only to go on this deployment, but also for a good assignment afterward.
If anything happens, you guys will be the first to know. Well, after the people in my orderly room, and me, and the guys in my shop. But after them, you guys are at the top of the list.
For some reason, the powers that be have decided to get rid of all military personnel in support positions at Hill Air Force Base, (i.e. Civil Engineering), and replace them with civilians. And fewer civilians at that. Apparently, they believe that, due to deployments and training, one civilian can do the work of three military. They've obviously never seen government civilians on the job.
As a result, the plan is to gradually get rid of all the military in my squadron by April of '08. People will get orders, but no one will be replaced. The system that controls assignments has my position expiring on 30 January 2008, but in reality, it could be anytime.
I'm praying for an assignment to Europe. I don't care where, but my main choices are in England, Germany, and Italy. Unfortunately, we've been told the plan is to man overseas bases at 90%, and beef up stateside bases, especially Red Horse (rapid deploying) units. My first assignment at Nellis was Red Horse, and I loved it, but I'm not so sure I want to go back there yet. Regardless, I've updated my assignment preference list (aka "dream sheet") to include all my overseas assignments plus a few choice stateside bases.
On top of all that, we've been tasked to provide seven bodies for a deployment to Qatar in September. Four months in Qatar would be like a vacation, and I've repeatedly volunteered to go. However, this deployment is not in my rotation, and the chances of me going are slim to none. But I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Not only to go on this deployment, but also for a good assignment afterward.
If anything happens, you guys will be the first to know. Well, after the people in my orderly room, and me, and the guys in my shop. But after them, you guys are at the top of the list.
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
An Honest Mistake
Last night, a rather chaotic chain of events led me to engage in a serious non-commital make-out session. I'm not bragging. In fact, I'm kind of ashamed. I don't randomly whore around, and when stuff like this happens, I beat myself up over it for at least a week. This is my confession in the hopes I'll forgive myself a little sooner.
Monday, May 07, 2007
Stuck
Do you ever get in those moods where you're amazingly lonely and you wish someone would knock on your door, but at the same time, you kinda want to be alone and you'd rather watch bad movies than pick up the phone? Yeah, I'm there.
Sunday, May 06, 2007
Red vs. Blue
Last night was the much-anticipated (around here, at least) debate between conservative talk shot host Sean Hannity and Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson. Rocky is in an interesting position. He's the very liberal mayor of a very liberal city in the most conservative state in the union. He frequently organizes and participates in anti-Bush demonstrations, and has caught a lot of flak for his views. You can see why Hannity wanted an open-forum dabate so bad.
The event, held in Kingsbury Hall on the University of Utah campus, was broadcast live on local television. I only got to see about 30 minutes, and it was predictably full of shouting and high-school-level insults. They stuck mostly on-topic (the war in Iraq), but what surprised me most was how vocal (read: rude) the audience was.
You can read about the debate here and here. If you're interested, you can watch the two hour video here.
The event, held in Kingsbury Hall on the University of Utah campus, was broadcast live on local television. I only got to see about 30 minutes, and it was predictably full of shouting and high-school-level insults. They stuck mostly on-topic (the war in Iraq), but what surprised me most was how vocal (read: rude) the audience was.
You can read about the debate here and here. If you're interested, you can watch the two hour video here.
Run For The Roses
Street Sense just won the 133rd Kentucky Derby. As a legal resident of Kentucky, I have a certain amount of pride in this event. It's easily one of the classiest contests in modern sports, made even more evident this year by Queen Elizabeth's attendance. However, even that is offset by something else happening this year. For the first time ever, the Kentucky Derby has a corporate sponsor, Yum! Brands, Inc., a Fortune 500 corporation. I expect to see advertisements in baseball stadiums, on racecars, and every 90 seconds on ESPN. But seeing a big Taco Bell billboard at Churchill Downs is just a little demeaning. Plus, I hear the Queen prefers Del Taco.
Saturday, May 05, 2007
Smells Like Teen Spirit
What do you do when a coworker has a personal hygiene problem? He could be a really nice guy and a great worker, but he just needs to bathe and maybe wash his uniform from time to time. Perhaps you have to ride in a truck with him for a large portion of the day, and no matter how far you stick your head out the window (without being obvious), you still can't escape the stench, which resembles a combination of sour milk, cigarettes, and antifreeze. And everyone in the entire section might know of this problem, yet nobody will say anything, even though we all agree that if we were the culprit, we'd want to be told. Well, I, for one, would take the wussy path and just endure it until said person gets transferred to another job, say, next Monday.
Echoes
Roommate Ryan left this morning for a class in Texas combined with vacation time in Colorado. He won't be back for six weeks. I've already taken over the living room and vowed to avoid episodes of CSI at all costs. All furniture is free of stray clothing. There will be no nauseating smells of sausage or tuna in the kitchen. I will take extra-long showers with no regard of using all the hot water. I'm going to leave my laundry in the dryer until I'm damn good and ready to fold it.
Despite all this, I'm gonna give him a big hug as soon as he walks in the door.
Despite all this, I'm gonna give him a big hug as soon as he walks in the door.
Mad Props
More than a little inspired by McSweeney's Recommends, I've decided to make my own recurring feature here on the wax. It will be a series of plugs that, were I to receive any kind of financial compensation, would be considered shameless. However, since I'm not, these can just be considered things I really like. You can refer to them as "Mad Props."
For the inaugural run, I'm giving mad props to the new "Mint Mojito" flavour of Orbit Gum. I saw this at the supermarket the other day and, on a whim, picked up a pack. I had my first piece this morning, and, despite being a little heavy on the lime, really tastes like a mojito. Now, if they could only find a way to put some rum in there, too.
For the inaugural run, I'm giving mad props to the new "Mint Mojito" flavour of Orbit Gum. I saw this at the supermarket the other day and, on a whim, picked up a pack. I had my first piece this morning, and, despite being a little heavy on the lime, really tastes like a mojito. Now, if they could only find a way to put some rum in there, too.
Friday, May 04, 2007
Whoo! Alright, Yeah... Uh Huh
You know a band is gonna be awesome when they have a guy solely dedicated to playing the cow bell. Such is the case with The Rapture, the NYC-based post-dance-punk band that played SLC last night. They only played for an hour, but it was the most energetic hour of music I've heard in a long time. It was a non-stop dance, dance revolution for everyone in the entire venue.
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Yummy, Head to Toe
I'll be the first to admit how excited I was when I heard Gwen Stefani was releasing a second solo album. Sure, it meant another No Doubt record would be an even longer wait, but if it was anywhere near as funky as her first, the wait would be worth it. But when "The Sweet Escape" finally dropped, it sounded kinda bland and inadequate. Repeated listenings have made it grow on me somewhat, but it's still nothing compared to "Love. Angel. Music. Baby." But did any of that mean I would miss Gwen's perfomance last night? Of course not!
In attendance were Chad, Chase, Chris, Doug, Kyle, Nick, Ryan, and me. We had lower bowl seats just to the right of the stage. The first opener was Lady Sovereign, a British, white, female rapper whose thick working-class London accent made her nearly unintelligible, but her beats were no less addictive. The second act was Akon, the R&B singer/rapper featured on the title track to Gwen's new album. I'm not familiar with Akon's work, but apparently everyone else was. He really knew how to work the crowd, and defintely had everyone excited for Gwen's arrival.
Finally, Gwen and her Harajuku Girl entourage came out singing "The Sweet Escape." That girl definitely has a commanding stage presence (and some of the nicest legs ever created by God). She drifted through the set, focusing on the second album, but throwing in songs from the first album to keep everyone interested. The middle section of the show seemed to lag a little bit due to the consecutive placement of several ballads, but just as people were starting to sit down, she'd break into "Wind It Up" or "Hollaback Girl" to get people dancing. But I don't think I stopped dancing the whole time. We even got Chase and Nick to dance, which was definitely an interesting sight. Overall, I didn't think the show itself was as impressive as last time I saw her, but the fact there were so many of us there made it more fun.
Most shows I attend are alt-rock bands in small clubs with not much going on other than the band, so whenever I see a high-production show with tons of lights and dancers and stage changes, it's nearly overwhelming. There's so much going on, it's difficult to focus on one thing, but last night, it wasn't hard to keep my eyes on Gwen. She can wind me up any day.
In attendance were Chad, Chase, Chris, Doug, Kyle, Nick, Ryan, and me. We had lower bowl seats just to the right of the stage. The first opener was Lady Sovereign, a British, white, female rapper whose thick working-class London accent made her nearly unintelligible, but her beats were no less addictive. The second act was Akon, the R&B singer/rapper featured on the title track to Gwen's new album. I'm not familiar with Akon's work, but apparently everyone else was. He really knew how to work the crowd, and defintely had everyone excited for Gwen's arrival.
Finally, Gwen and her Harajuku Girl entourage came out singing "The Sweet Escape." That girl definitely has a commanding stage presence (and some of the nicest legs ever created by God). She drifted through the set, focusing on the second album, but throwing in songs from the first album to keep everyone interested. The middle section of the show seemed to lag a little bit due to the consecutive placement of several ballads, but just as people were starting to sit down, she'd break into "Wind It Up" or "Hollaback Girl" to get people dancing. But I don't think I stopped dancing the whole time. We even got Chase and Nick to dance, which was definitely an interesting sight. Overall, I didn't think the show itself was as impressive as last time I saw her, but the fact there were so many of us there made it more fun.
Most shows I attend are alt-rock bands in small clubs with not much going on other than the band, so whenever I see a high-production show with tons of lights and dancers and stage changes, it's nearly overwhelming. There's so much going on, it's difficult to focus on one thing, but last night, it wasn't hard to keep my eyes on Gwen. She can wind me up any day.
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