Sorry Michigan.
--Beav

Pretty Clouds

Isn't this cool looking? The light refracts through ice crystals in the clouds that have to be formed and aligned just right. I thought that was pretty awesome.
--Beav

Daddy!

Today was a good day.

I sucked raw eggs in my blogger tourney. (Let someone put me on tilt, and crippled myself to him.) Looked like an idiot marching around. But I went to brunch with my friends here, and then had a cookout with them. I've gotten (and given) many "Happy Father's Day"s. Most of all, I talked to my dad, wife, and sons today. Ryan gained conversation skills somewhere about a week after I left. Tristan is now making fun cooing sounds and is ticklish. Dad is trying to market his rock band, cut a demo, and what not. (Yeah, my dad started a rock band!)

Really made it Father's Day.

I love my life.

--Beav (not to mention the people in it)

I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing

The other day, I was having dinner with some of my classmates. As the 1/2 dozen of us ate, someone at another table kept eying Chris, one of my comrades. When he finally came over and it turned out to be an old friend, he mentioned noticing one black guy (Chris) with 5 whites. Faith, who had previously remarked at being the only woman at the table, looked up at me for a second almost stunned. "You know, I didn't even notice that!"

I wish the world was like that.

Adult Attention Defic...ooh look!

I love white boards. They are so infinitely handy to scribble notes to yourself, lists of things you need to do, or a quick outline to organize your thought processes. I realized today that what I need, here and now, is whiteboard material that you can tack to the wall (or the bulletin board that I have in my room). Unfortunately, the Publix I was shopping in when that revelation hit me had nothing that would meet that need. I suspect that no one can meet that need as of yet.

On the other hand, they did have a sushi counter. After finding that every choice had avocado in it, the man behind the counter asked me if he could make something for me. I said "I'd like a spicy roll, but I don't like avocado." "Tuna, Salmon, or Shrimp?" was his reply. I asked if I could have some of each, and he assured me that was no problem, though it would fill two packages instead of one. Not a problem for this guy. He urged me to finish shopping and come back, so I continued on my way. As I walk through an aisle on the other end of the store looking for tissues, I hear a voice call for me. I look up, and here comes the sushi guy bearing my two packages of spicy roll, no avocado. Just brought them out and found me. Now that's what I call service.

And lastly, I think that 5 washers is too few for a building with 90 rooms. Particularly when all or most of the occupants are on the same schedule, so everyone wants to wash their clothes either Saturday or Sunday morning. Problematic at best. At least I'm not a woman, having to worry about who may be pawing through my things if I leave the tiny laundry room. Guys rarely have to worry about that.

--Beav (Boing!)

Guess What?

I'm doing it again. The PokerStars blogger tourney I entered last year (and placed 133 out of 1473) is happening again! Of course, I signed up as soon as I heard, and will be looking to improve my game. Luckily, it happens on a Sunday; if it were during the week, I might have had conflicts with class. We'll see how I do, and how I do in the unofficial-he-doesn't-even-know-it-last-longer with Wil. I have a lot of respect for him as a poker player (and writer, actor, need I continue), so that's the bar I've set for myself...other than finishing "in the money." Here's hoping!

--Beav (So, a full house beats a straight flush, right?)

edit: I had to take the banner away; it was mucking up the format of my blog. So, the important info from it is as follows. Date and time are Sunday, June 18th at 4 PM Eastern. It's on PokerStars, and if you've had a blog for more than 2 months, you qualify to register. Go check it out!

We're All Regular Joes

I think Joe Versus the Volcano got a bad rap. I've heard and seen it panned in no uncertain terms by everyone from high-profile critics to folks on the street. It seems to me that everyone seems to have missed a lot that is going on under the surface.

Every character in the whole movie, with the exception of Joe and Patricia, is a caricature. The entire movie is almost melodramatic in its setting, characterization, and dialogue. And yet, in the midst of this dry satire of life in many spheres (corporate America, LA, Island native life), there are little nuggets of almost transcendental wisdom.

"We are the children of children, and we live as we are shown," says the Waponi Chief. He needn't be referring to his oddly dressed tribe, but to all of us on planet Earth: arguing, yelling, fighting, and dying for things our parents said were good ideas...or so their parents said.

Patricia tells Joe, "My father says that almost the whole world is asleep. Everybody you know. Everybody you see. Everybody you talk to. He says that only a few people are awake and they live in a state of constant total amazement. " That seems to hold equally true in the non-caricaturistic world we live in. I look around me every day and see people who've obviously never seen the world around them. They've never opened their eyes from their waking slumber and just experienced the wonder that is there for the asking.

And then, of course, the lesson that if you just procrastinate for 2 more minutes, the volcano will spit you out and you can live happily ever after.

--Beav

Past is Present; Present is Past

Last weekend, I was able to drive south a little bit and visit some of the people I grew up with - the people who got to see the formation of the person I am today. As it always has been and always will be, it was a mixed bag. The novel mingles with the familiar; the beloved sparks of my life swirl with the less than pleasant ones; the inexhaustable comedy clings tightly to the inevitable tragedy.

Through it all is the love. The love of some of the people I've been closest to in my life. They take me as I am and never ask for more. They listen as I banter in "frustration" and banter back, and never is there a time I have to worry that they'll take offense or take me up on it.

We are all products of our past. I recommend that everyone get a chance to go revisit parts of it; you'll find amazing new insights to yourself, and those who you knew.

--Beav